Filipino indie rock star Eyedress on lighting up TikTok, his new album, and cementing his sonic place in Los Angeles
- Filipino post-punk artist Eyedress launched his new album "Mulholland Drive" in August.
- His monitor "Jealous" has 100 million streams, 1 million movies on TikTok, and is RIAA gold-certified.
- Insider spoke to Eyedress about his stardom, new challenge, and his outlook on life.
Filipino multi-instrumentalist recognized underneath the moniker Eyedress has had a busy previous couple of years, dictated largely by the tempo of the pandemic, turning into a father, and the joys of TikTok.
Born in Makati, Philippines, Idris Vicuña is a musical journeyman. He has performed in quite a lot of rock and crust-punk bands globally, infusing synthy, hip-hop aptitude into his method.
His monitor "Jealous," from his 2020 album "Let's Skip to the Wedding ceremony," turned a TikTok sensation within the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily amongst members of Gen Z. The track, recorded in Eyedress' bed room on the time, is an angsty rumination on solace, and it resonated with tens of millions cooped up at house.
"Jealous" now has over 100 million streams on Spotify, over one million movies utilizing the monitor on TikTok, and is Recording Business Affiliation of America gold-certified.
"One thing About You," a shiny, joyfully adventurous love track on his fourth and newest album "Mulholland Drive," launched in August, has additionally gone viral and is replicating "Jealous's" success. For his 2 million TikTok followers, Eyedress has began doing "how-to" movies, sharing some secret sauce with the followers.
Throughout Eyedress's new album, he croons in a whisper or low register, over hazy drums, distorted riffs or twisting guitar countermelodies, fluctuating stylistically between moody soul, energetic rock, and late-night eighties sluggish jams.
In his rising catalog, there's one thing for everybody — from followers of psychedelic SoundCloud rap, to macabre moshers, and daydreaming lovers.
Insider spoke to Eyedress about what impressed the brand new album and the items that make up his kaleidoscopic sound.
It appears you are all the time engaged on one thing, music movies included.
I imply, I type of look as much as Drake. It is bizarre I do not make that sort of music, however I type of comply with of their footsteps on how they're so fixed with their releases and constant. I all the time... noticed lots of my favourite bands type of fall off and I by no means actually needed that to occur to me as a result of I do not know. It is so bizarre. How might you simply cease creating trustworthy music? I do not know.
Do you are feeling like now with the sort of music panorama and streaming providers, there is a greater strain to place out plenty of music on a regular basis?
I am all the time working. I am all the time simply recording. So for me, there is no strain actually. However I do know what you imply although. We do stay in quick occasions. We eat the whole lot so quick and other people's consideration spans appear to be lots shorter, however I do not know. I really feel like I am additionally working at that very same tempo the place my consideration span is brief and I recover from issues shortly. I put in effort to make one thing that is going to be timeless.
Regardless of how briskly the world is shifting I am not going to place out one thing that I'll remorse. So I all the time attempt to hold that in thoughts as a result of I do not need to be nobody hit marvel sort of man. I would like individuals look again on my music even 20, 50 years from now they usually're like, "Oh, that is so cool." As a result of I imply, my music's not that deep. There's not an excessive amount of behind it. It is simply actually easy. However I really feel like that is what sticks anyhow. Plenty of my favourite songs rising up are actually easy, two to 3 chords. So I simply attempt to hold it in that very same vein.
And what would you say have been the issues occurring in your life and a few of the themes that you simply have been making an attempt to get into on "Mulholland Drive"?
Properly, there's one track referred to as "Mind Lifeless." I made that in the course of the cease Asian hate and Black Lives Matter actions. And I simply felt as an individual of shade to talk up about these points as a result of I am a socially conscious artist. I am not simply in Lala land considering that there isn't any loopy factor happening. There's a lot loopy stuff happening. I attempt to inject that into my music and on the similar time that album was actually nearly being glad, loving myself as a result of it is a milestone for me to have the ability to work with such artists which might be on that report. And for me, it was only a comfortable album. I needed to comply with up my success with "Jealous," and I simply needed to maintain that momentum going with out it being some like, "I am making an attempt to make more cash." So I labored actually arduous on the songs, however they're simply easy songs. Smoked lots of weed and pressed report.
And the pandemic is fairly darkish, so I needed to make a vibrant document as a result of it was like the longer term was wanting fairly grim once I made all of the songs. I've a child, so I attempt to hold an general constructive outlook as lame as that sounds. However I've to do it as a result of I do not need my son to develop up into this darkish miserable world.
Numerous my previous stuff is fairly miserable. So this album I used to be like, "Properly my woman loves me, and my son's a ball of pleasure, why would I make any depressing songs?" Yeah. It is, it is simply the timing of every little thing I simply... it felt proper.
For positive. And I needed to ask you extra usually how the pandemic has been for you and your loved ones?
