Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I grew up listening to a lot of different types of music and this influenced the direction I am taking with my own music to try to experiment as much as possible with different genres, new producers and different sounds. I am also classically trained in piano and have been playing since I was six so this has impacted my ear and my musical taste as well.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover Fonto?
A: I want to travel and work with new people while also finding consistent collaborations for myself and I am building new streams of income for my music company. I am spreading the word as much as possible online, but also want to perform in the next few years and gain audience in a natural way. My message to those who are new listeners is to do what you love and to take inspiration from what I do for yourself.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: The most inspiring artist for me right now is Gorrillaz and I aspire to collaborate with them one day and create music that can be enjoyed and spread across different cultures and societies. I find inspiration from wanting to create new products and new pieces of art that I can continue to enjoy alongside everything that I have already made… and to never lose that desire to build a unique body of work.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the album, “Antics.”?
A: I created this project at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 to launch myself into a new type of sound and experiment with different textures of music, with different producers and create music that has the potential to be performed live with a consistent sound. I had been releasing singles and I wanted to do a whole album with a “voice” behind it.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: I would describe my sound as “experimental.”
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Antics”?
A: After I wrote and recorded the music, I faced the challenge of producing music videos for each song including recording the video, getting it edited and producing the entire thing to release at the same time to add a visual element for many of the songs. For this reason, it took me longer to finish and release the project, but the result is a body of work I am proud of.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: The message of my music is that any person can create a lifestyle for themselves based around the things that they love doing and they don’t have to sacrifice their happiness for temporary comfort. I encourage people to fully dedicate themselves to what they want to do and I want to inspire people to do what they love. My goals as an artist are to perform and travel around the world helping people and spreading knowledge on the things that I know how to do as much as I can while also enjoying life and bringing love to the people around me.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Michael Jackson
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?A: Make sure you study the business side first before pursuing music as a career so you can fit into the business of music, art and visual creation while you are focused on creating your works. This is essential for success. I also want to tell people “Don’t give up.” It is incredibly important to keep going.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Be patient and be grateful for what you have achieved. And never let an opportunity no matter how big or small go past you.
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