Music Review and Interview – Ab Syte – Aftermath
Aftermath is the brand new track from the artist known as Absyte. She’s signed to Absolute Nyste Productions, and the track is featured on the mix-tape Seasucka Season on Tidal Discovery.
Absyte is an experienced artist who has perfected her craft and her lyricism over the years, so much so that it now stands at a level on par with, if not miles ahead of, a lot of the more mainstream artists we so frequently hear about in the media. Her flow is superb, as is her story telling, and the voice itself is stunning – powerful, standing tall and proud – instantly recognisable after just one listen.
There was no specific artist that sprung to mind as I listened, which is great – in an industry as saturated as today’s, it can be difficult to grasp and maintain that essential element of uniqueness. Not a problem in this case. Plus, there are some genuine moments of lyrical bliss that shine bright.. “But Father forgive them.. they’re just young hustlers and they’re looking for the aftermath.”
The great thing about this track is that it sounds big – it feels like it means something. It’s brilliantly produced, which really brings out the musical beauty of the surrounding track, and in front of all that – the words strike hard and heavy. If anything, it would be great to hear a little more about Absyte; the stories behind her, how she came to be where she is now, what she’s been through. I want to hear more from her, which is a brilliant effect. This is the kind of music that could really reach out and grip people. It’s a personal record, but it’s not exclusively about the artist; it’s accessible, and it feels extremely real, and honest. The video that accompanies it is equally as raw and unapologetic. I felt hooked, involved, in tune with it. I just wanted to know even more.
Absyte has a Go Fund Me page active as we speak. Reading about her history and her motivation emphasises that realness and that drive even further. Well worth taking the time out to listen to this. For hip-hop lovers and otherwise; this track is musically massive, and entirely ready to be turned up loud and made a part of your life.
By Rebecca Cullen
Travelling musician and writer from Manchester, UK.
| Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
Ab Syte: I actually found you guys on Twitter 12 days ago. I am returning to music so to speak lol. After a long stint away, I decided to begin my search for opportunities after hearing so many local artists finding success on platforms like Twitter and Instagram….and I found you guys.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist? Ab Syte: Well, I have been rhyming for 22 years. Long time, right…yup. I grew up in the city of Chicago on the southside. Had a very tough childhood, drug addicted mom, never knew my real dad, but I had some awesome grandparents who made a way for me to succeed despite the odds. Went on to college and over the years gained two bachelors degrees and a masters degree in Enterprise Systems (InfoSys) Program Management. I performed all while in school up to 2007 leaving the game to take care of my daughter and just to live life as a software engineer and project manager. The music never left though, it haunted me daily. In recent years since Obama’s election in 2008, the world has turned upside down. Not due to Obama but because of people so eager to hate on him, his wife and his administration. I worked and volunteered for the president for 3.5 years becoming a community organizer in the process. I attempted to keep music as my hobby but it was a no go. Music haunted me as stated daily and with the deaths of Trayvon Martin and countless others I wondered if I was not doing enough to use my purpose on this planet to help my people. Tamir Rice was the last straw. I decided after I launched a major project for one of my clients Verizon, I was going to resurrect the music and here I am. Dunno how this is going to work but I am here for the love. Music is an expensive game but I think it is worth it for my people.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it? Ab Syte: At the time when I picked my name, I was going through a lot of turmoil in my life. A crazy BD, a crazy job in IT and my two loves…my daughter and music. It was so hard then, I was going to school nights and weekends, taking care of my baby girl, and working … it was grueling. So one day when I was driving in downtown Chicago, I was mulling over what I would call myself. Up until that point I was the girl who could rap real good to most folks. They barely remembered my real name. I was driving past a billboard sign for Absolute liquor (Seagrams I believe)… the ad was stunning and it said something to the effect of “find your passion” “Absolutely”. I thought to myself what a misconstrued message. Find your passion to drink? I thought it was pretty back but then it dawned on me, this was what my music was about. Finding the absurdities in life and speaking on how