Pink Sweat$

34PINK SWEAT$

35

Photographer Mariah Winter Story by Anthony Supreme Thompson

363738Q & A

Where are you from ? And describe your up bringing ?

I'm born and raised in Philly. Music-wise I've been drumming in Church since I was a kid. I was pretty much in the hood until the 10th grade when my dad moved us to South Jersey. That was probably the turning point for me where I started being a little more productive with my life.

39

What was the first album or music you brought? That inspired you the most?

My household was super religious so I wasn't allowed to listen to secular music as a kid. I remember my Mom bought the "Mario" album and we listened to that a lot. She loved that album. That was the most memorable non-gospel project for me growing up.

40

"I try to bring an honest vulnerability to my music that I think really resonates with my fans. " - pink sweat$

What inspires you to start making music and how did you discover your direction ?

When you're a writer you are constantly being asked to copy this or make it sound like that, but thats never something I want to do for my own music. One of the most important things to me is balance. I think you need balance in everything, whether that be life or your music preference. In an age where heavy production is so prevalent and everyone wants there songs to hit a certain way, I just wanted to give people the opportunity to also have the other side. Similarly, you hear so many songs focusing on sex and over-sexualizing women. I try to bring an honest vulnerability to my music that I think really resonates with my fans.

41

Describe your creative direction is it a team ? Or all you ? If so what’s that process like ?

I have a creative team that I work with on all of my visuals. We are all so close that no one is ever afraid to throw out ideas that may be risky or out of left field. They do an amazing job of taking pieces of my imagination and really bringing it to life.

"I always want my videos to give you a different perspective as to how to view the song" - PINK Sweat$

42

43If there’s a new ep/album coming how much can you tell me about it. Along with how much can you describe the growth of it music wise from your last?

I pretty much play every instrument, and on my album I'm going to let people hear that. I've been working really hard and collaborating with a lot of tremendously talented people to put my first full-length album together. I want it to be a masterpiece and I know its getting there. Some of the album records are songs I think the world needs.

44

Your visuals are really amazing! What inspires them all.

I always want my videos to give you a different perspective as to how to view the song. I never want it to be a down the middle representation. My team knows how my brain works and we all collaborate to make the videos special.

How has your direction grown sense the start and do you feel you’ve figured it out yet ? Or still room to grow ?

For me I think this answer is probably a little different than most since I'm not a kid. I'm 27 and I couldn't be happier with my life and the person I've become. There's always room to grow and improve, but I honestly feel like tough times are behind me and its only up from here.

Is there something or someone who inspired your first ep/album? I ask because of the titles to me seem to be about the lost of love ?

I wrote Volume 1 from an airbnb couch in LA. It was the first time I had gone out there to really make my rounds in the songwriting circuit and I was doing sessions everyday. When you're in a new place meeting new people its easy to be inspired. I wouldn't say there was one person that inspired Volume 1, just a lot of new people in my life that gave me a different perspective.

45

What is something you would want your fans to know about you. Maybe no one knows ?

I tell people this during my shows, but I never write anything down. I'm a freestyle writer, so when I get in the booth its more of a stream of conciseness than anything. It usually only takes me a few takes to nail down a full verse or chorus. I remember when I was writing 'Body Aint Me' with by guy Doc Daniel, he started playing that guitar riff and we recorded the entire first verse and chorus all in the first take.