Meet Abwon

Today the Artistry has the privilege of interviewing filmmaker and media personality Abwon. The Irvington, NJ native started out as a recording artist before transitioning to media and production as well as launching his own company “Moonlight Media LLC”. With different projects such as short films, music videos and  reality TV, Abwon has been keeping himself busy. A star on the rise, proving that he is definitely someone we should keep an eye on.

Pyro Da Arsonist: When did your music career start and what led you to that path?

Abwon: Music was always a passion of mine, when I was growing up I’ve always wanted to be involved in the creation process no matter what role I was in. 

Pyro: When did you decide to expand into media and production and how did launching your own media company come about?

Abwon: I’ve always done video production, but at first it was just for fun, I didn’t care about lighting or sound or anything like that. I just wanted to be on camera and express myself. So I wasn’t creating any new music at the time and I decided to start my Youtube channel. A couple of my film reviews went viral and that’s when I started really taking media production seriously. After a few months, I started my interview series ‘Face2Face’ and my now business partner Jen and I had a conversation one night like, let’s just start this company, we’re already heading in that direction. I come from a family of successful business owners, so it was inevitable for me. A few weeks later Moonlight Media LLC was born, and the rest Is history. 

Pyro: You won an award for your short film “Errands”. What was your reaction when you first found out you were up for the award and how was your short film brought to their attention?

Abwon: So when we finished production on Errands I told everyone we weren’t going to show anyone this movie, we were only going to submit it to film festivals and then have a one time premiere and that was it. I know festivals are extremely difficult to get into, I wasn’t even thinking about winning honestly. I told myself if I made it to at least one festival then that’s a W. Right now, Errands already has 5 nominations with 1 win which is crazy to me in a good way. Everything’s a bit surreal, but I’ve never doubted my ability. At the same time accolades are nice so I’m not complaining. The trophy will be here in a few weeks, you know it’s real at that point. 

Pyro: Besides the award you also had one of your videos garner 3.5 Million Views. Which one do you feel is the bigger accomplishment?

Abwon: Definitely Errands. When I first started my Top5 series those videos were going viral left and right, but I didn’t put much effort into them, and I didn’t care about the production value they were just for entertainment purposes. Errands I wrote, directed, and produced. It took maybe 2 months for preparation, and it’s based on something I went through, so I was way more hands on with it. People lick ice cream out of the freezer in supermarkets and get millions of views, but they can’tsay they’ve won an award for a film they’ve made. It just hits different when you know it’s something people respect and hold to higher standards.

Pyro: Tell us about your show “The Cinematics” and how did it get picked up by the Hall Mills Network on Roku?

Abwon: My business partner Jen and I started that as a Youtube show. We discuss news in the film industry, upcoming films, trailer reviews, and we have our own respective segments as well. HallMillsNetwork was looking for new content for their channel, so I sent them one of the episodes we did to Grimm, one of the owners of the Network. He immediately called me excited about it and after the paperwork was handled, the Cinematics went to the next level. Shout out to Big Vegg too, he’s the producer. We also accept music to curate our episodes, so any artists or producers looking for more exposure can contact our musical director at ElijahMajestic@gmail.com. All genres are welcomed. 

Pyro: You signed a co-production deal for an upcoming TV Show “Only At Jay’s” starring Fetty Wap. How did that come about?

Abwon: My Youtube started gaining some traction and someone hit me up asking if I was interested in producing a reality show. I didn’tknow much about the family that wanted to do it, I was just told they have celebrity clientele and they’ve been in Paterson for years and do a lot of good for the community. We setup a meeting and that’s when I found out Fetty’s involvement with them. I wouldn’t say Fetty’s the star he’s just a featured guest. I don’t want to take away from the importance of the family, anyone who lives in Paterson or frequently visits knows who they are. 

Pyro: What is one of the most memorable interviews you have conducted?

