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: Howdy!!!! My name is Buxaburn aka Bux, and I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, by way of Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. I moved to California at a very young age, and was lucky enough to grow up in the great city of Santa Ana, Ca aka “The Golden City”.
Music is an entity that I’ve always been intrigued with and captivated by, for as long as I can remember. My Mom had a old component set with a turntable, and I would play her Funk, Soul and R&B records of the 70s and 80s. When you combine that with my trips back to the Cincinnati Projects, in the late 70s and early 80s, where I would witness 1st hand a brand new Genre being born, from the street corners called Hip Hop, which made me instantly hooked and in love with Music in general. You also have to take into account that my city Santa Ana, Ca is in the middle of Orange County, and Orange County back then was a hub for not only Rock and Roll, but Reggae music as well. From very early on, I was introduced to many different genres and styles of music, which has influenced me greatly throughout my 30 year music career. For example, as a solo act, I am a Rap and Reggae artist, but I also perform as the lead vocalist in a Rock and Roll Band called: “Coyotes Del Barrio”. That said, “Doo Wop” music from the 1950s is my favorite music genre, and I’m very excited about releasing my 1st Doo Wop single towards the end of this year. So as you can see, due to my History I am able to express myself in many musical categories.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: The only form of formal training I ever had was when I was 7 years old, my Mom was able to buy Piano Lessons for me. Looking back on it, I wish I would have kept taking the lessons, instead of becoming disinterested. Outside of that Music itself runs very deep in my blood and lineage. My Family on my Fathers, side is full of Professional Musicians, Singers, Rappers, and songwriters including my Grammy Nominated Cousin!!
So it is very safe to say, I was born with whatever musical talent I have.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Buxaburn’?
A: My 1st and strongest musical influences where artist and groups like Midnight Star, Chaka Khan, Run DMC, Bob Marley and ACDC just to name a few.
The name “Buxaburn” is a spin off from my previous artist name, which is “Warbux”.
I released 2 albums under the name of Warbux. I dropped Warbux “Of These Days” in 1999, and Warbux “Victory Weapon” in 2004. Both albums were Produced by Lumbajac.
I then took some time off from my solo career and played with a traveling Rock Band called “Con Job” from 2005 to 2008.
Following that, I put out a mixtape in 2010 under changed my artist name to Buxaburn, and followed that up with 2 actual releases called: Buxaburn “The Distance”, Produced by Quique Cruz in 2014, and Buxaburn “Matches”, Produced by A-Rush in 2016.
I then again started a Rock Band in 2018 which is the aforementioned “Coyotes Del Barrio” Band. I also started my own Knife Making Business, called “Cherokee Bux Knife Company” in the beginning of 2021. Although I have been featured on multiple singles from other artist during this time span, as a solo act I like to say that this year is the year I made yet another triumphant return of Buxaburn with my new single “Walk The Wolves” in 2022.
Q: You have just released your new single/video ‘Walk The Wolves’. Is there a story behind it?
A: The sound of my new single Buxaburn “Walk The Wolves” is a fusion between Hip Hop and Blues, and is what many would call: Country Rap and or Blues-Hop! I believe my deep vocal tone and driving cadence is precisely what the track demanded, and the Howls of the Wolf (as in the Blues Legend: Howlin Wolf Sample!!!) bring about a refreshing new recall to days long gone!
The track and video were both produced by Quique Cruz who did phenomenal work on this project. Quique Cruz brought the 1950s to the 2020s and made it fit right in. The video, was shot on location in the Hills and Valleys of California, is definitely a sight to see! Although my intent was to spit hot bars of fire, “Walk The Wolves” manages a positive message, that will hopefully influence the wild actions of the unguided youth on the city streets of America.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Well yes!! I have actually released 2 more singles this year, since I dropped “Walk The Wolves”. I first followed “Walk The Wolves” up with a diss track called Buxaburn “Found A Fraud” which ironically is directly related and referring to the so called original but horrifically Fraudulent producer of “Walk The Wolves” who’s production I could not use because he stole that instrumental, before he gave to me. Check out the song/video Buxaburn “Found A Fraud” it goes into much greater detail on that whole ordeal.
And soon after “Found A Fraud” came my 3rd single release of 2022 called: Buxaburn “The Camera” Produced by Dirty Beat Music, which is a reggae/dancehall song that is packed with good vibes, that are sure to get the Ladies going, moving and grooving!!
2022 has been and will continue to be a very busy year for me, you can expect more hot singles and videos from Buxaburn all year long.
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: If you the listeners are looking for 1 artist to bring you consistent creativity, uncensored originality, on top of an uncanny sense of rythym, with the ability to make music in multiple genres while using numerous vocal tones, that all come out of 1 deep-baritone based unforgettable voice, that performs the lyrics written by a very seasoned, and experienced writer, who touches on a vast amount of Topics, such as: innercity street life, Politics, spirituality, relationships, Love, Goodtimes, partying, struggle, triumph and etc….then Buxaburn is the artist for you.
As an American Aborigine, a Cherokee Indian, hence my nickname “Cherokee Bux” I like to describe my sound as “All American”. When I say “All American” I say that because although I am Hip Hop and reggae based, I also bring you the sounds, of all the musical genres found in both America’s (North and South) and all the attached Islands inbetween (such as the Caribbean on).
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: My music has always given back to me, what I was expecting from it, and has given me even more unexpected payoffs that I never dreamed of.
It has satisfied me spiritually, financially and physically! Being a live performer provides great inspiration for me to work-out and stay physically fit! Just the fact that I have an outlet to do what I love and express myself in a way that people respect, is really all the redemption that I need, to keep me motivated and disciplined as an artist.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: My creative process almost always starts with me 1st picking a topic that I want to write about, and then freestyling or even simply humming a melody that I like, to whatever particular track I’m writing to.
From that point, I take that melody and begin to put actual words down and write the Chorus or a Verse, and I continue with this process until I have a intro, verses, a chorus, a bridge and a outro to my songs.
Sometime melodies and lyrics just pop up in my head at the oddest places anytime of the day, and I try to remember these random moments, for future songs!!
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I honestly can’t say there has been a difficult or most challenging part of my musical journey. The major setbacks that I did have, come with the territory of being an artist. I accepted and expected all challenges which made my experience a fulfilling one, from the day it started. I’ve been able to release many albums and singles and have been featured on other artist projects, for what amounts to decades worth of quality music. I have traveled around the country performing on stages both big and small, and have made many great friends, fans, and formed great business partners along the way!!
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Some of the best times in my music career, has been the time spent in the studio with friends: such as other Artist and Producers, as we collaborate to create music that will last forever!! Secondly I would have to say the “song placement” that I have gotten on various TV Commercials, such as Hertz and Avis Rental Car Companies, or being featured In an award winning Foreign Film from Africa called “Beat The Drum” have been a few highlights that have really satisfied my soul over the years.
I tell younger artist all the time, a “record deal” and or shows, is not the only way to make money in this industry, there is your merchandise that you can sell of course, but there is also something called “song placement” for TV and Movies, that pays great publishing royalties! Look into getting a SAG card aka, a “Screen Actors Guild” membership so that you can work with Movie, and TV directors from Hollywood and all around the world!!