Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist? Â
Witness: What’s up guys!? I grew up in the Humboldt Park Community and I started rapping when I was 9 years old. A couple years later when I was in 6th grade and my parents moved us to the South Side of Chicago and that’s when I started working on my craft as a rapper. After I graduated High School I went to North Central University, a music school and that’s really where my music took off.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Witness: So both of my parents became pastors when I was 17 years old. At that time, I was still trying to be the next LL Cool J but my mother challenged me to do something different with my music, make music that pulled on the heart strings of the listener.
That night I opened up my Bible and I read Revelations 11:5-6 that speaks about 2 witnesses who spoke fire in the end of days. So I figured Hey, when I rap I speak fire so let’s go with that. haha
:
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Witness: In an ideal word I wish I could make music for free and give it out for free but I can’t. Music cost me Thousands of dollars to make and I do sell it on iTunes and have it streaming on Apple Music and stuff but I always give it away for also. If people want to support me then they will buy the music online but they can still get it for free.
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?
Witness: Absolutely!
Rule 1 – Be yourself
Rule 2 – Friendship over Business
Rule 3 – make dope music and don’t worry about anyone else.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Witness: Since I am not famous yet no one really knows my music, so when I mess up I just do some crowd interaction and then jump right back in.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Â
Witness:Â I went on tour in Florida and got lost for 3 hours, that was fun lol
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process? Â
Witness: The main thing that inspires me to make music is my faith. I love sharing my beliefs in my music and seeing authentic conversations being formed after my concerts. ON the flipside, it is real hard for me to write music sitting down. I have to be moving around so real life inspires my music. I am super emotional. So life and my environment plays a huge role in me making music.
Â
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Witness: You can find me online everywhere by searching @yosoywitness
www.soundcloud.com/
