South Bronx Native artist and community leader A.M. is on a mission to expose and expand the reach of the Roaches&Rats Lifestyle through music and other ventures.
In this interview spotlight, we chop it up with A.M. about the newest project, his influences, his thoughts on being an indie musician in the digital era and much more.
Full Q&A along with links and the video for Dusty can be found below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I’m an artist, so I could never be sure which style or angle I will approach a song. Of course we predominately Hip Hop, and I still consider myself a rapper. But the creative process is crazy, cause you never want to put yourself in a box. You always want to be able to mature and develop in your music. Because your music is a reflection of you, and as a human being, that what we should be doing… maturing. And I’m from the South Bronx”
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
It was many things that led me down this path. I wrote my first rap at 8 for my grandma and performed it at her 70th birthday party. I definitely peed my pants when I got the microphone and spotlight was on me. I deff wasn’t the next lil bow wow or romeo, so I stop writing for a while. but I always loved Hip-hop music. It was so heavy in my culture, I remember having the Ruff Riders Cd with the silver R in the middle of the disc, the Eminem Marshall Mather Cd, of Course 50 cents Cd, and this was all before I turned 10. Then when I turn 13 my world change, I was on a School trip to California. And I heard A Milli by lil wayne. I was just so Dumb founded on everything he said and the way he said it. I remember being in the hotel room while all my other friends were sleeping, and me sneaking to the bathroom just to get some privacy to listen to the song. All the similes and Metaphors, it was just so Mind Blowing. Then that’s when the thought came across my head. “Maybe I could do this too” and I never stop writing ever since.
Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?
My biggest influences in my music is life experiences. I just take the things I go through on regular basis and how I feel and release it in to the music. Therefore, the people that listening get the real me. So When they might bump into me or see me perform live there’s no mistaken who I am. If you listen to the music you know I don’t got the most money, the biggest chain, or however people judge artist these days. But I do have a vison… but I do have quality music to be presented, and We do have the passion and patients to see it all through.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
This release differs a lot from anything We did in the past. I feel like anything I did in the past was warm up for this moment. This the first project we actually had a market plan, a budget, paperwork to hand in, Deadlines. Best part, everything was an in-house effort. I watched and saw as T-notez mixed and master it, trying get the vocals right. I Co-directed, and watched and saw Ant Good cut up and edit the video, I sat with Brian Breton and Saw him work on the cover art for the single, I set up a time in the library to watch and see Romeo set up the website, I went out there with Will and other street team members to go collect emails for the release of the song. Morale of the Story keep Great people around you and keep creative control of your own artwork.
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
Youtube is out bruh, It’s a whole new era. Now independent artist is house hold names and having long successful careers. Some is even internationally known and touring internationally. I love it, it gives everybody and anybody a chance to become a star, but It’s still a lot of work. Which why it may still seem so unrealistic to an ordinary person. But I know it’s possible.
How do you feel about streaming services? Any romantic attachments to the physical formats: vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, CDs?
Nah bro, I think I bought my first physical Cd in my life like last year or something.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
- Check out the website at AMthepoet.com
- My Ig and twitter is @AMthe_Author
- Fb page @: A.M. the Author
Anything else before we sign off?
Hope ya’ll really enjoy the “Dusty” Vid. Hope It made the rotation on your music playlist. Hope it even made your music playlist. Hope It get you through some hard times. One Love
