Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
Honestly, I hadn’t heard of you guys until you followed on me Twitter lol. But since then I checked you out and you hit me up for an interview right away! I like a lot of your posts and I like what you guys do!
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
My story eh? Lol well I’ll sum it up the best I can. I grew up in a lot of different places as a kid, couldn’t ever really call any of them home though. I’ve always been a “Wisconsinite”. As a kid I moved around with my mother and my siblings, from home to home, to a lot of small towns. I did spend the majority of my grade school years attending Pittsville Elementary. But around age 12 I started rebelling against the problems my mother and my stepfather were having. There was a lot of abuse that I was being put through at the time so I went to live with my dad and stepmother who I hardly knew. That didn’t last long though. We immediately started having problems. This when I started writing music, using it as an outlet. I remember borrowing my friends eminem’s CD “The eminem show” and having to hide it because my father hated everything about rap and Eminem.
After I living with my father with a year I moved back with my mother for a few years more until I was sent to an institution at age 16 because I had got into some trouble and my mother apparently couldn’t handle me. After a month the Institution submitted me into a group home where I’d stay for over a year with living with strict rules with 7 other boys. Some who I am still friends with today.
After being released from the group home at 17 I joined the army and finished my final high school years living by myself in an apartment.
Fast forward through a lot of hard ships, loss and pain to age 21, and hear I am.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Psycho Child. It’s funny you ask that question because the song I am recording right now “Livin In My Veins” is actually a small story behind the name. I know a lot of people think I pulled the name out of no where but my philosophy is that there is a bit of “psycho child” in all of us. Psycho Child is my inner child talking NOW, And through everything I went through as a kid, I felt I didn’t have much a voice that people would listen to. Which is a struggle I know a lot of kids deal with. So I call myself “the voice of the psycho adolescent” with the goal that my music will get children and whoever else listens, through the same hard times I went through.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Online sharing for music is great in my opinion! It gives basically every one a voice and an opportunity for the world to hear them!
Yes, all my music free actually as of right now. Something I’ve been discussing with my manager, is when we do finally hit the market, my music is going to be available for free digital download to those age 18 and under. The reason for that is, I know little kids don’t have jobs and I by no means want to make money off them when they might not be even able to afford their next meal.
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?
Ha dang, i’m still in my start up in my would my opinion but from what I’ve learned already is if you are honestly and truly passionate about your music and you want to indent the world in that way, then do it! My father made me ashamed of rap music and for that reason I avoided writing it for years and I wished I hadn’t because right now, it seriously completes every missing part I’ve ever had. So it’s cliche to say but never give up on something that makes you happy.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Ha, I make mistakes in my music all the time! You just gotta flow through it and focus on not messing up again lol. People have come to watch you perform and put on a show. Just put your heart into it. They’ll understand. They probably won’t notice anyways. Everyone’s usually drunk lol.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
I’m writing something everyday! I write more when I have a bad day. All my inspiration comes from my experiences in life. Everything from a broken heart to that dollar menu sandwich I couldn’t afford because my card just bounced again. Like stuff like that use to hold me back but now it just drives me!
My writing process is probably very unorthodox but I have this thing where if I know I’m on a roll or I’ve struck gold on an idea, I won’t eat. Like literally I won’t even move from my seat until it’s all out. Every morning I wake up and I’ll go straight to my desk and start writing. It’s usually 5 or 6 hours before I leave my desk and actually eat something lol.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Yes of course! I’m basically on all the popular ones, Facebook, Soundcloud, YouTube, Twitter, Reverberation, instagram! I love Facebook and instagram lol!
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Ha well I’m not ashamed of any of my music because I typically only listen to 2 artists. Eminem and MGK. I do own every single eminem and MGK album though. Including all their mixtapes! They are the rappers who got me through my childhood and my adulthood so far so they probably will be “til I die”! (MGK song lol)
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Music, music, music! I’d be in the studio almost non stop! And if I wasn’t in the studio I’d be going around to schools and group homes, talking to kids. I’ve already planned out the first few charities I’ll be donating too when I start making money off my music. One being the group home I stayed in as kid. All child supporting charities!
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Well I won’t tell my software or any tricks of the trade, gotta learn those on your own but we are working on building a better booth right now. We are always working on creating a better and more productive work space!
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
We’ve made fliers to promote my music and shows and such! Basically though all my music is promoted through social media and by the word of mouth from all my awesome fans! Nothing is better than one of my fans sharing my music or giving me a shout out or a sending me a supportive message saying how much they enjoy my music. I screenshot and save everyone share, post, and message I can! It all means the world to me!
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Right here in Wisconsin! With Eminem and MGK! I pick Wisconsin because even though I don’t really like the state I love the people in it. Friends, family, fans. It’s where I started out and I gotta show em love they way they’ve done for me
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Ummm just working on finishing up these next songs for my upcoming show Feb 28th at the house of rock in Eau Claire! I wana give my fans and everyone listening something they haven’t heard from me before! Gotta keep em on their toes! Lol
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Mixed martial arts! It’s my second love. I love mma! I’ll always be a fighter!
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
My first album I ever bought was a Linkin Park CD. I remember being really excited to play it on my little CD player I had. I worked hard for both of those things lol.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
It is definitely exhausting but I’ve come to an understanding that if you truly love something, anything, you’ll find a way to make time for it! I’ve given up a lot for music and in return music has given a lot to me
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
A New album of all new music and a lot of shows!
