Exposed Vocals Interviews Lowkey

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

Lowkey: I grew up and am still currently growing up in Evansville,Indiana don’t be fooled by the city. The city really isn’t known for being anything more than a small little obese city but it’s way more than that.  And I’ve found myself in the middle of it and slightly on the outskirts. The real thing that got me into making music had to be just free styling, I’ve always loved music but never thought i could do it my self, until i met my friend JV and he let me just freestyle in through the mac with a beat and he was feeling it so we ran wit it. Soon after the freestyles that we named Red and Grey Album a man named Young Cease came along and asked me to hop on a track with him and it’s been going strong ever since.

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

Lowkey: My name Lowkey came to be because when i was just free styling I used  my real name and that wasn’t flying, who wants to listen to a guy named Erik Thomas rap, But one day Young Cease and I sat down and discussed a name and I thought no one really outside of my close friends knew i rapped not even family so I Chose Lowkey. Now it’s different because almost everyone knows now but it goes deeper than just rap Just like I said  the Ville is becoming a Dangerous place and if i wanna keep going forward I gotta stay Lowkey.

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

Lowkey: I love online music sharing especially for how I am now it’s one of the only ways to be build clout so people know about you matter of fact if it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t have this interview nor anything really. My thing with the music is until your signed with a big named label all of your music should be free, yeah the money is great and all but i See it as sharing your art your ,visions and  your perspective on life to the world.

 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?

Lowkey:  My main advice to people would be just stick with it and when your making a song can you honestly sit in front of someone you care about and tell them every last line is tfrue. If not that’s a problem my main thing in songs is honesty, why talk about something that doesn’t apply to you. In order to get gigs really you just have to build connections if your as good as you think the shows and gigs all of that will find you but patience is the key.

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

Lowkey:  Do I ever make mistakes? Of course nobody’s perfect I’ve messed up several times while performing , but you just gotta continue like nothing happened people respect that when they see it it shows heart. There’s actually been a time where my friends got nervous and left me out there to perform by myself just me and a crowd of people they just walked off mid performance. I’m not gone lie my heart was racing and emotions where through the roof I was heated that they would abandon me but I looked around gathered myself and re-did the whole song just told the DJ to run it back and performed. I honestly think that crowd respected me more after going on by myself  and having the courage to restart more than what they was at first.

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

Lowkey: Unfortunately I’ve yet to tour but as soon as i do i’ll be sure to tell you all about it.

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

Lowkey: Inspiration hmmm… the main thing for me is i have to be completely in the beat I need silence around me or sound proof headphones. My inspiration comes from every day things that take place everything from Struggles to celebrations to heart break and just crazy thoughts that run through my mind. I love to write my music in the dark because i feel as if it’s just me and the beat talking and usually the beat tells me the topic and i just respond to the beat the same as an interview or any other conversation.

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

Lowkey: At the moment we are still working on getting a website together but most of the music is shared  either through Facebook, YouTube, or sound cloud.  I use these websites because they  are the most known music websites and easy for everyone to access. YouTube or Sound cloud  BBFP Records.

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

Lowkey: The most embarrassing song you’ll find on my device would have to be this song I made about this girl I use to talk to, I tried singing before i really could and used all types of different effects. Another song that’s embarrising would have to be anything that I use to free style or this track I made just to get on Young Cease’s nerves called “One Night In Paris” which Paris is the name of his cousin that I use to talk to.

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

Lowkey: First I would make sure all my guys  and my family are straight because at the end of the day I do this so we all can eat and live better lives, but with what ever i had left i’m going straight back to the lab there are no days off I couldn’t do it I love to strive and Love to make music this is my life.

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

Lowkey: The main thing I want to get is the studio glass Like we have everything except that and a mix and mastering board also but I feel like if i had the glass i could focus more because then it just be me and the mic and the music in there.

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

Lowkey: The best way to promote my music has been Facebook and Music Videos, Tweets and pictures the more people see you the more likely they are to check your music out and if your really as good as you think once they hear it they stick to it and become fans of your music. Word of advice even if your fan base isn’t booming still continue to make music and do yo thing because eventually one day it will all pay off .

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

Lowkey: I would have to say Madison Square Garden with Lil Wayne . The reason I wanna perform In The Garden is because ever since a young young guy I been wanting to go there and Wayne is just my favorite artist and is one of the best performers of all time , so it’s only right that if i could chose anyone dead or alive that I chose the goat Wayne.

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

Lowkey: Be on the lookout for anything Lowkey or BBFP . There should be a short film coming out soon that’s in the works and tons of music will be released after that and even songs just for the film just stay in tune with ya boy.

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

Lowkey:  If i wasn’t making music I’d be a trap star. Naw i’m just kidding but most likely i’d probably just stick to playing basketball because that’s another thing I love to do not as much as making music but I love it.

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

 

Lowkey:  I think it was the Lil Wayne Dedication 5 back in 2013 i was like 14 or 13 and straight from the jump of the Album I was thinking to myself “wow this is Wow.”  every track had different unique sounds and crucial word play it was one of those things you could do nothing but be amazed by and respect it.

 

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

Lowkey: With music if you really want to do music our have to make it one of your main priorities because there is so many people that can rap in the world but see it as they don’t have time or get caught up in something totally different. I try to write or at least do something productive with the music every signle day any free time i have goes to music.

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

Lowkey: In the next year or so be expecting to see and hear a lot more from me the take over has begun it’s eat or be eating like I said just stay updated with ya boy that way you can be a Lowkey BBFP OG.