What is it that ties all of your projects together?
They’re all connected by the same throughline. Little secret: pretty much every song on each album connects to a song on the next album. Every album is a more mature version of its predecessor. On Pixel Bath, I had “Pegasus” and on CHAOS NOW*, I had “SICK OF IT*”. Those are the same song; one is just better.
What was the guiding principle behind Glimmer of God?
The album is about me embracing my duality. I want to embody beauty and grace in music. It’s something I think Prince has done best. It’s subversive and it’s sweet, but it’s also strong and masculine. The things I’m learning about myself have been very informed by my ability to bend like that. There’s this anime you should watch called Berserk. One of the male protagonists is named Griffith, and he’s gorgeous. His hair is always flowing, and he speaks very calmly. Conversely, the other main character is named Guts, and he’s the total opposite. He’s a warrior. But both characters are essentially the same person, just two sides of the same coin. That’s what I wanted the album cover to feel like: glamorous but don’t fuck around. Don’t play with me.
Where does your innate adaptability come from?
It all comes from my mom. She let me be everything I was supposed to be. I was very fortunate to have that. One of my biggest life goals is to open an institution where kids can learn instruments. If they attend enough classes, they can keep their instrument and return whenever they want to refresh their skills. Once they graduate from the program, they can come back and volunteer to teach the kids. You don’t know where the next Freddie Mercury might come from. He, she, or they might come from Milwaukee. Or East LA. But when they don’t have the opportunity to explore their talents, they’ll never know.
What are some things you feel privileged to experience today?
My favorite thing that I get to do is wake up when I’m not tired. That’s my marker of success. Also, being able to travel the world with my brother, Nico. I still remember sitting in the hood on his doorstep smoking Newports in the middle of winter, telling him, “One day we’re gonna see the world.” Now, we’re sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower. Yesterday we saw Swan Lake. We’re just two colored boys with face tattoos from the hood going to see Swan Lake. People were looking at us like, “What are they doing here?” Don’t get it fucked up. I know more about classical music than you do. Judge me. Perceive me. That thought lives and dies with you. But we can watch Swan Lake together.
You designed some of the pieces you’re wearing today, like the bedazzled hats and the studded Rick Owens Ramones. Has fashion always been something you’ve tapped into?
I’ve been making clothes since I was a kid. My mom would take me shopping at the thrift store for clothes. I’d always find skinny jeans in crazy colors, but they wouldn’t fit, so we’d bring them down to my aunt in Mexico to tailor them. For every pair I gave her, she charged me a dollar, just to keep me responsible. She’d always try and take me to Foot Locker, and I knew we couldn’t afford it and would be like, “Mom, we can go to Walmart.” I’d get these Starter sneakers and would ask her for colored shoelaces. Then we’d go to Joann Fabrics to get gemstones and glue, and I would spend hours designing my shoes. To this day, I’ll buy some Balenciaga and fuck it up. Those hand-studded Ramones took me so long to do. Making music doesn’t always calm me down, but fashion is something that calms me down.
What does making music feel like today?
Making music feels like a long kiss. There’s something romantic about being lost in it, and there’s something romantic about stepping back and observing it.
