Armed with a fresh collection of modern releases, fusing smooth rap and RnB, and prior to the launch of his highly-anticipated new album – creative artist Vero kindly took part in an interview. We talk about his background, his approach to making music, his inspiration, and his hopes for the future. Here’s how it went.
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Hi Vero – great to connect! For those new to you, could you tell us your beginnings as an artist, and what led you to this path?
To be honest there were so many key moments leading me here. My dad is a blues guitarist so growing up music was always around me, but my brother is the one that introduced me to rap. When that happened it was really kismet, like I knew instantly this was what I was going to do.
I started writing raps and learning songwriting in my teenage years and then began really putting the hours in. That then led to rapping in friends cars and backyards and eventually putting out my first batch of songs on SoundCloud.
I actually didn’t start producing though until Kanye’s VMA performance of Runaway. It had such an impact on me I started making beats the next week.
Sweet was your 2018 single – a smooth lo-fi vibe with equally quiet yet clever vocals setting a likable vibe. How do you craft a track like this – are you the producer, or do you collaborate?
Sweet is produced by Diego, a longtime collaborator and one of my best friends. It actually came about in a session where he and I were really just chilling playing beats off an old hard drive. He played what ended up being Sweet and I wrote it right there as he did some tweaks to the production. To be honest the whole song came together in about an hour. It’s amazing to see how it took off.
What can you tell us about the upcoming album – what connects the tracks conceptually, and why this title?
I’m gonna refrain on revealing the title haha, but it’s definitely my most concise and polished body of work. We really tried to push the limits in every regard. But the project was a bit of an arduous journey in ways as it was started during the pandemic, so there was a lot of detours we had to navigate. It’s incredibly exciting to be nearing the release.
You write in a notably personal, poetic and thoughtful way. Where and when are you the most comfortable writing bars freely and without self-consciousness – is it in the studio, or out in the world with a notepad?
Of course there is always a million ways songs come about, and writing in the studio does happen frequently, but really my preferred way of writing is in an isolated setting. Mostly in my apartment. I do everything on my phone using the notes app and voice memos.
You’ve built up an impressive following on social media. What do you think it is about your approach that’s connecting so well with modern audiences?
I really just focus on staying authentic and being as real as possible in my music and hand it off to the world from there. The rest you really can’t control. But I never want to feel like I am doing something from a place that feels contrived. I think overall the audience is very smart and they can always sense when something isn’t real.
What are your thoughts on the mainstream hip-hop realm at large, and what values do you hope to bring to it?
I think rap right now is in a bit of a transitional period. There’s so many great artists, but I do think it’s waiting to see who’s gonna be the next stars for this next decade.
Which track from the new album would you recommend the most, and why?
That’s hard to say, if I had to pick right now it would be a song called Fair Amount. But I’d really love for the audience to consume it as a full body of work. I know the climate has changed a bit where now singles are really prioritized, and even sometimes making albums are discouraged for emerging artists to even do.
I know from even my experience of having that narrative pressed on me. But I love crafting albums, and I love experiencing albums. My hope is that we all as artists and listeners return to the love of experiencing albums for the full body of work they are.
Tell me about the Johnny Carson Freestyle – a great track – why did you choose this theme and backdrop?
I like to try and find inspiration anywhere I can, so as I was working that day I had on a documentary about Johnny Carson. And as I was writing, the part that ended up being used in the record happened to play almost directly on beat with the song, and from that point I immediately knew that was a sign. When stuff like that happens you just gotta get out of the way and let it come together. It’s hard to take full credit to be honest.
How did growing up in Jersey impact your mindset and creative approach?
Jersey is truly just the type of place that’s gonna shape you in every way when you from here. It’s gonna give you a demeanor and it’s gonna teach you a few things. There’s just something about it that everyone from here can attest to. But really, representing Jersey is a very special part of what I do. There’s a sound here. And I feel like it has yet to get the look it deserves and for someone of today to really put it on the map. I want to be the guy to do that.
What about live shows – any plans to perform or tour, and if so, what will a stage show entail?
Yes, once we release the album we will be doing a tour. Really excited for it.
What’s your biggest ambition right now, and what’s the best way people can support you towards that?
Right now at this moment I’m focused on finishing this album and delivering it. But I want to be one of the greats.. I’m very passionate and kind of obsessed about it. My ambition is this album being the final launch pad for something special.
Is there anything else we should know?
Central Jersey exists
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Find Vero on Apple, X, Instagram.