The pandemic is, I feel collectively, it was actually troublesome for lots of people. And a whole lot of the occasions I felt unsure about day by day, however fortunately that is the one blessing that occurred is that my songs began going viral in the course of the pandemic. That stored me grounded and stored me feeling grateful. As a result of I do know lots of people are struggling throughout that point and I used to be, I imply I wasn't dwelling it up however I used to be okay. And now that everybody's vaxed and exhibits are coming again, I am feeling all of that's true. And world's not ending anytime quickly, however…
It had me specializing in being constructive as a result of general it was a really adverse expertise for everyone. Everybody was out of labor and could not do a lot.
It simply pressured me to maintain it actual with myself. Having a child it is like being within the hospital throughout that point was so scary. We even needed to put on masks. Even when my woman was giving start, she had her masks on. They solely let me in till she was nearly to pop. I used to be apprehensive my child might get COVID.
What was your response once you noticed your track "Jealous" explode on TikTok and rake in over 100 million streams?
It made me need to cry. For therefore lengthy in my life, I needed some kind of second like this, and I could not have requested for it for a greater time. And yeah, I simply felt actually grateful as a result of I went via so much earlier than, I used to be simply making an attempt to all the time consider in myself. And I all the time felt like that in the future one thing would occur so long as I stored making an attempt. And when it occurred, I did not even see it coming. And my pals have been like, yeah, it is going to get greater. You are going to get a gold plaque. And I am like, yeah proper. After which when that occurred, I used to be like, what the fuck? That was my response, like I used to be tremendous in my emotions.
It seems like pure bliss. It was higher than any drug as a result of it was actual. I am glad all the youngsters are connecting with my music as a result of I've put in work for therefore lengthy. I began working within the business once I was 22. And I used to be studying lots, like enjoying with greater bands, not being a much bigger band. I used to be making an attempt to determine how I might match into this world. So I am glad all of it labored out as a result of it could not have occurred at a greater time. As a result of I might have been fucked as a result of it did not occur that means.
And in a few of your current exhibits in the previous few weeks or months, do you are feeling like there's like a brand new extension of your base, of people who have discovered your music during the last yr or two and now are popping out to your exhibits?
Yeah. There's simply far more individuals there. I keep in mind I performed Riotfest in Chicago. I could not even see how many individuals have been there. I used to be like, Jesus Christ. Like y'all are all watching this proper now? I performed the Roxy in LA and it bought out and fucking youngsters went loopy. They let me stage dive. And it is loopy once you're doing these issues as a result of I am like a very unfavorable individual.
And I needed to ask you about your musical ventures in Manila and about your inspirations at an early age. You have been concerned in several music scenes on the market, too, between the US and the Philippines, what was that have like?
I used to be born within the Philippines after which I moved to America once I was six. So I used to be in America principally till I used to be like 14, however earlier than I left America, I used to be enjoying in bands in California. The primary band I joined was like a crust punk band. And we coated like, Rudimentary, and Crass. And all our songs have been like one minute and actually quick. That was cool. However then I met these like indie youngsters and I used to be type of like "you guys are bizarre and stuff." So I began hanging out with them they usually have been making smooth music, nevertheless it sounded actually lovely. A band that I joined was making an attempt to do Modest Mouse-type stuff.
However then, moved to Manila and I used to be like 15, and I did not know anybody, however I met my greatest pal who turned my bandmate on Myspace as a result of I noticed that he appreciated Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine.
After which ever since we have been in a band collectively and in Manila. I come from that band background, however my greatest pal put me onto like hip hop beats, bizarre left-field stuff, like Prefuse 73 and J Dilla and like DJ Shadow. I really feel prefer it was probably the most futuristic factor. As a result of they're like sampling previous songs and enjoying synths on prime of it, including totally different drums, I simply felt like that entire fashion of manufacturing was so totally different in comparison with enjoying in a band and doing all the things on tape.
In order that's sort of the way it began, I used to be like, how do I do that rock shit, however in that method. So I might principally pattern myself enjoying. And I feel that is like what Eyedress music is now. It is like I am approaching it from a hip-hop producer's viewpoint, however making rock shit. Nicely not even rock as a result of rock is so heavy. I feel I've some heavy songs too, however I do not ever need to sound rock, like a macho buff man. I am the thin youngsters who're like, "I am making an attempt to determine the place I match."
That is superb. And the way was performing within the Philippines?
My first band within the Philippines opened for Mac DeMarco in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Beforehand we have been enjoying within the Philippines totally free at bars. As soon as we did that present with Mac that was the primary time I noticed somebody dwelling my dream, like Mac was doing. And on the time Homeshake was his guitarist. So I additionally noticed Homeshake depart Mac's band after which pursue his personal factor, which actually motivated me to actually do that. And once I was in Manila, I ultimately acquired signed to a label within the UK referred to as XL Recordings. They usually flew me out to London and I used to be dwelling on the market for like a yr or two. And that is how I met King Krule and all these guys.
