TroyBoi is one of the biggest names in trap right now, though his music is truly too diverse to be put into one genre label. His new album, Left Is Right, weaves through bass-heavy party tracks, softer moments, and some surprises, and the Left Is Right tour matches this vibe completely. TroyBoi’s performance at Brooklyn Steel in New York City this past weekend was a journey through this producer’s incredible array of talents, as he graced us with highlights from the album such as “B.I.A” and “Flamez” while incorporating everything from aerialists to a trio of live violins. TroyBoi was kind enough to chat with RaverRafting before the show, so read on to learn more about the album and what he’s up to next.
This is Arielle with RaverRafting, I’m here with TroyBoi at Brooklyn Steel. First of all thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us.
TroyBoi: Absolutely a pleasure to be here, thank you so much.
You’ve been touring this fall in support of your new album, Left Is Right – how has the tour been going so far?
TroyBoi: The tour’s been going amazing. I just went around all the west coast, went to Canada as well. The response has been phenomenal. To be able to go around all these places towards the east coast now, to play all my original music and to give people a show, it’s just incredible. So I’m very happy to be doing that.
For anyone who hasn’t attended one of the shows yet, what can we expect on this tour? I’ve heard rumors of live instrumentation, is that correct?
TroyBoi: That’s definitely correct. Also I brought my own production. A lot of art is gonna be shown during the show. It’s gonna be an all original set and performance, it’s basically like an audience with TroyBoi, for the real sort of fans who obviously like the music as well. It’s very personal to me too. It’s a new experience.
Let’s talk about the album a little bit. What do you want to tell fans about Left Is Right?
TroyBoi: Left is Right has basically been a project of mine which I’ve been wanting to do for ages. I’ve released a lot of singles. Left is Right for me was a project where I really wanted to show people what I could do as a producer and show people the different kinds of varieties of styles of productions I can do. On top of that I just wanted to show people that you can have an album which isn’t so commercial and it still can be considered to be okay to do that. Just to be able to express your own feeling in music.
You’re pretty vocal about the fact that you don’t want to be seen as a producer of one particular type of music and I think the album really embodies that. You have a lot of diversity – you have a lot of the heavy, throw-down type of tracks that you’re known for, but you also have some mellower stuff in there, “Tender Love” and “Her” are two examples that come to mind. Is that a conscious process that you have where you’re really trying not to fit yourself into a box or is that the natural path of your creative inspiration?
TroyBoi: Definitely the natural path, because I’ve grown up listening to so many different varieties and genres of music. I’m from a mixed heritage – my mom’s Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, and my dad’s Nigerian. And growing up listening to all these kinds of music from all these countries has basically inspired the music that I make today. And then growing up in London, listening to genres like house music, and grime, and DnB and reggae. I absorbed all of these sounds, and my idea of making music has always just been to take bits from each. Which I like and just create my own thing.
I’ve read that Michael Jackson is a huge influence for you – can you name a few others, either from when you were growing up or even currently?
TroyBoi: Definitely from a production standpoint, definitely Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Dr. Dre, there’s so many. Quincy Jones. They’re the main people really, and of course Michael Jackson, absolutely.
A two-part question – what was it like working with Ice Cube on “Look At Me?” and if you could work with any 3 rappers, who would they be?
TroyBoi: So, unfortunately I never had a chance to meet Ice Cube. But how that came about, I had access to his vocals and I made the track around it and then sent it off to his people and we got an OK from them to release the music. So that was amazing. To have a track with Ice Cube, that’s a dream for me, he’s an absolute legend and I’ve respected his music from when I first listened to it. To be able to have a track with him is incredible. As far as rappers I’d like to work with now, I’d love to work with Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, I’d love to work with Drake. That would be awesome. Great lyricists, great flow, and that’s what I’d like to look for if I were to work with rappers.
One of my personal favorite tracks on the album is “Dark Lawd,” which I think is really underrated! What I l really like about it is it has this bouncy sort of beat and then there’s this melding of all these different samples and sound effects. That’s something that’s a signature of yours, especially in the sound effects department, you’re kind of taking these noises and making music out of them. Can you share anything with us either about this track in particular or about your creative process when you’re working with different sounds?
TroyBoi: The process of that track, first of all it’s very kind of drum heavy and rhythm heavy and for me that’s where I always start my productions, that’s the backbone to each of my tracks, every single one. One thing led to another – I got the bounce and the rhythm of the drums and from there I managed to go through my sounds, and certain things just fit for the track. I always refer back to Michael Jackson. I’ve always learned from him and what I felt like I’ve always had common was, he always would say, never concentrate on the music, just let the music write itself. And that’s always been the approach that I’ve had when I make my music. I guess that’s how it’s worked with everything too.
How did the “Interlude – Jammin Sessions” track come together? Is that actually the result of a jam session?
TroyBoi: That’s exactly that. I was in the studio with Jim Beanz who’s featured on the track. I basically made the beat of it and literally what we did was just turn on the microphone and press record, and everything that you hear was pretty much just all improvised, it was just a full jamming session, we just went for it.
Earlier this year you moved to Miami from the UK – how has that transition been for you?
TroyBoi: Unreal. It’s like night and day almost because it’s incredible to be able to go from city life almost and 12, 13, 14 degree average weather to full Latin community, sunny weather all the time, and just the way of life is so different, it’s a dream. I remember when I first came to Miami back in 2007 I was blown away and so to be able to be living in Miami now is awesome.
What will you be working on once the tour is over?
TroyBoi: New music, definitely. I mean there’s definitely no stop for me, I’ve been making music while I’ve been on tour too. And everything for the future, everything that I’ve done this year I’d look to just take to the next level. Just be a constant progression, constant evolution of what TroyBoi is doing.
If there is any moment in your life where you’re not working on music, what else are you doing with your time?
TroyBoi: Just chillin, catching up with friends, I like to go to the movies, go to restaurants with my girl as well. Just a lot of chillin, you know. It’s such a hectic lifestyle so when I’m off the road I just like to do the calmer things. Of course I like to go out and party as well, go to the occasionally party with my friends too.
Thank you again for talking to Raver Rafting!
There are still a few dates left in TroyBoi’s Left is Right tour. Check out where he’ll be heading next, because this is a spectacle not to be missed.
11/17 – Austin, TX
11/18 – New Orleans, LA
11/22 – Houston, TX
11/25 – Dallas, TX
11/29 – Whistler, BC
11/30 – Victoria, BC
12/1 – Edmonton, AB
12/2 – Calgary, AB
Photo Credit: TroyBoi Facebook
Connect With TroyBoi:
https://www.facebook.com/troyboimusic
https://twitter.com/TroyBoiMusic
https://soundcloud.com/troyboi
https://www.instagram.com/troyboi_music
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