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: Hey, I come from the DMV area. For those that don’t know that’s DC, Maryland, and Virginia. I was actually born in Virginia and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Starting a career in music was never really my goal. I feel that I’ve been around music for a majority of my life even to the point I gave all of my family members theme songs when I was young, but making music was never something that I personally thought I would do just because of the stereotypes that come with it, especially being a black man. It wasn’t until 2014 when I discovered Logic that’s when everything really changed. He made me realize that you can follow your dreams and make it from nothing and him being from Maryland just made the connection greater. It made me realize maybe I can do something bigger. I heard The Incredible True Story a year later and I asked God what do you want me to do? At the same time I was making music on YouTube and for some reason God just pulled me towards making the music full time, even though I really wanted to make skits and gaming videos but I was pulled towards music and eight years later we’re here.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I found myself listening to a little bit of everybody nowadays. Lupe Fiasco, Big Time Rush, Larry June, Sherren Olivia, Kirk Franklin, Abby Jasmine, Anita Baker, Saba, Samara Joy, Isaiah Rashad, Nia Sultana, Tobi Lou, Anri, Vansire, Vesta, Exit 23, and even the Kingdom Hearts soundtrack. If I like it, it’s going to get a listen from me.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: I would have to say, my strongest influence is Logic. Finding him and his projects at the time that I did was the most life-changing experience that I’ve ever had. I do not think I would be making music. I do not think I would be in this position. I do not think I would even be here if I didn’t discover him. Logic is someone who not only gave me musical inspiration but life inspiration. He’s someone who was used to put me where I’m supposed to be. From songs like ‘Highife’ or ‘Welcome to Forever’ to songs like ‘Never been’. Logic is the reason that I am here.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘Temporality’. Is there a story behind it?
A: The story behind Temporality is simply put my story. The story of Kace. To dive deeper into that, the entire project is telling you the story of my life dealing with bullying, being alone, losing trust, finding love, finding dreams, losing loved ones and finally how I become an artist. Temporality is subjective, it’s the idea of linear progression through past, present, and future. That’s what this project does, tell you little bit about my past, some of my present, and prepare for my future. The first and the last song are the prologue and epilogue, while each 2 songs in between is labeled, chapter 1 through 5. Wrath, Lust, Conflict, Depression, and Acceptance in that order. This story means the world to me because it’s who I am.
Q: What is the message behind your music?
A: The message behind my music is to Bet on Yourself. I feel this to be true because when you listen to me, I want people to be able to do whatever they want to do, to have great mental health and to grow into better forms of themselves. I hated living a life for others, and only after finding the music was I able to truly on bet on myself and grow mentally and emotionally.
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 in my music would be introspection, passion and most importantly fun. I want listeners to be able to reflect on themselves, and be inspired but most importantly have fun in everything they do. It’s too much anger and sadness in this world man so fun is always going to be an element. I would say my sound is that of a Reflection. Music that shows you, who you are, who you were and who you can be but not just that a reflection is that of all things. It’s not just one thing. I don’t ever say I’m a rapper, at the end of the day, I say I’m an artist because I make music of all kinds.
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: In the past I’ve always wanted more from this, because I’ve always wanted it to be less of a hobby and more of a career, but now, I would say I have attained fulfillment in making music. Not from the the numbers that come from it, not from the money, not from the success but just because I love making music and I have fun doing it and music is in terms my therapy. I of course have a therapist, but music is a form of therapy for me to get my words out, and that with having fun is fulfillment for me.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: I start by getting my beats off YouTube as much as some people may see that as taboo, me personally, I don’t really care. I’m also not someone who freestyles his entire song. I will freestyle it to get an idea and catch the flow, but then I will go back and write it down. I feel that I’m able to better articulate thoughts when writing but when recording I try not to read because as I’ve noticed, I rap better when I don’t read it. After that me and my engineer pretty much sit down and we just pick apart the beat, and we pretty much just make it sound as crazy as possible because if I’m going to make anything I want it to be entertaining through and through.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I would say the most difficult time I had to endure would be in 2020. I had previewed a song that I wasn’t finished with on my instagram that had garnered more attention then I would usually get with posting about music so I had wanted to complete that song at a high caliber because I felt like it could be a “hit.” So I went to the studio multiple times for months to get this one song correct and for some reason, I just couldn’t get it. I think that combined with the pandemic had really clouded my mind and affected me. I wasn’t having fun anymore making music, and with that my passion started dying for it.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: The point I’m most proud of actually comes from my lowest moment. I created a song called ‘Blind’ in the midst of trying to make another song and when promoting the song and video for that, I actually garnered the attention of someone who wanted to Interview me. I also got the most plays on any song I had ever put out. It’s the moment I’m most proud of because that moment made me realize that no amount “hits” I try to make, or songs I try to make so others can like it, nothing will be better then when I’m authentically myself and make music for me. That realization led to the creation of Temporality.
