Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
Price YP: I saw it on twitter. Liked what I saw, as far as a platform for undiscovered artists to be seen and heard. That’s key.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Price YP: It was kind of something I had embedded in me, from a young age. I grew up in Blacksburg VA, home of the “Hokies”. My parents were season ticket holders, so I got to see the Marching Virginians quite a bit. Even before that, when I was 5 I would play with the keyboard at the preschool I was at, Mrs. Dee’s it was called. If that wasn’t available, i would smack around pots, pans, broomsticks, etc. Whatever I could get a hold of at the time. We also grew up with an old a** pedal organ at my house, which my cousin Jared & I used to bang around on! I guess I just always loved music. It was only after I graduated high school, did I decide I wanted to be an artist. I put out my first mixtape less than two weeks after graduation, and it was terrible. And from there, I just fell more and more in love with the process.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Price YP: Easy. Price – my family name. YP – stands for “Youth Progression”, and it’s funny because everyone always thought it stood for young price haaa. Rhetorical & incorrect. As far as the inspiration, I just wanted to be a positive example for kids coming up, that if you chase your dreams and never give up, anything can happen. It’s not our generation that is going to appreciate what we are doing today, it’s the one coming after us.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Price YP: I think it’s essential. Nowadays, the internet & social media have made artists so much more accessible to everyone, and it would be foolish to not take that into consideration. Also, nobody is going to want to buy something they have no reference for. So yeah, I give away a ton of music for free. It’s about the payoff. One day, I hope to make my living off of my words and my vibe, it’s just not today.
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?
Price YP: Grind man. If you have something you believe in, never stop pushing. If there are radio stations in your area that take local submissions, visit them. Bring your music and personally get it into the hands of those people who are going to play it. If there are open mics or talent shows, get off your a** and make it happen, no matter how minor they may seem at the time. Also, be concious of your imaging and branding through your actions and grit. You never know who is watching and listening. Really, you just have to get your name and face out there.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Price YP: You keep it moving. We are only human, and everyone makes mistakes. Simple as that. Often times, the crowd doesn’t even know you messed up until you make it obvious, so I just try to keep my energy up & keep it moving, you know?
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Price YP: Not yet. I’ve really been focusing on my craft, trying to establish a product that’s viable and consisten, so that once I do emerge on the national & international scene, I’m ready to shut it down.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Price YP: Just from life. I mean, there is inspiration around us on a daily basis, so it’s our job to pick up on that vibe. Remember, as artists and entertainers, we aren’t necessarily making the music for ourselves. To an extent, but it’s really about the audience.. The fans.. It’s about connecting, being relate able, and being believable. Nobody is going to fully support something they don’t believe in, bottom line. As for the songwriting process, i typically put a concept down on my iPhone, whether it be a voice memo or in my notes. Whatever. Then, I chop it up with my musical family, and exchange vibes and energy. Proceed to lock myself in a room. Then work at it, until I’ve exhausted all the ideas. I don’t force anything though, so once my ADHD sets in, I avoid my frustration by doing something else. Still music related, just not particularly related directly to the song I’m working on. Everything connects.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Price YP: I do. I primarily post onto my Reverberation page, because I like the validation in rankings it provides for emerging artists. That is www.reverbnation.com/priceyp. I also use MTV’s artist platform – www.mtv.com/artists/price-yp, as well as soundcloud and datpiff to post the free music. As far as sharing, i typically use my twitter to put the information out there, & that is @Price_YP
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Price YP: I listen to all sorts of musical genres, but i guess the most embarrassing songs of my collection would be an entire album from Metric, called “Synthetica”. Not because the music is bad, it’s actually awesome! But more so, because hip hop artists don’t typically listen to that stuff. Also, some country songs and I even put theme songs from old cartoons and television shows I used to watch growing up. I’ve got no shame though, it is what it is.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Price YP: A few things. First, I would make sure my family was good for life. You know, help my parents retire, pay back student loans, things like that. Second, I would create the Youth Progression center in Blacksburg Virginia, so that kids would have a place to go to stay out of the streets. Set up scholarships, have a basketball gym and pool area, as well as access to recources for studying, preparing for college by teaching about FAFSA and other things like that. You just gotta give em’ the opportunity to succeed. I had that growing up, but not everyone does. Last, i would by a house out in the country & deck out the studio. As for a year off, I don’t think that’s actually real. There is always time to be doing something, & your not going to continue to thrive where your at currently if you don’t work at it constantly.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Price YP: Our set up is solid foreal. We’ve actually been working with an Aventone C7 capsule, and an MPK 249 keyboard for vocals and productions primarily. We switch out interfaces, as well as rooms we actually perform in, to get us ready for tour production. The artists I work with “Ozone Pilots” have a legitimate studio in the DC area as well. Btw, check them out, they are doing some things.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Price YP: Personally, I’m all over the internet. That’s the fastest exchange of information available. I don’t really have a “best” method, it’s more or less if the opportunity seems right, I’m on it.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Price YP: That’s easy. Haa, I would put on a festival in my home town of Blacksburg, Virginia. At Lane Stadium. Growing up there, it can get fairly noisy! And i’d set up four stages, facing every section of the stadium, so people could walk around and get a full experience for what they are feeling at the time.
As for the artists I would want to perform with, that’s a bit tougher.. hmm. I’d have to say right off of the rip, I’d want Bob Marley & The Wailers. Jimmy Hendrix & Rory Gallagher, shredding on either side of the main stage. The hip hop acts I would have in attendance on the opposite side of Marley, would be as follows. Myself, then Future, then Wiz Khalifa, then Drake, & then Wu Tang Clan to close out the show. Everybody loves Wu Tang.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Price YP: Actually, there are a few. I have a project coming out Halloween, called “The N9ne”. It’s a collaboration between myself and a producer in Atlanta named Bonafide, who I initially linked up with while he was in Milwaukee. All the beats will be exclusive, and there will be a couple of nationally recognized artists in the mix, so it should be solid. In addition to that, I’m also working on establishing awareness for my sponsors @ the RudeBoy clothing line, with a series of music videos for my production team “The Syndicate”. We intend to branch off, and make our own lifestyle apparel, based off the vibe we have going on with the music at the time.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Price YP: Honestly, probably traveling outside of America, to countries where Marijuana is legal. I’ma connoisseur of sorts, and I take my smoking seriously.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Price YP: I do. It was a Brian McKnight album, called “Back To One” or “Back At One”. I remembered buying it for the self titled single, and thinking “man, this guy gets it!” haa.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Price YP: It’s about balance. I just try not to let any one thing overwhelm me, whether it be the music, or fulfilling other obligations such as work, helping on my family farm, you know things like that. I also am involved in my church & love to take weekend trips whenever I can, just to get away both mentally & physically.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
Price YP: They can look forward to seeing me making some waves. I don’t like to put expectations on projections, I just know that the product is something I’m proud of. Definitely, alot of music videos. Definitely will be seeing more of me in the coming months.
