Surface Grey
I came across Surface Grey when I was doing a write up about Seth Sutch from Houston Texas and I just so happened to come across Surface Grey's music which I found he makes a variety a different sounding music that definitely stands out in this day and age with so many artist sounding alike. Not just a artist and a songwriter but also a producer and the futuristic vibes he gives are bound to take him far in the music industry if he keeps his foot on the gas. His style ranges from Hip-hop to R&B, Pop, Electronic, & Alternative. Starting his musical journey as a freestyle artist Grey quickly realized he should take his music a step further and that’s exactly what he did with multiple projects in his catalog “Overcast” and “Rythem & Greys” are good representations of just how talented he is. He also has a project filled with just beats he produced called “Perfected Timing” with the concept behind each instrumental being about time itself and how us as humans believe time is so valuable but we waste time at the same time. Although Surface Grey is unique in his own way he kind of reminds me of a independent artist from San Diego who i’ve highlighted on here before named Dre Trav.
Surface Grey had a chat with me so his fans and The Creators Room could get to know who Surface is as a artist. So I would like to Welcome you Surface Grey to The Creators Room its a pleasure to have you. Where are u from? When did u start making music? Tell us a lil bit about yourself and how u grew up to love music.
▪︎ I’m from the great city of Houston, Texas. I’ve really been around music all my life from being in choir at church to free styling all the time as a kid cause that’s just Houston culture, but I started to take it serious in 2020 during the pandemic after I group I was in kind of disbanded it allowed me to put all my effort into myself as an artist and focus on my craft. I grew up pretty much like any other kid pretty good childhood for the most part my mom was in the whip jamming Neo Soul Yunno Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, etc, my pops was putting me on to like Jay-Z, Kanye West, The Game, and 50 Cent. My stepdad was where I got my underground hip hop roots he showed me J Dilla, Madlib, Dead Prez, and other greats. All whilst, my stepmom was playing Pop like Nelly Furtado, Fergie, etc. so I was pretty well rounded in my music taste.
How did u come up with you're stage name, Surface Grey? And what does it mean?
▪︎ I love this question. SURFACE GREY is just a flip on the term Gray Area right. I rap, sing, produce, song-write, DJ, and even ghostwrite (iykyk lol), so the term Gray Area means to be involved in everything and I feel like I’m the gray area of music. Area means the same as surface, so I just put that in front and changed gray to grey to give it a little flair and l that’s how I got my name lol
How do u feel about signing to a record label as opposed to staying independent?
▪︎ I’m not one of those people who are anti record label I feel like you have to give to gain sometimes and I know just that I have a good lawyer, so I know I won’t sign anything crazy. Yes I may have to give up some of my catalog or so but if that label is able to catapult me to my highest level of popularity and success it’ll be worth it then from that point you can be independent or even start your own level. For me it makes sense cause I’m a person who’s really about the music I kinda hate having to do everything else a label does as an independent artist like I’m my own booking agent, I’m my own manager at times, and more. However, I do understand those who’d like to remain independent because when it does work it can pay off big and all that money will be going back to you and your team versus other people having their hand in the pot. Honestly you just have to know what you’re getting into and have a good lawyer, so you can know exactly what you’re doing.
How do u feel u stand out from you're peers in your city?
▪︎ I stand out from my peers in the city cause I’m really just different lol 😹 but nah seriously I feel like we’ve had great artists, great producers, great songwriters, and so forth but not a person who was great in all. I really want to be just as much as Pharrell/Timbaland behind the boards as much as I want to be Lil Wayne/Kendrick/J Cole with the bars you know. Just as much as I want to be those I want to be The Dream/Babyface when songwriting for others. I feel that’s how I stand out from my peers plus I just am one of one with my ear I feel like not too many people have the ear for unique production and are lyrical as I am either. A lot of my bars go over Howard but it’s okay hopefully people catch on eventually 😂
Tell us about other interest u have outside of music.
▪︎ Many people don’t know this but I actually have a degree in film like I legit took scriptwriting class in college and have whole movie ideas in my notes. I want to kind of Donald Glover my way into the entertainment industry in a sense with like after I gain my status in the music industry I’d love to go on to make movies and even write for shows. I love writing, so I’d def love to get into that I don’t even have to be in front of the camera (even though that would be cool too).
