FEATURED ARTIST
TAC
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE MOMENT YOU REALISED YOU WANTED TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MUSIC?
I think the moment I wrote my first 16 bar verse was the contract that sealed my fate in this music thing. I’ve always had a thing about self-expression and wanting to portray what I struggled so hard to portray with just dialogue. Writing within the limits of bar structures and time signatures has helped me stay grounded and focused on what I need to say.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MUSIC THAT YOU MAKE?
I make ‘me’ music. My music is a direct representation of what I am feeling, how I am feeling about myself, and how I feel about my past, future, and a present. I don’t stay within the boundaries of any genre, and this allows me to fully explore the range of emotions and perspectives I have to offer as a human being and an artist.
WHAT ARE SOME KEY ELEMENTS THAT DRIVE YOU TO CONTINUE MAKING MUSIC?
I’ve always been driven by my desire to be the best at what I do. I take this thing seriously. While most people here in this city have day jobs and other sources of income (which is incredibly respectable and smart to do) my entire life revolves around sound. I am a high school dropout, and all I have is music. but more than anything at the moment, I enjoy helping other people make their music; I learn so much through playing the record producer role. I think the idea that I can learn about something I love until I die, is keeping the endeavor interesting.
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WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BIGGEST MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
This is an incredibly difficult question to answer. Lately the tiniest moments of my career are in the process of being snowballed to become the biggest moments. Alhamdullilah, things are going well!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME?
My creative process has actually been a mystery to me. Every time I try to answer this question, I have a new answer. I don’t know what divine (lol) power it is that compels me to write the way I write. I guess I just need a unique experience to allow my creativity to be where it needs to be.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE VENUE TO PERFORM IN? WHERE HAVE YOU PERFORMED OTHER THAN IN THE UAE?
My favorite venue was definitely the SOLE DxB mainstage. My only regret is that I hopped on that stage too early in my career as a performing artist. I wish I could go back on knowing what I know now. I also performed for GorillLOUD in Bali, Indonesia not too long ago. It was so dope performing for an audience that doesn’t know who I am.
IF YOU COULD SHARE THE STAGE WITH ANY ARTIST, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I think I’d kill it on stage with Anderson Paak. and his band, because the direction I am heading in right now, musically, requires some talented musicians and composers.
YOU HAVE QUITE A FEW KEY HIGHLIGHTS IN YOUR CAREER ALREADY. CAN YOU TELL US WHICH WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ONE FROM RECENT YEARS AND WHY?
I think the Gucci Campaign music video was really dope. That’s the type of thing I definitely saw myself doing a little later in my career. But I am happy it came when it did.
WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS DO YOU SEE YOURSELF ACHIEVING IN THE COMING YEARS?
I can see myself winning an award for my involvement in the writing or engineering process of an album. Either mine or somebody else. I also see myself touring sometime in the next two years.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH FROM THE REGION?
There’s a few, and they know who they are. I’d like to keep this kind of thing a surprise.
WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE ANOTHER MUSICIAN EVER GAVE YOU?
Use your Hip-Hop heart.
DESCRIBE YOUR FAVORITE INTERACTION WITH A FAN.
Any fan that sings along my RAP verses word for word while I am on stage. That melts me, man.
TALK US THROUGH AN AVERAGE DAY LIKE FOR YOU?
People that know me, know that all I do is make music, mix, master and walk my dog.
WHAT WOULD’VE BEEN YOUR CAREER IF YOU WEREN’T MAKING MUSIC?
I throw it down in the kitchen, not going to lie. Ya boy would probably be a chef.
WHAT DOES YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE REGIONAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT MEAN TO YOU?
I think it’s important to highlight regional talent, so that one day we won’t have to use that word to describe us. The idea is that eventually we can just become artists that aren’t confined to a region or city. But before any of that happens, we need as much as we can get in the way of regional support!
WHAT IS YOUR TOP 5 AFTER-PARTY PLAYLIST?
- Passion Fruit - Drake
- Both Sides of You - Emaan
- Doomsday - MF DOOM
- Down on my luck - Vic Mensa
- Childsplay - Drake
You can tell I like a calm afterparty lol