Exposed Vocals Interviews AFib

AFib: I grew up in Chicago Illinois, residing in the suburbs of the well known Windy City. I started writing when I was 12 years old based off being ridiculed and bullied in Junior High. That sparked the fire I needed encouraging me to then record as a way to finally be heard after not having an actual voice for myself. Rapping was my outlet for as long as I can remember. Before I dabbled in making my own music I always recited lyrics from artists such as, Eminem, Kid Ink, Logic, J Cole, Wale, MGK and various others as a way to vent. That helped me but not as much as writing my own music basing it off my real life situations and putting my own twist on it. I was a 3 sport athlete, earned a scholarship to go to college to play baseball but I had to drop it due to being diagnosed with ARVD, a deadly yet rare heart condition that can only get worse and will never get better, in my case is rapidly getting worse and now rapping is my only way out.

AFib: I came up with AFib after being diagnosed ARVD. AFib actually stands for Atrial Fibrillation which actually killed me, July 7th, of 2013. I was nursed back to life, in the near future I had surgery placing an ICD or Defibrillator on my left side. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and that took an incredible toll on me. Also A Fib, is something someone doesn’t take serious and being who I am making music tends to be the case so it all flew together.

AFib: I think online music sharing is brilliant. When you craft your talent to a professional standard you need it to be heard. There are plenty of sites to have your music listed so the music world is your oyster. Yes, I give music away for free because I started off with just remixes and the beats I use I don’t have the rights for. Mind you I give the credit when it’s due, and I strongly support the producers I have worked with. Also, I give music away for free because I know the struggle of not having money and being in a drought so to speak. It’s tough, and music helps through tough times so I thought I’d lend a hand to those who need it.

AFib: For me personally, I had to do everything myself. Promotion, gigs, features, etc. You have to go out of your comfort zone if you are willing to dedicate your life to music and you have to invest in yourself. That I cannot stress enough, a lot of artists including myself in the past think producers are going to give away beats for free because of your talent. Wrong they will not, if you expect to make money off of your music you need to spend money. As for gaining AirPlay, start off with local radios playing your songs, albums, EP’s, etc. That’s a start and it should get you exposure and for gigs you have to push your music incredibly for the venue to even consider having you perform. You have to have a fan base, if not the venues going to be empty and they will look at it as a loss of money and time.

AFib: Yes of course, not always but sometimes it it happens. I just play it off, if I miss a line or mispronounce a word I’ll quickly turn it into an ad-lib and continue with the next line of my verse. One thing you never want to do is draw attention to yourself after messing up so if you do carry on like it was natural or make it seem like it was supposed to happen.

AFib: I have not began to tour yet, still working towards that specific aspect of my career, but it will be happening sooner than later. At the moment I’m just doing shows near me.

AFib: Inspiring me to write doesn’t take much considering the fact I love to write whenever and however I please. I could be looking out the window of my car on the highway, listening to the ambience and that alone can spark a thought in my head to write. I base my writing off what I see or experienced. My process of writing is simple and time consuming. I’ll listen to the beat alone 5-6 times through, then rewind it spotting where the chorus will be, and where I’ll lay the verses. Then I’d pick the specific spot I want to start, usually first verse or first chorus and listen to the beat once again jot it down. Rewind the beat, recite it through tweak it out and rewind it again. I do not move from the chorus to the verse or vice versa until I’m absolutely satisfied with what I’m hearing, I am my biggest critic. It can take hours, or it can take days to finish a song.

AFib: I do not have a website at the moment for myself with a set URL. I consider my soundcloud my website until I find a designer that can create what I’m looking for but when it comes to sharing my music I use, Soundcloud, Datpiff, ReverbNation, YouTube and of course social sites, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

AFib: Nothing too embarrassing to be honest, I have a song by Ariana Grande called Let Me Love You but it’s featuring Lil Wayne so it’s pretty hard. My MP3 is full of diverse music, from Jason Derulo to Lil Durk to U2. Actually U2 is probably the most embarrassing in my playlist especially when I’m with my crew and it randomly comes on after listening to some Turn Up Feel Good Music.

AFib: If I was handed that money right now, I’d quit my job, book a flight to California, buy a house beach side, buy a 2016 Camaro, and pay all of my parents expenses including mine. Not to mention put it towards my music to flip what I was just given to make more and pay off my girlfriends schooling.

AFib: I’ve recently just upgraded what I’ve been working with. Usually I go to one of my engineers in the city of Chicago, picked up another engineer in Iowa, and found another engineer in Country Club Hills. They all are working with different equipment obviously. I’m working with high quality producers ranging from Apex Microphones, Soundproof Walls, Mac Books, Monitors, Mixing Boards, Keyboards, Vocoders, Vibratos, Synths, Etc. Anything that I need they have.

AFib: I put a good amount of money into promotion just because now a days sharing it to who you know and having them share it for you doesn’t work too well because half of the time they don’t put the extra effort in even though they support you. What works best for me are online businesses who do strictly promotion with reasonable prices, also communicating with blogs and submitting your work and projects to them. I can never get enough of blog placings and reviews I love hearing what others have to say about my craft.

AFib: I would want to perform at The House Of Blues with Kid Ink, Tyga, Logic, G-Eazy, and J Cole and Eminem. I picked these artists because they are truly who inspired me to better myself as a artist plus they are lyrically sound and happen to tell a story without having to tell a story. They are self made, and if I could dream to perform with any artists it would be them.

AFib: Not too long ago, I dropped a 10 track mixtape, called “NIGHTSHIFT” and recently I dropped an EP, called “Mainstream”. They are both stacked with a diverse sound and extremely lyrical content. At the moment, I’m just going to be dropping song after song and shooting plenty of music videos followed by photoshoots and also booking gigs. I’m taking part in Record Label Auditions as well. Maybe in the near future I’ll drop another project not sure when though, the dates not set.

AFib: I would be doing absolutely nothing with my life. I eat, sleep and breathe music taking that away from me would be like taking my breathe away from me, not that I sleep much and it would be like taking my food away from me, I couldn’t let it happen, I have to stay eating; but I’d probably be working 2 jobs at both receiving minimal wage being absolutely miserable.

AFib: The first album I bought was by Usher, called “Confessions”. When I purchased this album I felt untouchable almost like I produced or was a feature on the CD. I wanted to be just like him, making money off what he loves, making music about his life, and living the dream he once had.

AFib: I just make time for everything I have to accomplish. What helps me is making a schedule and writing down everything I have going on weekly that way I’m one step ahead of the game when it comes time to work, make music, or go to school. I usually get distracted from work and school to focus on music but honestly I don’t mind. I’ve never been the school type and music is my priority so I go out of my way to make room for it.

AFib: More Music along with features from other artists around the world. More Visuals, More Shows, possibly scheduling a mini tour, also thinking about making a “Day In The Life” type deal with episodes and different seasons but I will keep every single one of you updated once everything is set.