Mic Familiar On the Making Of “Hard Phased”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Hard Phased?"
"Hard Phased” was born from a genuine appreciation for Blackdaylight’s experimental production style. A lot of his music sounds like a journey through the human experience. Listening to one of his beats and sifting through his catalog really inspired me to dig within myself to match his energy on the song. We had met during the pre-Yahoo era of Tumblr and managed to find each other again years later. Once he gave me his blessing to release this song, magic was made.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for "Hard Phased?"
At one point, the song was a shelved idea because I had so much to say—almost too much to say. I’m also my own worst critic when it comes to writing a song. “Hard Phased” went through so many revisions before I decided to finally release it.
How does "Hard Phased" fit into your overall artistic vision?
This song was my place to really speak on themes of paranoia, anxiety, alienation, corruption, cynicism, and my feelings about how art and artists are treated in the industry. “Hard Phased” also kind of evokes a sense of fragility and uncertainty. A lot of the music I write is very introspective and can be interpreted in many different ways. I just hope the listener feels something when they listen to my music.
How do you approach creating something new and different?
When I’m not obsessing over the end product so much I know that I have something special. The process feels effortless. I don’t focus so much on who or what I want to sound like. The best way for me to make something new and different is for me to let go during the process.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a musician, and how did you overcome them?
I had and sometimes still have a love/hate relationship with my own music. When you listen to music it’s a whole different thing than creating it. I obsessed over the wrong things as an artist. I went through a lot of phases and run-ins with my ego. I would go from feeling like a god to feeling like a fool. Some of my peers even made fun of me for pursuing my dreams. I also at one point was obsessed with the attention that came with making music. Overcoming the insecurity, the unrealistic expectations, the external validation, and the need to compare myself to others was hard work.