Abwon: Definitely Ron Savage, the IG Comedian. He was on his way to stardom and I’m not saying that just because I interviewed him. Everyone I interview, I stay in contact with them and keep up to date with everything they’re doing and vice versa. He DMed me one day saying he was ready to post the interview and he gave me the date he wanted it to drop. The day the interview dropped he passed away. RIP to him. 

Pyro: What advice would you give to independent artists or any other person starting their brand or business on how to use media to their advantage? 

Abwon: Know your audience, don’t clout chase, and stop making excuses. 

Pyro: Are there any other projects that you’re working on that you can share with us?

Abwon: I’m working on a grocery list of projects so I’ll try and narrow them down. My second film ‘Feed’ will be releasing this summer, I Assistant Directed a film titled ‘Moonless Nights’ starring Justin Hurtt-Dunkley from Mare of Easttown on HBO that will be released soon, I’m Executive Producing a musical project with Trini The Body that’s in the works, and my 3rd film ‘Daily Bread’ will be starting pre-production in the fall. At the very least you can still tap into my Youtube channel and check out my individual content.

Thank you for sitting down with us. We appreciate you taking the time out of your schedule to let us and our readers know more about you.

You can follow his work

Only At Jay’s TV Show Trailer: 

Fetty Wap-Way Past 12 (my company did the lighting)

Interview with Actor Johnell Young

Trini The Body-Paper Music Video (I Executive Produced this) 

Indigenous Trailer: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CLnbkEoFn9h/?igshid=hiltsim5ybvb

https://www.instagram.com/abwonuno/

Meet The Other Shade

The Other Shade is a multifaceted artist in which he is known to be a talented R&B singer, a producer and owner of his own clothing brand. Pushing his artistry to become a notable powerhouse, the Virginia native is making a name for himself as he set the tone throughout the industry. Pyro Da Arsonist had the pleasure of interviewing him as you learn more on who is The Other Shade.

Pyro Da Arsonist: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us what do you do and where you are from.

T.O.S: Thank you for having me, I’m an R&B artist named T.O.S. Also known as The Other Shade. I own a clothing company called KALIFRAGALISTIC, and I also produce beats for movies and musical artists of different acclaimed levels.

Home used to be Fairfax, Virginia, in my early life I moved around different areas in the same county till I came to college in Morgantown at WVU.

Pyro Da Arsonist: Why did you choose The Other Shade as your stage name?

T.O.S: I remember I was making my first Instagram account in the middle of 7th grade and I wanted to make a name no one will think of but that represents me. To me the other shade offers colors and the shade between the lights of things. Basically I’m just always the other aspect.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What or who inspired you to become an artist?

T.O.S: Big L, Rick James, The Weeknd, Tupac, and Nas were the biggest influences when it comes to greats in music. I had two close friends that passed at the beginning and the end of 2020, those two were my most physical influences which is what pushed me to be the no look back artist I am today.

Pyro Da Arsonist: How would you describe yourself as an artist and describe your sound?

T.O.S: As an artist I see myself as very detailed and extremely personable. It’s always been hard to show my emotions but I found the easiest way to express is through music because I can only judge myself. The sound that comes out is very cinematic and has been compared to films more than day to day music.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What project are you currently working on and what kind of feedback have you received from your current single?

T.O.S: So I’m working on my studio album called  “D’evils of beauty” that I’m recording at IMI studios throughout the month of April. My current single “All in Ones” will debut and mark the first release of the project. After submitting to music reviewers I’ve had nothing but positive feedback, the most negative comment was a better mix-down which IMI studios will undoubtedly take care of in April.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What is one of your most memorable performances and why?

T.O.S: I would say my very first one at 123 pleasant St. in Morgantown. It was a beat battle and we had a whole promo and everything for the area. It was my first taste of the life I always felt needed me.

Pyro Da Arsonist: Have you ever had a bad performance and if so how do you move past it without letting it affect your confidence?

T.O.S: My second beat battle had more of a randomness to it, my competitor had lost their father just a few days before so it kind of dulled the atmosphere. I noticed I felt sympathetic but I realized no matter what music is music and pushed forward.

