Interview: Reuben Reuel

Congrats on your recent music release!
Thank you so much. Thank you for having me!

How did your musical journey begin? What initially sparked your interest in music?

It started from birth really. I grew up in a musical household. My father was a musician and my mother had a lot of interest in it. There was always music playing. I think the pivotal moment for me was deciding to follow that interest as an adult. I was back in New York after being out in LA for a few months and dived into it. I never looked back.

Can you describe some of the pivotal moments or turning points in your artistic development?

Definitely the fact that I’ve had a ton of interviews over the last year – which I am extremely grateful for. It seems people are interested in my music which means a lot to me. Another would be my Amazing Radio performance and my Odyssey release party. Those were some pretty major moments for me and I realized how much I enjoyed performing and putting shows together. A lot of those live shows make me really think about how I want to work on a song or perform it later on.

How have your musical tastes and influences evolved over time?

When I was younger I was extremely into pop, r&b, house and disco music. I detested jazz at the time because I was around it all the time. I now have a deep appreciation and love for it. I’ve also grown to be into more alternative R&B, drum n bass, hyperpop and PC music as I’ve gotten older. I think my taste evolved as I got older and learned more about myself and who I am not just as an artist but as a person.

Are there any specific experiences or challenges that have shaped your artistic identity?

I think a lot of it are things that most independent artists deal with, budgeting, financing etc. I have a very vast imagination that I feel is often not able to reach its full potential because of it. I also have had a lot that I’ve had to deal with outside of music with many family emergencies over the last few years and I’ve been the only person to attend to it. I do think these all shape my identity not just as an artist but as a person, and if anything it just makes me want to overcome those hurdles even more.

What role does experimentation play in your creative process?

It plays a ton in my process! I used to want it to sound exactly like the demo I’d record in my room but as I got deeper into making music I realized how important variance and arrangement is. I feel as though I had to have my songs be ABAB when I’ve since realized that’s something you definitely do not have to stick to.

Can you share a particularly meaningful or memorable performance or recording session from your journey?

My friend Mister JT came up with the entire first verse of our song 12×2 (I Like the Way) in about 5-10 minutes. I was stunned because I just wasn’t expecting it to be as complete as it was. This was similar to another artist I worked with on Out the Box, sectiontoo put vocals in the bridge, he sent me the vocals maybe 5 minutes after I sent the beat and it was perfect. I think these moments are so memorable mainly because it showcases the talent a lot of these artists have and how grateful I am to be able to work with them.

Are there any recurring themes or concepts that you find yourself exploring in your music?

They change in each project – I feel like every project tackles something different. Inertia was about movement, Odyssey was about the start of a journey, breaking cycles and repeated patterns, and love. Lots of love. This next project I’m working on has multiple themes to it as well.

How do you stay inspired and motivated to create new music?

Life throws us curveballs but I think the curveballs give me more material to create music. I think as an artist it’s selfish to not utilize it as a self expression and to be able to create something that people can relate to. I also just love making music that I generally need to do it, and not always just for a project.

Looking back on your journey so far, what are some lessons or insights you’ve gained about yourself as an artist?
I think to slow down and really enjoy it all. Collaborate with more people. Create more visuals for the music. Incorporate other versions of myself in my art. I think I’ve learned that my art isn’t just music, it’s all encompassing and I do not think I’ve showcased or believed in myself in those aspects as much as I should. I wish to change that and really break out of the narratives I once had.