By Nicholas Jason Lopez
On the verge of an unofficial-yet-official breakthrough with the release of his second self-produced album ‘staring at the ceiling’ just over two months ago, Fats’e has embraced the DIY musician lifestyle to the point where the three letters might as well have been on his birth certificate.
With career highlights like “picking myself up again” and “won’t let this go” and recent earworms such as “so fresh and so new/coping unhealthily” and “bad news” that fall somewhere between indie, alternative, pop-punk, hip-hop and whatever-you-wanna-call-it-core, the Texas-born producer-turned-artist has solidified a signature sound sure to save your sanity.
Fresh off the high of his recent tour dates with Lil Lotus and Magnolia Park, The Music Bugle had the opportunity to chat with him about his latest musical endeavors and more.
Music Bugle – How did you decide on your artist name?
fats’e – My artist name – fats’e – was originally “fat c” – for Charlie, my actual name – and it came from a freestyle I did in 2015 with some friends.
Music Bugle – What was your goal for your album ‘Staring At The Ceiling’?
fats’e – My goal with “SATC” was to make my most cohesive body of work yet, both thematically and sonically.
Music Bugle – What is the biggest challenge in terms of DIY?
fats’e – Being an independent artist definitely makes marketing and promotion a challenge, since I don’t have the resources and budget of a signed artist.
Music Bugle – How would you compare your new album to your first one?
fats’e – “SATC” is much more high-energy and uptempo compared to ‘Charlie.’ I channeled my post-hardcore and emo-pop influences more directly on this album, while still staying true to the midwest-emo/emo rap sound of my first album.
Music Bugle – How would you describe Texas to someone who has never been there before?
fats’e – Texas is very hot and flat (Laughs), but the alternative music scene in Dallas where I grew up is very strong and going to shows and playing shows throughout middle school and high school helped establish my drive as a musician.
Music Bugle – What do you enjoy the most when it comes to being a producer?
fats’e – My favorite part about producing easily is combining multiple production and mixing styles to create something new and fresh.
Music Bugle – What excites you the most about your style of music?
fats’e – I feel like the genre I’m apart of is still in its infancy and there are still a lot of sounds and variations to be explored within this cross-section of styles, which is exciting.
Music Bugle – What were your thoughts on getting to join Lil Lotus on those select tour dates?
fats’e – I was super stoked to be a part of that tour. It was a blast and things have really come full circle, because I was making music and playing shows with Lotus back in 2016!
Music Bugle – Does social media help or hurt musicians?
fats’e – It definitely depends on the person and how savvy they are with it. Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with social media. I realize how important it is, so I try to stay fairly active, but I like to take breaks from being in it too much.
Music Bugle – Where do you go when you need a break?
fats’e – I like to go on long walks to clear my head. At the house I just moved from in Los Angeles, there was hiking trails up the street and I had a spot with a cool view I would hike to, but sadly at my new apartment in Texas, there aren’t any cool spots to walk to.
