Allocai is an artist in the alternative pop and rock space. He has recently launched a new album called Black Silver. He views this album as the result of the mastery of his creative process. This is his second feature length album following his debut album, Cruelty. We interviewed the burgeoning artist and asked him questions about his music, himself and his future.
Interview with Allocai
Why did you decide to become an artist?
Allocai: I could always sing from a young age but I never really wanted to make a career out of it because of the extremely competitive nature of the music industry. It wasn’t until I was 18 and went through a deeply personal and heartbreaking experience that I realized I could use music as a form of personal therapy to understand and deconstruct the complex emotions that I couldn’t otherwise process. I eventually delved into my craft, practicing night and day until I developed an insatiable passion for the creative process of making a song. One thing led to another and before you know it I dropped out of Med school sophomore year and decided to learn the industry in order to make my passion a career.
How do you feel you express yourself through music?
Allocai: When I was about 20 years old I realized that music, and art as a whole for that matter, is all about emotions. The universal scale that dictates how good a song is, is how effectively it’s able to trigger an emotional response from a listener. Whether that be laughter, anger, sadness, joy, confusion etc. any good song from any genre must make the listener feel something. My entire creative process heavily relies on me being honest with myself. Before I start any song I always figure out what emotions I’m currently experiencing that I want to express in a song and then I figure out how I can represent these emotions sonically so the listener can experience the same emotional landscape that I’m feeling.
What is the inspiration behind your new album, Black Silver?
Allocai: I wanted Black Silver to be a combination of past and future…sax and synths…jazz and pop…classy and sophisticated yet young and anxious. I really really enjoyed making this album largely because of all the new artists and songs I discovered while gathering references to make the sound I want. This album genuinely made me fall in love with jazz even though I’m not a full fledged “jazz head’. Yet! While Amy Winehouse and The Weeknd were the first big inspirations, other artists like: Flume, Beyonce, Rebirth Brass Band, Kendrick Lamar, Michael Giacchino, Twenty One Pilots, Sia, The Neighborhood, Mark Ronsen and Lady Gaga were also big influences that I studied to create the sound that I wanted.
How have you evolved as an artist?
Allocai: Throughout the entire process of making Black Silver my confidence definitely grew tenfold. I’ve learnt to trust and work with myself instead of working against myself. I’ve discovered new sides and rediscovered old sides of my character throughout this journey and I think more than ever I truly have grasped the concept of what self love truly is.
Who is your favorite artist and why?
Allocai: Beyonce! THE GREATEST PERFORMER OF ALL TIME. This woman is so dedicated to excellence it’s just mind blowing. I am so happy she’s the mega icon that she is because it really just allows you to witness firsthand a god tier level of mastery that human beings are capable of.
Can you tell us more about the music video for “Bad For Me”?
Allocai: The song describes the poisonous appeal of a toxic relationship and so I really wanted to represent that visually. It was very important to me to have this video tell an LGBTQ oriented story, particularly one where both main characters are black because I don’t know what I wouldn’t give to see more LGBTQ representation in pop culture when I was growing up. So in a way this video was a gift to young Allocai. That kid went through way too much and this video is a token of my appreciation to him for surviving all that trauma.
How would you describe your style as an artist?
Allocai: Honest. I focus primarily on the emotional appeal of my music so I don’t confine myself to any particular style or genre. At any given time my emotional experience might change/evolve and that may require new styles or genres to convey the experience effectively.
Is there anything you would like to change about the music industry?
Allocai: Can Spotify please pay a bit more on em streams! lol. I mean seriously the sheer number of streams musicians need just to get by is bone crushing these days. It would be such a game changer if Spotify, as the industry leader, could match Apple and pay artists a mere one cent per stream.
Where would you like to see yourself in the future?
Allocai: I want to release my third album “Allocai” in the fall of 2023, hopefully a US tour in 2024 and I want a hit song with a gazillion streams haha.
Final Thoughts
Allocai has been as honest as his style, delivering insightful and compelling answers to our questions. The insight which he provided into his career change provides perspective on his passion and his determination. Additionally, the thoughtful nature of his answers to the questions regarding his creative process truly provide a deeper understanding of both the artist and his music.
