Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with DI$TINCT

 DI$TINCT is a groundbreaking BIPOC rap/hip-hop artist, community builder, and industry leader whose impact extends far beyond the stage. With a dynamic presence in the music industry, he has toured alongside some of the biggest names in rap/ hip-hop & rock captivating audiences with his powerful lyricism, high-energy performances, and unapologetic storytelling.

His artistry, rooted in lived experiences and cultural pride, has earned him a devoted following and critical acclaim. In recognition of his contributions to music and entertainment, DI$TINCT was recently honored with a prestigious Canadian Choice Award in the Entertainer category, cementing his status as a growing force to be reckoned within the industry as well as Readers Choice Award (Bronze) for best local band in his city.

ACCOLADES/TOURS/COLLABS

With a dynamic career spanning both artistically and in other areas, DI$TINCT has made a significant impact in the music industry. As an artist and stage manager for Intersect Festival, he has played a key role in delivering seamless live experiences. His work as a recording artist at The Block Productions showcases his creative prowess, while his leadership as a stage and tour manager for Marked Up Entertainment has solidified his reputation for excellence in live production.

Over the years, he has shared staged with an impressive roster of artists, including D12, Obie Trice, NLE Choppa, Merkules, Eazy Mac, Golden BSP, Classified, Lloyd Banks, SonReal, Tech N9ne, K-os, !MAYDAY¡, Golden BSP, Evil Ebenezer, Krizz Kaliko, JUNK, Madchild, Kytami w/ Phonik Ops, Lloyd Banks, Slick Rick any more! His extensive experience and dedication to both performance and production continue to elevate the music scene, making him a sought-after talent in the industry.

R.C.A – BRONZE WINNER

C.C.A WINNER | CANADIAN CHOICE AWARD WINNER 2024-2025

CATEGORY : ENTERTAINER

What is your earliest memory connected to music? 

My mother used to put Music Television (MTV) on & dance around singing as she cleaned the house. I would watch the singers and sing along, as best I could. 

How did your passion for creating music begin? 

In my teens I discovered rap music & immediately knew, this is for me, this is for people like me. Coming from a family that had domestic issues, financial issues and so on, I connected with the message as well as the artists telling them. Their stories resonated with me because they mirrored my own. I used to recite the lyrics of the greats like Tupac, ‘Wayne, Big L, Eminem as well until I knew their whole catalogues like the back of my hand. At 14 I joined an online community where mc’s from around the world used to share our written work and battle it out. Eventually when I was getting lots of positive reviews and encouragement so I started freestyling at house parties & dropping music. It was like a light turned on. I had finally found a language I could use to connect with my peers. The chip on my shoulder and sly wit that had always held me back become tools of the trade. At 16 years old I opened up for “The Game” at an all ages show in front of 1000 of my screaming classmates and peers. I remember thinking, “this is what I was born to do with my life”. Music has been my identity since that day. 

What’s the story behind your current music project? 

Last year during the course of my duties as a Direct Support & Tour Manager for tours with K-os, Evil Ebenezer & Golden BSP, I met 5-Fires. After touring many cities throughout western Canada & getting to know each other we realized we both had some very powerful connections in the music industry, most notably Merkules as a previous collaborator as well as a long time friend of mine and Kevin Rudolf being a mentor and previous collaborator to 5 fires. An ideology 5 and I agreed on was that whatever project we linked up on, it needed to be something extremely special. We wanted to make the biggest splash possible. 

Around that time 5 had finished tracking “SOUL” in Miami with Kevin Rudolf and he sent me a mix. I was really feeling the vibe, I loved the harmony, instrumentation and the subject matter was on brand for me as well. The idea of getting Merkules onto the track arose very organically from there. As Canadian independent artists, collaborating on a project with Merk’ from Death Row & Kev’ from Cash Money was a tantalising prospect & we weren’t initially certain we would even be able to put it together. After talking to my manager Rob at The Block Production’s & chatting with Merk’ personally, participation was confirmed. The rest is history.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before? 

I refuse to be confined to any single genre, so you will find a fair amount of variation in my catalogue. My style spans the spectrum with notes of alt rap, trap, grime, hip hop & even rock. Powerful delivery, driving cadences and clever wordplay are my trademark but I also love to contrast that with harmony & earworm choruses. Everything I do is designed to trigger an emotional response. 

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music? 

Music isn’t “a thing I do”, it’s a part of my identity. I have spent a lifetime singing, writing, performing and mixing. There was a point when I would sit down for a creative session and think “what do people want to hear” and try to give them that. As I matured as an artist I realized it’s better to go into a session with an empty cup. Find a sound or cadence or a sample that stimulates you emotionally and allow your skills expound on it in an organic way. At this stage of my career I feel like I channel music by only working on projects that amp me up or trigger an emotional response. When I do that, the music seems to compose itself. If I get excited creating the piece, that will resonate with the listener and they will feel that when they play it back. That’s my logic. 

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process? 

I have a basic project studio at home where I track vocals with a Neumann TLM 103, Pro Tools, Focusrite pre amps, a Digi 003 & a set of KRK monitors. This is where I put smaller projects together. For my commercial projects I use Nato Down at Up In Arms studios. 

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now? 

Junk, Evil Ebenezer, Quake Mathews, Ocean Wisdom, Jesse Roads, Eazy Mac, Complete, Kryple. 

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision? 

I’ve been through a lot in my life and for the most part I’ve seen it all. I have watched the sun rise and fall from a jail cell as well as from a presidential suite. I was lost for a long time and during that period I learned a lot about who I don’t want to be. By the grace of god I am here 

today in many ways making the most of a second chance at life. My music reflects triumph over adversity but not in the cliche way & I am constantly evolving into a better, sharper version of myself. Artistically, I am always adding new wrinkles to my sound and trying new things. My work is never finished, it can always improve.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work? Never give up, be authentic, represent your people & whatever you do, do it from the heart. What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far? Hard work trumps talent when talent fails to work hard. 

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at? Amsterdam Open Air, BreakOut West, Chasing Summer, Rolling Loud Europe. If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? 

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links, also add a Youtube link that will appear below the interview) 

Official page: 

www.DistinctOnTheBlock.com 

Spotify: 

Apple Music: 

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/di%24tinct/1501976757

Main Social FB: 

https://www.facebook.com/DISTINCTCANADA

IG: 

https://www.instagram.com/chaingangforever

5-Fires: 

www.5-fires.com 

Merkules: 

www.MerkulesMusic.com 

Kevin Rudolf: 

www.KevinRudolf.com

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey? 

High output of music and live performance. My next single “incomplete” will be released by the time this comes out with a few more compositions to follow. My team is on a roll right now. Currently I am booked onto some tour stops in western Canada with Juno award winning artist Moka Only in december & I will be touring nationally through my agencies Marked Up Entertainment & The Block productions in the spring. I hope to make many new friends, expand my fanbase and get over to Europe by the end of 2026. 

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? 

The real me. I hope they can see me for my authenticity and connect with my pure uncompromised love for the craft. I have risked it all for the love of the art many times and I will continue to do that. I hope that they will connect with that and be inspired by it.