Interview: A17
Congratulations on the completion and release of your song "Sides"; it's a really dope track! Tell us about your creative process for its development, and how you connected with the producer Pilot Kid.
The creative process for developing "Sides" was drawing from my experiences with romance and building that feeling into a melody to compliment the beat. I connected with Pilot Kid through Beatstars.
I was scrolling the site for beats and he happened to pop up, and from there I leased it to release "Sides" since the melody coincided with some thoughts that were creeping up on me at the time.
Can we expect a music video for "Sides" to follow, and will the song be appearing on an upcoming EP or album?
Yes! In the coming weeks, a music video should be ready, I'm currently in the development stages for the concept. The song won't be a part of an EP or album, but it is a stepping stone for the next release which will be a part of an EP.
How did you get started creating music, and who were some musicians that influenced your artistry early on?
I got started with creating music back in school when I used to freestyle with my friends and make melodies over random beats. That birthed an interest in making music and from there I went on to invest time into music so I could make more finished products for the public.
Many musicians influenced my artistry through the wide range of R&B, Hip-Hop, and pop. The main musicians who influenced my sound starting years ago before I released "Sides" were Chris Brown, Partynextdoor, and Travis Scott. The melodies in their sound were quite crucial to how I pictured melodies in my own music.
What does your name "A17" represent, and how did it originate?
A17 represents my own essence and definition of who I am and who I strive to be. It originated through the combination of two things that are dear to me, my grandpa and my birth.
The A is the initial of his first name and I use it to keep his memory alive and the 17 is for my birthday, November 17th. These two things push me forward to accomplish my dreams since he did a lot with his life which I hope I can accomplish someday, and the 17th was the beginning of my life.
With "Sides" now released, what's next for you musically this spring/summer?
People can expect more chilled-out moody music similar to "Sides" for my upcoming releases, but I'll also release more uptempo music for the hotter weather coming up. Possibly a Spanish song since I grew up with Spanish as my first language and I would love to make a song in that language to pay tribute to my culture.