Artist Spotlight: FelixThe1st
In a scene that is more congested than the M6 on a Friday evening, standing out from the masses is a difficult excursion. Luckily for him, FelixThe1st encapsulates individuality.
Although first entering the entertainment industry as a dancer, it was always music that captured Felix’s imagination, and this passion was heightened through years of freestyling and delving into the UK underground rap scene. Sporting a masquerade of face paint, when Felix did break into the music conversation, he didn’t do it quietly.
With only his second official release, Felix soared to viral fame with his collaboration with underground stalwarts Dreya Mac and Finch Fetti, Own Brand Freestyle. A song with cheek, craft and bags of charisma, its zesty energy captured the attention of the internet and elevated Felix to giddy, unimaginable heights. Not content with its success, the rapper has been continuously working on evolving his sound and augmenting his artistry. Recently releasing bouncy cut 2 Wardrobes, a track accompanied by one of the most entertaining and colourful videos you’ll see this year, FelixThe1st looks set to be unavoidable in the coming months.
I sat down with Felix to discuss his exponential rise, his constantly developing sound, his effortless authenticity, and his aesthetic appreciation of visual art.
Who influences you?
My favourite thing is a unique voice. People like Amy Winehouse, Tyler the Creator. UK based, names like House of Pharaohs and Lancey Foux.
How did you first get into writing?
When I was a professional dancer, I used to just mess around with my friends all the time. One day I just thought - I could be doing this for a living - so I kept trying, reached out to every producer I could. I just got the opportunity and kept running with it. In terms of writing, most songs that I do start off with a freestyle, and I end up either freestyling till I like it, or I recreate what I’ve written and make it make sense.
How did you develop that into your fully fledged sound?
I feel like you just have to keep doing it. I was freestyling as much as possible. There’s been a lot of awkward sessions when I’d go in and get asked what we’re doing and just give references. Sometimes people expect me to go in with a full song straight away, but I’m trying to create a vibe, get to know the producer, trying to chill, relax, then get the vibe and then write the song. Most of the times it makes things easier.
How would you define your sound?
A lot of the stuff that I’m experimenting with at the moment is indie, alternative, experimental, trap, plugg. With the stuff that’s out at the moment, it was literally just how I was feeling in the moment, I’ve never really been one to hold back my flaws. I think it’s exciting to show my own personal growth as an adult while I’m releasing. 2 wardrobes is literally how I was feeling when I wrote that song at 19. Now at 20, it’s a different energy. It’s about tapping into different vibes every time and getting the best out of it. I don’t care what anyone thinks, but at the same time, people take to genuine characters and people, so I’ve always thought to myself - you don’t have to be the most talented in the room, as long as you are the most believable. People always root for the underdog.
Why is your artist persona a different character to yourself?
I feel like it’s a heightened version of myself. I’m quite a chill person until you know me and then I’m a lot. Once I’ve got the face paint on, I feel like a different person. It’s a Jekhl and Hyde thing.
Where did the face paint idea originate?
I was inspired by bands like KISS, but also wrestling. I love wrestling and it’s quite common wearing it there. Originally I wanted a superhero mask but I thought I’d switch it up. We had a bunch of different ideas, spent a couple weeks trying a bunch of different looks until we found what works.
You have a real sense of individuality, how do you manage that?
It’s the goal. I’m not afraid to grow in front of everyone. I’m excited to have a new side of me revealed every month when I drop a new track. I’m trying to drop as often as possible, and drop a movie with it every time. This year is the year when people learn more about me, and by the time we hit 2023 it’s peak.
Why is being unique important to you?
I wouldn’t even say it’s important, I’d say it’s ingrained in me. It’s something that I couldn’t really not do. When you’re young, you stand out for the wrong reasons, for being the loud kid, the distracted kid, the talkative one. I used that and turned it into being me. It’s never been about wanting attention, more about being unapologetically myself all the time. If I can wake up and be myself at all times, then I’m happy.
You definitely stood out on ‘Own Brand Freestyle’. What do you think it is about that track that listeners found infectious?
I think it’d been a while since the mainstream heard a UK artist on a beat that sonically sounds US. It’s a different style of beat, and a new generation of artists. Underground wise, that sound is there and it’s the sound that’s been inspiring me my whole teenage life. It’s how we came, and how we did what we wanted to do, we didn’t try to cater to anyone else and people like that. The scene right now is crazy, but as soon as something had a hint of difference, something unforced and natural, people responded.
How has that experience, that success, changed your life and your career?
It allowed me to retire from dance. Now I’m a full time artist and it feels amazing. It gave me a lot more freedom and security, knowing that I’m able to pursue my artistry and experimental more. I may have more eyes on me and more pressure, but I only see it as a good thing. It’s exciting.
There must be a level of pressure there having had a successful hit - do you feel that when you’re writing?
I really don’t. I’m always going to be grateful for that moment and happy it happened because it was a special, crazy moment. But I’m never going to be the person trying to recreate it. Why would I recreate that moment when I could have another? I’m grateful for what happened but I’m not going to live off that forever. I’m still here to pay my dues and I’m still here to work and improve my art. I don’t expect anything.
Any collaborations on the way? Anyone that you would love to work with?
Right now, I’m just working on myself. I’m trying to figure out my sound. For me to collaborate with someone, it has to be an artist that makes me want to make music. Finch that introduced me to Ca1sto, who is 17 and crazy. Len is insane as well. Skaiwater from Nottingham too, he’s doing crazy things on the internet right now. I have a love for UK music and I feel patriotic and proud of what’s going on in the scene.
2 Wardrobes is a big tune! What was the creative process?
That was the first song that I ever recorded, before Own Brand. I just held it for a while, I was still dancing at the time and I didn’t want to release it yet. I had the cover art made a few months after and just from having that I wanted to push that track. The track is a really big part of my growth - two wardrobes - living a double life. It was my moment to tell people I could do both, dance and be an artist. We tried our best in the video to portray that feeling of double life. The music will always be the most important thing but the visuals are very important to me too.
Where do the ideas for the visual palette come from?
For that video, it was from discussions with Raja, the designer for the cover art, and discussions with Dylan, the director. We spoke a lot about my ideas and things that I was inspired by. The idea of having a live studio audience and filming a sitcom. It has to look like a cheesy, 80s sitcom. They signify a story. We were all plugged in and all knew what we wanted, and it came out perfectly.
How you feeling about the release?
Good, I’m happy to have it out and move past it. The reception has been really good, but I wasn’t really waiting on the reception for this, more what’s to come in the next few months. I don’t dwell on the numbers too much, it’s more about the real interaction and how it’s making people feel.
If you were introducing yourself to a new listener, what track would you play them?
Own Brand. It’s my untapped raw form. We were drunk off of some nine pound Sainsbury’s rum, freestyling in the middle of the night and that’s what came out. I think it’s a great representation.
Where do you want to take your artistry?
A lot of people want to be the biggest in the world, and that’d be amazing. Right now, I’m just trying to be better than the last track. To grow the Felix universe, grow my artistry and carry on expressing. In an ideal world, I want to be an impactful artist. I’m trying to make a difference.
What’s on the horizon short term?
More releases, we’ve got videos filmed and ready, just waiting for a release date. There will also be a tape, not yet, but we are working on it. I’ve been finding myself in the process, locking into a bunch of sounds and harnessing it. Trying to find that balance between what I love to do and another side that people haven’t heard yet.