What is your name and what city do you rep?
Giles, I rep Orlando, Fl!
Tell us about your latest releases, what inspired you to create them?
The original inspiration for my latest single Alive was my own musical journey. I had to put my dreams on hold to take care of my family. I guess you can say it’s my own version of a dream deferred. It felt like my dreams were dying and I needed something sonically to to get me back in the fight. Alive is a jump start for anyone who’s had a dream or a goal put on ice. When it came time for me to pick a single, I really struggled because I have a lot of strong material. Then Russia invaded Ukraine and it gave the song a whole different context. “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog.” really jumped out at me and made it relevant. Then I realized that the song is needed for the times we’re in. Everyone is a survivor, everyone was an underdog in this pandemic. I realized that Alive is a song for everyone cause we’ve all taken L’s during these last few difficult years. The rest is history in the making.
What is unique about you and your music?
When I’m crafting my bars, I’m not just thinking about words, I’m thinking about keyboard riffs, bass lines, horn stabs, and drum fills. My finger is on the pulse of the music because I play multiple instruments, produce, sing, and write. I studied music theory. I don’t have to hire a lot of people to help me bring my musical vision to fruition. There aren’t many opportunities where my vision can get lost in translation because I don’t need help. Every note you hear I placed there with purpose and intention. Every bar is paired with the production like a fine wine being paired with the meal at a 5 star restaurant. My hip hop is sonically a fine dining experience.
What shaped your music?
My music is shaped by a desire to sonically empower black people. Everyone is invited, but my priority is us. The diaspora is culturally rich, trendsetting, and powerful. The hood is one of our biggest resources, because whatever we decide becomes hot, the world tends to follow. There’s breakdancing in the olympics now. We need to start leveraging that brilliance for OUR financial benefit.
When did you realize you were going to make music professionally?
When I was in middle school, I wanted to shoot my shot with a shorty. I played her a song on the piano and it moved her to tears. That’s when I realized how powerful music can be. I started making beats in highschool and rapping with my clique. We weren’t the typical high school clique of rappers cause we also all made beats and played instruments. That’s when the dream was officially born. In college I made it official when I switched my major from business to music, much to the shagrin of my parents.
What type of music do you listen to?
Hip hop, Jazz, funk, RnB, Reggae are the usual suspects. I also listen to film scores, some classical music, and rock on occasion.
What inspires you to write music?
It depends on the song and the head space I’m in. I can find inspiration in a dark moment like the loss of a loved one, or I can find it from a beautiful moment like a friend getting married. I’m inspired to write music that challenges the elements of society that cause my people to suffer. I’m also inspired to write music that celebrates our brilliance.
Happiness to you is…
Having something to look forward to. It’s a simple yet powerful definition if you think about it.
What do you wish you were told when you first started making music that you think would help artists just starting out?
Be yourself, and do it unapologetically. Don’t worry about trends, some are meant to follow trends, and some are meant to set them.
Tell us about your upcoming projects…
My next single is called Grinders and Hustlers. It’s a topic addressed many times in hip hop but I’m putting my own spin on it. Hip hop celebrates hard work. When that work is put in the streets, you get cred and it resonates across the culture. But what about when you put in work in academia? What if you put in that work and climb a corporate ladder to make a way for you and your people? What if you get up everyday clean and come home covered in dust, mud, and sweat, cause you were building our communities. This song is going to celebrate grinding and hustling, but it’s going to expand it outside the purview of the street context. It’s anthem that celebrates all the manifestations of grinders and hustlers. It’s definitely a track the streets can get behind too!
Where do we find your music / music projects?
Tapping into my social media is a great place to stay up to speed on my latest releases. You can also go to https://gilesmusic.com which is a hub for all my latest releases, social accounts, and merch. You can also drop me a line in the guest book as I read everything there.
Any last words for the readers?
I’m here to put wind in your sails. I want to be the soundtrack playing in the background to you getting Ws. Let’s win together.