Pyro Da Arsonist: In this age of social media what do you feel is more important in an artists success, talent, number of followers or an investor?

T.O.S: In this age I would say investors for sure, money makes the world work that much faster for you. Social media makes chances more available for the everyday artist but no matter what money comes into play at some point.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What words of wisdom would you give to those who want to start a career in music?
T.O.S: My best advice would be that if it’s been your gut feeling over multiple years and you keep ignoring it? Don’t. That’s how history gets lost. Those artist with a natural tug to them are the ones to watch out the most for because they’re usually behind the scenes till they realize they are the scene.

Thank you for sitting down with The Artistry and we wish you lots of success in all you do.

Follow T.O.S on all Social Media

Meet Fireman Band$

Today we are chopping it up with Fireman Band$ a rising star born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan. With a sound and image that’s a mashup of emo, melodic, dark, punk rap he his definitely making a name for himself not only in the states but also in other countries as well. Anything goes when it comes to his music and to prove it he has a collection of 6 different types of unreleased projects in the works. After moving to Los Angeles Fireman had the opportunity to work with major producers 808 Mafia and Bankroll Got It and with the support of Media like Lyrical Media and Elevator he has gotten himself verified on Instagram. With singles like “Paper Kutz”, “Hell In Minneapolis” & “Gut$” he is showing his versatility, setting the underground music scene a blaze & definitely living up to his name FIREMAN!!!

Pyro Da Arsonist: When did your love of music begin and who inspired your style of music?
Fireman Band$: My love of music began as a teenager and the style was inspired by people like Jimmy Hendrix, Missy Elliott, Busta Ryhmes, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. 
Pyro: How was the transition moving from New York to Los Angeles and did you adapt quickly?
Fireman: The transition was rocky but I adapted pretty quickly with my networking abilities. 
Pyro: Is the underground music scene in the West Coast any different from the East Coast and if so what are some of the differences?
Fireman: Yes. The difference is NYC goes later and harder. There’s an actual scene in New York. LA just has its moments. 
Pyro: You already had the privilege of working with some major producers but what are some other producers that you would love to work with and why?
Fireman: I would love to work with Timbaland, Just Blaze, Scott Storch, Kanye. 
Pyro: Your movement is called “The Green Light Gang” can you elaborate on the meaning of that name?
Fireman: Green Light Gang means GO for your dreams and don’t let anyone or anything stop you or slow you down. 
Pyro: We know you have a collection of 6 different types of unreleased projects, can you indulge us in what are some of those different types?
Fireman: Trap, rock, emo, r&b, rap, pop and dance.
Pyro: Your audience consists of 64% males. Being females are the ones that are mostly buying music do you feel a need to attract more female listeners?
Fireman: Yes but not because of buying power, because I want them to be just as tapped in. 
Pyro: You have supporters out in Germany, Canada, United Kingdom and Brazil. Have you ever performed out there if so how was the experience?
Fireman: No, I’m looking forward to as soon as covid restrictions are lifted. 
Pyro: Where do you see your career in 5 years and what would you like to accomplish in that time frame?
Fireman: I see me being number 1 on the charts several times and me receiving every award possible that caters to music.

FOLLOW Fireman Band$ on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firemanbands

FOLLOW Fireman Band$ on Twitter: https://twitter.com/firemanbands

Who is La Bella?!

LA Bella

The Artistry sits down with latin urban music artist La Bella born Patricia Marrero in Corona Queens to Dominican & Puerto Rican parents. Inspired by her Dad Nelson “El Cacique” Marrero who performed alongside many known Latin artist, La Bella always had the desire to perform in family events, glee club & talent shows since youth. Now she is ready to introduce to the world her recently released single “Bailare” and indulge the world with her fashion, beauty & romance.

Pyro Da Arsonist: You say you were inspired by your dad from youth so what was one of your earliest memories of your father as far as music is concerned?

La Bella: The biggest memory I have of my dad which inspired me to become an artist was when he brought me up on stage to perform with him.

