Interviews

Published on April 6th, 2020 | by MuzikScribe

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Klassik Poet.: Euphoric Storyteller

Tell me your whole inception into music — When did you first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for Klassik Poet.?

The seeds were planted way before I (was) even born; music is naturally in my blood. My grandfather, Ray Patterson, was a member of a UK group called Delegation, where they would see modest crossover success in America during the 1970’s and early 1980’s. As for me, my parents exposed me to a wide variety of music from very young. I get called an “old soul” because I listen to music from all genres and all decades. I decided to take my own musical endeavors serious at the end of my senior year in High School, when my best friend and I started going to this little hole in the wall studio after I was killing dudes during lunch time battle raps.

Now you’re a native of New York City, correct? So growing up in ‘The Big Apple,’ who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?

Ahhh, I’m glad you assumed that! *Poet. chuckles* I am NOT a N.Y.C. native, in fact I’m from Westchester – White Plains to be exact – about 40 minutes outside of N.Y.C.; apparently we are “upstate.” My strongest musical influences range from Sade to Jay-Z to Michael Jackson to Kendrick Lamar, Drake and everything in between. Honestly, I’m such a student of this game with such a variety of taste, it’s hard to identify just one or few people.

That being said, how do you classify your overall sound and / or style?

My style is what I like to call: euphoric storytelling. There’s always an underlying message to all my songs, even the ones that seem to be in layman’s terms…and they always make you feel good. Like a breath of fresh air of sorts.

As a lyricist, where do you draw your inspiration from?

I draw inspiration from my own life experiences and ideas; as an artist the world is my muse. I’m not here to talk or be anything I’m not. So for example, I can go outside and something as simplistic as the blue sky can trigger an entire record.

Where does your moniker originally derive from?

As I stated, I am an old soul, so “Klassik” stems from nostalgia. I’m never trying to recreate the past, but I do enjoy paying odes to it in various ways. As for “Poet.,” well I’m very poetic in my delivery; every line is intricate and well thought out.

Your latest combo single(s) / video are entitled “Microscopes / All Night” — Tell me about these particular tracks; how did they come to fruition? And, what prompted your decision to combine the songs into one?

“Microscopes” is a song about wanting unconditional love at the wrong time, with the wrong person, for the wrong reasons. I believe that love could sometimes be used as a crutch to distract you from other issues we may not want to face head on, so we rather run away from it through something – or someone – who makes us happy at the moment. Chandler (Elyse) and I recorded the song almost 2 years ago, and it instantly became one of my favorite songs I put out to date. “All Night” was a song with a really catchy hook that I knew would lodge into the heads of anyone who heard it even just once. The songs are right next to each other on my project, and if “Microscopes” was the story, “All Night” feels like the epilogue.

That said, what do you feel you bring to the music industry that we don’t already have in other performers?

I feel that I bring complexity to the music industry. In such an over-saturated game, I like to refer to my brand as “the new roaring ’20’s,” me being its innovative poet. My identity could be seen as profound, but I have multiple layers that I feel won’t limit me to a box or an image that reflects a general narrative of what a rapper is in these times, or any time for that matter.

Have you encountered any problems in getting to this point in your career?

Of course! Nothing worth having comes without trial and tribulation. I’ve been going hard at this since 17 years old, and I’ve experienced my share of failures and rejections…but I learned it was very necessary moments for my overall development. It’s made me who I am today, and it will help me in who I am set to become.

What do you want people to get from your music?

I could say insight or knowledge, but my goal is not to sound preachy or self righteous. I am young and still learning and evolving, so I like to place myself in the same situations that I could step back and evaluate so that a listener can take it and relate (it) to their own lives.

If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?

This one is very new…I never suggested this before, but recently I’ve been feeling Tame Impala a lot. They have an alternative sound that is so unlike anything else out, and it makes me so happy, ready to dance and enjoy life when I listen to them. I see a Klassik Poet. / Tame Impala collab project in the future…calling it now!

If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?

I would have to say Madison Square Garden, just off of sheer history and decoration. If you are from New York and you are able to sell out MSG, in my eyes, you’ve made it big.

One track of yours that you think defines you and why?

There’s a lot of new music that’s not out yet I feel defines me, but I would have to say the title song to my project ‘Before Things Get Weird,’ mainly because it’s an overview of my story, and why I made the choice to become an artist and enter this business.

In terms of longevity, what do you feel it is that will continue to sustain you in this grueling industry?

Growth and authenticity will sustain me in this industry. My music is about me, because I am the only thing that will ever evolve with time; not cars, jewelry or anything of materialistic value. That all can sound repetitive and one dimensional after a while; as long I’m elevating, my music will elevate with me.

Do you have any other outside / additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?

I want to be a credible songwriter; namely for R&B and Pop stars who may not be as gifted with the pen as I am, but have a vocal range that I cannot hit. Also if I can write music, I’m sure I can write movie and TV scripts, so anything is possible.

To date, what has been your biggest career moment, at least thus far anyway?

Going up to Shade 45 with DJ Whoo Kid and rapping non-stop for damn near 20 minutes was a very surreal time in my career. I was just coming off a tour in Europe, I had sold out my first show in N.Y.C. and at that moment I felt like my name was finally starting to crack the surface and catch some attention.

Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?

As one of the greatest to ever do it. The End.

As for the immediate, what’s next for Klassik Poet.?

More music videos, more content…and I’ve started a new project that should be completed this year, so please stay tuned.

Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?

My latest project, ‘Before Things Get Weird,’ is OUT NOW on ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS!!

Album Link: Click HERE

Any “closing” thought(s) for our readers?

My brand new music video, “MICROSCOPES/ALL NIGHT,” is OUT NOW on YouTube.

Connect w/Klassik Poet. Online:

 

Instagram – @klassikpoet
Facebook – @klassikpoet
Twitter – @KlassikPoet_
YouTube – / Klassik Poet.

 


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