Artist Interview — BC
I have been fortunate enough to write and learn about a variety of subjects lately like soccer, coral reefs, and international law. One thing that I’ve really missed was writing and producing pieces relating to another one of my passions — music. I thought one way to get back into it would be to interview up-and-coming artists and review albums and other creative projects from those same artists.
What better way to find my way back than to interview an up-and-coming artist that I respect and am lucky enough to call a close friend? — That artist is BC.
BC and I have known each other since 2013 and I have collaborated with him in various roles on artistic projects since 2014. He just released a new album, “Staykation,” that is available to stream on major platforms and for purchase on iTunes with a deluxe version featuring 3 additional songs. I spoke with BC for a few hours recently to talk about everything from his new album, Outkast, the coronavirus pandemic, and a lot more. Check out the most interesting parts of our discussion and listen to his album below.
RS: So BC, thank you for taking the time to talk with me today. I know it’s been a while since we’ve been able to catch up and set this much time aside to go back and forth.
BC: For sure, man. I’m glad we get to talk and I’m thankful for the opportunity to do your first artist interview.
RS: I recently came up with the idea while talking with [our mutual friend] Ryan [Visual Artist, Arizona Achille] and thought it would be a great idea to tap into your thought process regarding the album and see what you’ve been up to. With that in mind, let’s get to it. I know you’re based in New York right now. How are things up there right now?
BC: I’m doing well, bro. I’ve been doing a lot of remote work. Keeping an eye on everything and going back and forth between New York and Charlotte, NC. I just moved to New York last year and my family is still back in North Carolina. I’ve been watching the news and seeing updates from this site developed by a programmer to track coronavirus cases…
BC was at an undisclosed location somewhere between New York and Charlotte, his two bases. He mentioned how the programmer was very talented. Worth keeping an eye on. We proceeded to talk a bit about his family and how we are both doing considering the impact of the coronavirus on our daily lives.
RS: We are definitely living in a very unique time where we are all trying our best to keep calm and adapt to everything being thrown at us. What have you been up to lately? How have you been passing the time when you’re not working?
BC: I’ve been buying records. Tapping into old records and older music. Working. Recording more. Really thinking about buying a piano. A full 88-weighted key piano. I know we talked about it before. And I just finished reading the Steve Jobs book.
RS: What kind of artists? It’s always interesting to know your influences and what you’re listening to. Yeah, I remember that! A MIDI keyboard to work on production? Or just a sort of freestanding keyboard?
BC: The classics, man. Al Green. Teddy, Marvin, you know. Stuff you’ve been on, for sure. And oh, definitely a MIDI keyboard to hook up to the laptop and work on production in the future. I need to do more than just rapping and singing.
RS: Barry White, too? *Laughs* Yeah, I know we’ve talked about being able to do it all and learn it on your own. To have that form of a new creative and artistic outlet.
BC: Exactly, bro. I need to do something different and explore new ideas. I’m working on some right now related to the album.
RS: Like merch [merchandise]? I know you have experimented with various products in the past to coincide with your musical releases.
BC: Yeah, but something different. I’m actually working on concepts right now. I’m working with an artist to make a pillow design right now for the “Staykation” album. Nobody’s doing a pillow. And a vinyl version of the album.
RS: You’re right. There’s always the t-shirts, sweatshirts, posters. I haven’t seen a pillow yet… That reminds me of Kanye a little bit. I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to read his recent interview in GQ. It’s a long read but a lot of good, random information in there. He’s working on developing an architecture team and a concept line of custom-designed homes…
BC: Wow. Exactly like that, though. I haven’t seen that, bro. You and Ryan [Arizona Achille] send me everything, so you need to keep me posted about things like that.
RS: I definitely will. But that pillow idea is really cool. It could definitely fit the “Staykation” vibe. Get that pillow in IKEA. A whole line in IKEA. *Laughs*
BC: Like Virgil? *Laughs*
RS: Exactly. Then you need to get in with Virgil [Abloh, a close associate of Kanye West, clothing designer, and pioneer behind the brand OFF-WHITE]. It all kind of ties together. Having just finished the Steve Jobs biography and wanting to innovate and do something different. But something functional, too.