Pyro: At what age did you write your first song and what was it about?

La Bella: My first song was written at the age of 18 and it was about love due to a break-up.

Pyro: When writing songs who or what do you use as inspiration?

La Bella: When writing songs I use my dad as my Inspiration and also what I’ve been through In life.

Pyro: As a latin female artist do you feel your road to success is tougher than your male counterpart and if so why?

La Bella: As a Latin female artist it can be tough. They could try to come on to you or close doors. It is important to keep it professional and continue to grind.

Pyro: How do you handle balancing your time with your music and your family and how important is their support?

La Bella: It’s been a Lil difficult due to the pandemic but I always make it happen. I must say my support system is great. I’ve been blessed with an amazing family.

Pyro: Anyone who follows you on social media sees that you dress to impress, so do you have a stylist or do you style yourself?

La Bella: I don’t have a stylist everything you see on my social media is done by me. Who knows things could change later.

Pyro: You have the talent and the look to make it in this industry so what do you think is the last piece of the puzzle you need to get you to where you wanna be?

La Bella: I believe the only thing I need is that plug.

Pyro: Who are some artists you would like to work with and why?

La Bella: I would like to work with Nicky Jam, Ozuna, and Daddy Yankee. I enjoy their music, they definitely have charisma but over all they are humble.

Pyro: Your single “Bailare” is out now and making noise around the music scene so when can we expect a full project?

La Bella: I’m currently working on more music and  videos. I’m always working and creating new ideas. 

Pyro: Finally what would you tell all the young ladies out there who have a dream but are scared to pursue it?

La Bella: I would tell all the young ladies who want to pursue their dreams to stay focused. Even if they face rejection, keep working and to believe in themselves.

Catch La Bella latest single ” Bailare”

Follow her on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p___labella/

Getting to know Pablo

Today we are sitting down with Pablo a up and coming Puerto Rican artist from Astoria Queens who first started his musical journey at the young age of 14. Since his life changing event of being incarcerated he has been working hard to get his name out there and he has been featured in a few notable mixtapes.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What inspired you to start doing music at such a young age?

Pablo: I was doing an 18 month juvee bid and writing rhymes was  a way of expressing myself and passing time.

Pyro: How did you get the nicknames Buff & Skar?

Pablo: I got the name Skar because when I was 21 years old I had a scar on my face and buff because that’s the nickname of the nuke they dropped on Japan buff stands for big ugly fat fuck. 

Pyro: How did being incarcerated change you as a person and as an artist?

Pablo: Honestly jail is like a school for criminals , if you learn anything you basically learn how not to get caught again . 

Pyro: How would you describe your music and what makes you stand out from other artist?

Pablo: I consider myself a backpack style rapper also I try to spit hard bars , and my music is real as I rap about things that I been through and especially I touch up on the topic of police brutality as I’ve gotten called spic by the police and had guns drawn at me multiple times by multiple police men.

Pyro: What are some steps you think an artist needs to do to gain a following and stay relevant?

Pablo: To stay relevant I feel an artist should just continue to hustle , create , continue to put out music , to gain a following try and get on these mixtapes and these Spotify playlists .

Pyro: How has the pandemic affected your music career?

Pablo: The pandemic hasn’t really affected my music career as I have a studio in my basement including a soundproof booth that I paid for to get built. 

Pablo: How important is it for an artist to stay true to who they are?

Pablo: Honestly I’m Ol’Skool so I say spit real , don’t lie because someone gonna call you on it it’s a small world , just be real before you end up like tekashi .

Pyro: What are your thoughts on the music landacape today?

Pablo: Honestly, I’m happy to see bars making a come back because this mumble rapShit gotta go. 

Pyro: What are your goals for this new year?

Pablo: My goals for this new year are to be debt free and get my streams up and continue to build a legacy for my family. 

Thank you for taking the time to sit down with the Artistry and letting our readers learn more about you. We wish you much success in your career.

