Exclusive Interview
We talk with Hip-Hop artist, Everglades Boss!
We talk with Hip-Hop artist, Everglades Boss!
For listeners just discovering you, how would you describe Everglades Boss and the sound you bring out of Florida? I would describe myself as a versatile and unorthodox artist. Covering different elements, styles, and energy according to the mood I'm in and production of the song.
How has the Everglades and your surroundings shaped your music and mindset? Growing up in the swamps, with the heat and humidity, helped me stay focused and creative. The environment with the Alligators, Iguanas, frogs, raccoons, and numerous species of snakes helped me recognize the beauty in our surroundings and creations which share the land and body of water surrounding us. And also the attitudes of human beings which have a similar personality to the animals and pest in our neighborhoods.
What was the moment you realized music was more than a hobby and something you wanted to pursue seriously? Attending my first hip-hop concert, in the 90s, where Big Pun, and Fat Joe, brought a wonderful performance to a night club in South Beach, Miami, Florida. I was fresh out of high school and the performance and energy helped me understand the path of music creation.
Your song “Old G’s” has been getting attention—what inspired that track, and what message were you aiming to deliver? My Song OLD G's, share's the change, from adolescents, and inexperienced, to Adulthood and maturity. Raising up kids as a single parent, my career in the HVAC Trade, as a music creator, and endurance through a forever changing world. It's a message of triumph, effort, consistency, and growth through the Harsh elements and conditions in our planet.
Who are some artists, past or present, that influenced your style or hustle in the game? Numerous artists from Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin, Wu Tang clan, Three six Mafia, Master P and the no limit soldiers, to Joe Arroyo, James Brown, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One and Kool G Rap. Just to name a few.
Your music often carries a sense of grit and authenticity. How important is staying true to your roots as your audience grows? That's our foundation, who we are, our roots, our ancestors, and our history. Without, we don't have anything. People feel you More, when you're original and creative.
Can you walk us through your creative process, from beat selection to the final verse? It's all in the mood, as an artist to me. What you're going through with your everyday life, the production of the beat, the tempo, the way it's arranged, and building your Chorus and verse. No rushing, a lot of practice, and word Play and delivery is very important to capture the moment and style you're looking to present on the microphone.
What challenges have you faced as an independent artist, and how have they helped shape your grind? Finding the right professional studio to record your music has been challenging, and working with the right sound engineer for a professional mixing and Mastering of the songs and albums. The more you practice anything, the better you get. So networking off of different music platforms, attending clubs and communicating with DJ's to sound check my releases fresh out of the studio has helped me stay focused and hungry.
What’s something fans might not know about you outside of the studio? Outside of the music, I run an independent residential HVAC business, installing, servicing, and maintaining our neighbors air conditioning and heating needs. If you got the cash, I'll complete the tasks. I enjoy my career, and share knowledge and tips on how to prevent nuisance service calls and high repair fees with preventative maintenance options, and regular filter replacement.
What’s next for you, new music, visuals, collaborations, or a bigger movement on the way? I've recently released a new single titled HOPELESS, and released a new video for it. I'm planning on releasing a new single every month or 2 months and look forward to capturing the ears of Hip-hop genre music lovers with hungry production and Viking style chorus/hooks to help our neighbors with quality, original and authentic music creations.