High energy production, infectious flows, and animated ad-libs: the three key ingredients that a signature SoFaygo song can't live without. It doesn't matter what direction a song goes, the platinum-selling artist is always looking to ensure it has the spark that brings the listener up. "It doesn't matter what type of song it is, even if you listen to some of my slower music, like 'Everyday', the beat is still high energy."
In this exclusive EARMILK interview, SoFaygo is out with the Cactus Jack family in London, soaking in the city and the fashion. The collective is more alive than ever, following their Summer Smash performance in Chicago last month. According to the Atlanta-bred rapper, the performance is just a warmup for the family, signifying the beginning of them dropping new music for the next few months. Speaking for himself, he's off to a great start, already on his third release of the year.
His latest single, "Precision," is an octane-filled spacey track featuring labelmate Don Toliver. The track also highlights SoFaygo adding more versatility to his music. In this current era of his musical career, he's focusing more on taking more artistic leaps to take his sound to the next level.
"As far as where I want to take my music sonically, I really want to take things up a notch, production-wise… It plays a huge part and I'm figuring out ways to take my original sound and use it in different ways just to make crazier music."
While his music is known to carry melodic elements deriving from early influences like Chris Brown and Usher, the "Knock Knock" songwriter has spent years leaning deeper into a punk sound, becoming inspired in recent years by rock bands like The Ramones and Blondie. "I'm a young rock star," he says. "I want to give off that same vibe, but I want to do it my own way. I want to give them the melodies, the grungy voice, the hard energy."
Far more inspired and revitalized than ever, SoFaygo announces that he's currently working on the sequel to his 2019 debut mixtape, War. He also confirms the project will mark his second full-length album, one that he instantly shows excitement when discussing the process. It marks a full circle moment for him also, as the album holds a lot of personal meaning. He says it holds so much significance because "every day you wake up, it's a new battle and a new challenge. Are you choosing to win or are you choosing to lose?"
While the 22-year-old rapper says the details are scarce around the project for now, he looks to have it ready for a release before 2024 ends and it can contain "16 to 18 tracks". As SoFaygo has his sights set on sticking to his plans for the year, he also reassures that he's in no rush and ready to let the process run its course.
"Nothing is overnight. Even when it comes to me and how long I've been dropping music. I'm just starting the become the performer and artist that I am and I know that I still have a long way to go. I still have more stuff to learn, so my mind is always open."
