The Interview: Decent Makes Music

Where are you from? Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way?
Originally I'm from Portland Oregon, Currently in the small town of Scappoose Oregon. My surrounds have always been distant which has shaped me to be a relatable artist for those who feel stuck or out of place. Many artists have shaped their music around fantasy and unobtainable lifestyles. DMM is music that you can use to cope in all aspects of life. Happy, sad, angry or hyped up.


• What’s your background like? Where do you stand on the music scene in your area?
Growing up I was always the outcast and at one point the kid that was the punching bag.  My parents split when I was three and my dad was my main support system. My mom went on a very fast downward spiral. Alcohol became a top priority. Depression hit hard and music is all I had to turn to. Music had always been a constant in my life, I have been singing since the day I can remember. As I grew older singing turned into rapping and my words became meaningful. I have always loved to freestyle around close friends and in hard times to destress. Every time I would send my friends recordings they would tell me to post them. I had always been afraid to go public with my music simply because of hate. I have recently started to post my music and the response has been amazing. I have started to produce my own beats and release a few short songs with lyrics.

• What did you start doing first, producing or rapping? How did you get started?
I started off with freestyling on beats off of YouTube, Currently, I make my own beats. l also am putting lyrics to others beats as well as mine. I bought my first even home studio equipment this year as an impulse decision. I have a rule that when I get big ideas I give myself five seconds to act on that idea and take a step forward into the next step of that idea/goal. If I don't act within five seconds then I give up on it because after five seconds the brain's natural response is to talk yourself into pushing it back or just completely forgetting about it. If you're truly passionate five seconds is all you need.


• Do you have anyone that you consider your mentor? How has their help or advice shaped you?
I’ve never worked with any official mentors, but I believe that my mentors have been all the people who have been in and out of my life. I find my ideas for lyrics come from all the life lessons I have learned. One of the biggest concepts I try to portray in my lyrics is that moving on isn’t easy but it’s always possible. The biggest part of my life that I have had to put in the past is one my step dad leaving my mom all by herself and putting her through the pain he did, and two not listening to the people who always put me down and made me the punching bag when I was younger. Going through that wasn't easy due to the fact that all the pain they put me through caused me to hate myself. I believe that finding true happiness in life takes many years but I feel that I'm on the right track to finding happiness and recovering from the demons that people placed within me.


• What is one experience in life that, without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you are today?
If I had never used music to cope with all the emotions that come with growing up and trying to find a way through life then I would have never thought to put the pen to the page and become an artist myself. From feelings typed into my iPhone notes to writing poems and other lyrics into my notebook, I have so many ideas and topics that I find myself digging through to form the perfect song. All of my songs have emotions and life lessons attached to them, these lyrics also help with creating beats. Do I want an uplifting beat? Maybe a laid back piano-based beat? All these factors play into the style of my music and make me stand out as an artist compared to the rest.


• What do you hope to accomplish this year?
I’m very eager for 2019 as this year I have big plans to expand and grow as an artist. I’m hoping to produce three full songs. By full songs Imean that I want to put a lot of time and effort into a few songs that are fully produced rather than six or seven that would have lazily written all over them. As well as three fully produced songs I plan on maintaining a one or two beat weekly upload to my youtube. I want to get my name out to the community and grow as an artist. I am also looking for a few local artists to feature in a song of mine. I’m planning on getting studio time so I can work harder than last year on gaining a following.


• What does your work aim to say?
My work aims to speak to people on an emotional level. Some would call it soul music. I love giving people a way to cope by listening to music just as I did as a kid. That’s why my music includes many life lessons and is aimed to give people something relatable. This gives others a sense of meaning hoping they can see that no matter how life is treating you or has treated you, you can make something beautiful from it.


• Who are your biggest influences and what do you like about them the most?
Witt Lowry has always been a huge inspiration to me. His music has always spoken to me the same way I want mine to speak to others. Another huge inspiration has been Eden his voice is so pure and really pulls you in and gets you hooked to his music. He also produces amazing music along with his lyrics. I love listening to underground artists and staying away from mainstream music only for the simple fact that I feel mainstream music has created a false reality for people these days. It seems that underground artists tend to voice the truth.


• How would you describe your own style?
My style is definitely R&B, but I wouldn't say that my music is mainstream. Like I've said above mainstream rap these days isn't for me. My music comes straight from my heart and the feelings trapped in my head. I let my music speak for the person I am and who I'm trying to become. I try to portray the message that everyone goes through hards times. If people can relate to my music it gives us connection and brings the music a whole new meaning. Rather than just some words on a page.


• In what ways has your newest music changed from when you first started?
My music when I was starting was very simple. Lots of base with a few cool chords to add on top. Now my music tends to be more full and have a clear intro, middle, and end. It tells a story even if I don't have lyrics put to the music. All of my music now has a lot more time and effort put into it. Reason being is that I don't care how many beats I put out, I care to produce good content that brings people back for more.