One year on from the rise of his uniquely honest project Hard 2 Luv, we caught up with the ever versatile rapper and artist Brandonrxse.
Currently immersed in the making of another full-length project, Brandon reflects on his past work, his changing inspiration, his ambitions, and plenty more. Here’s the conversation in full.
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Brandon – great to catch up with you! How has 2024 been treating you so far?
Always great to speak with you guys, it’s been a good start to the year.
What are you working on creatively right now, and what’s your plan of action for the next few months?
Lately I’ve been recording a lot, getting ideas out to make space for new ones. I go back and forth quite a bit on the approach I want to take for my next project in terms of planning it out, when it’s dropping etc. But I try not to get lost in that too much and focus more on the music so when it is time to release something, I’m heard the way I want to be heard.
Is collaboration a big part of your process or plans this year?
Not a big part but I’m always open to working with other artists if it feels right.
Do you find yourself inspired by different styles or newer artists lately, and if so, how different is your creative process in light of that?
In terms of artists, working with different producers is what inspires me. I feel like when I’m introduced to new sounds I unlock different flows, melodies, ways to structure a song. So yea, whenever I get a new pack it feels like Christmas and I’m able to just go. Lately though, I’m most inspired by people. Whether I’m having a solid convo with someone I’m close to, watching an artist perform and getting lost in it, meeting a pretty girl. It’s all inspiration.
It’s been a year since the release of Hard 2 Luv – what are your feelings towards that project now?
It was necessary for me and my growth as an artist and I’m really proud of what me and George were able to produce. I do think that the theme and the title of the EP has created this cloud over me. But I’m okay with that because love isn’t easy.
Last time we spoke you said that you were more honest than ever on this project. Is it still important for you to maintain that realness, or do you sometimes lean towards the pure entertainment of making music?
Realness will always be important but music is entertainment so you should try to maintain that balance. I’d never be out here lying on songs, there always has to be truth in the art but I have been making music with the setting in mind. Like a few of the homies are DJs so when I’m at their sets I think to myself I need to make songs that Hugh and George can spin so we can share these moments together.
Do you ever look back at clips like Luv in The Coupe and reflect on ways to further improve, or is it simply a thing of gratitude and appreciation for what you’ve achieved?
Gratitude and appreciation for what we did. It’s hard for me to pick apart a video unless I feel like I could’ve performed better. Rodolfo did his thing on that one though, we have to get another one in soon.
In the past you misplaced a hard drive of over 1000 songs – a devastating impact at the time, but was any of that rebuilt or rediscovered, and have your feelings on the matter changed over time; was there an upside to this?
I’m sure I’ve subconsciously rebuilt some of those ideas but it was never a thing where I was like damn I need to try and re-record these songs. Trying to recreate those moments would never work because so much of making a song is how you feel in that moment. Losing all of that music has helped me let go of things in my personal life.
Will you continue to make music for your own fulfilment, regardless of the opportunities that come your way?
Absolutely.
“The whole process of making music is true therapy for me, in those moments nothing else matters.”
Is there anything else fans need to know?
HOLLYWOOD FOREVER will be the name of my next project.
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Find Brandonrxse on Instagram.
