LanTheMan Interview
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What is music to you? What does it give you?
LanTheMan: "Music has always been a therapy to me. Whatever I pretty much feel, I’m willing to address it through my songs. Without my everyday life experiences, I’m not able to provide any energy or material to create what I’ve already created. My music is basically my real life status updates. Usually when I rap, it’s when I’m feeling a little angry or venting about something that’s bothering me. With two different sides that I have, the “Wolf” side comes out whenever this happens. On the other hand, when I usually sing, it’s when I’m talking about love or about issues such as losses from relationships and people, in which this side is none other than , LanTheMan himself. Either way overall, I always try to have the correct formula to sometimes even mix both genres together to create the perfect vibe. My music is made for late night car drives, party times, romantic get togethers, motivational and also confident vicious moments."
What is your music dream?
LanTheMan: "You know it’s funny because when I started out making music, I only did it for the thrill of hearing my voice expressing how I felt about life or simply just about silly none sense. Either way, I did it for fun and nothing else. I would always enjoy recording vocals on pretty much anything and play it back only to myself for months, sometimes with one recorded song at a time before ever even releasing them. I really don’t know what it is, but right now that’s all I ever listen to when I’m driving or just general. Like I’m constantly studying my own self imagining I’m someone else paying attention to any mistakes and what I can do to improve. Its sometimes a drug to me because it also calms me down or gives me a boost about myself. A reminder on who I am. I really be in my own world so I guess I can say that some people out there, at least one person will be the same way if they listened to my songs. That’s pretty much why I decided to release my songs just for other people to experience what I experienced. I started off releasing SoundCloud, but eventually realized I wanted a wider audience such as my own family and friends to hear my music. Now with over 70 released songs on all music streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple, it’s a good feeling to know that I also left a part of me behind after I’m gone that’ll be here forever. To have a legacy of being somebody, simply by just being myself. That’s my dream in music."
If you could change the world, what would you start with?
LanTheMan: "With music to the side, If the day ever comes where I actually blow up and have the power to influence people in a positive uplifting way, I would start with just continuing being real with myself if I’m ever spoken to from the media in a interview or just in general if I ever expressed how I feel on social media’s for an example. It seems like there’s been a lot of clout lately that does change the world, but in a negative way. You know, when someone reaches a point of fame from inspiring success, they are a leader whether they realize it or not and I think it’s important for anyone who’s considered the higher up, to always set good examples as well as staying real by speaking the truth no matter what happens. Voices can really make a huge difference in the world."
Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?
LanTheMan: "For me to try and remember the most memorable song from my childhood needs to be more specific. Being born in 1992, I would say around in the late 90s and the early 2000s was when I first started actually listening to music on my own. I enjoyed the sounds of Pop and R&B music. At this time, top musical artist such as Brittany spears, Nysnc, the backstreetboys, michael Jackson, usher, pink, etc. we’re all around always on the radio or releasing singles and albums. So with that being said, the earliest I can possibly remember would probably be “I want it that a way” By The Backstreetboys considering it was one of the biggiest hit songs at the time. I remember always playing this song in my bedroom singing it out loud, even my own dad tried playing it for me off his guitar. It’s funny because I don’t even really know why this song was so addicting to me, I guess because of all the radio play, the concerts they had, commercials and just people in general listening to it as well. It definitely was a popular song at the time so as result to this, I guess you can say it was the most memorable to me."
Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?
LanTheMan: "Being at the age of 7 years old in second grade, there were definitely only two groups of music artist that I always looked up to and became inspired by, was none other than, Nysnc and The Backstreetboys. For me being that young witnessing, in my opinion, truly the most amazing talented human beings making really good catchy music with a huge fan base from literally around the world, I wanted to be like them. I would mimic there dance moves and pretend to be on stage performing. I was young, so my imagination was ahead of my time I guess you can say. They really did inspire me seeing how huge they got. The world doesn’t have that kinda music and performances nowadays, especially bands. As far as today’s music, I pretty much grew myself also more towards the hiphop/Trapsoul scene so I would have to say Artists such as Bryson Tiller, Post Molone, Drake, Partynextdoor, ASAP Rocky, The Weeknd, 6lack and a few more are all pretty much my favorite. It’s hard to have just a specific one. I lean more towards legacy artists."
What inspires you to make music?
LanTheMan: "It’s weird because I sometimes have trouble on explaining myself in person to other people or really know how to express how I feel about certain topics. I feel like in reality, nobody takes me seriously. It’s almost like I can never get my point across. Eventually I developed a self determined attitude once I discovered that I could record myself. Now, Instead of really communicating with others or even considering it, I decide to just hit the booth and say how I feel. Whether if it about something that made me mad or made me sad, or maybe just when I know it’s ready if I haven’t released anything in a while. Ultimately, life and people is what inspires me to make music because I want to always talk about it. My music are my real life status updates based off whatever happens in my lifetime. To be able to record myself, then play it back with the most incredible sounds in the background whenever I want once I feel some type of way is also truly amazing. All these examples is what inspires me and seeing other artists at the top only makes me want to get better."