In order that obtained me much more motivated to actually do that as a result of once they signed me, I used to be simply taking up computer-made music. However as soon as I began going to London, I began enjoying with these different bands who had full-on bands, like two drummers, three backup singers. I used to be like, how the fuck do I do this? Yeah. It took me some time. This shit took years.
Ultimately, I moved to America in 2018, like all that stuff in London occurred in like 2013, 2014. After which I obtained dropped by that label. So I made an album whereas I wasn't signed. And that received me signed to the label I am on proper now, Lex Data.
What was your mindset like whenever you received signed to Lex Data and moved to the US?
That interval the place I wasn't signed that like was actually like a defining second for me as a result of I knew I needed to do one thing. As a result of I used to be like, shit, I am nonetheless going to be a musician even and not using a label. As soon as I acquired to America, I used to be already prepared. Once I acquired to America, I used to be enjoying every little thing. I used to be enjoying for like 500 bucks, I did not give a shit. Once I moved to LA, it was the primary time I lived alone for actual. So I began paying lease and I used to be sheesh, I can barely afford to stay after I pay lease. After which ultimately like two years later, that is when "Jealous" began taking off.
That is why I used to be actually grateful when "Jealous" took off as a result of I used to be in LA. Me and my woman, she was pregnant, we have been dwelling in a studio condominium. Thanks "Jealous," and funky youngsters.
I needed to ask you too about a number of the individuals that you've got labored with on the newest album, like Dâm-Funk, King Krule, and Vex Ruffin, and also you talked about they've been individuals that you've got seemed as much as. How has it been collaborating with a few of your favourite artists?
Nicely, say, the Vex Ruffin factor, we related as a result of he is Filipino and he is signed to a label that I am a fan of. He is signed to Stones Throw. We simply, we received collectively for the Filipinos. We have been like, "Yeah, let's do that. All of the Filipinos are going to be stoked."
That is what we have been making an attempt to steer, the instance we're making an attempt to take, as a result of I really feel like numerous Filipinos are literally towards one another. So we needed to characterize a brand new type of Filipino that is not making an attempt to fucking destroy one another. After which the stuff with Dâm-Funk. He is been following me on Twitter since I lived within the Philippines. And I assume when "Jealous: began blowing up, he was like, "It is time. Brother, let's go." I used to be like, "Bro, I really like you."
It got here to that proper time and I have been wanting as much as Dâm and he is all the time doing this nostalgic G-funk like me, maintaining the funk alive. And I all the time waited for, hopefully, that I might be capable of work with him and that point got here once we made "Maintain it Actual With You." Now we're making an attempt to make a music video for that music.
And I am curious too, when it comes to the recording course of for "Mulholland Drive," have been you producing every thing or did you have got some key collaborators?
So yeah the Dâm-Funk track, that was solely produced by Dâm. I simply sang, my girlfriend sings on it. The King Krule track is all produced by him. That album was principally carried by simply the options and the visitor producers. As a result of once I had considered dropping this album, I solely had seven songs that I made myself. So having all these different featured artists, they already had these songs, all I needed to do was sing on it. So having them give me these instrumentals simply made my life lots simpler and it made sense with my state of affairs too as a result of I used to be having a child.
However now I am collaborating extra with different artists. They only make the instrumental. And I simply sing, as a result of that helps. And I am additionally brushing up alone shit. I've simply been type of re-planning my stuff. I have been shopping for gear.
Do you've gotten a busy few months of touring forward, or exhibits, or are you, again within the studio?
I am again within the studio, as a result of I declined a tour that was going to be from October to December. So yeah, I am simply engaged on the longer term as a result of all I do is fear about how my son's going to be dwelling within the subsequent 5, 10 years.
Do you might have an concept of what you need to embody on the subsequent album?
"Mulholland Drive" seems like all of the bands I listened to rising up. So, I really feel like I am simply revisiting as a result of I really feel loads of these bands do not even make this type of music anymore. So, I am simply making an attempt to maintain that alive.
All of the shit I made, I used to be making an attempt to sound like previous stuff, as a result of that to me, is probably the most timeless stuff. Now, numerous the music we eat is about infidelity and being this demon.
I am like, sheesh, I hope this isn't what all the youngsters are like. I am fairly positive there's nonetheless individuals who need to get married and stuff, on the planet. I simply attempt to make the other of that as a result of the humorous factor is I eat all that music too.
Yeah, you possibly can hear that vary in your new album and normally, it looks like you genuinely make a variety of what you've got loved listening to.
Yeah, as a result of plenty of my friends have been purists they usually're like, "Oh we will solely make these things." As a result of that different shit is corny. I am like, "What do you imply? I like these things too." So I really feel like, you understand how the previous head mentality is, "Oh I hate mumble rap." However I like Playboy Carti, what are you speaking about? I prefer it all, as a result of I grew up on TRL, and I really feel just like the countdown all the time had a mix of like totally different genres. So I really feel like, I am simply making an attempt to make the whole lot I like in a single album.
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