we can change it to something more positive. I was always told that I instinctively knew how to rap better than most and that I have extraordinary insight. I dunno how much I agreed with the “extraordinary” part at the time but I knew I was insightful. When I saw the word “Absolutely” I immediately said “Absolute Insight”. Later when I got home that night I immediately began to think of how I could flip the name to make it more creative and there were already folks named Absolute (Absoooloot, Absolute, etc). I went with the word Absolute but then I flipped the word Nsyte but it was really long. Hard to make a website URL out of a name so long back then. When I started telling people what my new name was they would always break it down to either Ab or Syte… hence the new version of my name Ab Syte. Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why? Ab Syte: I love music sharing. I think it is sometimes the only way to get great music out. The music game is pretty saturated right now so it is good that there are so many sources for great music in that you can listen for free and if you don’t like it you can keep it moving. I have and I do give my music for free, its great for exposure. Of course it is a double edged sword in that no one actually buys your music because why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free. Yet I am still glad we have these avenues and hopefully if you’re hot enough and relevant enough it could lead into paid gigs or actual licensing+distribution opportunities. 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? Ab Syte: Absolutely, I would say be ubiquitous…be everywhere you can. Choose your lane and your words carefully as not everyone is going to feel your music. And this is ok. Find the right groove for you and your band and fit into it. Also learn the business and don’t be shy to promote others. The more you give the more you receive. Yet don’t be a sucker for anything that comes your way. You don’t have to be mean about it, just protect yourself, your music and your brand. Be aware of trends and practice. Learning the business is integral as it will help you navigate the many waters and obstacles you will face. And don’t think it will happen overnight. It may not take 22 years like me as I was on some other ish, but know your audience and play to that. Dedicate yourself to your craft and learn to recognize when to let go and when to re-engage.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that? Ab Syte: Yes all the time. Keep going… that’s usually my mode of operation. Sometimes crowds won’t catch your mistake more than you do. You can’t stop during a show so it is best to move on from the mistake as it is usually only noticeable by you and your team. Even if a fan notices, you can always get better so don’t let one or a few negative comments get in the way of you perfecting your performance. This is what I usually do to get over things like, voice issues, running out of breath or whatever. One time I was at a show killing it and the DJ completely stopped the music, I mean completely. It was like slow motion, I could feel the stillness in the air. I didn’t stop though I kept right on rhyming as if the beat was still on. I was at a Redbull MVP MC of the Year contest. Believe it or not, I won. They attributed my win to the fact that I kept going. Thank God for that. It was an amazing show.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Ab Syte: I did tour in the mid 2000’s but when i stopped that was pretty much it. Radio silence. When I was touring the funniest things to me where the places we would stay. I mean someone’s living room floor, seedy hotels where your scared to sleep in the bed, etc. I think the thing I love about touring is seeing how other people live. Even though I did not complete a city to city world tour with 15 or more weeks, I did do small local tours with groups that were attempting to get good music out. Those were some good times, we ate good, slept good and partied hard. Not too hard for me but I still loved it, it truly gave me life to see and hear fans that knew my music – that could have been the price of admission for me, if only the light company took smiles and high fives lol. Looking to get back on the road this year, my first stop will be Texas where I will be performing in Austin at a concert with Young Buck and Lil Flip. The tour is going on for I believe 10 days but I will only perform on the 12th of March – check me out in Austin if you can. God-Willing nothing will prevent me from being in the show as I am so excited to get back in it.