Exposed Vocals interviews StudioJunkeez
Hi, we are the StudioJunkeez from Fulton, MS. Our names are Bi$hop, Ollie, and Nate, The Great. there are 2 rappers and a producer. We are all seniors in high school (kind of the outcasts). We aim for a different sound/style. The group is three 18-year-old guys who love to make music for fun. The first member “Bi$hop” is the one who started to record. He started solo, but is more into the StudioJunkeez right now. He grew up in Atlanta which explains his love for rap music. His life was all of moving around from city to city, state to state. He has lived everywhere from Atlanta to Mississippi to Washington D.C. That explains his diversity in ideas and accents. Then there is “Ollie” who worked with Bi$hop when they were both getting laughed at in school. He is from Fulton, MS. He and Bi$hop linked up through a double date believe it or not! Ollie is someone who appreciates all genres of music, and can also sing. The producer, Nate, The Great, is someone who also grew up in Mississippi. Nate and Bi$hop used to talk about recording music together ever since they met. He’s made the beats for a couple of our songs. His parents won’t let him do music but he does it anyways because he believes we can “make it”. Our music has been about how we hate where we live and we are tired of a stereotypical lifestyle here in MS. We also make party music. We were made fun of for a long time until we dropped “Lurk!”. When we dropped that people started to like our music and acted different towards us. We are currently working on an album. Be on the lookout! We just need exposure. We are trying to appeal to all groups of people. I can get more detailed in the story if you would like. There is personal stuff we left out. We just want to prove everyone wrong. We would work harder than anyone in the industry.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
We are all seniors at Itawamba Agricultural High School and we hate our school with a passion. We all came from different backgrounds. Nate, The Great, the producer, is a native of the North Mississippi area. He has lived in Plantersville, Tupelo, Shannon, Guntown, and Pearl. He has been making beats since the 8th grade. He is in love with sounds and thats what made him decide to be a producer. Bi$hop has lived up and down the east coast, and has never attended one school for more than 2 years. He grew up in Atlanta which made him love rap. He started to learn how to rap after listening to outkast when he was little. He would go around trying to rap like Andre 3000. Now he is starting to rap seriously. Ollie was born in Amory, MS and was raised mostly in Fulton, MS. He has always enjoyed all kinds of music and loved playing it. Ollie started singing, playing guitar, drums, bass, violin, and other instruments when he was about 13. Raised in a church by parents who just wanted him to be a talented artist, he soon started thinking for himself and realized no matter what kind of music it was he like expressing himself and just making cool songs to party to.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
We originally started out with StudioJocks but thought StudioJunkeez was a little more suitable considering that we stay in the studio at all times when we aren’t in school.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
We give it away for free to get our music out there. Nobody will listen to an unknown artist if they are going to beg for money. Either way, we don’t make music for money.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
We are starting up right now to be honest, but what we’ve learned so far is to know your style, and not to be afraid to share it with people you don’t know. We just started but we aren’t going to do anything but get better.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Bi$hop and Ollie usually come up with a topic. We make music both about our lives and our situations or we just like to make stupid cool party music. Since we always talk about how we feel about this town, conservative people, and whatever else we talk about, it isn’t much of a challenge to come up with an idea or lyrics. We also like to start out by free styling to get the flow first and then start recording. A lot of times we freestyle in the song and just leave it if we like it.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Yes we have a Soundcloud, Instagram, and Twitter. Just look up “StudioJunkeez” and we should pop up.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
We would save most of it for an awesome recording studio inside our home so we could have a professional studio whenever we need it. Then again, we’re 18 and have been broke all of our life, (ollie is an exception to this) of course were gonna do a little spending. We would also use the money to get equipment for live performances.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Online so far is the only way we promote our music. Hopefully, we can perform live one day. We need more exposure!
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
We are currently working on a project. It will be our debut project. It will be a 10 song project so be on the lookout!
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Nate, The Great: Probably be trying my hardest in school and living up to my dad’s view on my life.
Bi$hop: I don’t play sports anymore so I most likely wouldn’t be doing anything good for myself. Most of you know what I mean by that. I’m going to get my money.
Ollie: Probably continue to work in school and keep my job so that I could go to college for art of some kind.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
We really don’t have any responsibilities except for Ollie because he has a job, girlfriend, and challenging school work.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
We hope to start performing live, drop an album, and start reppin’ our crew threw Ollie’s up coming clothing company.