With music in his blood as well as a strong independent spirit is what categorically defines WhoIsOrion. The South London based artist who is part of the PXL Records camp epitomizes the true qualities of what constitutes an artist in that he has his fingers on the pulse of music in every way imaginable from rapper to producer to singer. It also helps that he hails from a family that has four generations worth of contributions to music. His latest release ‘Dun Out Ere” is a continuation of the free spiritedness and independent fortitude that has defined his career as well as giving audiences a glimpse into his many talents. He shared about his present endeavors, his musical trajectory and influences, as well as how South London has shaped him.
What direction are you looking to go in with your new music?
I want to stick to my formula short term, and stay with my jumpy flow and bar heavy trap raps but in the long term I want to show that I won’t be boxed in rap. I want to jump in pop, Afro beat and a whole lot of other genres that I can fuse together and come up with a different sound.
How did your experience growing up in South London shape your musical style?
I feel like growing up south helped me up my standard in music because south London is such a harsh city to gain support from. You need to earn their respect but once you do they will ride for you till the end.
Describe what it is like to come from a lineage of musical talent?
I think coming from a musical family gave me an advantage, it gave me confidence and I have a natural knack for it. I was also exposed to music equipment at such a young age that it gave me an opportunity to explore, hone my skills and find myself as a musician.
How did you learn to produce music on your own?
My pops is a singer and he had all the musical equipment so I was fortunate enough to explore music at a young age. I made a lot of mistakes on the way but I was so fascinated and determined to up the quality of my songs.
Who are your musical influences?
I was definitely heavily influenced by Eminem. His witty bars and lyrical ability was so admirable and I think it’s obvious on a lyrical stand point that I definitely take a lot of inspiration from him. I feel the same way for Lil Wayne, the way he can keep his flow commercial but his bars high quality was such a rare thing to see and I feel like I’ve managed to balance it.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I think by then I would have made a big name for myself and probably move on to venture in other fields such as acting, directing and so on. Music to me is just the first stage, I have other goals such as helping Nigeria and I think music and the influence and opportunities hip hop will give me would allow me to do that.
How do you balance those identities being a rapper and melodic singer?
I’m a rapper first of all, so even when I’m singing, my bars are still a main focus in my process. I try not to sacrifice my bars for melody. I care about lyrics over delivery and flow so I keep that in mind when making my melodies.
What advice would you give to other independent artists who are trying to make it?
Definitely be consistent/persistent that is KEY to every goal in life. Focus on branding and marketing, that’s what will make you stand out from the rest of the competition and find your target audience. Invest most of your money on promo and a videographer over sound engineering and buying instrumentals. With that being said, make sure you’ve perfected your craft enough that you truly enjoy it because if you TRULY enjoy your music there are 1000s of other people in the world that will, you just need to find them.
Follow WhoisOrion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoisorion/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whoisorion/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whoisorion
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