UF: For the people who don't know who you are, tell the people your name and where you from?
What up world, I’m Starr Nyce reppin’ Cat’s E.ntertainment Y.ou E.nvy, born and bred in Lynchburg. Va.
UF: How did you get started in music?
I’m bout to really give my age away right here but (laughs) when LL dropped that video for “I’m Bad” I thought that was that coolest shit ever! I was like I want be that dude, you know? I wanted to walk like that, dress like that the whole lifestyle. But I really didn’t start writing until I was about 14, that was also around that time I recorded my first record.
UF: For everybody that hasn't heard your music before, explain your sound and style to them.
Man that’s always a hard question to answer because you don’t hear yourself like other people hear you. I really just try to stay true to who I am, I feel like I’m the voice for everyday people. I talk about everything from bills to relationships to whatever, you name it. You could write a song for everything we go through in life, so I try to speak for people who can’t be heard. But I would encourage the people togo listen for themselves at www.StarrNyce.BandCamp.com that’s where you’ll find all my latest projects.
UF: So what made you decide to go from VA to ATL?
Just felt like I was at a point where… we where doing so much trying to get our projects to the right people but it always boiled down to our location. We can make all the noise we want in Central Virginia but who’s there to see it or hear it that can put a deal on the table? Yeah it’s cool for family and friends to embrace it but they can’t offer us a platform or way out. We don’t have an official Hip Hop/R&B radio station, we don’t have venues for big name artists to come in town for so, you finally wake up like… I can only do the same thing for so long then you have to go to extremes to get where you’re trying to go.
UF: Who are some of your musical influences in the industry and why?
Right now I’m really digging J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y. J. Cole is just a monster with the beats AND the rhymes, never a dull moment when I listen to him. And I rock with Curren$y and Wiz because I respect how they built their fan base from the ground up, they put out their own vids label or no label. They created an angle, they figured out that hey if we have enough people rockin with us we can put out projects, shoot vids and tour on our own. Just like major artists, maybe not on as big a scale YET but their living their dreams and I’m trying to follow suit. Indeed.
UF: As a new artist, what was the best piece of advice that has been given to you so far?
Recently I’ve been reading up on how to network properly and what makes people of influence want to take time out of their day to listen to our music. And I’m learning that networking isn’t about just going to events and passing out CD’s. You have to build relationships with people and create respectable lines of communication with them. Meaning when you go to different events and you’re promoting something, don’t just hand people your music and walk away. You have to give a quick rundown of who you are and what you got poppin’. It basically give people an inside edge on who you are as a person and more of a reason to pop that CD in when they get home or in their car because they now know a little about you.
UF: I see that you been having a busy summer with these projects, what was your goal in putting out these projects this summer?
Everybody knows that all music is new music to people who haven’t heard it, but as an artist the music gets old to us at a quicker rate than it does for the listener. I just basically wanted to get the people up to speed with what I’m doing so that when I drop a project the songs were made within 3 to 6 months of its release so I can be more passionate and excited about it. We just dropped the “Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself 3.0” in July and we got the “Tastemakers Series: Lost & Found” mixtape dropping August 12th with Dj Infamous and Mic Fiend Promo. At first I was aiming to drop 3 mixtapes this summer but I’m going to hold off on dropping the “Que Sera Sera” mixtape just to give my team time to properly promote the other projects. Plus I know “Que Sera Sera” is going to change some shit so I really don’t want to sacrifice quality chasing release dates.
UF: How did you get started with Cats Eye Inc.?
I initially hooked up with Dj Terrorkane, he put out previous projects with Cat and he was the median between us. I was recording tracks that T had produced and Cat ended up hearing some of the music I was making with my man Dolla. Terrorkane set up a meeting and Cat was digging what we were doing and wanted to do it on a bigger scale. So we linked up with him, Dolla ended up getting into DJing but I stuck with the mic. So me Cat and T been going hard every since.
UF: How important has it been to have a team around you to help to get your music out to the public?
The team is EVERYTHING! You can’t do it all yourself, an artist should be able to fully focus on the music as needed, so having people around to send out emails, make calls or promote and network with and for you makes all the difference. For the most part Cat & I handle the bulk of that but we do have extended Cat’s E.Y.E. family that rides for us also.
UF: I ask this question to every artist, but since it seems like everybody wants to be an artist these days what would be some key advice that you would you give to someone that is looking to start their own buzz?
There is a science to everything… educate yourself on your craft, whatever it may be. When you are fortunate enough to interact with people who know the ropes, don’t just let their words go in one ear and out the other. Apply their lessons and see if they work for you. Keep it 100 with everybody and surround yourself with people who push you to get better. I would also tell that person to focus on branding themselves, like you have to know what you want the people to get out of your music. Highlight the things that make you relatable to the masses and stay genuine to who you are.
UF: Since I know there are a lot of artists that are making moves in Virginia and in Atlanta, what are you planning to do to separate yourself from all of the other talented artists?
All I can do is tell my story… Best way to separate yourself from everyone is to be yourself, a lot of cats compromise their integrity trying to please other people. But you have to wake up and look at yourself in the mirror everyday, and if you are painting a picture of a person that isn’t you it will come across in your music and they can see it on stage. I’m just a VA nigga who loves creating Hip Hop music and I just want Virginia to have a bigger voice.
UF: So what should we expect from The Lost and Found EP?
Aww man I’m excited about this project… my man Shod Harris got at us, he was digging what we were doing and thought it would be dope to come together and create something. We got Dj Infamous out of Richmond mixing that thing and I’m going to supply the people with some exclusive/unreleased music that I never found a home for. Mic Fiend Promo and Cat’s E.Y.E. Inc. man we just put the machines together and it’s going to be a good look for Virginia.
UF: After these projects this summer what is next for Starr Nyce?
Shit I’m just going to keep creating and supply the people with quality music. As long as they lend me their ear I’m going to give 110% to make sure they see that this is a lifestyle not just some hobby. I going to start rocking more shows from here on out also, the internet is a beast but there is no better platform to connect with the fans than being on that stage holding a mic getting to it. So that’s where my focus is going to be.
UF: With everything in music always changing where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Lord willing, we’ll have a home on a label that gives Cat’s E.Y.E. Inc. the means to reach more people worldwide. Rockin’ shows, touring, creating, collabing and most importantly providing for my family. I have a wife and child who need me. That’s what it’s ultimately all about anyway, getting paid to do what love, and providing for the people who would be there whether your making hit records or punching a clock ,bottom line.
UF: This might be a crazy for a new artist, but when your career is over what do you want to be known for?
Just being a real down to earth dude who made timeless music. I want to be the soundtrack to your life.
UF: Any last shouts outs.....
GOD for giving me a gift… Cat’s E.Y.E. Inc. and any and everybody who supports what we got going on over here. Family, Friends, Artists, Producers, Bloggers, Journalists, whoever. Thank you all!! And make sure yall go to www.StarrNyce.BandCamp.com and www.Mr434.BlogSpot.com to keep up with what we’re doing. Oh and check out my first official music video "Beautiful Life" Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNNZUaszBB4&hd=1 Thanks for your time!
Download:
Starr Nyce & DJ Infamous - Lost And Found (Mixtape)
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