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process? Ab Syte: I gather inspiration from everything. Right now it is the political state of the world that has me most concerned and eager to write. I see a day when some of these issues will dissipate but then there will be something else to write about I guess. I am mostly inspired by people living their life out loud with no regrets or shame of the past. I also am inspired by greatness in all forms, the parents of Trayvon Martin showing grace under immense pain and suffrage, to the mother of Tamir Rice taking on an activist stance to protect the life and memory of their son. To the light-hearted, like Kevin Hart!!! Have you ever seen his Instagram? This guy lives life to the fullest and makes no regrets about it. I am so inspired by that. Usually, people like Kevin are different at first and people hate on them initially. But once they bloom and embrace their full-self others come flocking around to see the spectacle some day miracle. I love that. Its the amazing underdog stories that get me into a position to write. Or a issue that needs discussing that others find it hard to articulate. This is when I write the best. Bridging gaps when there were no avenues to do so before. My writing process is fairly simple and short. I normally have to balance a number of things on a daily basis like work, my daughter’s needs, etc so I am very methodical with my process like work. I have a goal, I have the idea, I take the time to research my idea, then i write. Usually I can write a song emotionally in as little as 20 minutes but I may take a day or so to finalize the song and ensure it speaks volumes to the message I am conveying. I dunno if I always get it right but I feel it in my soul. I have recently begun playing around in the studio practicing the Jayz method to music (off the top with content/context). I was a battle emcee for years so the ability to rhyme off the top is not foreign to me. However to make a song that way is. I have found some leg room and am testing out some styles I like to play with. You’d be surprised how negative things can get rhyming off the top as it is easier to rhyme garbage and bring forth hostilities in this mode. But I am improving and in April I will be making my attempt at a official LP so we will see how many off the top sessions I am able to accomplish before i get my pen out lol. Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music? Ab Syte: Yes, www.absolutensyte.com I share my music everywhere that will accept me and not abuse the right to have my music represented on their site. Below are my current social handles but if you google me there is more: Artist Name: Absyte Twitter: Theabsyte Instagram: Urite22 Reverbnation: Absyte (AbsoluteNsyte) GooglePlus: TheAbsyte22 Video: Aftermath Official Video Single: Aftermath https://www.gofundme.com/tpmwb6pc Mixtape: Seasucka Season on Tidal Discovery YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsjrVZQxj6k Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player? Ab Syte: Well I am a trill fan, its not embarrassing but it is the antithesis of my persona and who i am as an artist. I usually speak against because I felt like the game has been over saturated with it. With that said I grew up on Rakim, GrandPuba, Black Moon, 8 Ball & MJG. I always felt the music from the hood cause I am from the hood. I understand the language and the movements – I just don’t agree that everyone can represent that life and really teach in the same vein. Nowadays there are only a few artists I listen to with respect like Travis Scott and A.S.A.P Rock. I guess this shouldn’t be embarrassing and in a way it isn’t for me but I can only imagine what ppl may say. The other most embarrassing thing in my play list is a japanese rapper named Keith Ape – he did an ode to OG Maco – again this ish is banging but I swear!!!! I have no idea what they are saying but that ish knock hard!!! so does OG Maco “b*tch u guessed it” – I love it and it is so embarrassing but i love and i don’t care I live with the embarrassment lol!!! Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it? OMG the plan is sick, I would absolutely first pay my rent for a year so i have no issues with bills or rent and I can just create…I know I will put a lot of rappers out of business if that happens!!!! I would next set forth on the album and marketing plan. I have some people who are really interested in marketing me but I need the money to continue. Music is an expensive love. But Im ready OMG Im ready. I would then put together a new series of videos to be released (time-phased release) schedule in coordination with my tour schedule which would be next after the album was done. I would get a private tutor for my daughter and we would hit the road. My daughter and I have talked about it in a fantasy type discussion format and she really wants to stay in school so I may just pay a friend a great deal of $ to make sure she is safe while I travel but since she is 15 I really would like her to be near me. Yet it would be up to her and what would be safe for her to continue school in her preparation for college. She is #1 so her life means more than mine. I am here to service her and make sure she succeeds so my goal is to get her safely to her adulthood and secure her education so she can protect her life as i have mine.
