AWTHENTIK
DM: Being from the DMV where we have our own genre of music and the wide scene and influence of go-go were you a fan and did you have a favorite band or bands?
Awthentik: I was definitely into go go before I actually started making music. Its part of our culture out here. I remember like 2001 and UCB came out and the whole neighborhood was going crazy off that VSOP record. Those were good times and definitely had a influence on my musically.
DM: Now you perform often tell the people where they can come see you…
Awthentik: Anyone who truly knows me, knows that I pride myself on my live performance. I've played pretty much every major venue in the DC/MD area from 930 club, Blackcap, U Street Music Hall, Howard Theatre, The Fillmore, and more. Actually, on June 28th I will be back in The Fillmore rocking alongside Uptown XO, Ethan Spalding, and Girard Street Garvey. This show will be kicking off the Popular Misconception Tour, which will primarily take place along the east coast.
DM: Now, right now you're on the scene as an independent artist, would you consider signing to a major label and what would it take if you would?
AWthentik: Under the right circumstances, I would sign to a major record label. I think the hardest part about being a signed artist is that most record labels want to keep the ownership to your work. I handcraft all my records from top to bottom. I make the beat, sequence the beat, write the song, record the song, edit the song, mix the song, and then finally master the song. It would be really hard to then just give away the ownership of something that I would have spent so much time on. The good part about being on a label though is all the promotion is done for you. Your team and impact is larger. Who knows, in the future I might sign a deal, but for right now I am content with being independent and having complete control over my work.
DM: Do you have any other projects in the works or are you just focused on promoting?
Awthentik: I am always working on new material. Right now, I am currently gathering all the beats for my next solo album. We want to release that in September. Popular Misconception is a free project for all my supporters and new fans to get a grasp of how my next album might or might not sound. Also I am in the works on a couple different collaboration projects as well.
DM: How often do you record?
Awthentik: I’m in the studio every day. My part time day job is working a recording engineer at DC's most popular recording studio. Also my bedroom is a studio. I live and breathe music everyday. If its not recording, I’m making a beat or chopping a sample. So yeah, I make music everyday.
Interview Conducted By Tripple O
Images Courtesy of Awthentik