BC: Yeah! Definitely. Kanye must have read that book and has definitely considered Steve Jobs an inspiration. I just want to do something like that. Something that appeals to people that isn’t what everybody else is doing. Have it be something functional and relevant, too.
RS: I see it. I feel that sometimes people just make random merchandise or projects just to do it or just to be different. But the pillow is actually functional and related to the album in a way… Getting to the music and your artistic image - for those that don’t know you or are new to your music, is it “BC.”, “BC”, or something different…? What does it stand for?
BC: Haha “BC” and it’s my initials. It was a nickname I got in middle or high school, I can’t remember. But it stuck. Especially playing basketball. It’s a lot shorter than saying my name, Brandon.
RS: That makes sense. And no period? I swear I always remember one being there whenever I exported tracks to upload or sent stuff over to you.
BC: Just BC. On one of the projects we worked on together, 88.8 FM, I can’t remember if there was a period. Was it there?
We both proceed to check Soundcloud where some of the original project was uploaded to verify. The 88.8 FM album cover features a “.” after BC and we laugh about how we couldn’t remember.
RS: There was! But it’s clear now. *Laughs*
BC: Yeah, on Spotify and all streaming platforms it’s just “BC” because there are way too many other artists with variations of a similar name.
RS: I remember there being “BecauseTheGod” as an instagram name sometime back then. And “DJ Because The God” showed up as a character within some of the 88.8 FM skits, as well.
BC reminded me that “BecauseTheGod” was an instagram name briefly. It was a name made up by a photographer/videographer and friend while we studied at East Carolina University.
RS: You sure it really doesn’t stand for “Before Coronavirus”? You know, when things were what we thought was normal? *Laughs*
BC: *Laughs* I hadn’t thought of that. But really, we’re living in a different time now. Everything’s different now, bro.
RS: And the album title, well, the album is “Staykation” and it came out on April 12th. It’s honestly the perfect title for an album released when people have to stay inside. When they’re almost trying to have a “staycation” in a way… But you came up with the title track and the album name a while ago, didn’t you? And did you put the whole album together in NY?
BC: Yeah, bro. I had the song “Staykation” first and recorded it probably back in September or October of 2019. I wanted to name the album the same thing because it’s kind of how I’ve been feeling since I moved to New York. I put everything together after I moved up from North Carolina. The concept kind of developed as I stayed in more and worked more from home. Doing a lot of thinking and reflecting from home for the last 7 months.
RS: I definitely hear how that has influenced the album. I can hear a general mellow sound to the production, lyrics, and flows, for the most part, in the first five songs before it transitions to being a little bit more energetic and aggressive on “5am in Ny” and for the last few songs. It sounds like music you would listen to on a “staycation” normally. Showcasing a mix of emotions you experience while inside. A continuum of feelings and perspectives that can arise throughout a “staycation”. Some happiness, some feelings of romance and lust. Some feelings of energy and sudden aggressiveness, too. Thoughts expressed through your lyrics regarding your family, working, and reflecting on life choices. It’s got everything.
BC: Exactly. I guess it turned out like that. It really was my perspective but I didn't notice all that while I was recording. It was just what I was feeling at that moment and I guess those songs captured those feelings. It’s interesting that you picked up on that.
RS: I also noticed a subtle transition between your last full project with the end of “The Art of Disappearance”. The bonus track, “By Myself”, really transitions well into “13th Floor”… Did you try to make the projects flow smoothly or intend for them to be played back to back?
BC: Wow, it’s funny you picked up on that. You know they both have the same producer, Dom [Wick, a fellow member of ChampionSound Records]. I didn’t plan on that but it kind of subconsciously ended up in that order. I need to go back and listen to them in order…
RS: Haha, wow! The beats and energy on each one transition almost perfectly. It gets the album off to a good start for me. All around, actually, the production is top-notch. It always is with your projects but this one really is at a different level. I always tend to appreciate your lyricism, too. I have a few lyric questions listeners might be wondering about… What were the “silver linings” you refer to in the chorus of “13th Floor”?
BC: Just the silver linings in life. Remembering the yin and the yang. The cup being half full and that every cloud has a silver lining. The sun is still out even when you can’t see it.
RS: The balance?
BC: Yeah. Seeing all the sides to certain situations and making the most out of whatever that might be. Understanding the good and the bad but making the most out of it either way.
