Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I’m from the Sin City of Las Vegas, Nevada, in America. You likely know my city well… Really, I grew up in a place called Henderson, just outside of the Strip – the area that folks know as Vegas and recognize from Google pictures. I saw so many live performances downtown… Hendo is not a tourist spot – as kids the city felt smaller. My older brothers were crazy into rock music, like heavy metal and sht, man… “Wait and Bleed” by Slipknot is like, one of my all-time favorite songs, for real. I’m just a fan, man. And my brother’s had every CD of the new sht and kept all 5000 of them shts in a case. I’d sit for days… That’s at the start of this. I’m a fan, for real. I’m a big fan of people who make good music – country… dance… And I’m watching these award shows… Cartoons are fire… Rap just became my passion, man. I’m crazy inspired…
Q: Can you describe the musical style of cye in three words?
A: TRY TO SURVIVE
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: It’s my fans that make the wheels turn in this btch. I have my fans in mind when I’m making the art for tour and sht… Try to see perspectives… Like when I was making my album in New York, I was studying European architecture and art. I feel like I mirror what the rest of the world is also seeing. I’m no different than you… Kids make the culture and they always know what they like so just f*ing listen.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘The Keeper’. Is there a story behind it?
A: It’s a lot of bullsht that went on with TK, man… Things change… And I think at the time I first thought out the concept for it, I was still dealing with sht from before. I wanted to speak to the people supporting me and take it where it needed to go, and a lil’ further, to settle these feelings I had… Like anxiety and sht. Revenge in some ways, maybe…? I’ve got energy for that right now. Some people deserve to hear a “F*ck you” from me… But I love what each of us had to offer the album. I say it often but it’s a process…
Q: Your music video for “NYC in the Backseat” from the album ‘The Keeper’ has garnered a lot of attention on cyeVEVO. What was the inspiration behind this track and its visuals?
A: I wouldn’t say a lot… We have a long way to go, man. I’ve had projects on the back burner that are essential to building this thing the right way. I tore myself to pieces so I could move in a thousand directions at once as soon as I got any play. It’s heights that I still want to climb in this sht. And I gotta say that the NYC video was produced in-house by Midnight Media Productions… My team over there deserves all the credit. I like to bounce ideas off of people that I trust. We talked about shooting a video in New York and keeping grounded to real sht. I’m not into hiding the production and setting everything up… Sometimes the best way to do sht is to really just do it.
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: It’s honestly one of my favorite albums ever made… Even if that sht wasn’t my album, I’d say that, for real. It’s a long road less traveled to get to where I was when I made that sht, and where I have been since. I know best, most times, and I’m biased as hll… It’s two songs that made the piece, for me… This Gift from God and Big City Bully… I’m an internet kid, for real, and all the TK instrumentals are insane but people wanted to hear more of what I could do. Those are the only two beats on that album that I took total control over. I’m balancing what the fans are used to vs what I know is better.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, “The Keeper”?
A: We worked hard on the mood boards to keep it simple. I know these other artists aim to make timeless sh*t, and we all have a different meaning for that. Whatever it is, we made it happen here. I wake up and listen to TK. Buckroll did his thing… All the producers did it big… Andrew [Krivonos] made it loud… We did it in Brooklyn… What else can I say? You have to ask Andrew more about his process because that man is like a real-life wizard. That’s my guy, trust…
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for cye so far?
A: Yeah, until this tour we denied every request for booking since the end of 2022 to put focus on the album. These promoters out here calling seven people a crowd… And they need to stop hittin’ us. And let me say that I don’t give a fck what any old-head, rap-game music guru says about how much that will hurt my career over time… Let’s see, yeah? I’ve been finishing my Nike’s and sht… I’m onto these stage designs… It’s for the fans… I see artists that do not make these people a priority and that sht is wild, son. I love to see people enjoying the music live. I’ve watched kids go real-life insane… It’s been some crazy sht at these shows… And I’m trying to get in at some festivals next year…
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: Yeah, it’s hard drives of unreleased sht. When asked that, I can’t help but think of one song in particular… Vibe, bro. It’s some you could dance to… I’m not going to say the name of it here, because me and my guys are hard at work on the production side of things. Blakkat and a few of my closest friends are helping me piece it all together. It’s just not time for that yet… But there are no rumors, we’ll be in Africa for a video… And I’m tryna command the dance floors in France with this one. I mean, I want to change the whole fing landscape of music. I don’t want to carry on but I feel like I’m just now in a space where I can double down…
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into cye’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: You got to sit down and try to figure out what the fck your mind has been toying with lately and let it go. It’s like when I’m sat at the microphone I reflect on sht, and think on what things will be later on. I’m working, I don’t overthink the process, though… You just gotta jump off the fine deep end. I just fell out with one of these guys for that… because he’s scared. He makes every move out of fear of judgment and failure and it’s fcked everything up for him. I’ve seen guys spending the time to do this sh*t at the highest level – being afraid to take the risk. I never moved like that, man. That’s what I wanted to provide the most for every artist who finds their way over to this side… Recovering Child Music is the future.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for cye, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: I’m honestly done trying to think ahead anymore, right now… Me and my fans are going to be living these moments together on this tour, for real. Anyone who supports me is a f**ing big bully, bro. And it’s up forever because they tried to tell us it was a certain kind of way, man. I don’t know about you, but I’m not one that can deal with someone else standing over me, daily… Nah, man, they’re going to have to see me. And we stand on that. It’s up for the gang, the lot of us. We’ll bring this sht straight to MSG – giving no f*cks.
