Miles August – Q&A Interview
Tell us a little about yourself. Where you are from? How long have you been making Hip Hop?
My name is Miles August and I’m from Chicago IL. I’m 27 and I’ve been rapping since I was 14. I was influenced by my older cousin to rap. We used to chill on the weekends and he’d put me up on all the classic Hip Hop albums I had missed growing up. I learned how to freestyle real quick hanging with my cousin, we would just walk around freestyling about what we saw around us. I had a natural knack for putting words together, and a good ear for production. I didn’t start making beats until I was 16.
What influences you in making Hip Hop?
My influences come from everywhere. Now a days I listen to a lot more electronic music like “Hudson Mowhake” “TOKIMONSTA”, and “purity ring”, but As far as hip hop I really admire artists like Andre 3000, Kanye West, Kid Kudi, Flying Lotus, SZA, and Kendrick Lamar. I like to think of Hip Hop as a platform to expose ourselves to the masses. A large group of people sharing their stories about life and their perspective of it. That totally inspires me, to be able to share my story with people.
Describe your music, and what separates you from other MCs?
My music is very conceptual. I don’t really just write songs that have no significant meaning. Every song I write must mean something to me. I try not to be obvious or cliché when I’m writing a song and that’s why all of my song titles are unique. I feel like some artists simply write music that they’ve already heard before. I try to create what I feel is missing in Hip Hop. To me art is not about tradition, but innovation. I feel like if you’re not adding something different to the art form you’re not really contributing.
Who have you collaborated with? Who would you like to collab with in the near future?
So far I have only worked with another Chicago artist who goes by Nick Astro, and another named Jay Jeff. Musically I respect their craft and I’m a fan of their music. As far as the industry I’d love to work with Erykah Badu, SZA, ab- soul and Chance the Rapper.
Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
To me the only difference in Underground and mainstream is monetary. People buy more mainstream than underground, but there’s good music on both sides it just has to be found.
Production wise, who are your influences? Who does your production? And who would you like to work with?
I get a lot of my production tendencies from Kanye West, no ID, and flying lotus. I try not to mimic too much, but I do get a lot of inspiration from their music. I primarily produce my own music but I’d love to work with anyone who is dope.
Any current or future projects you are promoting?
Hell yeah “Mellow Creek”!!!! that’s my debut EP it just dropped on June 10th.
Can you give us a brief description of the creative process of Mellow Creek? Also/ what was the idea or concept description about your Album Art Cover.
My ideas come to me at the most inopportune times, when I’m at work or driving. When I actually sit down and make a beat I never really write anything on spot. I freestyle a lot of my music while I’m commuting or I record reference tracks to beats with me rapping nonsense to it then I take that flow and place actual words in it. The cover for Mellow Creek is depicting the essence of the project which is my mind, and it being a sort of parallel universe filled my with my own imaginative ideas.
Where can we find your music and info?
you can find my music on http://www.audiomack.com/album/miles-august/mellow-creek
www.soundcloud.com/milesaugustmusic
www.facebook.com/milesaugustmusic
twitter @thekidaugust
instagram @milesaugust
Any Shout Outs?
I’d like to shout out my homies Nick Astro, Jay Jeff, and reep da glo. Go check their music out.
