Q&A With Hip Hop Artist Aphelion Barz
Hey Aphelion Barz, we would like to thank you for dropping such a classic Hip Hop album! Boom, on of our main contributors wrote an awesome review on it! Please tell us what exact area code you represent? How long have you been making music? And how did you get your MC name?
Thank you guys for listening and writing the review. Originally I was born in the 718 then moved to the 915 and lived there for a while. El Paso was cool af! Since I’ve made all of my hip hop music in the 505, I can’t forget about my people here in NM. I’ve been making music for 15 years now. Started when I was 10 in orchestra and slowly started progressing into throughout the years. Honestly, my name comes from my love of space and the stars. Aphelion is a term used to describe a planet when its at it’s furthest orbit from the sun. Some geek shit lol it ‘s really a play on words when you think about it.
Who or what influenced you to become an underground Hip Hop artist?
My biggest influence growing up was my older brother. He started rapping when I was little and I just wanted to follow along. When he joined the military and got sent to war is when I really started taking it to the next level.
We really love your unique and original style and sound? How would you describe your style in the simplest way?
Poetic. I don’t feel i focus too much on punchlines but rather painting a picture with words. Every time you decide to listen to one of my songs, you’ll hear something you didn’t understand the previous time.
Tell us about the creative process for your new album “UP”! Any interesting features on it? Was this your debut album?
The process was pretty straight forward. I literally slept in my studio on a half inflated air mattress and let the music take over. Smoke and create what ever the beat tells me to.
I feel like the most interesting feature I have is from Chris Newsome. He’s my brother-in-law and also plays professional basketball in the Philipines. I caught him in the off-season while he was in the US and we made a bunch of music. No games ended up being one of the favorites so we dropped it.
In 2017, who is on your own personal music rotation playlist!? Any new artists you are listening to?
Well, I don’t do mumble rap lol so anybody you would consider that type of artist is not on my playlist. The newest artist im playing right now would be Goldlink. His flow is unique. I’m listening to Smino a lot too. Another artist with a really different flow.
Of course I constantly play K dot, Curren$y, Anderson .paak, Freddie Gibbs. Just a few of my favorites right now.
Any new projects and videos you are working on? Planning on a tour anytime soon?
I’m actually working on an EP with an EDM artist named Etri Z, and an EP with my brother Chris. A few videos from the album will be dropping soon but I won’t say which songs yet. In the spring we’re trying to get setup on a college circuit. I’ll be playing a show at NMSU for their spring football game and we’re looking to do some further traveling and touring after that after that
Out the box type question, If it came down to 1 ALBUM only, what underground Hip Hop album would you consider THE BEST OF ALL TIME!!!???
If we’re talking Underground hip hop. It’s Curren$y’s Pilot Talk. Anything that man touches is golden. Nobody in the underground game has come close to what he’s created.
Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
Underground hip hop is Independence. Dropping music when you want to drop it without waiting for the permission of a label. Creating something 100% funded from your own pocket.
Drop all your music and social media links!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7ss5aB0zPC3QSdqUiMAPVk
iTunes – http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1287211942?ls=1&app=itunes
Apple Music – http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1287211942
Follow me on twitter @aphelionbarz
Instagram: aphelionbarz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AphelionBarz/
Bandcamp: aphelionbarz.bandcamp.com
Any shout outs?
First I wanna shoutout my team. Tim Foley, Damon BlaQ, Mason Graham, Tyler Mark, and DJ Young Bull. These dudes constantly push me to do better. Next, my girl Nishelle. She’s been with me for almost 9 years and always supports the music and my son, dats my nigga. My brother for putting me on game with this music and always being there for me.
My parents and my grandmother for always supporting what i’ve got going on. And of course the fans for listening. I have a pretty supportive fan base and those people really mean a lot to me.