Follow Pablo: https://www.instagram.com/pblok42k2020/

Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/album/thor/1508484688

Shorty Jah “The Only way is Up”

We are sitting down with Shorty Jah, an artist from the Brownsville section of Brooklyn as we watch him pursue his passion. The name “Shorty” came from him embracing his height as he felt the uniqueness within the nickname. Determined and hungry for success, Shorty Jah has made the effort to use his voice as motivation and share his story. His drive has placed him to perform at legendary venues such as SOB’s , Bowery Electric and BlackTop Boston, amongst other venues. Along with a bright .,future ahead of him, we are looking at a rising star ready to take over the industry by surprise. Shorty Jah the only way is up.

Pyro Da Arsonist: How would you describe yourself as an artist and how would you describe your sound?

Shorty Jah: As an artist I would describe myself as an electrifying exciting rockstar / artist that express his upbringing and creativity to his music. I would describe my sound as a very unique interesting flow because usually I switch my tones in majority of every song. Sometimes I may even switch my tone and flow on one song to keep my audience interested.

Pyro: The indie music scene is saturated with artists so what would you say sets you apart from the rest?

Shorty: The things that set me apart from other artist would be my style, my sound , my energy & my heart. I have 100% gatorade all the time i’m not an artist that just have to portray an imagine, everything they see from Shorty I live and i’m like this all the time.

Pyro: What are some characteristics you think an artists needs to be successful in their careers?

Shorty: In my opinion I feel as if artist should be themselves no matter what and be confident while doing it. Also the main thing I would express as an artist I feel if you don’t put fourth the effort and go 100% for yourself no one else will. So believe in yourself confidently and express that in your music & those successful traits will help you grow upon you.

Pyro: If music doesn’t work out for you do you have a back up plan or anything else you’re passionate about?

Shorty: Definitely, if music didn’t work out for some reason then I would be interested in doing modeling especially for different clothing brands. I love clothes and that’s another way that I express myself so that would definitely be something else I will be interested in.

Pyro: If you had the opportunity to be mentored by someone that can help you progress in your career who would it be and why?

Shorty: This is a great question i’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, if i had the chanced to be mentored by someone else other than my father it would definitely be Master P. Master P and myself have a very similar upbringing especially how he entered the industry. Master P also played basketball coming up, and so have I. I also love how Master P came into the industry with his own style and flavor and that’s definitely something I will do.

Pyro: In this age of social media and digital marketing do you feel like an artist needs to be signed to a major record label in order to be successful?

Shorty: In today’s age and with social media being a very highly influential market, I feel as most artist don’t really need a major record label , but having one can definitely still help an artist reach his or her fullest potential.

Pyro: What would you say is the difference between a track & a record?

Shorty: The difference between a track and a record would be a track is just an audio that’s recorded with lyrics on it. A record is a properly mix down audio with interesting lyrics that may keep the audience interested.

Pyro: Finally, do you have any final words you would like to say to our audience?

Shorty: Yes, I would love to say to my audience that I love you guys , most of the people who support my music have been with me since day 1 when I first started. They are really die hard fans and we have grown together and now that we are reaching another stage I feel as if they are growing with me and I just want them to be very excited because we have a lot of great new music , videos and other things we are working on. I know how my fans are and how they feel about me so they will be very excited and happy to be apart of all the new interesting things that I have for them.

Thank you for sitting down with us today. We look forward to seeing your growth as we follow your career and wish you much success in all you do.

DJ YUNG NAS on The Rise.

Naseem Johnson a.k.a. DJ Yung Nas is a Disc Jockey & Producer from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Born on March 4th, 1999. Nas started DJing at the age of 17 at house parties before eventually moving up to DJing at college parties and clubs. He has DJed for several internet radio stations which include Philly Jamz 95.3 FM,
NYC’s Way Up FM &  Chicago’s Fusion Radio. Getting his inspiration from DJ Diamond Kutz & DJ Camilo he practiced his dj scratches everyday until he felt he was ready to post his videos on social media. He now posts his DJ videos on Instagram & Tik Tok and currently DJ’s for The Lion 90.7 FM WKPS while attending Penn State University to pursue his career as a TV & Radio Personality.

