Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Kuda
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Maybe not the earliest musical memory but when I knew I loved rap music is when my friend Y2 who is now a successful producer showing me the song “Love Sosa” by Chief Keef in science class in like 7th grade. It made me feel invincible and determined. I loved the rawness of the sound right away.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I always had a natural ability to freestyle and I wanted to see if it would translate to actually recording music. Like most musicians, I was terrible at first, but I realized it was very therapeutic for me and it became something I loved to do and one of those things that just feels natural and right to me.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
My life has undergone a lot of change in the last year. The ending of a serious, long-term relationship, moving to a new city. New friends, new places. I fell in love again and lost that love. I succeeded in other ways I never imagined. It’s a culmination of the changes in my life and how I’ve found resilience and power in that.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I would say it’s trap music influenced by the Kanye/Kid Cudi sound of the mid 2000s. I love the Atlanta young thug sound vocally and imitate that a bit but the subject matter is different because I don’t lie in my music hahaha.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
A good friend of mine, Stephen Jailon, who is in my opinion one of the most talented and creative individuals on the planet has taught me a lot. Just spending time with him in the studio and watching his process and approach to music, as well as the way he finds his flows and melodies. It’s helped me achieve a sound I’ve been trying to create but didn’t necessarily know how to before I met him.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Honestly for me it’s life. I make my best music when I have new experiences and feelings to talk about. So, I just try and live as much as possible so that when I get in front of a microphone I have something to really say. It could even be as generic as talking about hustling and getting money, but it only hits if I’m really doing that day to day.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I have gone back to Jai Paul’s internet-famous music from when I was younger. I love Spark Master Tape. Kevo Money, HoodTrophyJoJo, Ramirez, and of course my friend Stephen Jailon. These are the more low-key artists I listen to right now.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I grew up with an absentee father and my mom kind of doing everything but also working a lot. She did everything a human being could but I would say I had more time alone to think and get into trouble than most kids. I think I’m an introspective person and my music tends to be written in that vein. I’ve had a lot of people doubt me in my life in big spots when I needed support, and so a lot of my music is about just finding your own way and succeeding financially but also in just finding peace. I also smoke a lot of weed so, that’s in there too.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I want people to feel like they know me and like I know them. We’re all people going through similar things and, even if what we go through is different, the feeling is the same. Getting rejected from a job or a girl, either way it’s rejection, you know? I just try and make music that encompasses the whole spectrum of things we feel in life and share my take on those things and how I handle them. In a word, I’d say: “Resilience”.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
That if you work hard at something you will get good at it. I am not a natural musician, I do not have a natural ear, or a great singing voice, but I busted my ass for a long time. When I first started making music, I’d show my friends and I could tell people thought it sucked, and deep down I kinda knew it sucked, too. But, I just kept coming back to it because it helped me express myself and put a piece of me into something. It never felt like work, but I was “practicing” all those years. I think that applies to everything in life – It doesn’t matter if someone is a “natural” at something, if you love it you will get the results you desire over time.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
MSG, man! The Mecca, of course.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
50 cent is probably my favorite artist ever, so definitely him. Gunna, Young Thug, Kanye, Future, would all be up there too.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wEwO1ZPo4Dz5uxcVDHBhF Much love!
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I have been taking a lot of time on this project and I hope to release it sometime this year, but ultimately I am just happy to create. It’s not about money or fame to me at all.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That I’m a broken, fractured human, like everyone else. And that it’s okay to be fucked up and make mistakes, just keep believing in yourself and putting in that work.
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