RS: I like that. That makes sense… Another lyric question, I think it’s a sick line — in “Staykation”, you say, “play stupid, get cooked like stew pig…but no pig touch my tooth”…what was that referring to?
BC: I’m a Vegan. That’s it, really, haha. I’m not a Muslim or anything, nothing against the brotherhood or Muslim faith. I just don’t eat meat. Sometimes people think that I’m Muslim because I rock the kufi every now and then.
RS: That’s right. You started that a few years ago?
BC: Yeah, almost two years ago. I was a pescatarian before that and then I switched to being a Vegetarian before going Vegan.
RS: So was it for health reasons or ethical reasons? Or any reason in particular? Didn’t Damari [DamarTheEmcee, fellow NC artist and ChampionSound Records member] do that, as well? I know you’re not out there bragging about it or anything.
BC: Damari did it first. But I kind of did it for health reasons. I was working out a lot. I got big and bulky but couldn’t move around the court as easily and felt stiff. I lost a lot of weight but I feel much better now. I also wanted to see if I could do it. To set a goal for myself and stick to it. I mean I slip up every now and then on accident *laughs* but it’s one way to hold myself accountable.
RS: That’s interesting. It can be a tough challenge but is satisfying when you can hold yourself to it successfully.
BC: For sure.
RS: Taking it back to the music, I hear multiple references to Outkast throughout the project. It seems you mention Outkast consistently on various songs and projects, actually. You had the song “OutKast” a few years ago and “I Light the Way” on 88.8 FM alluding to the Outkast song. On the “Staykation” album, “13th Floor” is an Outkast song name from their ATLiens album. You mention André [3000] a few times on this project, too...
BC: Definitely. Haha man you noticed all of that.
RS: I really hear their influence on your style. I hear the Southern accent. Lyrics that reference things from the South that only people that lived in the Southern U.S. would recognize. And you rap over similar funky, boom-bap type beats like they used to. But I still hear the New York influence, also.
BC: Yeah, I’m always listening to Outkast and Goodie Mob. You know I always listen to Nas.
RS: I pick up on that emphasis on wordplay and clever but meaningful lyricism. It’s a lot different than what you hear on the radio or what’s been popular recently.
BC: Yeah, man. You know I don’t listen to the radio like that but I feel the same way…
RS: Sometimes it really sounds like rappers will spit something just to say it.
BC: Exactly. I mean all rappers kind of do that sometimes. You can’t always be too detailed and real.
RS: And Outkast really had a unique style for being a rap duo in the South. You kind of fit in that same niche.
BC: Yeah, they were from Atlanta but the rest of Atlanta had that ATL sound. The Houston style…
RS: And then who knows what comes out of Miami…
BC: *Laughs*
RS: And North Carolina still doesn’t really have an identifiable style yet… Even with Dreamville…
BC: Yeah.
RS: I hear your style developing more and more and I hear the New York accent and lingo creeping in a bit… One thing that’s different about this project is there are no features on it at all. Who helped contribute otherwise?
BC: Yeah, I know I’m not from New York so I’m not trying to use it and be inauthentic but I don’t want to lose my slang from down South… North Carolina-based producer Marc Spano did all the mixing and mastering. I recorded everything but he mixed it all. Otherwise, Dom Wick produced “13th Floor”, Marc Spano produced “Staykation” and “Alieve”, Jared Jamaal did “Consignment Shop”, “Birthday”, and “If I Ruled the World”. Then, Swvnn did “5am in Ny” and “Inside, Outside”.
RS: That’s a solid group of producers. And you’re still working with Champion Sound, right?
BC: Yeah, man.
RS: Thinking about who contributed and your musical influences, what else have you been influence by lately? Have you read anything good?
BC: Just the Steve Jobs biography and I picked up “The Invisible Man” by H.G. Wells.
RS: That’s a good one! A classic…
We closed out the interview catching up, talking about future travel plans, shows in Albany and New York City. We reflected on where we were 3 years ago when we graduated college together. We both have come a long way and have been able to reconnect based on the same thing that brought us together in 2013, our love for creating and always trying to do what makes us happy.
BC recommends that anyone new to his music take a listen to his new album. He says that there have been lots of favorites from new and old fans on “Staykation” without a consensus for the best song. Not a bad problem to have.
Thank you for reading.
