Ayrton Young On the Making Of ‘Gospel for the Lost’
What was the creative process like for this particular 'Gospel for the Lost?'
I wanted a project that sounded like the streets but had a church’s message, like a sheep in wolves clothing. I put an emphasis on vocals and vividly remember watching Vox’s video on YouTube of ‘the voice as the ultimate instrument.’ Because of that, we put chants, choirs, and layer after layer of my own sonic signature. Really experimented on how to deliver my rhyme schemes and also on how much reverb I wanted on each line. This whole work was crafted to be a high-energy reinvention of a praise song.
What impact do you hope 'Gospel for the Lost' will have on your audience?
I wanted kids all over the world to listen to it, get hooked, later on think, and just think deeply. On the first listen it’s difficult to imagine that, but the premise of the EP is built on the adage of ‘what good would it do if you gained the world but lost your own soul?’ It’s very counter to what rap is now, which is about materialism and glorification of the self, but Hip-hop was originally made to uplift and give hope. So ultimately, I hope it changes lives.
What is your personal favorite song from 'Gospel for the Lost' and why?
“Hallelujah.” Hands down, my favorite song. It’s in the middle of a 5 track project so I would say it’s the heart of it. What makes it my favorite would be the spoken word ending that features vocals from the people closest to me as well as an orchestral outro. It also will have a music video release set at the end of this year.
Can you share a bit about your musical background and the journey that led you to where you are today?
I didn’t have the strongest background. In fact, growing up I would have my closest friends and relatives tease and tell me that I could not sing. They were right of course. Without autotune I would be nothing! However, I knew I could write, rap, and hold a note if my life depended on it. I remember asking some artists/friends if I could write for them and they wouldn’t even need to credit me. They laughed. So I did it myself. Not to show them I could, but because whenever I prayed I knew I had to bring out what was placed inside of me. I didn’t want to die and take the music I had with me to the grave.
Are there any specific venues or festivals that you dream of performing at?
I dream of performing at the Crypto Arena in LA. I remember watching ‘A Goofy Movie’ growing up and would sing every word to Powerline’s I2I, which was performed in LA. That movie really defined me, and it’s funny to say that an anthropomorphic canine with a poor-coordination could make such an impact, but the overarching theme to stand out as an individual and also Tevin Campbell’s velvety vocals were just enough to change me.
