Fresh out of his hometown of Boston to his new home in LA, we present Caye, a rising artist that is truly showing and proving his worth with his positive vibes and feel good blend of Jazz and Hip-Hop. So far, this 19-year-old college student has given listeners two projects — one is an EP titled Day Trips and another is a full project titled Shades Pt. 1. Each project touches on many different topics of his life, ultimately showing growth in the young talented artist as he pushes forward with his career. Caye comes to the music world with a wealth of knowledge, which plays as an advantage as he and his close friends (any of whom can be seen with him at live events) continue to soak up game.
As of recently, I had the chance to catch up with this talented producer/rapper during a show held in New York to discuss his come up and how he started. After speaking with him, I soon realized that we can expect to see so much from this artist in the upcoming years. Without any holdup, get to know Boston’s Caye below.
RESPECT.: What’s up and how’s your trip to NYC so far ?
NYC has been incredible. I can see my lifelong dream developing before my eyes. Every meeting and outing seems to be bringing me closer and closer to my goal.
RESPECT.: Starting from the beginning what was it like for you coming up in Boston ? Did you always know you wanted to do music ?
Growing up, music was always one of the two biggest things in my life. It was always music and sports for me, tennis in particular. I was named after Bob Marley’s album “Kaya” and grew up listening to his music. When I was three years old, my parents signed me up for classical piano lessons. When I was 10 I decided it was time to move from piano to drum set and start practicing rhythms and different genres, such as rock, reggae, hip hop and jazz. When I was 13, I picked up the steel pans and started producing. Three years after that I started writing, singing and rapping. During my sophomore of high school, I really started taking off in both tennis and music. It was that year when I decided I had to choose one of the two if I really wanted to excel and succeed, so I chose music for various reasons. I always knew music was going to be a large part of my life but it wasn’t until I was about 16 when I knew I had to do music.
RESPECT.: What were some of the things that encouraged you to start recording and producing music? Tell us who were some of the artists that inspired you in the beginning as a producer and rapper?
There were two people in my life that influenced me to start producing, my cousin, TJ, and one of my best friends, D dub. We all started producing together about 6 years ago. At the time, EDM artists like deadmau5 and Avicii influenced me. As time went on, I grew out of my EDM phase and started making more experimental music which then came full circle and turned into genre-fusion hip hop. Once I found the direction I wanted to go in, I began writing lyrics and recording vocals.
RESPECT.: Since your 2016 LP Shades Pt 1 and the breakout the single and self produced track Coma for you what’s been the biggest change for you as an artist and What was the process like for you building your growing following?
I always made the type of music that I was into. Whether that was jazz, reggae, or hip-hop, I would just try and copy my biggest influences. For me, shades pt 1 was a “find my sound” EP. I experimented with many different genres on that project and now I feel I have a better understanding of what my sound is. Now, I try and make the type of music that I want to hear more of. I think the world needs more of the sound I am trying to create, whether it be me who makes it or someone else, I want to hear more of it. Coma really fire started other people’s belief in me. I always knew I was going find a way to get my music heard. I won’t sleep until I succeed at something I want to succeed in, that’s how I live, but Coma was the song that made my friends and family think I actually had a shot.
RESPECT.: So you just played Webster Hall alongside Allegory & Johnny Drama, What was that like for you was this your first show in NYC? So far whats been your favorite moment while performing?
That was really incredible being able to play for a NY crowd. It’s always nice to get in front of a Boston crowd and have everyone chanting my name and knowing every lyric, but there’s something special about performing for a brand new crowd. I almost feel like they listen more intently, judging every lyric and every note. There’s nothing like it when a new crowd hardly applauds after the first song, but after 4 or 5 songs you have their minds and hearts.
RESPECT.: Overall what is the general message you want to give to your listener as you grow as an artist and move forward with your career. What more can we expect to see you from you in the near future?
I want them to be able to listen to my music after a long day, or while going through a hard time and be able to lighten up, relax and look on the bright side. I have an album, “Pink Tree Paradise” coming in the next few months, along with multiple videos and singles. I will also be performing all over this fall so keep an eye out for Caye.
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