Flwr Chyld

Photo Credit: Piera Moore

Flwr Chyld makes R&B music for the future. The singer/songwriter makes incredible use of different sounds and harmonies to give each of his projects a unique soundscape. He began releasing music to Spotify in 2016 in collaboration with Yung Baby Tate. Four years later, the artist has blossomed into a full blown, genre-bending talent.  The distinct experimentation of Flwr Chyld has given him this highly innovative reputation, which is supported by his most recent album “Flow.” The project, released earlier this year, features collabs with Elujay, MIA GLADSTONE, Emmavie, and more. Collaboration is something that the artist takes pride in, saying that “being able to blend two different or relative sounds together ([his] and the other collaborator) is a challenging process....[but, he’s] always looking to create something that no one has ever heard before.” We recently spoke with him about his music-making philosophies, a dream collaboration, and more!

Flow is one of the best projects I've heard this summer. There is such a unique style to your music. How does one develop this sound?

Honestly it’s a combination of things that go into creating or developing a specific “sound.” I’d have to say that whatever emotion I’m feeling within that moment in time will reflect in the music. Last year, I went through a pretty tough bout with anxiety and depression after I graduated college. So for me, those wide range of emotions I felt during that time dictated the music I was making, as well as everything I was listening to which influenced my sound.

I noticed that you are a big fan of collaborating with other artists. What about the collaborative process most intrigues you?

I’m definitely big on collaborating with other artists haha, pretty much all my work is collaboration based. I’d have to say the most intriguing thing about collaborating with others is just taking an idea that I have in my head, and bringing it to life. It’s literally like taking a blank canvas and making something magnificent. I love everything about collaborating when it comes to putting my ideas together. Being able to blend two different or relative sounds together (mine and the other collaborator) is a challenging process but I’m always looking to create something that no one has ever heard before. At least that’s my goal with each song haha. 

How does the typical Flwr Chyld song come to be? What is your typical songwriting process?

How my songs come together is pretty straight forward. With me being a producer-artist, I typically make the instrumental track on my own and just hit up whichever vocalist I feel best suits the song. I’ll dabble in writing here and there, but my natural instinct is to take a backseat to that because the artists I work with already have a pretty strong pen game.

How has the pandemic affected your ability to make music?

It’s affected me a little bit because I like to have my friends come through and play guitar or bass on my music sometimes. I haven’t been able to do that as frequently as I’d like for safety reasons, but it’s forced me to get even more creative with my ideas. So it’s definitely a double-edged sword.

What is the perfect occasion to listen to a Flwr Chyld song?

Well that depends on the song haha. Personally, if I had to pick one of my own songs and put it with a setting that’s consistent, I’d have to say early morning sunrises, sunsets, and night time. But honestly, it really just depends on whatever emotion my music makes you feel.

Who are you partnering up with in a dream collab?

I get asked about dream collabs pretty often and it changes quite a bit so I’d have to say someone off-kilter and unexpected like Young Thug or Stevie Wonder because they’re both incredible at what they do. 

What can we catch you doing on your day off?

On an off day, you can catch me treating myself to a nice meal, checking out a museum, kicking it at a park, or catching up on shows from Hulu or Netflix

How do you maintain your individuality in an industry where songs are sounding more and more similar?

This is a great question because I pride myself on originality, always have. I just do me to be honest, and basically what that means is constantly challenging myself to build on parts of my creativity that I feel comfortable with, but also making myself uncomfortable by trying new shit. Aside from that I’m constantly listening to new music (new and old) in order to get inspiration. 

True or false: If you can picture yourself doing anything else as a career, music is not you. 

False. I feel like the making of who I am is because of music. And I know this is my purpose.