Tell us about yourself.
I’m GIOVANNI, an 18-year-old bedroom artist born in New York. I lived in Haiti 90% of my life and moved to Canada after the earthquake in 2010 (best thing to happen to me). I’m very loud, annoying and creative…basically a child.
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Tell us about yourself as an artist.
I enjoy experimenting. I try to learn as much as I can from different genres; it helps me avoid putting my music in a box. When I’m not making music, I take photos, sometimes draw, write and do graphic design, so I design all my covers and edit my videos.
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Tell us about the genre of your music.
Since I experiment quite a bit, it’s a bit hard to say. But I’m very influenced by Hip-Hop, Indie, Rock, Alternative, some Jazz and some Pop. There’s probably more that I can’t think of right now. I like string sections a lot.
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Tell us about the story behind your song.
This song is a bit old actually. The way it came together is pretty interesting. I wrote the lyrics 5-6 months ago for a different beat, but it wasn’t working out too well. So a few weeks later, I find this sick sample on YouTube and I make this beat, an idea came to my head to try to rap the lyrics over that new beat and it worked perfectly. I released the first version of RYSE 5 months ago, it was just my verse. Then I met my good friend Cassius, he liked it and wrote a verse for it and made a second version where it was only his verse. And then finally a few weeks ago I ended up putting both together and turned it into a proper song.
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Tell us about the problems you are facing as a musician.
My parents. They’re not very supportive, which sucks. There’s also the fact that I’m independent and I do everything myself in my home studio which costs a lot of money and time.
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Tell us about the recording and production of the song.
For production, it’s pretty straight-forward. There’s a cool Japanese sample looping throughout and the snares are tight. I made this beat pretty quickly too, probably 10 to 20 minutes. Recording-wise it took a few tries because it was one of my first times rapping with a faster flow so I had to make sure my delivery and cadence was good at all times.
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List the names of blogs, radio or TV stations that have supported you so far.
You guys are the first legit blog to take my song though and I’m super thankful for that.
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Tell us more about your music career, experience, and future goals.
I started out just producing, around 4-5 years ago. I started writing seriously about a year ago. I’m progressing pretty well. I’ve made a decent amount of songs but I’ve only released 3. I played my first show December 28th of last year that was sick. The coolest thing is the reactions, seeing people listen to something you spent your time and effort making, and them loving it, nothing beats that. For 2018, I have a lot that I want to accomplish, like a LOT, and I’m planning and saving money to make sure I achieve those goals.
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Brief us what inspires you to write, compose and sing.
I’ve been loving music for as long as I can remember. It’s my number 1, the love of my life. I wanted to make music since I was 6-7 years-old but never had the confidence to start. So I guess I get inspired to make music to make my younger self proud. Also my idols and immortality.
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Brief us the top-secret behind making a hit song.
I have no idea. I don’t really know what I’m doing yet haha.
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Tell the kind of advice you will give to an upcoming artist.
Spend your first 10,000 hours making art for yourself first. Have patience. Be smart.
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Discuss at length your music careers, albums, songs, tours, recognition or awards you might have obtained.
A few beats. 3 songs. No albums yet. No tours, just one show. No awards. I’m taking my time.
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Tell us how you write your lyrics, compose, sing and record in the studio.
It varies, ‘feeling’ is very important. I’d rather not say.
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Name the artists you are willing to collaborate with.
Cassius Heights, always. Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, Earl, Donald Glover, Rick Rubin, Mike Dean, Arca, Kanye West, Toro y Moi. Pharell, Viviane Sassen, Keynes Woods and Filet Mignon.
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State the links to your social networks and stores for purchase of your songs.
Instagram
Twitter
Website
RYSE on Apple Music
Spotify
TIDAL
Google Play
Available on all streaming platforms.
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Tell us about your happiest day and saddest day.
My most recent happiest day was December 28th, 2017, my first live show. Saddest day, the day I found shit out.
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Tell us how you will spend a million dollars.
Buy my parents a house. Most of it would most likely be used to buy more shit to help me create more and to get my creations to more people.
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Tell us about your song.
A normal person would probably use the word “banger” to describe it, so we’ll go with that. It’s nothing crazy honestly, super amazing song but nothing crazy. I love my verse a lot but Cassius’ verse is a bit better in my opinion. It’s a banger.
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Tell us how you manage other activities with your music career.
I’m still learning how to do it haha. Attending university while trying to make music a full-time job isn’t too easy.
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Tell us five artists you can regard as legends.
Kanye West. Pharrell. Tyler, the Creator. Frank Ocean. Kendrick.
Tyler and Frank aren’t really technically legends, but to me, they are.
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Tell us your future plans pertaining music.
My plan is to reach as many ears and hearts as possible before and after I die.
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Tell us what you think about creativity and originality in music.
Tricky. Creativity is taking ideas from different places and putting them together to attempt to form something new, basically making connections. So nothing is really original. I don’t think I’m original, I steal from my idols.
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Tell us the major reason you are into music.
Hard to explain. I just love everything about it and I want to make it until I’m dead.
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Tell us your view on old school music and new school music in terms of preference.
I like both. “New school” is just the result of people getting bored of “old school” and bending rules to make something fresh. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Some will like it, some won’t.
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Tell us your most memorable day as an artist.
So far, it’s my first show.
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Tell us what you would do for the people if you found yourself in a position of power.
Use my power to get more power. Use my power to reach as many people as possible. Use my power to help.
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State the official date of release.
January 26th, 2018.