Ab Syte: Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now? Ab Syte: Well right now i am making radio edits. I have a potty mouth and I like it!! But the world is not to keen and with some of the people who are quick to judge and shoot it is not advised or allowed. So I am in the studio attempting to ensure I don’t ruin the original vibe of the music with crazy punch ins. Hard work but I will make it right. As aforementioned I am planning a new release in April, this will be hard without funding but I will make it work. I am looking for a new contract now as i am a Program Management Consultant so I will fund myself until something positive happens. Its so hard, because my music can actually kill my IT career but I had an interview yesterday and I got the work just a matter of getting the work done while preserving the positivity and purpose of the music. Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you? Ab Syte: I promote anywhere I am accepted and not abused. There are a lot of weird fish in the sea so you have to be careful. I am present on all the major sites such as Twitter, Instagram, FB, etc. I think the only thing Im not on right now is periscope and snapchat. I would like to use those when I start touring, right now I am laying a foundation/infrastruture for my brand so we will see how it works out. I need to accomplish a few goals first, radio edits, online presence (stronger fan base), using social media to gather a strong fan base. Its hard out there as I said there are a lot of artist making music in their basement and not all of it is half bad either. I have a small but modest base some from back in the 2000’s and some new ones from now. It seems everywhere I look someone I have never heard before has 15 or 25K followers and Im like how did they do that? an app or are they performing to get that many fans. Its a big world out there so I guess it has to be one or the other but Im making headway with views, retweets and loyal fans that keep me going. Hopefully I can make something of this and not just list it as a loss at tax time. Replacing my job would be insane, but it is more likely i can either make supplemental income or parlay my current expertise in a successful career at a music company – it would be really cool to translate my skills from my IT experience into a opportunity that allows me to work for some of the greats in the music business. Since I am being practical about this, there are many options and avenues popping up as ideas of how to break in either as a performer or employee (Radio Personality, Record Executive, Production or Publisher of new upcoming music) the ideas are endless, just need to make something happen and I am positive it will. Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why? Ab Syte: Alive: Rakim, Jayz, A.S.A.P Rocky, MosDef, SnoopDogg, I mean there are so many people I would be honored to perform with (Missy Elliot) I can’t list them…just too many 4real. I would love to perform in Australia, China, Japan and the UK – I have already performed in Paris and would love to do it again. Dead: Biggie and Tupac for obvious reasons. I still wonder how they would have made it doing movies and other stuff like Ice Cube and Common. Just so sad, life left too soon. Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about? Ab Syte:Yup new album this summer and hopefully many gigs that pay many dividends enough to replace the gig. I know Im dreaming right now but I can’t give up I have to see if this takes flight. You better believe I am glad I have my education to fall back on as I may have to become creative if corporate america won’t take me anymore which is a very real possibility.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing? Ab Syte: IT Program Management (Consulting Owner), Real Estate and Land Ownership. Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head? Ab Syte: Geez my first album was Michael Jackson’s off the wall. My granny bought it for me and I was mesmerized by his picture and so in love with my granny for buying it. In a way, she was too because once she bought it and saw me dance to it – every christmas for the next 5 years I performed songs off that album at every christmas and thanksgiving celebration – I almost feel out of love with Michael (lol I was scarred for life in a good way though) but I feel back in love after thriller was released and then again with the bad album. My granny really was the person who put music on my map so to speak. She did it and it never left me all these years later. Rest in peace, Granny. Exposed Vocals: Ab Syte: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life? I honestly don’t know other than I live in a state of awareness that my daughter and I could be homeless at any time if I don’t work hard. With most of my immediate family passed on, even though a have loads of cousins and friends, its hard for me to ask for a hand out. I have to get up by my own two. I am just that determined and I show my daughter how to as well so she is never overly dependent on anyone – if she needs to bounce she can bounce. The juggling becomes like breathing you do it to survive – Ive been in survival mode for most of my life so its no biggie. I would though like to dream big because if the universe and God decide that I am deserving then I would love to live carefree as my mother said I would right before she died. She died at the age of 46, heart disease from a hard life, I need not repeat her life so I fight each and every day to make it. No matter IT or music or otherwise, I have to succeed I have no choice in the matter. Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Ab Syte: Look for me to service the fans, speaking on the issues that most don’t want to speak about but having fun at the same time. There are a lot of bad things in this world but there are also a lot of good. Fans can expect that from me, a good mix of issues and feel good songs. I want to make Hip Hop that returns to the 80’s and 90’s storytelling with a modern flare of dope cadence and styles that range the spectrum to catch as many ears as possible. The company or entity that invests in me will not be disappointed with my work ethic as I will apply the same mode of operation that made me successful in IT and apply it to music. Yet I love so many genres and types of music I want to experiment with a lot of things…like i said shooting for the sun not the moon. Fans can expect that I will look at them being all over the globe and try to listen to their needs and make music that speaks to their life while sharing mine in the process. I hope I can make a lot of $ doing the thing I love the most outside of God and my daughter – Fans can expect nothing less than the best from me. I will give it my all for them and Jojo – with the prayer that it is returned 100 fold. (and so I can make a profit after everybody else gets their cut lol!!). |