What is the message you want to send with your music?
LanTheMan: "Well it’s simple really, my messages in songs are basically just current feelings that I have with myself at that exact time. I mean I’m sure any other artist can tell you the same thing when it comes to making music. To me it’s like based off all the material and life experiences, I use that to create a catchy vibe or something that would sound decently appealing. You know, I’m not the best artist I admit. At the end of the day, I’m always still learning and trying to get better than when I started out. I feel like I still have so much more to learn and to give. I feel my potential in this and I just want people to understand that maybe I do. From the very beginning when I first started making songs until now has always been my story. My story are my messages."
How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?
LanTheMan: "Unfortunately I have yet to perform on stage but definitely would 100% consider it. This is something I’m sure it’s on every artists to do list during their career. You know, when I was very young, I would always imagine myself being in a music video or a concert when it came to music artists and their songs. Whether it be Eminem, Nysnc, The Backstreetboys, Maroon 5, Usher. I mean, it was funny to catch me in the room doing this, but I gotta admit, I was really zoning out when it came to the music back at that time so I can only image what it would be like to be on stage in front of thousands of people with a spotlight on me. It would definitely be a dream come true. I feel like I already got an imaginary concert played out in my head when it comes to my music and creativity’s. It would be amazing to get a chance to have a concert for each one of my albums. Maybe one day."
How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?
LanTheMan: "You know I rather not speak too much about other artist because I know that every artist that has a dream out there, doesn’t matter what age, race, gender, we all use music as a type of therapy to express how we feel or just whatever’s on our mind, doesnt always necessarily have to sound good. I admit, I’ve heard some pretty different music that isn’t my taste, but that doesn’t mean somebody else wouldn’t like it somewhere out there. I can never judge on another artist that I know works hard and really puts they’re heart into it because I know I do. I think maybe the problem with music nowadays is that I feel like in my opinion it’s definitely changed big time like back in the day, there was more soul and heart as well as actual meaning to songs that you would always hear on the radio or just any celebrity artist in general, before the internet was around at least. Now, with so much Digital Technology to stream any artist you want to from around the world, absolutely anyone can upload a song and call themselves an artist with just a click of a button, literally. It’s really that fast and that easy. So I guess at the end of the day, theres just so much music and artists on the internet as well as different styles now everywhere on every platform that you don’t even know where to even begin to start listening and giving some artist a try. This only creates so much more competition in the music industry that it’s almost impossible to ever get discovered. That’s why I think now some artists do things for clout, rather than the actual music itself just to get that instant attention because of shock value. When are we going to have the next Michael Jackson? Or the next Elvis Presley? Or the next Whitney Houston? Bob Marley? Tupac or Eminem? I mean like this people for an example to me are icons. People I know that really put there heart in the music and made a difference in the world."
What frustrates you most as a musician?
LanTheMan: "I feel like anything I do that really contributes to the world, I try to almost reach perfection. So when it comes to the music as a music artist, you know I take it very serious and very personal. I’m not here for gimmicks or simply trying to convince to anyone that I’m the man, other than my own myself. If I’m not satisfied with my results in my songs than I feel neither will the listeners. Even though I feel like I can manage to come up with ideas, record the vocals, figure out where to put everything and just solve puzzles at a fast pace, it does get exhausting and frustrating because I can’t finish without really focusing on making it sound beautiful and it takes time. I always want my family and friends to keep updated on what’s going on in my music as well as my fans so I want everything to be perfect for first impressions and just overall legacy purposes. I’m not the type of artist that goes in the booth and records a 15 minute song and say it’s a wrap. When it comes to any songs I release, I have to always take my time."
Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?
LanTheMan: "Being raised in small town called Spring about 30 minutes out from Downtown Houston Texas before I came to Naples Florida was definitely a huge difference as far as the local music scene. There were a lots of already legendary artists actually still living in the areas I would always be around at or underground artists, compared to here in Naples where I feel like I barely know any. You know it would be amazing to collaborate with people in the same town or near by as well too just to boost each other up. I’m always open for any opportunities when it comes to music."
What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?
LanTheMan: "You know I’m not gonna say real much on how to actually get your music heard considering the fact that I’m not at that level yet, but what I will say is that as long as you are honest and really take the time to put it all together from the heart, I believe you can attract at least someone out there for sure. And there’s a lot of people on the planet so I’m pretty sure it’ll be more than just one person. All it takes is a little bit of Traction nowadays and it’ll soon start to slowly but surly grow. The music streaming industry is powerful so I feel nows the time to take full advantage before it eventually dies out. At the same time, there’s always so much more competition because of how powerful the platform is, which makes artist like me, a perfectionist. I know I can do way better because I’m still very new at everything but I know somewhere out there someone is definitely listening and following my story. If your just honest, that’s all it matters really, doesn’t matter what Genre of music you make. Once that’s done, I believe as long as you stay Consistent, sooner or later one of your songs will get noticed and it’ll be the start of reaching the rest of your music Discography to a much more bigger audience and that’s when you can really start to grow monthly listeners keeping people waiting for more. All it takes is that one song to break the ice."