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The Louisiana born, Los Angeles based artist CLIFTUN has finally released his brand new mixtape, WHERE IS MY MIND? this past Monday. If you have never heard of this guy, you must be fucking up. CLIFTUN is a prime example of experimental rap succeeds by pushing the envelope and doing what you want to do, not by whats expected . He also created a very well crafted video to help the project come to life by chronicling his whereabouts for the last year or so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PbE4kkFEIo
With this new project, this is CLIFTUN putting entire essence into his craft by creating a project full of vitrol and his demented imagination. WHERE IS MY MIND? finds the left handed middle child rap artist 6 years later still coping with his father’s murder away from his family in Louisiana and seeking comfort on the party scenes of Los Angeles. A journey in which he loses his mind in the hopes of finding it again, approaching his 27th birthday he realizes he didn’t want to end up like some of his artistic role models i.e. by letting his vices and depression get the better of him. His ability to blend styles and genres is in rare form on this project as he spills his creative guts over dark trap, blues, classic hip hop, rock and grunge inspired rap beats with an abstract, imaginative, smart and gritty flow. WHERE IS MY MIND? is intelligently raw. A unique, conceptualized piece of relatable storytelling, a thrilling ride from beginning to end. Something like a movie. A must listen.
With the release of this new project, it was a must to have a conversation with the talented young artist about some of his thoughts that went into creating the mixtape.
EARMILK: What were some of your inspirations for this project and video?
CLIFTUN: 90’s GRUNGE, TECHNOLOGY, SOME MEMBERS OF THE 27 CLUB, PSYCHOLOGY, DOCUMENTARIES, LOS ANGELES, MENTAL ILLNESS, SELF HELP, POP CULTURE, DEATH, THE INTERNET, REBIRTH, CHRISTIANITY, THE NEWS AND HOW IT ALL RELATES TO MY OWN LIFE.
EM: What is it like knowing that your project is finally out?
CT: IT’S LIKE THERAPY. GETTING BACK UP AND SHOWING OFF YOUR SCARS AND BRUISES TO THE WORLD. A WEIGHT IS LIFTED AND I FEEL REBORN AND STRONG.
EM: How has the feedback been so far?
CT: NO BULLSHIT. PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT. APPARENTLY IT’S ONE OF THOSE TAPES YOU CAN PLAYBACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IT’S BEEN MAD LOVE AND RELATIONS TO THE MUSIC AND THE VIDEO. SOME CONFUSION TOO. I’M HAPPY.
EM: Now that the project is out, what is next for you?
CT: NEXT I’M GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD MUSICALLY AND KEEP GROWING IN MY ARTISTRY. LISTEN TO MORE OF THE BLUES, RELEASE A BOOK OF POEMS AND DRAWINGS, GROW OLDER, DROP AN EP IN FEBRUARY, PLAY AT SXSW AND TRAVEL THE WORLD MAKING MUSIC WITH SQUAD THIQ.
Check out the full project above and be on the look out for our full review of the project soon.
Connect with CLIFTUN: Twitter / Facebook / Soundcloud