Who or what influenced you to make music. What influenced you're sound?
▪︎ I’ll never forget being a young jit watching 106 & Park and I saw the video for Pharrell “Frontin,” come on and I immediately knew that I wanted to do music. That video changed my life for real. The smoothness and elegance but still so dope and cool. I’d def say Pharrell prolly my biggest influence sound wise well not just Pharrell cause that’ll be slighting Chad Hugo who is a legend as well. So The Neptunes as a whole, J Dilla as well for production for real; the rhythms that man could make was just insane. Kanye as well I always loved how he would make anything rhyme by just how he said his words, another goat as well for production. Slant rhyming extraordinare. Lil Wayne prolly my hugest influence rapping tho. Kendrick, Smino,, Drake, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T, lol I really could go all day 🤣 I love music. PARTYNEXTDOOR as well for rnb and songwriting I always loved his pen. Timbaland rnb beats I will argue anybody all day are harder than his rap stuff.
What's next for Surface Grey? New album? Shows? Collabs?
▪︎ I’ve got a lot in store I’m sitting on 5 projects right now. My more than likely next project will be my production project. I actually started off just producing at first cause I didn’t feel ready yet as an artist to drop, so I’m getting back to my roots with this next production project and this time instead of focusing on one genre like I did with my first project I’m spreading the wealth so you’ll hear some house, rnb, hip hop, and more. And that’s just for this year the projects I have as an artist in line for next year are going to be some of my best work for real. As far as shows I def will have some shows in the city but particularly for the projects I have next year I want to tour across the country like major markets such as L.A, New York, and Atlanta. I actually have a huge collaboration with one of my favorite rappers and a legend in my eyes on my upcoming production project I can’t wait for people to see and hear but till then y’all be sure to keep listening to Rhythm & Greys on all platforms right now and The Greyprint which is on my Bandcamp!.
What is one thing that u had to overcome this far along you're journey? And what did u do to overcome it?
▪︎ I definitely had to overcome the fear of failing because really I realize to me what making it is just being able to comfortably live off money from music and being able to do what you love everyday. Now sure I have Grammy aspirations and want to sell out shows, perform in arenas, etc. but as long as the music is doing it’s job reaching the people and they’re receiving it & I’m able to pay the bills I’d be okay for real. I overcame this fear by just realizing how bless a person is if they can literally just wake up and they’re clocking in is creating art every day. That’s such an underrated blessing because I know so many people with jobs they hate and despise but do it to feed themselves
What message do u want to give to you're fans through ur music?
▪︎ I want to spread love and positivity through y music. Show people yeah you can be a person who’s turnt up in a club on a week day but you’re still that same person who’s at the food bank feeding those less unfortunate or spending time talking to kids that you don’t have to be hard or gangster to be cool bsing yourself is what’s cool. Also, at the same time I want to encourage those who do come from a tough background that your environment doesn’t define you and it’s other ways to be successful. People think you always have to be the rapper to make it nah man you can be a successful A&R, recording engineer, etc. Still being involved with music.
Are u looking for mgmt?
▪︎ I def am looking for management like I told y’all earlier in truly an artists artist I like to just focus on the music I’ll do like my cover art and help make music videos with having the vision for it. Other than that, I can’t stand being my own manager as well like I need people who have the resources and know what they’re doing when it comes to managing for real.
Who do u look up too in the music scene in you're city and why
▪︎ I’d say in my city I’d definitely say I look up to a Travis Scott cause I saw him early like I can vividly remember when Owl Pharoah dropped and just the superstardom he’s embarked on since then is crazy. I’d say Megan too like I remember when she did this cypher while she was still at Prarie View and ate everybody up to her now just being the star she is. On an underrated tip I mess with D-Pat of Sonder as well too he doesn’t get mentioned much cause people rarely know or forget he’s from Houston but he’s very artistic like the visuals he puts together for those Sonder short films are amazing and that man is also an outstanding producer. Maxo Kream is another I was jamming his tape QuiccStrikes like everyday in middle school and now to see him branch out be at Roc Nation and everything now that’s mad dope. Shout out to Don Tolliver, Khruangbin (one of my favorite bands Fr), and all the other dope artists from the city too I really rock with anybody out the H trying to make it happen with music cause it ain’t easy Fr.