Below you will find my interview with DJ Yung Nas and learn about what inspires him, his techniques as a DJ and more.

Pyro Da Arsonist: You were inspired by DJ Diamond Kutz & DJ Camilo. What was about them that inspired you?

DJ Yung Nas: What inspires me about DJ Diamond Kutz & DJ Camilo is the way they DJ. I like their style. DJ Diamond Kutz plays music at a fast tempo giving it energy, making it more
hype. DJ Camilo is different, he makes every song sound fire. He also doesn’t stay in
one genre, he’s very flexible with his music. He plays Hip hop, Afrobeats, Latin,
Reggaeton, etc. Just listening to them a lot inspired me to become a DJ and create my
own style.

Pyro: Mashups are not easy to get right so what is your thought proces when creating a mashup and do you mashup different genres of music together?

Dj Yung Nas: When making mashups, the first thing I do is look for a good instrumental or acapella. I do this just by scrolling through my library and listening to songs. Once I do that, I check the bpm just to make sure the sounds are not far off so that I’m able to mix them. After that I then practice the mashup of how I want the mix to go and then once I’m ready, I
begin to make the video. I have not attempted to mash up different genres of music
together but I am definitely planning on making one in soon.

Pyro: What artists would you like to produce for and why??

DJ Yung Nas: An artist that I would want to produce is Dababy. I like his flow on his music. I think he is
a unique rapper and it would just be a crazy experience to produce for someone like him.

Pyro: Do you think at this point in your career you can handle the pressure of DJing for a station like Hot 97 or Power 105? If so how would you convince them to hire you?

DJ Yung Nas: At this point, I am very confident that I can DJ for radio stations like Hot 97 and Power 105 because I have experience DJing On-Air and I also play the same music as them. I am currently DJing for The Lion 90.7fm Wkps every Friday at 11pm so I can finally say that I have experience DJing on local radio. Me actually going to power 105 or Hot 97
would mean a bigger audience. How I would convince them to hire me is that I would say
I have DJed on radio stations before, Two internet ones and one local station, I’ve also
worked at Cumulus Media in my hometown, and my mixes have gained a lot of attention
on mixcloud and soundcloud so I’m pretty sure if they actually listen to mixes they will
enjoy them.

Pyro: What would you say makes you stand out as a DJ?

DJ Yung Nas: What makes me stand out as a DJ is my progress from when I first started. I have been a DJ for sometime now but I have not been uploading my dj skills until the summer of 2019.I always felt that I wasn’t ready because when I watch other DJs, their scratch skills and mixing techniques were far too advanced and that its not possible for me to get to that level in my career especially on a Pioneer SB2. What made me change my mind was that I didn’t have the finances to get turntables and a high quality mixer so I decided that I was just going to have to make it work with what I have until I was ready to
upgrade. My first couple of videos I was doing regular transitions and scratches, now I
am doing combos and mashups. I have progressed so much within that time and I
believe that’s what makes me stand out.

Pyro: What do you feel about those who say that Controller DJ’s aren’t as skilled as Turntable and Record DJ’s?

Dj Yung Nas: People who say that DJs who use DJ controllers are not as skilled as DJs who use vinyl are crazy. What some people need to realize is that it’s not about what equipment you have it’s how you use it. All equipment has its pros and cons. I have watched youtube
videos of people making insane routines on DJ controllers and vinyl. Both can get the
job done if you practice enough. Now Is it hard to scratch and do certain things on a
controller than vinyl, maybe. It may require a lot of practice and it’s possible but that’s not
the case. Everyone has their own style of doing things the way they want too and that’s
all that matters.

Pyro: If you had a chance to put together a track with 3 major artist who would be on the record and why?

DJ Yung Nas: 3 Major artists I would choose for a record would be Drake, Young Thug and Quavo. I chose them because anything that they drop especially as a single is a banger or
something people can vibe too.

