Hello Rockstars!
Today I’m going to tell you about our Artist of the Week: Vᵀᴴ
Here’s his story in his own words, Enjoy!
*Main Photo Courtesy of: Passion, Peace & Prosperity.
Outdoor Photo’s courtesy of: Nadiya.*
VMS:
“When did you start writing and performing your music, What’s your backstory.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“First things first, my name is Vᵀᴴ (pronounced “Fifth”). I’m the artist formerly known as The Fifth Estate & Myke Blayze. I’m a southwest child, born in Southern California and raised in Central Texas. My name speaks to an old system of social hierarchy in society that rigidly defines people by means of economic and social standing. The fifth estate represents the vast majority of people born into this world and I aim to be a common, relatable voice in a world where people struggle to be heard and recognized.
I reluctantly started writing and recording my own music around 14 years old. A friend of mine recommended that we start a rap group and, after some convincing, I agreed. Neither of us knew much about how to make music but we both had a keen understanding of what we liked to hear. From the beginning, everything was trial and error. We were suburban living, relatively middle class black kids in central Texas. Killeen was not the type of place where we’d easily find a recording situation or recording mentorship. Before we were able to financially invest in anything, we used what was immediately available to us; bootleg recording software and a desk microphone that fit into the 35 mm jack in your computer. Our group didn’t do much beyond write and record a few songs but it left an incredible impression on me. I had the most fun I’d ever had composing, writing, and recording. Unfortunately, the group fell apart after roughly a year but I would go on to start making my own beats, writing, and recording an entire solo project. I sourced a graphic artist, begged my parents to loan me $300 (they wouldn’t let me work in school) so that I could press 100 copies of the album, and gave out copies to anyone that seemed even remotely interested. At one point before graduation, I managed to find a local venue with an open mic to get my (very awkward) first performance into the world.
The years following featured relocating to New York for college, entering the United States Military Academy, and becoming an active duty Officer in the Army. Although I was doing the furthest thing from my goals, I stayed with the passion behind the scenes. I’ve always been intensely invested in growth and improvement so I made sure to invest whatever time and money I could spare into becoming a better artist. After a deployment in 2016, I came back to the United States with a renewed intensity and refreshed perspective on the path I wanted my life to take. I was stationed in El Paso, Texas at the time and I slowly began to perform around the city, sharpening my skills. I left active duty service in 2018 and never looked back. Playing in and around El Paso led me to opportunities like performing at Neon Desert Music Festival, SXSW, A3C Music Festival, and more. Performing is my favorite part of the creative process; neck and neck with creating the music.
I moved to Las Vegas with my girlfriend in late 2019, just in time for the global pandemic, so I’m still learning the city and the different people that live here.”
VMS:
“What artist or bands inspire you and your sound.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“My core musical influences include OutKast, MF DOOM, A Tribe Called Quest, and Linkin Park. These aren’t all encompassing but just groups/acts that come to the mind most readily. At the end of the day, I’m influenced by sounds that I physically and mentally resonate with, regardless of genre. I like complex chords and melodies but I’m also drawn to less complex arrangements all the same. Whatever sounds good to me lol.”
VMS:
“What’s your writing process and inspiration for your lyrics.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“I’m a very feelings based person so my writing process isn’t really all that formalized. I’d say it’s more situationally dependent. I’m accustomed to working alone with beats on repeat for hours but I’ve slowly transitioned to working with others while beats play on repeat for hours haha. Sometimes a verse comes to mind, sometimes a hook or chorus, either way, it always starts with one line. It all blossoms outward from there. Everything is some sort of message. Coded or not. I always want to provide an authentic message from my perspective. Even if I’m telling someone else’s story or recounting a story second hand, authenticity is at the forefront of my mind. I’m also prone to drafting my music lyrically and audibly. Sometimes I just need to experiment with different versions of something before I’m satisfied. I write about life experiences, mine and others. I write about what’s going on outside….or my interpretation of it. I write about what I’m dealing with in the hopes I find a creative way out. I write about common situations to connect with people. I love to rap, I love playing with words, and I love using my voice as an instrument.”
VMS:
“I love your songs “Good Day”, “Letcha Man Play”, “Knock”, “Consciousness” and “Karmic Reset”. What is the inspiration or story behind these songs.”
Vᵀᴴ:
” “Karmic Reset” was about making a personal statement, out loud. That statement was “start over and start strong”. This is Fine, Vol. 1 was created during the beginning of the pandemic and I was feeling restless and upset about live performances shutting down completely. Ultimately, nothing I’d done previously really mattered at that point. Not that it was insignificant per se, but, in the name of growth, I need to look forward. I was at home like everyone else so I wanted to make the best of the situation. “Consciousness” is a song about college and the ways it challenged me. It sort of chronicles my failure to adapt quickly enough to my new environment and the effects it had on me as I entered active duty service. As a whole it’s a reflection I’ve made about coping mechanisms and surviving through life. “Knock” was based purely on feeling. That feeling can only be summed up in the title, “KNOCK”. I wanted to capture the feeling of restlessness and pent up energy carried through a message of honesty and positivity. The beat was made by a long term collaborator of mine, Tyler Donavan. “Letcha Man Play” was inspired to be a message of liberation to myself and everyone else around me. Do what you want and do it well. I like to remind myself who I am and how far I’ve come. “Good Day” was inspired by a combination of experiences I’ve had as an artist with suspect people. People who front like you need them and violate your space as a result. These people aren’t worth the energy nor the time. So I don’t argue, I make distance & bid you good day.”
