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’ve lived in a city called Kanata all my life which is very close to Canada’s capital, Ottawa. I was drawn to music from an early age. An artist that really made a difference for me is Lil Peep. When I started listening to Peep, I felt a deep connection to his music and during some tough times, it made me feel less alone. Hearing stories about how Peep made great sounding music with only the bare minimum equipment really inspired me. I started playing around with a free producing program trying to make beats. This lasted on and off for about a year and the COVID pandemic hit. When the pandemic hit it was like life as we knew it paused and everything stopped. At first when the pandemic hit, I felt like everyone, I was very lost and confused but I quickly realized that with an unknown amount of freetime and an uncertain future the worst thing I could do was stand still and let life pass me. With this positive mindset, I began really focusing on becoming an artist. At first I did freestyle songs and tried to create song lyrics on the spot in the studio. This method did not feel real to me, I just felt like I was putting words together solely based on what rhymed. During this process, I would talk to my friend about how I was feeling and he would always tell me “Yo you gotta start writing on your own, it might help you dig deeper and solve the writing challenges you have been having.” That was a game changer for me, I tried what he suggested and I instantly became addicted to writing music. Since then, writing became part of my daily routine and I began writing song after song. About two years ago, I was introduced to two local artists that were doing the same thing as me (Fergioo, Deal) and they brought me to a studio called “The Cave” to record for the first time.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: As far as songwriting goes I’m completely self taught. For singing, I began taking singing lessons this summer, but everything that has been released to date, was prior to these lessons. I learned how to use my voice through repetition. I listen to my favorite artists and sing along/take mental notes of the way their voice sounds. Then I’d try whatever I learned on the mic whether that be at my friend’s house or at “The Cave”. I’ve calculated that based on writing at least 3 or 4 hours a day for the past three years I’ve spent upwards of 2,880 hours writing songs.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘RG43’?
A: As I mentioned earlier, one of my strongest influences when I started making music was Lil Peep, but nowadays I listen to almost everything from hyper-pop, to rock, to R&B, to rap etc. If I had to give my top 3 favorite artists right now I’d probably say: Future, Frank Ocean, and Jaden Smith. The name RG43 comes from playing school yard football at recess. Kids used to call me RG4 because I played quarterback at school and a well known quarterback at the time was Robert Griffin the Third or RG3. So when it came time to pick an artist name I started with using RG4 but it felt like something was missing and I knew I wanted a name with two letters and two numbers so I added the 3 so it would rhyme and it became RG43.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘Reckless’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Yes I just released the EP just over a month ago. This is my 3rd project release. The idea behind the “Reckless EP” was to create a more upbeat high energy project following the lower tempo “MountainTopMusic EP” that was released in March 2022. The “Reckless EP” was a project more focused on setting a vibe than deep storing telling. I am always interested in trying out different genres of music, so the genre of the EP is called hyper-pop. It’s an EP that I want people to listen to when partying or in the background of their everyday life.
Q: Can we expect an album from you in the near future?
A: My original plan for the “Reckless EP” was to follow it up with an album release, however, I have decided to push the release of that album back until next summer (2023) so I can put more work into the project. Saying that, I may have a surprise project to release over the wintertime.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: The key elements I suspect resonates with the listeners the most are the lyrics and my beat selection. I hope that the lyrics connect with the listener and allow them to relate to their own personal experiences. I choose beats that are unique and give the listeners a different sound, something they are not used to hearing. I would describe my sound as expansive and honest. With each project, I have experimented with different song genres. No two of my songs are alike. As an artist I really value being as diverse as I can and trying out every genre of music so that I can express myself differently with every project.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: Although I have put in a lot more than I’ve gotten back in terms of money and time, I am still very fulfilled in terms of what I have accomplished. I love what I am going and I understand that music is a long game. It’s better to grow slowly into success and fame, rather than rapidly becoming a star. However with all that being said, I’m definitely hungry for more. I have conceptualized so many projects that I have yet to release and have so many other great ideas I’m waiting to implement.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: My creative process for song writing is very simple. First thing I do is find an instrumental to use whether that be from a producer or off of YouTube. Once I’ve found a beat, I’ll hum along to it and try and find a starting line. Once I have the starting line, I’ll write it down and let the rest of it progress from there. When writing I try not to judge or think too deeply about each line. I just let the pencil flow and follow it wherever it goes.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: The most difficult thing I’ve had to endure in my career so far was when I encountered my first creative writer’s block last winter. This was especially difficult because it came at a time when I had deadlines and projects that needed to be completed. My body and mind were so tired and worn down from writing 5 songs a day and shooting a music video, that I had to take a break. Taking that break was the hardest thing for me to do, because I did not know the true value or the importance of allowing yourself to reset. Ever since then, I’ve gotten much better at giving myself time to recharge and I try not to work myself into the ground. I now appreciate that the best music I create comes from a place of enjoyment. In order to enjoy and keep music fresh, I need to take breaks every once in a while to refocus my energy.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: In addition to releasing 3 projects at the age of 18 years old, one of the most significant points in my music career was last year, when I got the opportunity to perform in front of my high school for Relay for Life. This meant the world to me, the support I received was amazing. Within only a couple years of making music, I was being appreciated and supported by the people around me which made me so happy.
