Q & A
What track on your album is your favorite, and why do you like it?
Symphony of Shadows is my favorite track. I only made the beat; Truthiek did the vocals and wrote the lyrics. I contributed by summarizing the lyrics to maintain the flow. When I started to mix the track, it was at 3 minutes, and the entire song was just amazing. I had to stretch it, so I added my vocals to give it some extra time and a mid-clip to express it more deeply. To me the song is so deep and has so much meaning. It seriously resonates with me.
Interestingly, the song was never truly planned; it just happened, and she played a crucial role in making it come to life. I was originally working on a song that was meant to feature several collaborators, and she was one of them. However, due to timing issues, the project took a different direction. When we spoke, I asked her if she would be interested in collaborating with on a song with me, and that turned out to be the best decision. The fact that she was willing to share her pain with me and the audience, and trust me with it for the album, is simply heroic. Now its one of the 4 music videos being made.
You mention a lot of pain and things that seem specific and targeted at someone. Can you tell us who?
No, that’s the point. The only time I mention names is in a positive context. The purpose of mentioning PINES & ROLLING GLADES is to release negativity; by not mentioning their names, I take away their power. Additionally, I don’t want to give them a platform. I am 100% certain they know who they are, but I will never confirm or deny anything.
Since you’ve talked about cutting ties, I assume you’ve ended many friendships. Who are your friends now, or are you on your own?
It's funny; this is something I get asked all the time. At first, it was hard to explain, but luckily, since I get asked so frequently, it became easier. Yes, I did cut a lot of negativity out of my life; it was pretty easy, to be honest. I focused on two groups: the negative people around me and those who weren't in my call history or text messages, especially after my buddy died until I started this journey in 2024, It showed who cared and who didn't, relationships period are a two-way street and if you can't be there when I'm down, then your off the list for the ups. It's surprising how simple "How are you doing?" or "Hey, just checking on you". or even a "YO" goes a long way—Ministry of presence.
Family dynamics can be more complicated, but I'm working on making amends as part of my journey. I have friends I met when I moved to Corona who are now a big part of my life and have become like family. We celebrate all our holidays together, and I even made a track for them called "Corona Familia." In a weird world, they are my ride-or-dies. I've known them for about three years, and they check on me constantly, going out of their way to show they care.
I still have my (sister), Stephanie, around. She has played a significant role in my therapy. Although she leaves for work for long stretches, she always comes back, and we pick up right where we left off. Obviously, my wife, Mars, and my son, Aiden, are my best friends.
I also have 5 best friends I talk to daily, whom I've never met in person.My best friends, Vengeance, Pyle, and the Automaton Wrangler ,who have been helpful and supportive. I have only met Automaton Wrangler (who some of you may know as Bob or Robert). We formed a Discord server together, creating a safe space away from bullying for those of us who face pain and struggles. The members keep growing. We've become real friends, sharing our lives beyond just gaming. We don't just play games; we share our stories and support each other. We exchange phone numbers, and if one of us goes missing, we reach out to make sure everything is alright.
When I say the gaming world is a better place than the real world, I truly mean it. People go there to escape, and you often find genuine people, opening up the range of people across the world. These five have been incredibly supportive of my growth, and I couldn’t have done this without them. They are mentioned in the acknowledgments at the end of my album for being there every step of the way.
I can’t forget about the fifth person who became a best friend: Truthiek, whom I call Truth. I thought i give her, her own section, I don’t mean to embarrass though. However, she is a valuable Discord server member and highly engaged with the community. Even while at work, she jumps on the comms to talk to people who need support, which shows how much she cares. Although I've never met her, she is important to both the community and to me; we’ve all become like family, and now some of them are immortalized on the album.
What began this project or this journey?
For a while now, I've known how to make EDM beats, and I enjoyed playing around with them, though they weren't anything amazing. In 2023, when my best friend passed away, everything became overwhelming. I struggled to find a moment to mourn because everyone around me seemed to either want to be my best friend for personal gain or try to bring me down. That pain drove me to seek therapy, but nothing seemed to help.
Eventually, I returned to writing like I used to, creating songs without overthinking—just pouring out my emotions on the page. I would write 3-4 pages at a time, and only bits and pieces would make it into the final songs. Sometimes, one lyric would inspire an entirely different song. During this time, I was also learning how to create commercials for social media and television, which deepened my understanding of music. This experience helped me learn how to place vocals and layer beats with bass drops, and I began experimenting more with my music.
Can you explain your process for using different types of vocals?
I've learned three key things from my exploration of music, even though I'm definitely not a singer. First, I've mastered using autotune and how to adjust it. Second, I've delved into voice cloning, which allows me to manipulate the tones of my voice or stretch it. Third, I've experimented with AI vocal enhancements to reach higher notes, although I rarely use this technique. Depending on the song, I might apply one technique, two, or even all three, but most of the time, I only use one or two.
Some songs that feature other artists either sound like you or they don’t. For example, "Chemistry in Crisis" doesn’t sound like you, but "A Tapestry of Ashes" does. Can you explain why?
For "Chemistry in Crisis," I didn't contribute to the vocals; I only created and produced the beat. They made it challenging to release the track without crediting myself and the featured artists. They own 50% of the song rights.
Regarding "Tapestry of Ashes," Jose and Pyle wrote the lyrics. I only wrote one verse and the hook, while they handled the rest. I focused on the vocals.
As for "Symphony of Shadows," I believe I mentioned in the first question that I didn’t write the lyrics. I helped summarize the song and crafted the hook, but the lyrics and vocals were by Truthiek. I only contributed about 10 seconds of my own vocals. I mainly produced the track and added some clips and extensions.
In "Thank You for the Journey," Pasto was listed as a featured artist because he wrote the lyrics and provided vocals for the song, but somehow that credit was removed. Lastly, "Biscuit Bank$" is my son, and he did the ad-libs for "Corona Familia."
What next? Will you continue and make more music?
What next? Will you continue and make more music?
Honestly, I don’t know, and I doubt it. I feel like I’ve said everything I needed to, and I’m just taking a step back for a moment. I’ve got four music videos in the works—two are almost done and should be out next week! I’m also wrapping up a couple of collaborations and working on some new beats. As for another album, I’m really not thinking about that right now. This whole project came about unexpectedly; I did it for myself and then everything just evolved from there.
What matters most to me is the thought that maybe my music can touch someone, even if I never know it. In a world where there can be so much darkness, I find comfort in the idea that my pain and passion can resonate with at least one person.
I've witnessed how stepping away can reveal people's true colors; it can really feel like a jungle out there sometimes! But for now, my focus is to get things back on track. I want to make amends with those I might have pushed away who didn’t deserve it while keeping some distance from those who do. Then I’ll continue my journey towards Pines & Rolling Glades. I hope to see you all there!
