Exposed Vocals just sat down to an exclusive interview with ‘Awkward Shaman’

Hailing from Richmond VA, Awkward Shaman comes with a plethora of musical genius he’s ready to indulge listeners with. An artist containing a world of experiences that could’ve made any normal person give up, Awkward Shaman finds himself as one of the key voices for a generation many suggest is lost and personifies that very element in all of his music.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

I grew up traveling I’ve been all across the country Germany, uk. But I was born in El paso, tx and as a kid the longest we stayed in 1 place was 3 years. That’s why i can’t stay in 1 place for too long these days. I enjoy exploring new places once a place gets too familiar it’s not that fun.

I didn’t decide it’s literally my life support its what keeps me on this plane of existence. I started singing when i was 6 the 1st song i sang was killing me softly by the fugees and my family was surprised i hit every note lauryn hill hit and I started writing poetry when i was 13 my sister stole 1 of my poems for a school contest and it won and got published. I just been making music ever since non-stop.

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?

Its all about who you know and how bad you want it. But there is no 1 way to go about getting where you want to be. Just go hard and do you!! Make sure people see it.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Yes im human. But alot of my music is derived from mistakes because its improvised. So if i make a mistake on stage you couldn’t tell. I have learned to make mistakes work for me.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

Yes! I’ve toured a couple different times. Once after singing back up on tour for Peter $un we were in NYC and performed at the legendary cbgb. After we got off stage instead of heading to the green room to mingle & meet with artists & fans I slipped out the front and took some acid and rode in an uber black escalade around times square for 4 hours trippin and staring at all the bright lights of the city. 1 of the greatest nights of my life. My uber driver sang frank sinatra to me. He was good.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Not really, im always looking for new studios to work with though. Right now i work out of goodpeeples studio in richmond, va. those my people.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

oh man umm.. Twitter, facebook my dude russ keep tellin me to post on my instagram. Ive recently been working with a pr agency and its going well. I like working with someone thats an actual promoter because i wanna focus on my art.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

If i could perform anywhere it would probably be sao paulo, brazil to start a world tour i’d call “around the world in 80 days” with childish gambino, kid cudi , nirvana, electric light orchestra, amy whinehouse, mgmt, lauryn hill and fka twigs. and sir, superorganism and cigarettes after sex would be the openers on certain continents. Then we’d do an interplanetary tour.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Well me and Rasneek just released “Daze” on 4/20 on spotify and all the major streaming services and we’re putting a group of songs and some ideas together for release. I also dropped a 3 song ep “A beautiful day to bike” on bicycle day on soundcloud and I’m working on the projects that are coming after this project as well. Oh and the project I wrote for Brittany Dodge is also out now.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

I honestly beleive i’d be dead. I was real suicidal as a teen i tried to kill myself a couple times and i’ve been in and out of psych wards and would still be that way if i didn’t have creating music and getting those feelings out through music to save me.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?

Just more great music and creative content if your watching me. If not thats cool too your loss.

Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?

Shout out goodpeeples studio in rva, my engineer rasneek, immrcy out in dallas whats good almost dome with that project homie. s/o my old friends i miss yall and wmr music group thank you!!