Dylanna Fisher
Flakron has created quite an audience on YouTube with over 3 million views on his beats and nearly 25 thousand subscribers to his channel. You’ve heard his music here before in the “Snake Jazz” article.
YouTube has provided a great platform for sharing his beats and music with his audience. The internet has given a huge opportunity for him to not only share his music but learn new things about creating music itself. His music career began in 2012, but his passion for music began much earlier. He started making beats when he was only 10 years old with inspirations from the 90s and early 2000s old-school rap. Listening to the beats of other musicians, he knew that was something he wanted to do.
Here’s an interview between Dylanna Fisher of Switching Styles and Flakron Rexha.
How did you get started in music?
I was about ten years old when I started making beats. I heard some music and thought “I want to do that too”.
How long have you been a musician?
For about 13-14 years
What was the music genre that inspired you?
Hip-hop/rap music.
What does music mean to you?
Everything. It’s therapy. It’s a universal language.
How would you describe your sound?
It’s very varied. I don’t have a human voice over my music which must be compensated for. Therefore, the beat can’t be a simple loop. Instead, I try to make a “journey”.
Who are your musical influences?
Primarily my musical influence comes from the 90s and early 00′ old school rap, like Rakim, Big L, Cormega, Gang Starr, Masta Ace, DMX, and Eminem. My producer influences are Scott Storch, Dr. Dre and Apollo Brown.
I also listen to a lot of 80s music like Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Sting, George Michael, Kool and the Gang, etc.
Why did you start on YouTube?
I wanted to share the music with my friends and at that time (10 years ago), there wasn’t any other available platform.
What’s been the response from your audience?
Mostly positive. I don’t check my comments as often as I did, because one bad comment can ruin 1000 positives.
How do you think YouTube functions as a platform for musicians?
I think it’s a good platform to spread the music. But they make their rules stricter every year and I think that many musicians that aren’t already famous will change platforms.
How do other platforms for music compare to YouTube?
I’m not so active on other platforms except for YouTube, but I’ve heard that SoundCloud is supposed to be good for musicians.
How do you feel about the internet in the music business?
In this day and age, it’s never been easier to make and spread music. When I started, I could barely find any tutorial on how to make music. Not to mention that you had to have CDs because YouTube didn’t exist. So, in conclusion, it has made it easier.
How has the internet affected your music career?
I don’t think it has affected it very much, but I haven’t focused so much to build up a brand. I just want to have fun and put out my music. Whether it gets 1 view or 1 million isn’t so important.
What are your thoughts on copyright?
It’s both good and bad that it exists. For example, my YouTube channel doesn’t make any money. Just because I have used something in some video that isn’t mine, they decided to shut down all revenue. I get that, but in the meantime why not just stop the revenue for that specific video?
It’s good that it exists because it protects the original owners. But they have made it very strict. If that continues, I wouldn’t be able to do this interview just because it wouldn’t be possible for me to upload Snake Jazz which is sampled.
What suggestions would you make to YouTube to make it easier for musicians?
It’s a tough question… But maybe change their rules on copyright. For example, instead of shutting down revenue for the whole channel, they can shut it down for one specific video that uses copyright material.
Why do remixes in particular?
I don’t do remixes only, but I think it’s a fun thing to do. It also becomes competitive: “Who can do the best remix?”.
How do they tend to compare to the originals?
I try to make them as different as possible. But original is original, it’s always better.
What is the typical process of creating a remix?
I always chop it up and just play around on my keyboard until I find something that I like. That lays the ground for my beat.
What do you think about collaboration?
I don’t have any experience with it, but it is always cool to see some people come together and create something.
What are some of your fondest memories throughout your music career?
When I got my keyboard for my birthday. Then I know that I had to invest myself. Another memory is when some local artists wrote to me, and he thought my beats are good.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I don’t see myself in the music business, or making a living through music. Just doing what I am doing today – putting music out for fun.
What advice would you give to musicians just starting on YouTube?
Be consistent. If you have a goal with your music, pursue it.
Let me know what you think below and who you want to see interviewed next!