Listen to Vᵀᴴ on Bandcamp:
https://infinitylimit.bandcamp.com/music
VMS:
“Tell me about your EP’s “This is Fine, Vol.1 and 2.” What was the writing process behind your music and also what was the inspiration or backstory for these EP’s.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“The “This is Fine” series was built for the sole purpose of reconciling my life and circumstances during the pandemic. I conceptualized it as a 3 part series of 5-6 song EPs. The fear and uncertainty that came with being cut off from the physical world combined with the never tiring pace of the internet forced me to face some fact and work even smarter for my goals. “Acceptance” and “detachment” were two thoughts that stayed with me during that time and I got to write a lot of vulnerable stuff. The vast majority of the production was crafted by my homie Max Vista. He’s been a collaborator and friend for years now. He’s been contributing beats and vocals to projects since I released my album, “How (Eye) Feel” but Volume 2 was the first project he produced in full for me.
Volume 1 was written near the end of 2020 and features some of my first beats since 2009. I produced Chaos Kid & Full Disclosure and sourced some vocal cuts and scratches from my DJ, Jason Craig. Volume 3 has been about 90% done for a while now but I haven’t bigger plans for it than my average release.”
LIsten to “This is Fine Vol.1 and Vol.2” On Bandcamp:
https://infinitylimit.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-fine-vol-1
VMS:
“Which local artist would you like to work with and why.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“I honestly haven’t had the opportunity to get acquainted with too many local artists. I would love to meet more people to collaborate and create with in the future. The fit just has to be right.”
VMS:
“What’s your overall theme or message of your music.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“I’d say the core message of my music is quite literally to be yourself and embrace the unique flavor and perspective that you’ve been blessed with. I find the that one of the worst things a person can do is betray themselves, their beliefs, and their ethics. The biggest lesson I’ve ever taken away from hip-hop is “word is bond” and I believe being about what you say is paramount in life and in art. I want people to not only see elements of my life in my music but also opportunity for them to reflect on the lessons and perspective that I bring to the table.”
VMS:
“Do you have a favorite song that you like to perform.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“Currently, a rework of a song called “Let it Out” is my absolute favorite song to perform. It’s a jazzy, off tempo kind of speakeasy vibe. The original version can be heard on How (Eye) Feel and while it’s fun to perform, the reworked version just brings a differently level of energy out of me. The song is about dealing with your issues and finding ways to constructively work through them instead of just blaming the world around you for misfortune. There have been several times in my life where this mindset might’ve saved me from prolonged misery and I always hope for the message of the song to help people do the same.”
VMS:
“Do you have any crazy or interesting stories from working in the music scene.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“I’d say the most interesting thing to happen so far is meeting DMC of Run-DMC after leaving SXSW a few years ago. I didn’t realize we were on the same plane until we landed and I got to speak with him briefly.”
VMS:
“What do you want your audience to feel and experience at one of your live shows.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“I want the people familiar with me to get a brand new experience. Each time I put together a set list, I make sure to introduce new elements to my records to separate the experience from just hearing my recorded songs on Spotify. For anyone that’s never experienced my live performance, I want them to leave with a definite impression that makes them want to tap into the world that I’ve built around my art. From the crowd interaction to the arrangements that I’ll create, I want everything to be unique to that moment in time as much as possible.
The bottom line is that performing is my favorite thing to do so when you experience it, you’re hearing everything in the most full version it was intended.”
VMS:
“What does the future hold for Vᵀᴴ.”
Vᵀᴴ:
“I try to avoid making concrete plans because I believe in a higher guiding force for life but I’ve plenty of intention to continue to grow as a person and artist. I want to play shows to new audiences and continue to travel with my music and meet people, especially in Las Vegas. This year I’m releasing a 5 year anniversary version of my 2019 project How (Eye) Feel. In addition to more music (like This is Fine, Vol. 3) and videos, I have some other physical items that I’m working on behind the scenes. I’ve slowly found a nice rhythm that will allow people to participate in the journey in fun ways on and offline!”
VMS Thoughts:
What I love about Vᵀᴴ is how he takes all his life experiences to give you a very complex analysis of life, love, social, political issues, growth as a person, and takes you on an emotional journey to the core of who he is as an artist and how far his depth can truly go. This is not your average music your gonna hear on the radio, it’s real life. In songs like “Full Disclosure Ft. Max Vista” he talks about building community, being true to who you are, and trying to follow your dreams, all while dealing with the struggles of everyday life, “Victimize” is an interesting exploration about the growth of loving someone so much but they are not giving the same energy that you deserve and having to move on and the internal struggle of getting to that conclusion, “Walks Beyond” is an amazing glimpse into his journey as an artist and the shift he did going from soldier to going back to following his dream of music.
His partner in the expansive musical landscape that is his music is Max Vista and they compliment each other beautifully, somehow the lyrics, melody, and beats mesh together so well and always find a cohesive balance for the vibe of the song. I hope they continue to collaborate for years to come, they truly have something special.
I could go on and on about how much I love the world that Vᵀᴴ has created, but all I can do is encourage you to check it out yourself. I’m so excited to see where his evolution of his music and sound will go, the possibilities are truly endless.
For More Information about Vᵀᴴ please visit his social media links: https://www.aux.bio/vth
——–Vegas Music Scene.