01 Jan (New Exclusive Interview) RareZona Talks Music With Imperial Hustle Magazine | @RaraeZona
(New Exclusive Interview) RareZona Talks Music With Imperial Hustle Magazine
- How long have you guys been doing music?
-Hiver: Music has been my truest passion as long as I can remember. I listened to it constantly as a child and played a few instruments, but for me it all really started when Chris (Metryx) approached me at a party and asked if I wanted to throw down some French on a track he was writing. The very next day I had a 16 bar verse of french rap prepared and we recorded our first song together, Chaque fois, in September of 2015.
-Metryx: As far as both of us doing
music together, we started in the fall of 2015. I (metryx) have been doing various forms of music since the age of 14.
2. How did you guys come up with the group name and what does it mean?
-Hiver: We were sitting in a Wendy’s just after a performance. At the time we were both solo artists that were always collaborating. And we must’ve tossed out 100 names before Metryx said “RareZona, to rep the home state and because no one out here is doing anything like us.”
-Metryx: We were tossing around ideas, and we knew that we wanted something to do with “Arizona” in the name. I (metryx) was wearing a shirt that said “very rare” on it at the time and the name “RareZona” just hit like a ton of bricks!
3. What is the concept behind “Allo” and how long did it take to record that record?
-Hiver: “Allo” is the first single and the introduction track on our debut album, so it’s all about impressions. Our producers gave us a hard beat and we just had fun with it as we introduced ourselves to the world. I personally have received a lot of “advice” about how if I rapped in English I’d have an easier time building a rap career in America. So I used this opportunity to explain my feelings on that.
“What you’ve gotta understand, I did this for me
Je n’en ai rien a foutre, de ton avis (I don’t care about your opinion)
Find it hard to comprehend, best get a dictionary
J’suis changer pour personne, je suis un visionary (I’m changing for no one, I am a visionary)”
Honestly we’ve been working on this whole upcoming album since early 2017. We lived in Florida for the first 3 months of this year, which is when we were originally supposed to record it. While there we lost all our money, lost the laptop we needed to record with, barely made it back to Arizona, and had this project mishandled by one asshole after the next. And we have some stories and songs relating to all that coming shortly after the album finally drops.
-Metryx: The concept is pretty much introducing us, RareZona, as a group to the world. With Allô pretty much meaning “hello”, it makes for a perfect intro. As far as the actual recording, it didn’t take too long, although (metryx) had to re-record/rewrite his verse a few times before it was laid down. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get something you truly vibe with.
4. You guys rap in both English and French. What are the pros and cons of doing music that way?
-Hiver: The number 1 pro for me would have to be the fact that it puts us in our own lane. Most people out here don’t even know that French rap exists and they love us because they’ve never heard anything like it. But the fact that we’re Americans makes us stand out in the French rap conversations as well.
French is also a very beautiful, fluid language. When you really master it I feel like the potential for intricate flows and transcendental music is limitless.
Naturally a lot of the cons are just the other side of that coin. Because we are in America the majority of people can’t understand my verses. And over in France there are naturally going to be those who take offense to our music just because we are Americans. I think we handle that as well as we possibly could.
Metryx raps in English, and even parts of my verses are. But we’re both talking about the same things, so if you can understand him, you know what I’m talking about too, and vise-versa. Music is a universal language, and I can communicate my feelings to an audience through the flow and emotion I put into my delivery. I believe those are the reasons our music does so well, even in a country where not all the lyrics will be understood.
But at the end of the day I only make the music I am passionate about. I am not putting on a façade just because I think it will make us successful. I’m going to be happy because I stayed true to myself and my art. And I know a lot of people out there feel that.
-Metryx: The cons of rapping in a multilingual way is that, depending on the area, a lot of people can’t understand what you’re saying, let alone relate (unless translated). But the pros, we believe, outweigh that because not only does it show our uniqueness, but we can market ourselves to more than just one group of people. Plus, the French is very entertaining to listen to, even if you can’t understand it. I mean, rap in another language? That’s a trip!
5. How did your environment effect the type of music that you create?
-Hiver: Music, my life, and my environment, are all one and the same. I’m never not in it. I work two jobs all day, all week, and run our label, La belle vie studios. And I’m always drawing inspiration from the life I live; whether it’s falling for a girl, witnessing a man get beat to death in the street, or working damn-near 20 hours a day so that I can spare enough money to pay my bills AND invest in my new album. I’m constantly formulating new songs in my head; and then I have to find away to sneak away from my boss so I can write it down in my phone and come back to it when I get home.
-Metryx: Well, there’s a lot of people trying to make it music, but for the most part our inspiration either comes from various artists from around the globe, or just from within our own minds and visions. We keep to ourselves a lot working on perfecting our sound and brand, but at the same time we learn from the people around us, in person or social media, gaining insight as to what people are looking for and are responding to.
6. Where do you guys see your brand and career in the next 5 years?
-Hiver: 5 years from now? We’ll be selling out stadiums around the world. We’ll have at least 5 more projects out, whether it’s RareZona, or Metryx and Monsieur Hiver – we’re always working.
Dans 5 ans, tout le monde va nous connaissent.
-Metryx: We not only see ourselves as an independent force to be reckoned with, but as a legitimate business that gives a voice and platform for any creative minds looking to get noticed. We not only look forward to creating full time as a living, but inspiring, building, and changing the game and world around us. This is what we’re called to do.
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