How did you get the name CrixBlue?
-”I got my name, because as I was writing my name, Cris, I accidentally misspelled it and wrote Crix. And my favorite color is blue.”
How would you describe your music?
-The first word that comes out of their mouth is “Pop.” *Lifts head up from what I’m writing* “Really? No way. I would not have guessed that.”
They insists, yeah! They say the love pop music.
But then there are also other influences in their music: Melodic Experimental. Trap/Synth/Drums. Loves minor keys, even though they don’t want their music to sound depressing.
What is your relationship with music, your music? Creativity? The Creative Process?
-Choosing Sound. Melody, counter melody, bass, drums. “Musical Adlibs.” Carly Rae Jepsen and Dev Hines of Blood Orange (formerly, Lightspeed Champion) have a song together called “All That” and that is kind of the epitome of Crix’s music. Pop but also pretty different.
How long have you been doing music? How did you start?
-Started freshman year at Kennesaw State 2012. Tyler the Creator was a big influence because of his “normalcy” in how he made music. Not expensive studios or whatever. He used garage band. Inspiring. And his honesty. He has such an energy and is simply himself. It’s organic. Kinda depressed. Relatable.
Have you ever played any shows? Experience during shows? What kind of venues?
-They tell me that they don’t know how to perform. I would like to try to do something with visuals, and to try and do open mic sometime.
I say they should do some live paintings!
Musical topics?
Their inspiration comes from their life. Honesty. Seeking honesty maybe in music? They say they want to make Lullabies. (That is so dope to me!)
Instruments?
-Keys. Produce. GarageBand.
How has your music progressed?
- “I have a mini keyboard now.” More quality. Drum kits. Makes music on phone a lot because it sounds better ironically.
Goals in Music?
Well known locally, maybe. In the musical scene but maybe covert. Collabing with people? Social anxiety can get in the way of the process of music; making music and putting it out there comes with a lot of Intimacy. Involve poetry in music more.
On the new iphone update, you can record your screen and they want to do a tutorial of GarageBand. Feels everyone should be able to make music this way.
(I love this, because I hate when people are snooty about making music. People will go “Damn, everybody wanna make music these days! Everybody thinks they’re a creative.” I hate that, everyone creates, this is what it means to be a human. I just read an article on music therapy where the person in charge MAKES her patients make their own music. Being creative is cathartic, and the fact that Cris wants to share the accesibility of music making says a lot of about them.)
What kind of (new) music do you like?
The video they have been watching/listening to non stop this week. [M/V] SVT Leaders. Carly Rae Jepsen. KPOP, alternative/thrash rap, Rock, NY RAP. Folk. Chaotic Sounds (Brings Peace Somehow) (Princess Nokia, Wikkie, Ratking)
Favorite/Most Meaningful of your songs?
-Yellow
-My time
-Green and O
Sloane Kemp as Interviewer Crixblue as Interviewee
Other Stuff?
Crix is trying to switch up up the mediums of art, so that they don’t get burnt out. At one point they almost quit. They would also like draw, watercolor, and poetry as well.
Cris has the floor:
Through music they want to converse with people. And have an open dialogue. Make words, make conversation with their music. Which is really also just good music. When Crix is happy, they want to make a song of it --so they can make it last. Make feelings tangible. Have access to them right away.
“Stuckin” (This is one of my faves)- People love it for the honesty: “Stuck in my skin and I’m feeling out of place. With a tampon on my waist in my pocket...Doesn't make me really feel whole. But my body’s amazing though.”
“Should Have Been Reading”--in college and depressed.
“T told me I could be any color,” --referring to Tyler, the Creator saying if he could be any one color it would be Yellow. For happiness, but Crix would be their perfect shade of brown.
“Trash Bag” is another example of a song where it made them feel vulnerable. Its invasive feeling to just put these kind of songs out, often times just lets their girlfriend or friends here it. They wrote it down in their dorm when they were supposed to writing a paper.
Sloane’s Thoughts:
Crix is a really down to earth person and relatable as an artist..depression, (social) anxiety have big presences in their life, they still cling to happy. That’s what they wanna bring other people. They want to evoke comfort and a humanness in their music. Crix says they have a hard time writing sometimes, which is surprising! It’s crazy because it doesn’t appear that way and you would think that if someone actively does a thing, then it just comes naturally. I really loved what we were talking about in terms of pop music, because when you hear that term, what often comes to mind is basically “Popular Bullshit.” But although it’s short for “popular,” and sometimes what’s popular definitely comes across as bullshit, it’s also about the elements of the sound. The upbeat, the simplicity of joy, etc. This is why at first, I was surprised to hear this was their overall sound definition, but later came to understand how that relates to their story. Wanting to share good feelings.
Sloane Kemp as Interviewer
Crixblue as Interviewee
