19 year old Canadian artist VNCHY has been the talk of the town lately. Locally building his buzz at a steady paste, VNCHY’s music is set to take flight and win the ears of many in North America. After taking in his standout single ‘Broke Dreams’, it is safe to say his creative turn on his carefully composed music very much speaks to young adults directly. Dark yet polished with a hint of lyricism, but sophisticated at the same time. As his fanbase continues to grow and he stays cooking in the studio, he was able to spare few minutes of his time to sit down with us to speak a bit more about his craft and what else can be expected of him musically.
Where are you from?
I was born in Congo but now I live in Canada, which is why I consider it my home. During my time here I’ve moved across the country and through a lot of cities including Montreal, Ottawa and I’m currently living in Mississauga. I’ve always considered myself a piece of the environment since I’ve lived in a lot of different places and it also introduced me to a range of lifestyles. However, It’s easy to lose yourself when you’re constantly on the move so I had to find my own identity opposed to becoming a product of my environments.
What are some of your music influences?
My biggest influences musically would have to be James Blake, Biggie Smalls, Kanye West, and J. Cole. James Blake is probably my favourite of them all as his portraits are the most vivid. Each of these artists has had a major impact on my overall artistry.
What was it like growing up for you?
A constant struggle for progression.
Whats the story behind your stage name, VNCHY?
VNCHY is more than just a pseudonym; it’s a title – a declaration of ascendance in self-understanding and self worth. As an artist I tend to create alternate realities through the experiences of both myself and my team. To put it one way, these realities feel dream like in a sense, from the lingering emotion of my first love, to the drunk eerie nights cruising around Toronto or even waking up in a Los Angeles penthouse with my closest friends. The power of imagination and communication is the ultimate tool of creation but – at the risk of sounding corny – with great power comes great responsibility. Like Leonardo Da Vinci himself, I have come to understand the world in multiple dimensions and perspectives and it is that complexity that has driven my desire for growth.
How long have you been making music for?
I have been writing music for five years.
What does your latest tape ‘Neverland: 001A_0315‘ present?
Neverland represents a time where people cease to age, where the imagination of the youth roams free, where people can’t be judged by the social expectations of others. Neverland exists in every child’s mind, but differs from one to another. It’s a place that has no boundaries. This idea best represents the tape – it represents us trying to capitalize on our youthfulness. The time we have now can never be gained back and this time is the best time for us to take risks and deal with the consequences that come along with them. We will face daily obstacles of us having to conform to social expectations as young adults, especially in regards to success, women, family, and school, all while trying to achieve this dream of ours. On the contrary, us following our dreams means we will inevitably disappoint others in the process, whether they’re our friends or family members. But at the end of the day, this is our life, our struggle and our grind, and we will not let anyone get in the way of this process. The numbers after the tape title actually represent something as well, but that will be unveiled in the near future.
The production of your tape is very polished. How do you pick your beats?
Thank you, I appreciate that! My team and I have a hands-on process with the production, we aim to find sounds that best represent moments we are trying to create for our audience. Shout out to my manager Mute he has a hell of an ear.
Your previous single “Broke Dreams”. It’s a great song, what’s the process that went behind that single?
Funny enough, I was on my way to Toronto to record the tape and I caught a real quick vibe. Finished it by the time we got to the spot. Broke Dreams was actually the last song I wrote on the tape although it’s placement is midway through the EP.
Were you executing a certain vision when “Broke Dreams” was shot? Tell us a bit more about that.
Most definitely, “Broke Dreams” was a switch in mentality, the place where the hunter becomes the hunted, almost a singular in the fabric of time. The video itself contains various elements that encompass the mentality that is Neverland, however, it was never meant to speak upon the full understanding of it, only a portion. With the content to come our audience will begin to better understand the portrait in it’s entirety.
5 goals in 2015:
The year is coming to an end, but there are a few things I would like to accomplish. For starters, I would like to play my first show in the States and step into my comfort zone. Secondly, finish the rest of the projects I’m currently working on to have them out before the year ends. As well, start to meet more like minded individuals out of my local geographical area. The last few things would be to stay focused and have fun throughout this journey.
Stream his new tape NEVERLAND: 001A_0315 below and check out his soundcloud for more.
