Formula Indie Sessions – Interview with Conscious Route & The Collective
Conscious Route & The Collective is a collaborative urban music project built around community, live musicianship, and authentic storytelling. The project brings together rappers, singers, producers, DJs, brass players, and instrumentalists to create music that sits somewhere between hip hop, jazz, soul, spoken word, and alternative sounds. Recent releases have included collaborations with Wends, Supermann on da Beat, Chris Greive, Bridget Quinn, and many other talented artists.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Listening to Michael Jackson as a kid and being fascinated by the performers, singers, and musicians. I was also really into Guns N’ Roses. It was inspiring stuff, but hearing N.W.A for the first time was probably the moment music felt truly exciting and rebellious. It opened the door to hip hop and lyricism in a way that changed everything.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
It started through Drum & Bass lyricism and MC culture. I was writing bars, performing at events, and gradually moved into making hip hop records. Over time that expanded into working with live musicians, jazz influences, soul, spoken word, and alternative sounds.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I collaborate with a range of different artists and musicians to create urban music that feels honest and human. My latest release is with Wends, bringing together hip hop and Drum & Bass influences. We also have another single currently in the works. Collaboration has always been at the heart of what I do.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Conscious hip hop rooted in storytelling, live instrumentation, soul, jazz, and community. Thought-provoking lyrics mixed with real musicians, real emotions, and a willingness to explore different sounds.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
That the song is more important than the individual. Earlier on I focused heavily on lyrics, but working with musicians taught me to listen more deeply and think about how every part contributes to the overall feeling of a record.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Pen and paper are still essential. Beyond that, GarageBand, voice notes on my phone, and collaboration with musicians. A lot of my best ideas come from conversations in rehearsal rooms and hearing other people’s creativity.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I’m lucky to be surrounded by a lot of talented independent artists, so it’s difficult to pick just one. Wends has been smashing it recently with her creativity, work ethic, and versatility. I’ve also got a lot of love for what Pro Focus is doing, Kryptik’s consistency and dedication to the craft, Mackenzie’s creative vision both musically and visually, Bridget Quinn’s ability to bring emotion and depth to a song, and Chelsea K’s unique voice and artistry.
One of the best things about being part of Conscious Route & The Collective is getting to watch artists grow and evolve while creating music together. A lot of the music I’m most excited about is coming from the people around me.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Completely. My experiences growing up, adoption, identity, relationships, mental health, therapy, fatherhood, and community all find their way into the music. I think people connect because the songs come from lived experience rather than theory.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Connection, hope, understanding, and self-reflection. Even when the songs explore difficult subjects, I want people to feel less alone and more connected to themselves and others.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Community matters. Music can open doors, but the relationships you build along the way are what stay with you.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
The Great Escape would be high on my list. I’ve never been to Brighton, and I think our music would fit well with the creative energy and diverse sounds that the festival is known for. It would be great to experience the city, connect with new audiences, and tick it off the bucket list.
That said, Glastonbury would obviously be epic too but it would have to be for the right fee 😉
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Probably Akala. I’ve always respected how he combines lyricism, intelligence, social awareness, and authenticity. He’s someone who has stayed true to himself throughout his career.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music?
Website: https://consciousroute.com/
Bandcamp: https://trueholdrecords.bandcamp.com/music
Spotify: Search “Conscious Route”
Instagram: @conscious_route
The best way to support independent music is by following, sharing, attending shows, and purchasing music directly where possible.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
To continue building Conscious Route & The Collective, tour more extensively, collaborate with great people, and create music that leaves a positive impact on those who hear it.
I’d also love to share more of the travel experience with my family, allowing my daughter to experience different places, cultures, and creative communities. It would be amazing to see her inspired by art and, one day, maybe even join us on stage in some way.
Creatively, I’d like to develop more live versions of the songs, whether that’s acoustic arrangements, full band performances, or alternative backing-track versions. I’m also keen to continue learning more about music production and studio craft so I can become more involved in shaping records from the ground up.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That I’m still learning, growing, and trying to make sense of life like everyone else. Hopefully people discover that vulnerability, honesty, and community can be strengths rather than weaknesses.
I also hope people come to understand that I move through the world a little differently. My neurodiversity means I don’t always fit neatly into expectations, and what can sometimes be perceived as ego or being difficult is often just me experiencing and processing things in my own way.
I’ve had a challenging life and, like many people, I’m still trying to make sense of it all. Music and art have become part of that alchemy a way of transforming difficult experiences into something meaningful, connecting with others through the process, and hopefully leaving people feeling a little less alone.
