Back with a brand new project and plenty on the horizon, creative entrepreneur Chad George kindly took part in an interview, to talk all things new music, NFTs, and plans for the future. Here’s how it went.
* * *
Hi Chad, thanks for the interview – great to catch up! How have things been for you since the release of Suit & Tie?
Hello Rebecca, thanks for taking the time to feature me in this interview. It’s a pleasure to collaborate with you.
Overall, everything’s been good, I’ve had a lot of time to think about the creative direction that I want to take with my music.
The feedback on my recent songs have been overwhelmingly positive. But admittedly, as an independent artist, it’s difficult to get playtime and it can be very challenging to get heard by a larger audience. Listening to my original songs always reminds me of why I started.
Tell us about the upcoming single Distorted Feelings – what inspired you to write this, and how did the dreamy soundscape help bring out such emotional depths lyrically?
Distorted Feelings is probably my favorite song to listen to. It’s an an old-school “Boom-Bap” style instrumental with modern mixing and mastering effects. I guess you could say it was inspired to be a display of vulnerability.
I wrote this song to display feelings that are difficult to convey in a song, but I left just enough ambiguity to allow the listener to interpret and connect to it for themselves.
The song is all at once deeply personal yet relatable as an uplifting anthem for the weekend – what was your main intention with the release, and where do you imagine people listening?
My main intention was to create a song that listeners could connect to on an personal level but also enjoy without a feeling of gloom. I incorporated some influence from the artist Drake.
I’d imagine people listening to this song with friends or by themselves after work on a Friday night.
Do you consider yourself a rapper, singer, or all round artist, and in any case – which artists inspired such a versatile style for you?
I’d consider myself an all-around artist. I believe I’m capable of producing music that encompasses lot of different genres. I grew up in many different environments from the Caribbean countryside, to the streets, to the upper-middle class suburbs.
In my early years, growing up in Jamaica, I was inspired by hits like It Wasn’t Me by Shaggy and artists like Bob Marley and Sean Paul.
I moved to New York, and it became Chris Brown, Bow-Wow, Eminem, Ludacris, P Diddy, 50 Cent, Akon, T-Pain, The Game, Jr. Reid, Shabba Ranks, Vybz Kartel, Alicia Keys, Soulja Boy, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beanie Man, Busta Rhymes, and many more..
I’d periodically spend time on the road with my Father in Canada. That’s where I discovered Johnny Cash, Nickel Back, Maroon 5, Green Day, and a lot of Rock Music.
Throughout my teenage years I started listening to Drake, The Weeknd, Migos, Future, and Popcaan.
Eventually I started to develop an ear for the UK Rap scene because of the similarities in dialect to Caribbean music. I’m talking artists like Dave, Headie One, Head Huncho, D’One, Digga D, and B Young.
I have a very broad set of influences for my music which I switch in and out depending on the sound I want to create.
For Bad B Riddim you showcase a similarly recognisable vocal tone but vary the musicality and delivery once again. How important is versatility for you as an artist, and how do you decide what style or flow to utilise throughout any given song?
I recorded Bad B Riddim to showcase exactly that. Versatility. It’s very important to me. I wanted to give listeners another insight into what I can achieve with my voice and tone.
Oftentimes it’s random. I can’t quite describe it, I don’t write these things, they just come to me in the moment. It’s a lot of practice and the right combination of creativity, freedom, and mental connectivity from previous recording sessions.
What’s your creative process?
It’s just natural instinct, I can’t describe it in words. I think very deliberately for days and weeks while crafting music. It’s a lot of trust. Trust in my producers and sound engineers to take my vocals and turn them into a masterpiece.
How did you come to work with the producer Blankscale, and what was it about their musical style that connected with your vision as an artist?
I came to work with Blankscale after recording a few demos on his instrumentals and sharing them. He reached out to me through social media because he connected to the sound. Since then, we’ve formed a partnership, and he exclusively produces all of my beats.
The beat for Jumanja and Suit and Tie were produced by Blankscale.
It turns out we have a lot of similarities in creative processes, he’s as unique of an artist with his instrumentals as I am with my vocals. His work ethic, consistency, and talent is unmatched. We’ve naturally formed a strong friendship because of this. I consider him to be a creative mentor.
Are NFTs still an important aspect of your plans moving forwards, and if so – how will that impact your music and creativity on the whole?
They are a very important aspect, I devoted a lot of time to creating them and I want to expand on the collection by adding more value and utility. I plan to incorporate them into my music in the future and use the artwork to tell a cinematic story.
Will you be playing live or even touring to celebrate the new releases?
I’m definitely considering performing live, but, I think I’d have to create songs with live performances in mind. I’m not sure how my current music translates to that setting.
What are the main values you want to bring to the modern music scene?
I want to inspire others to create. As Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” This may sound cliché, but I believe anything is possible with the power of creativity.
What’s something about you that fans would be surprised to hear?
I’m naturally very introverted. Throughout my life, I’ve spent a-lot of time on the computer, gaming, researching, or reading. I love to learn.
Music is my form of extroversion and it conveys a unique side of my creative personality that I feel confident enough to share.
Is there anything else we should know?
Stream Bad B Riddim on Oct 27th and Distorted Feelings on Nov 24th!
* * *
Check out all things Chad George here or via Instagram.
