Hippie Q – Still Up In The Mix W/ Exclusive Interview
The creative ambiance of this track is quite powerful, it draws you in from the start, and it gives off the impression of something quite dark and serious to follow. The vocal performance that fills out the recording later on has a familiar sound to it. The style and tone of the voices featured throughout fit well within the mix and the overall vibe of the track.
Click the audio below to hear the track!
The initial vocal flow gets quite fast fairly early on in the recording, though unfortunately, none of the rhymes in that opening verse have much that is unique or striking about them, so the speed of the vocal rhythm goes a little unappreciated. The flow is impressive, but you need to listen more than once or twice to catch all the lyrics, and, as stated, there’s a familiarity to them when you do catch up, as opposed to something massively fresh or creatively free. The second time that this same rhythm returns, the effect is a little less; you do start to form an understanding, you start to recognise the sound and the lines, but the next verse has the same sheer amount of words put out in a very short time frame, and there’s still not a huge amount of character or freshness to the lyricism. It makes you wish for something perhaps a little more gritty or truthful, though hopefully that may come with future releases.
The sound itself has a great energy and confidence, the production works, as mentioned, the opening ambiance and the musical creativity is as it needs to be, so there’s a hell of a lot that is strong. The track works well as a light hearted bit of hip-hop for fans to embrace and escape to, and that’s valuable.
By Rebecca Cullen
Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing.
HiPPie Q: I was born and raised in Colorado springs CO, living a San Bernardino CA family lifestyle. One day I just woke up and need a change so I grabbed a pen and paper and havent let go.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
  HiPPie Q: I was walking around campus when,I was in college, and everybody was calling me a hippie at least twice a week so I just a Q on the end and decided to roll with it. My true inspiration would have to be that even if the kids decide to be a hippie you can prove to people that not all hippies are one…just like everyday people every hippie is different.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
HiPPie Q:: I love online music sharing. I’ll post a new song on soundcloud and then share that link on my Fb, insta, and Twitter. At this moment in time, letting people just tune in for now is really helping with the promotion, but soon enough it will cost.
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?
HiPPie Q: yeah I mean I havent met very many, but Sammie G is one I know for sure.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
HiPPie Q: if i mess up, itll be a quick process of rethink, reboot, and keep going.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
HiPPie Q: ive never been on tour but let’s set one up, yeah?
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
HiPPie Q: Every hour of the day. First it goes listen to the beat, freestyle over it and whenever I hear something I like write it down and continue on with the freestyle
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
HiPPie Q: my page is HiPPie Q on Fb. I use Twitter, insta, fb, and soundcloud
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
HiPPie Q: I dont have one
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
HiPPie Q: I’d take my girl and myself to a different country, but just know that ill never stop writing so 9 out 10 ill be coming back with an album or a mixtape
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
HiPPie Q: right now I record at a local studio of Airport with Dj Mac also a native here. I do look to go to Cleveland to record with a producer out there by the name of Dj Mstacks.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
HiPPie Q: I really just talk it up. Usually ill tell people im an artist then they take down my soundcloud and love what they hear.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
HiPPie Q: id have to say Pac,Dre, schoolboy q, and logic in madison square garden sounds too good to be true.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
HiPPie Q: id like to introduce you to AHs;!¡ No not American horror story, but its my Audio Hand Shake or introduction to the game.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
HiPPie Q: Going to school or playing ball
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
HiPPie Q: first album I ever bought was N.W.A Straight Outta Compton.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
HiPPie Q: I just do what I can while I can and if something gets messed up or mixed in, I just take deep breaths and control myself to move aside from the stress.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
HiPPie Q: All their support and love being given back through a takeover in the music industry for my city and state.
