Hi! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your song “Thug It Out”?
Thug It Out is a reflection of some of the challenges I’ve faced while working on my career as an independent artist. The verses were written years apart, the first in 2019 and the second in 2023. One of the perks of being an artist is coming back to something you created and connecting with it in a different way with the passing of time. I am incredibly grateful to have found a strong life purpose in creating music since an early age but it comes with a lot of ups and downs. Thug It Out touches on both the internal and external struggles of what it looks like to have a big dream. I get a lot of compliments on my confidence that always mean the most to me but, trust me, it’s taken a lot of hard inner work to get to that place. When I say “Thug It Out” I’m really saying “hang in there / keep pushing, especially on hard days”.
The cover art was influenced by legendary blues artist Howlin’ Wolf. The cover for his 1969 release “The Howlin Wolf Album” simply read “This is Howlin’ Wolf’s new album. He doesn’t like it. He didn’t like his electric guitar at first either”. I identified with that attitude to so much. When I make a song I’m too close to it to even judge it fairly. I’m hearing every course of event that it took to make the song. Lines can be triggering, the mix could be different, the take isn’t exactly how I want it, the cover doesn’t pop enough – its endless. Over thinking can easily lead to hoarding your art. I can pull up songs from when I was 16 that I never released because I didn’t like them at the time. In hindsight now I think they were great and a reflection of where I was mentally at that time. I love Thug It Out, but I don’t always like it, and that’s okay. The listeners who resonate with it are the ones who were meant to. Giving them the opportunity to hear it, to decide if it speaks to them, that is my only job.
How has your music evolved over the course of your career?
I think in the beginning a lot of artists have to distinguish between the things that inspire us and the things that we actually create. In the early years of my career I was making music that more reflected other rapper’s styles that I enjoyed, it was more an emulation than creating my own vibe. Slowly my own style and voice started peeking through, and those would be moments my supporters would lean into the most. Spending countless days in the studio helped me to begin hearing myself more clearly and fine tune my own voice. A lot of production in hip hop nowadays is very similar and actually created to fit into a certain sound – we call them “type beats” – but when you find your own style it doesn’t matter what kind of beat it is, you can set yourself apart on it. I think that’s where sometimes artists fall short, by trying to do the same trick that someone else has already mastered. The magic lies in learning from what you love and then finding what makes you unique and leaning fully into it.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I’m originally from Bogota, Colombia but moved to the metro Atlanta area at the age of 2. I remember watching The Box, TRL, and Rap City The Basement and identifying with hip hop the most. Cypress Hill were actually the first latinos I saw doing hip hop on a scale that mesmerized me. I remember thinking, “oh we do this too? I got to get in on this”. Fast forward a couple of years and I fell into a circle of creatives that pushed me to be better. This has been my secret weapon. Branching out I’ve noticed other crews sometimes have one stand out artist who the rest of the crew follows and emulates, but our crew is different. Everyone supports and collaborates with each other, but at the same time everyone is unique and can stand alone as individual artists – this has influenced me tremendously. I can rattle off endless artists from every era of hip hop that I love and I’m inspired by, but I’m the biggest fan of the artists around me.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process?
No song is the same. Sometimes it starts with a beat and I pull out my phone and start writing lyrics. Other times it’s recording a reference with no game plan, just letting whatever needs to come out, come out. No process is wrong. As an artist I think it’s easy to get hung up on how fast you can create, but no one can hear that process when your song finally reaches them. For me what matters is that I convey emotion in the most digestible way. That emotion could be positive or negative, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you can feel it. Because if it’s genuine, if you open yourself up to be vulnerable and real, that’s how genuine connection happens with listeners. Aside from that, I need daily physical activity. If I’m not living an active, healthy lifestyle, then nothing is getting recorded. (That, and coffee.)
How do you balance your personal life with your career in music?
It’s tough. I’m blessed with a lot of great people in my life who support me in the ways they can and none are out of the loop in regards to what my goal and purpose is – but at the end of the day, my career falls on me. This is a full-time job and it comes with missing out on parties, family get-togethers and pulling really odd hours. It’s ironic because I believe myself to be a very emotional person, but being emotionally available is something I have yet to master. I’ve seen other artists let their personal lives interfere with their original goals and dreams. They stop taking chances and rightfully so. Other factors like commitments and responsibilities have to be considered when creating or making moves, but I can’t do that. Sometimes it seems selfish, a lot of times it feels self-less. At this stage in my career as an independent artist it’s do or die. That’s easier said than done, but I’m doing it.
What has been your biggest challenge as a musician and how did you overcome it?
Confidence, inspiration and learning where to draw it from. For a while I was depending on outside sources to validate me and inspire me. Those sources could have been positive or negative but none are stronger than finding it myself first through God. It started with taking a long look in the mirror and asking myself who I am, how I am feeling, and what I am going to do about it. I’m still not done asking myself these questions but seven months into this mindset has led to a lot of positive lifestyle changes. Nothing is easy and there have never been more unknowns about my future than now, but I love who I am becoming. Finding confidence from a pure, internal place instead of ego has changed everything for me.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists trying to break into the industry?
Don’t sabotage yourself. The more you do the less you pay. Don’t confuse celebrating with distraction. Have your own vision for your career, it’s the only one that will work. Small moves turn into big plays. The industry has a lot of dirty players, don’t turn into one.
Can you discuss any upcoming projects or collaborations you have in the works?
I currently have four projects that are in different phases. I can tell you that each project will have 90% of the music released as singles before the actual drop. My next release will be a house remix to last year’s single Headnodz, in collaboration with DJ Rob Session. I’m excited to keep pushing boundaries.
ORIGINAL HEADNODZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGvPwsbuj8g
How do you stay motivated and inspired to create new music?
Earlier I talked about confidence and inspiration, but motivation for me comes from impact. People telling me how they connect with my music is always incredibly motivating to make more. This year I’ve seen people getting tattoos behind my brand because a song meant that much to them. That definitely charged my battery. My circle is close knit and they go hard for me so I have no choice but to deliver. My confidence may come from within, but my wins are 100% my team’s and I want us to win big together. The talent and work ethic that we have deserves the biggest platform possible, breaking through to that platform gives me all the motivation I need. It’s for us, not me.
Finally, have you got anything to share regarding upcoming gigs, and what have you got planned for 2023?
I have several shows in the works for this Summer, tied to some releases I haven’t announced yet. One of my favorite things is performing and connecting in person with people who feel my music, so I’m excited to get back out there now that the weather is warming up here and do what I do best. You can find more info on upcoming music and see announcements for upcoming shows on my Instagram @Butch_Vega or at www.theheist.life
