Brand new interview about online music sharing with Unsigned Artist Willie Starks

How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

I think I just came across you guys on twitter, I got the follow so I
followed back.. show love where you get love.

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

Well I was born in Philly but raised in New Jersey, split parents,
split life lol. I’m not sure what sparked my decision to be an artist,
I think I’ve just always been gifted with my use of words and had alot
to say but no one to say it to, then I picked up that MIC and its been
no looking back.

How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Like any other rapper I ran through a million wack names tsl, phantom,
disciple & William Pen lol then I saw this movie “all the kings men”
and I instantly gravitated toward the name I already had this interest
in the name Will represents ability, passion & its just and around
interchangeable word but I stuck with Willie because of the movie and
as an ode to 90’s rappers because they through that word around alot,
it means like “baller”, “boss”. The character in the movie is just
Willie Stark, I added the ‘s’ because of iron man & ghostface killah,
so all-in-all my name is like a bridge between the past & the future.

What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music
away for free? Why?

Online music sharing is the only reason I’m here lol I think its at
the point where everyone is just spamming & trying to come up, in the
rap world anyways, so its annoying. I share my music from my page, if
you’re interested then take a look, I’m not goin to chase you down
haha & yea I have tons of free music online.

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?

Just remain creative & personable. Dont follow anybody else,
especially if your just trying to get accepted, well who’s goin to
make music for those other people that weren’t accepted, you feel me.
So, its really just stick to your guns & never get a big head & all
that stiff will come naturally.

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

Haha oh forsure. I think I’m just super happy & oblivious up on stage
I dont even notice, because when you notice everyone notices. I’m
comfortable with looking like a fool, people scream at a sky for
wishes, I cant be any worse.

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

I toured when I was younger with my friends band but that was more for
fun. I wasn’t really focused on music at that time it was all my
friends that were into music pushing me to do it. Ive done about 150+
shows in my 6 year career but I’m sure there will be much more to tell
once I do hit the road.

Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual
songwriting process?

It all really started with my life or what’s weighing on my brain that
day. If I’m happy you get some upbeat stuff, if I’m down you get
downtempo. I try to go in with an idea of how the song should sound
but there is never a repeated formula. Some days I freestyle, some
days I write a full song, somedays I’m singing & other days in
screaming at you lol.

Do you have a band website? Do you have a Facebook or Twitter? Do you use
Bandcamp, Spotify, ExposedVocals or SoundCloud to share your music?

Forsure I use all those, but the easiest place to get everything is
www.creepavelli.tumblr.com

What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3
player?

I’m not embarrassed about it but some people may be surprised to find
more circa survive & lady gaga on my iPod than jay-z & nas lol. I’m
open to everything thats why music sounds the way it does, its every
form of music, I make music not just rap.

If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do?
How would you spend it?

I would honestly build a crib in a forest somewhere and just make
music & shoot videos haha I really don’t need much, maybe some weed &
every episode of cowboy bebop & king of the hill lol.

Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

I’m in the home studio right now which is more relaxing. I’ve record
at a couple big studios but I like goofing around and smoking and just
bein normal. I cant create around restrictions.

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

Well if I told everyone that, they’d catch the vibes lol. I just stay
true to what I do & word of mouth just carries out for the most part,
plus I’m blessed with cool friends from all over the world.

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

Man I just want Coachella in my life, headlining spot haha. Idk about
performing with, but I’d love to tour with kid cudi or lady gaga.

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

Yea I actually have a project done for the end of the year called
“Linx”. If you heard “iNiCiO” it kinda leaves you with a depressing
cliff hanger, “Linx” is kind of the opposite & shows how I’m
overcoming that. Its just better musically and more sonically cohesive
than anything I’ve done, very in the vain of “The SMOKE Ep”.

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

Helping someone else make music lol. I’d definitely still be involved
if I wasn’t making it, music journalist, a&r, label owner, something!

Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going
through your head?

Man, the first album I ever bought was “country grammar” by nelly. I
think you can see alot more of those similarities in the music now,
along with alot the early music I had like ludacris, the game & jay-z.
I know I really wanted that cd, back then it was like you have to live
with that music, there was no songs dropping 30 minutes on the
internet , so you had to cherish that 15 song cd for a year maybe 2.
Definitely left an ever lasting impression on me.

How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay
ahead in your music life?

Music is Life.

What should fans look forward too for the rest of 2014 and beyond?

Man, just expect work. More music, more clothes, everything I was
doing before bigger & better, more distinctive. “Linx” coming at some
point 2014, a couple other side projects but definitely peep “iNiCiO”
(www.creepavelli.tumblr.com) if you haven’t already & just keeping
balance between fear & faith & yall do the same.