Exposed Vocals just Interviewed Rise Rashid

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

Rise Rashid: Even though I was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and I’ve lived in many places, I mainly grew up between South Jersey and Virginia. Becoming an artist to me came naturally as I’ve always been in love with music. Specially old school R&B that my father would play all the time. The very first music video I fell in love with was Thriller by the King!! My caregivers would put Thriller on the TV and they could leave me for hours and I would rewind it and watch it over and over again. Eventually I grew to find my favorite rapper Nas and between his Illmatic and It Was Written albums I decided I could be that same type of poet.

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

Rise Rashid: Actually at first I went by RisingSun. I was just trying to be creative and say I was on the come up and I was hot. People added things to it like My music gave meanings of new beginnings and hope in music and the world, but I just thought it was a cool name. Eventually I grew out of RisingSun and people started calling me Rise for short. Later I added the last name Rashid, after my father took on the name when he became Muslim at 19. Together the name Rise Rashid means: Rise “to elevate” and Rashid “rightly guided”. Put two and two together.

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

Rise Rashid: We have a love hate relationship lol. I love it because it makes it easy to reach fans. Sometimes I want to release something quick and see what people’s reactions are. That’s the free music. But I hate it because every and anyone has easy access to release music and I wish there was a better filtering process!!

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?

Rise Rashid: Trust the process!! When you start this journey only thing you really see if the goal and you don’t see all the things between the start and the goal. You just have to trust that everything between the two is what makes the journey important. 

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

Rise Rashid: HA!!!! I’m an honest man, so, yes I make mistakes damn neR all the time. I get so much into a zone that I start rapping the wrong words or lose a line or two lol. But I know how to handle it where the crowd won’t ever know a thing!!

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

Rise Rashid: I haven’t been a part of a tour yet. I have traveled and done shows in different states and regions but never an official tour. The road is fun though! I love traveling and I love performing in front of people who don’t know me.

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

Rise Rashid: Well I can’t give you the whole process but I will tell you that I get all my inspiration through living. I write real life stories based off experiences and the emotions and feelings that come from those experiences. My music is just a journal of passages written about what I get through my senses.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Rise Rashid: my website is www.RiseRashidOfficial.com and I am on every social media outlet available via Rise Rashid. My music is also available everywhere music is sold and downloaded!!

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

Rise Rashid: I don’t think you’ll find anything embarrassing that I listen to although I love all types of music. I guess the most embarrassing music you’ll on me is like Backstreet Boys and NSync! I’m an 80s baby and a child of the 90s and 2000s so that dope music to me!!

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

Rise Rashid: Hmmmmm… I’d invest deeply into my craft and make one of the dopest rap albums you’d hear for a long time… that wouldn’t take a lot of money but the time off would be useful to that!! With the money… I honestly don’t know what I would do. I would definitely be looking to flip the half a mill to a million by the end of the year though!!

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

Rise Rashid: I work in my own studio and upgrade here and there. I am currently workin on a project titled “Microphone Jackson” to follow up this years “Microphone Ali” and last year’s “Microphone X”

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

Rise Rashid: I just hit every social media site and connect directly with people. People feel my music and I connect directly to them and they share it. It becomes viral easily from a grassroots angles.

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

Rise Rashid: I would perform in Madison square Garden with Micheal Jackson and Nas. Why?? Because why not!? 

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

Rise Rashid: “Microphone Jackson” is coming out January 24th 2017 and you all are going to LOVE IT!!!

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

Rise Rashid: well I currently am also a high school varsity basketball coach at Millbrook High School in Raleigh and WE ARE GOOD!!!! So I think that answers what I would be doing lol

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

Rise Rashid: I don’t know the first one I bought but the first one I can remember having was Thriller.

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

Rise Rashid: I really can’t explain how lol.. We just do it!!

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

Rise Rashid: I’m headed to the top of the world… look out for my space shuttle. If you want to hitch a ride, come on and join me now!!