Buppy.
Many seventeen-year-olds across the country are getting their licenses, taking finals exams, and beginning to apply to college. Buppy. is busy releasing music. Self-described as “seventeen and confused,” the artist has already made waves on the indie music scene. He’s released three singles this year: “Violence,” “Open My Letter,” and “TELL ME YOU’RE SORRY,” all to significant acclaim. The latter has become one of Buppy.’s most popular songs, earning the artist over 23,000 monthly listeners. “BOIA and I were definitely going for something unique with this one compared to other songs I’ve put out/will continue to release,” he said. '“We wanted to really capture that feeling of anger rather than sadness in this one.” Buppy.’s work has landed places on playlists on “Night Drive,” “the indie underground,” and “Up Next.” We recently spoke to the artist about any hesitancy before releasing his music, the story behind the rather unique name of Buppy., and more!
Buppy.! First of all, congrats on the release – the song is sick. Can you walk us through the inspiration for the track?
Thank you! A lot of emotions packed into this one, so it means a lot to hear that. It might come as a surprise but the track was fairly easy to write for me. This one really just flowed out of my head, and the process of making it really served as closure for the situation I was going through at the time. It was all based on a past relationship I had been through, and the emotional toll that whole experience took on me from conception to end.
Were you going for anything different in terms of the production of the song? And how are we feeling now that “TELL ME YOU’RE SORRY” is out?
BOIA and I were definitely going for something unique with this one compared to other songs I’ve put out/will continue to release. We wanted to really capture that feeling of anger rather than sadness in this one. From a production standpoint, it has more of a modern trap feel than most of my future or past records have. The reception has been super good though! I feel a sense of relief knowing that; I was definitely worried how people would feel about it.
Let’s talk a little bit about yourself! You only made your Spotify debut this year, but when did you first get into making music?
I started making music when I was in 5th grade. I dropped my first ever song on Soundcloud at 12 years old. From there I really just continued to record and drop music on Soundcloud, much of which is privated now. I went through a lot of different phases in my sound to get to where I am now. I even dropped an album on all platforms (including Spotify) in May of 2020, but decided to remove it.
Was there any hesitancy before releasing your first song? How has that changed over time?
There was not much hesitancy for me, to be honest, I was really excited to drop ‘Violence,’ and I was planning it out for months. Open My Letter and TELL ME YOU’RE SORRY were also in those initial plans. I still take the time to plan my releases out to a certain degree, but I’ve been striving to drop more regularly, hoping for a monthly schedule. I have a lot of love for consistency.
The name Buppy. is a unique one! What’s the backstory behind the name?
‘Buppy.’ was derived from my nickname as a kid! Many of my close friends as a kid and some of my family members called me that. I had switched my artist name from ‘Visionary435’ to Buppy one day on Soundcloud and kept it ever since.
What are some of the things that inspire you to make music?
Originally I was very inspired by the music my older brother had introduced me to at a young age. I was listening to Odd Future, Mac Miller, Mobb Deep, I got a really stellar introduction to it all. Then I delved into that whole Soundcloud era with Lil Peep, Cold Hart, Lil Tracy, XXXTENTACION, and more. Seeing their stories was really inspiring for me.
From a non-music perspective, I am inspired heavily by mental health, and normalizing that conversation across all ages. I think music is a great way to open that door for young kids.
Your sister, Eleanor Kingston, makes fantastic songs! What kind of influence has she had on your musical process?
Eleanor is a blessing. She inspired me to take it as seriously as I do, and she is the single reason I decided to leave Utah and move to Los Angeles. We sometimes co-write together, where she plays a direct influence in the music. Her sound and willingness to take risks in the often linear genre of Pop inspires me every day.
I understand that producer BOIA also plays a role in your creative direction. Can you go into how he has shaped your sound as well?
Yes! I love BOIA. As my producer, and mixing engineer, he plays a crucial part in my creative process. He has really helped me develop all these ideas I have had sitting on my hard drive/in my head. He makes me push that extra 100% for each song, even when I think it's good to go. Really is a genuine blessing to get to work with him.
Being a 17-year-old making industry-quality music is absolutely impressive. Do you feel that there’s any advantage or disadvantage to making music at your age?
I think the largest advantage is obvious, I have time. I don’t feel any longer like I’m on a clock, and that pressure isn’t constantly weighing me down. It’s a nice feeling, I’m able to take my time and plan these things out. Most importantly, it allows me to learn as I go.
Describe your music in just three words.
The future sound.
Which artists would you say have had the most influence on your sound to date?
As of right now, I respect Jean Dawson’s ability to experiment a lot, but sonically I’m recently drawing the most inspiration from Mac Miller & Dominic Fike.
What are some of your favorite things to do outside of the studio?
I love to take photos, hangout in nature, and play volleyball. Also a big movie guy.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“As an Independent artist, you need to find a way to make a shit ton of money fast.”
What can we expect from Buppy. in 2021?
Expect a single a month for the rest of the year, but these singles are gonna be on another level compared to what I have out now. Each one will be a stepping stone to the next, these are the records I’m really proud of.