410 Noodlez
Background and Influences:
Who are some of your biggest influences?
My biggest influences in music are System Of A Down, Ski Mask The Slump God, and DMX. I listen to a lot of music and genres to get inspo so this is a short list to save time.
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Baltimore MD but Lived in Washington since 2016.
How has your upbringing and experiences impacted the type of music you make?
I grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood back in Baltimore as well as I was a medic in the Army, A lot of my music reflects the mental struggles coming from those backgrounds and still being alive to talk about it.
Creative Process:
Where or what do you get most of your inspiration from?
Life, I'll have a conversation with someone and they say something that strikes something in me mentally to want to sit and expand on said thought. I can't help but turn my life's internal experience into an outer experience of artistic expression.
Can you walk us through a typical songwriting process?
I usually make a beat first before I write to know what mood the instrumental I created puts me in, and then I go from there. Could take 30 mins to finish writing a song, could be 1 week depending on what I'm trying to convey through the song and how difficult it can be to turn emotions into words.
How do you know when a song is finished?
Songs finished once I can listen through front to back and feel like whatever it was that needed to be delivered with the finished product is present. I try my best not to put out anything song wise. that I haven't polished to the best of my ability.
What are some challenges you face when writing and recording a song?
I record at home, so sometimes I get really self conscious about if my neighbors can hear me and think I'm crazy.
Do you have any rituals or routines that help you write?
My entire apartment has to be cleaned before I can sit and create ANYTHING, if not I won’t be able to focus in the slightest.
Music Career and Goals:
What is your main goal for your music career?
To inspire others to embrace their individuality and create something people can connect and grow with.
How do you reach a new audience?
I have a lot of different marketing techniques I use to get my music and brand in front of those who would enjoy it. One I'll share is to put out good content that you can make CONSISTENTLY.
What message are you trying to convey through your music?
That we are all the same and have flaws in our own unique way and shouldnt be quick to judge others , reflect more care more be a good PERSON there aren’t many left and it’s becoming trendy to be the opposite.
How do you handle criticism?
Depending on if it's constructive criticism I always listen with an open mind to what perspective I'm not seeing. Now if it's just plain hate I ignore it, I promise no one can troll harder than a drill sgt.... So it's pretty easy to ignore it after going through that.
What are your current thoughts about the music scene in your city?
Being a transplant makes it weird to be honest because I'm not as well integrated with the local music scene as I'd like to be and I believe it's due to most artists here I have noticed run in small groups and aren't fond of networking or collaborating too much with people outside those groups.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have navigating the music industry?
Creative overload is what I struggle with the most, I will have 1 million ideas and only two hands so I'm constantly adding things to my schedule to get done and can catch myself in a cycle sometimes due to it.
Delve Deeper:
What are some of the biggest challenges you have navigating the music industry?
My most pivotal moment so far has been winning the grant to make the anthem for the Washington State Housing Alliance, having my artistry recognized on that level felt incredible.
How do you balance being an artist and making music with other aspects of your life?
I incorporate it all together in a way, my kid is just as creative as me so if I’m doing something she probably doing it too and I do music and creative work full time so it's all about the balance of being a dad and an artist.
What kind of impact do you want your music to have?
I want my music to help those in the moments they may not talk about so often, remember that whatever it is you're feeling you're not alone there’s a horde of people just like you.
What advice would you give an aspiring artist or someone thinking of becoming an artist?
To any aspiring artists, I would say the same as I said earlier, don't feel like you have to wait until everything is perfect, get the art you believe in out the best way you can, and watch how fast you grow compared to those waiting on a perfect miracle. I took the route of jumping off the cliff and building a plane on the way down, not saying you have to do the same but don't wait so long you never jump at all.