Pyro: What sets you apart from your competition?

DJ Yung Nas: What sets me apart from my competition is my creativity and passion. When I make videos I try to add at least one new thing to the video whether it’s a scratch or transition method, I never try to do the same technique every video. I may have multiple videos with the same concept but in each of them there are different ways of how I do things, whether it’s the beginning, the middle or end of a routine, I try not to do the same thing. Another is the fact that I’m doing these routines on a small DJ controller. Some people think that you need turntables to make cool dj routines for Instagram and by me
uploading my videos to instagram, I’m trying to eliminate that. I had no training only
youtube and it took time for me to progress and it can be the same for everybody else if
they put their mind to it.

Pyro: When it comes to your music library, how do you go about building it? Is there a research involved or is it off ear?

DJ Yung Nas: When I build my music library, it’s 50/50 research and off ear. The Research part is me looking to see who is dropping music every Friday at 12, another is going through my record pool seeing what is downloaded a lot and what is trending. Every song that I
download I listen to it first because I want to make sure it fits with the type of music I
play. I always ask myself, “will this keep the party going or will it die down if I play this”? I
can’t just download every song because at that point i’m just wasting storage for songs
that i’m only going to place once. So it’s very important to know your taste in music and
what you want to play.

Thank you for sitting down with us. We appreciate your time. 

Follow, Subscribe and check out DJ Yung Nas mixes below

Social Media Links

Instagram.com/djyungnas

Twitter.com/djyungnas

Getting to Know Chrystyal Thoughts

We’re sitting down with the winner for The Artistry raffle Christyal Thoughts who is an artist and producer who graduated with a audio engineering degree from SAE. The Bronx native started writing music at the tender age of 11 years old and by the age of 16 she had joined a female rap group and started doing talent shows. After graduating she also started producing for local artists. In 2017 she dropped her first project IMF 1.
Christyal lost her mother to substance abuse when she was 3 years old and then was adopted and grew up in Bronx River Projects and she has shown that you can chase your dreams and persevere no matter what is thrown your way.

Christyal thank you for joining us.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What or who inspired you to start writing and making music?

Christyal thoughts: Listening to music such as Tupac, Bone thugs in harmony, No Limit Records and Cash Money records…really West Coast music inspired me to start writing and making music. They didn’t play it on the radio much and at the time I was lucky if they played Tupac so I went out buying a lot of West Coast music.

Pyro: Has the loss of your mother at a young age and being adopted affected your music style?

Christyal: Yes. It helps me to stay grounded, real and connected to my true self and inner feelings. Outside of my music career, I work with people who have gone through the same things that I have. I can relate so I put it in my music.

Pyro: How did you joining a female rap group come about and what happened to the group?

Christyal: I started at a young age 16. We all grew up in the same neighborhood in the Bronx and one of my best friends at the time had an Uncle who made beats so every weekend we were writing songs and preparing for a talent show. When I turned 18 back in 1999 we were suppose to sign to our Manager but we were getting older and decided to just go our own ways and live life. As far as the group we are all still friends to this day. Those were good times.

Pyro: Do you have a preference between making your music and producing for other artist?

Christyal: The end goal is to get a Publishing Deal and produce for other Artists but right now I am learning what it is like to be an Artist and i’m going through the process. It’s more to it than just making a song.

Pyro: What kind of feedback have you gotten from your music and how has it affected you?

Christyal: I have gotten feedback from my music such as it’s different and it sounds very therapeutic. I get feedback that i’m talking real talk and they can relate. Song wise people like MJ Bad, Rebellious, In along time, Cruel World…… its a few.

Pyro: Lastly what is your ultimate goal and where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?

Christyal: My Ultimate goal is to do shows and still get beats and song placements for other artists.

Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us and we wish you much success in everything you do.

Linktree: linktr.ee/ChristyalThoughts
Website: christyalthoughts.com
Twitter: @crisuptownbxoct

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristyalThoughts

Check out her Music Video 1981