Exclusive Interview: Rising Artist Will Hecht
What first got you into music?
Music was always around me growing up, but what first got me into hip hop was actually when my older brother Jamel gifted me the “Crazy, Sexy, Cool” album by TLC. After I heard Lisa “Left Eyes” verse on Waterfalls, I fell in love with the lyricism of it. So I memorized every word, rapped it back, and was hooked ever since.
Who inspired you to make music?
Well I always grew up freestyling at parties around the Bay and eventually joining competitions. But I didn’t get into the songwriting and recording aspect until I was a bit older. But once I discovered the studio world of writing, recording , and mixing, the ball just kept rollin from there. My inspirations came from some of the great hip hop artists like Tupac, Biggie, Andre 3000, Big L, and Eminem.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Since I started out in the freestyle world, my music naturally leaned heavily on lyricism and rhyme scheme. I use the hip hop elements that I grew up with, and I blend them with some new pop elements that I’ve been learning in the world of songwriting. The result is a fast tempo, lyric heavy verse that transitions to a smooth vocal for a catchy hook.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Since I have a bit of a Bay Area lyrical style, and being raised here, my top collabs would have to be a smooth hook from Sage the Gemini or a hard verse from E-40.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
I would love to open for a Bay Area artist like E-40 or G Eazy!
What is one message you would give to your fans?
If I were to give one message to my fans. It would be to carve that vision for yourself and to never give up until you reach that vision. Just work at it every day, and you never know when that big break is going to happen in your career. There’s been moments where I wanted to change careers, but I kept my vision and dream alive, and I’m proud to say I’m a professional musician. Don’t let anybody tell you it’s not possible!
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
I think the internet has made it more accessible for independent artists to have a voice. It’s been great from a competition and evolution standpoint, but at the same time, I think it slightly watered down real talent, and the social media savvy artists tend to have more of an advantage than real musicians these days. It’s unfortunate for some, but it’s just the game that we have to play.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
I definitely admire Drake and how he was able to come in and change the game with his own style, and then continued to evolve and adapt to stay relevant. The hip hop industry has a tendency to have a shelf life, but Drake has always stayed ahead of the game. Major props!
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice in the music industry I’ve been given was from my late friend Gangsta Boo. When I was in LA, I had a tendency to stay inside the studio to create music, and not get out of the house much. She always told me my career wasn’t going to take off unless I went out and networked with my music. She helped me get in touch with a whole other side of the music business besides just the creation of the music.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
Well, like I said earlier ,social media can be a double edged sword when it comes to musicians. The savvy ones have the advantage through clever or outlandish promotion tactics. I’d love to see music platforms on the blockchain in the future, where an artists music can be given true and unbiased value from fans. Music is art, and that’s how it should be treated!
What’s next for you?
Right now I’m stationed back in the Bay Area. I’ve been doing a lot of writing and pitching to the TV networks, and my song “Outlaw” debuts on Starz on Friday, May 5th. This is just the beginning for me so I’m continuing to have fun and make songs in the studio that could be good fits for the network. I’m going to take this momentum and perform at different festivals around the Bay this Summer, starting with Pistol Pete’s Summer Bash. Follow me for dates and times!
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