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 a small town in New Mexico called Los Alamos. Kinda a weird place I won’t lie but I definitely owe my musical upbringing to that community. Like most small towns, there wasn’t really a huge music scene, at least not in my genre, so it could be difficult to find other people who were doing what I was doing. In regards to what made me want to start in music, it was always kind of a given for me. I’ve always felt very lucky that I’ve never had to question what I wanted to do with my life. Music has always been my main focus, ever since I was kid. I’m not really sure why to be honest, but I’ve just always known that’s exactly what I’ve wanted to do.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: I had a lot of training in highschool in music theory and vocal technique. I sang opera all through highschool and studied jazz piano with community groups. I’m also currently studying music in college and attended a Berklee college of music summer program in 2021. So I’ve had a fair amount of musical training but in regards to what I’m doing now in terms of production and songwriting I’m totally self taught.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Betafish’?
A: I’d say my very first influences were just whatever I heard on the radio. When I was a lot younger the first thing my mom did when we got in the car was put on the radio, so that top 40 pop music really stuck with me. As I grew up though, I started forming my own pallet. Twenty One Pilots, Jon Bellion, Panic! At the Disco, and Dominic Fike are some that come to mind. Lately my influences have moved more into an alternative/hyperpop sphere. I’d say right now my biggest influences are glaive, kmoe, 8485, underscores, and brakence (among the countless other incredibly talented artists in this scene. Those are just my top 5 right now). And for the name Betafish, honestly one of the things I love about it is that it doesn’t really have a meaning. It just sort of popped into my head one day and I knew that had to be my name. It just feels right. Oftentimes in my art I like not putting specific meanings behind things, but rather focusing on creating a vessel for someone else to put their meaning into it. So I think Betafish is just an extension of that. It means whatever you want it to mean.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Cry About It’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Cry About It was the first song I made that I really felt captured a sound I had had in mind for a while, but was struggling to actually make. The hook came first for this song. Most of the time I do instrumentals first and then write over them, but with this song I went backwards. The hook just sort of fell into my head out of nowhere and then I built the rest of the song around it. I remember when I first made the song I was absolutely obsessed with it. I would play it for anyone who would listen and just jam out to it by myself in my room. I felt like I had finally cracked the code on that digital, over the top, hyperpop sound I had been trying to create for so long. I chose Cry About It to be my first single because I really felt like it was the first song that hooked me on the Betafish sound.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Yes! Cry About It is just one small piece of an album that I plan on releasing in 2023. All the singles I will be releasing over the next few months will be leading up to that album. I’m very excited for the project and the story behind it. Cry About It is just the tip of the iceberg and there is so much more music coming!
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: I feel like one of my strongest aspects as a creative is my honesty. I really put everything into my music, no matter how stupid or embaressing or vulnerable it might make me. I feel like people will really be able to relate to the song because it takes on those feelings we all have of feeling like absolute garbage. On how I would personally describe my sound, that’s a really tough question. I just kind of make whatever is inspiring me at the time, so that can lead to a pretty wide variety of sounds. I like calling it “kid-with-a-laptop music” because that’s exactly what it is. It’s not perfect or polished, but it’s honest and it’s me. And in the end I think that’s what really matters when it comes to music and art. Just be true to yourself.
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: Yes and no. The spiritual and emotional fulfillment I get from creating things I love is absolutely worth every bit of work I put in. And besides that I wouldn’t say I’ve ever really expected anything else. On the other hand, I can’t deny that having millions of fans and making a living off of doing what I love would be incredibly sick. I’m definitely not one of those people who just makes art solely for personal fulfillment. To me, music’s primary function is as a communication tool. I want to share emotions and experiences with people through what I make. I don’t just make it for myself. So I would say while I am perfectly happy making music by myself in my bedroom, I would also like to have that music reach a wider audience and pay the bills while it’s at it.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: I usually start with just an idea. It can be an experience, an emotion, a cool sound, another song, a melody, or anything else that might inspire me. From there I usually just jump straight into my DAW and start laying ideas down. I usually build up the instrumental first and once I have that complete, I start writing over it and laying down lyrics and vocals. That’s my basic formula, but I also try mixing it up as much as I can. Sometimes I’ll write the song first on guitar or piano and then take it into Logic, or other times I’ll start with a vocal line and build the instrumental around it like I did with Cry About It.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I’ve had a lot of people in my life tell me I’m not good enough or that I’ll never compare to others when it comes to music. I also struggle a lot with telling myself those things. So I guess the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with as a musician is just knowing my own worth and skill and accepting that no matter how hard I work or how much I love something, some people still won’t like what I do. I also struggle with comparing myself to others or feeling like I’m behind which I’m sure a lot of people can relate to. But even though I feel that way sometimes, I try to stay focused on my own path and improving myself.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Releasing this single! I’ve been making music for years now and I’ve never put anything out so just having something out for the internet to see feels amazing. For so long the only people who’ve heard my music have been me, my friends, and my mom so it’s incredibly cool to reach people outside of that circle.
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