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soWAVY Discusses New EP: Built For This, His Face Tat, Touring With Dave East, and More!

February 10, 2023

soWAVY has one hell of a story, and now he’s putting it all in the music.

The Brooklyn, New York native first got his feet wet by doing backyard house parties in Long Island. As the son of a pastor, it wasn’t until he sold his dad’s church speaker for his first turntables, eventually teaching himself how to spin.

The DJ-turned-recording artist has had some major cosigns throughout his career, fondly remembering DJ Diamond Kuts tweeting a poll asking who should join her crew. Everyone in Jersey at the time tagged soWAVY, eventually leading her to bring him out to Power99 in Philly. Soon after, he started spinning with Funk Master Flex at Webster Hall, before becoming Dave East’s official DJ for two years.

Currently boasting one million followers on Instagram alone, soWAYV is excited as ever to unveil his newest EP titled Built For This. The project is the perfect showcase for his distinct, hyperpop sound, one that straddles the genres of punk and R&B, with a splash of very electric energy.

soWAVY spoke with TheFoxMagazine in downtown Los Angeles to discuss his biggest influences, learning how to record, the new EP, his face tat, touring with Dave East, and more!

TheFoxMagazine is all about inspiration. Who or what inspires you the most?

Kanye West. I’m a big Jay Z fan, he inspires me a lot. Kid Cudi. Travis Scott. Definitely Kanye West, just with music and how they’re producers and artists at the same time. They know how to really make that shit work together. Because I was a DJ, I’m still learning how to become an artist at the same time. They know how to be a producer and artist, and do that shit the right way.

Because sometimes it’s hard. Once you’re a producer, they say you can’t be an artist. Once you’re a DJ, they say you can’t be an artist because you were a DJ. But they believe that you can be whatever you want, and you can do whatever you want.

How did you learn how to record and all that?

Being around a lot of engineers honestly. The first person that helped me was Priceless, shout out to Priceless. He taught me how to record music. Shout the Vex. Shout out to Jewels. It’s a bunch of them. When I was getting my stuff mixed and recorded, I’d learn. I’d try to find ways to build my stuff up as well, because it gets expensive. Especially if you want to label and they’re paying for studio time, it’s hella expensive. The best thing to do is learn how to do it yourself.

You just dropped Built For This, EP out now. Your third project, what inspired this?

What inspired this project honestly, this is my first real [project] after Real Wayv. This is the lane I’m going in. This is the best body of work I have, other people might think differently. What inspired it the most is this whole time I’ve been making music, DJing, trying to figure this shit out, I never really sat back and realized that everything I’ve been through, it built me for what I got going on today.

That’s why I named it Built For This. The inspiration comes from a lot, I’ll be honest, Playboy Carti. Travis Scott. I’m a big Playboy Carti fan. He’s a GOAT, I’ll definitely give him that.

You also released the video “Face (XXX).” What’s the meaning behind XXX?

Honestly, I always do weird shit like that. My first project was named $in Noodz. The name of someone’s called “Face (XXX)”. It could be a porno site, whatever. Just trying to be cool.

“Tired of the fake shit, the snake shit.” What were you on recording that one?

I was thinking about a lot of fake people and fake agendas that I’ve been around, trying to make it and dealing with the bullshit. You want to get somewhere in life and feed your family, you deal with a bunch of dumb shit. I was letting that out. Because I’m tired of it, that’s why I got the Z’s in my head. Just tired of the bullshit.

When did you get that tatted?

When I was on tour with Dave East. I was his official DJ.

How was it touring with Dave East?

It was dope, got a lot of experience. A lot of experience, a lot of knowledge. I learned a lot from him. It was ups and downs, obviously points where I wanted to fucking punch the wall. [laughs] But overall, it got me to where I am today. Definitely thankful for East, for giving me the opportunity to be his DJ.

Talk about how crazy your shows get.

They be wild! I haven’t been on a festival yet. I’ll be honest with you, a lot of these shows have been me grabbing up. I find groups and grab up groups, try to put stuff together with other groups. But overall, the energy is so real. I can’t even make it up. It’s to the point where I feel them in the crowd and they resonate so well to the music. I don’t even think it’s just music, it’s the energy.

It’s surreal. It feels like a dream sometimes when I’m doing it. It’s just one, we’re all one at the shows. Nobody is better than nobody. It’s all about love, unity, and everybody leaving the show safe after that. That’s what I’m about: everybody having a good ass time. Loving each other and just, hugging each other, picking each other up. Shit like that.

How’s the independent garden?

It’s hard. It’s definitely a struggle. It’s a struggle. Got better people with me now, so it should be a little bit easier. But independence is definitely not easy because the buttons you want to press the labels push, you don’t really have that. It’s more so crowd zero, tapping in with the people outside and genuine love. Finding how to pack out a show on your own.

A lot of these artists, they have big streams on Spotify, but they can’t even pack out a show. We’re more so on to building a core. We don’t give a fuck how long this shit takes, more so on building a real core fanbase. That’s what we’re on. If a label situation does come our way, which a couple have already, we’re entertaining it. But we’re making sure that this shit really goes the way we want it to go.

What’s the best encounter you’ve had with a fan?

My boy Alex, met him at a show. Literally by a month later, he brought me to his house. It’s this huge ass mansion. Fucking big ass pool. It’s crazy that somebody from your show: look we’re friends now. I remember the day of the show, he jumped on stage and hugged me. It’s the first day, he’s like “I love you.” It turned into him showing me so much love, and his family showing love.

What is your best advice for aspiring musicians?

To never give up, to stay focused, and keep your eyes on the prize. Because nowadays, anybody can make it. I don’t think it’s hard. Just to never give up, even at the worst.

Even at that worst moment, you think everything is not going to happen: keep the faith. Keep going.

Do you have any goals for yourself?

To get on some festivals, that’s the first goal. That’s the number one goal right now. The overall goal is to be touring around the country, and my own tour obviously. Selling arenas.