AliveQuan, "NO FOLLOWER SHYT"
AliveQuan is a fully self-produced underground musician based in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a small town located just outside of Pittsburgh. “Every beat of every song I've ever made is produced by me.”
In an exclusive interview with RSO Underground, AliveQuan shares insight into his latest project, “NO FOLLOWER SHYT”, saying, “it’s all about rejecting people who are cowards and followers who do everything the teachers and the government tell them.”
Alive Quan has held a burning passion for music production since early childhood. His beat-making journey began at only 5 years old, when he first began to create instrumentals on a toy keyboard. Eventually, his process evolved with the addition of his phone & the wide range of software available on the internet.
Using an Android app, AliveQuan would create drum patterns, setting the tempo as he played the synths. “When I started making music, it was only instrumentals recorded off of an android phone using a toy keyboard, and they sounded horrible.”
These early beats from AliveQuan were posted to his SoundCloud pages until 2018, the year he discovered the professional program “FL Studio”. This forever marked a turning point in his music career. “It's what I still use for making beats today.”
With clear improvements in the audio quality, and a dynamic range of new tools and plug-ins available to experiment with, AliveQuan explains how FL Studio opened his mind to new creative processes. “The sound got a lot better. I learned to structure beats and songs. I learned how to make hooks, verses, bridges, make hi-hat rolls, and all types of new cool shit.”
“NO FOLLOWER SHYT”is a 13-track project that stands as AliveQuan’s 7th full-length album, topping off his discography that began with the 10-track debut album, “1nt3rn3t W0rld”, dropped on January 20th, 2022.
The artist describes “NO FOLLOWER SHYT” as “Dark, Energetic, (and) Spiritual”, going on to explain that he “hope(s) this (project) makes people question authority, make them think about a higher power, and make them want to expand their minds.” AliveQuan adds that Ideally, fans will be listening to this project in a “dark room or alley”.
AliveQuan’s musical style was heavily inspired by Young Chop, the producer behind many iconic tracks from Cheif Keef, including "Love Sosa" and "I Don't Like”. Quan admits that his favorite aspect of “NO FOLLOWER SHYT” is, “the beat selection and the song 'IDONTLIKEU'.”
He found some local influences and an early creative community in his small hometown of Coraopolis, PA, but says, “Some people used to rap, but they all stopped or grew up or some shit.”
For “NO FOLLOWER SHYT”, Quan went searching in a new direction for influences. For the first time in his discography, AliveQuan found that his key ideas were sparked by experiences and artwork outside of the music scene. “I learned that you can be inspired for music not just by other rappers but by real-life experiences, books, and other things.”
“NO FOLLOWER SHYT” notably draws inspiration from, “Books like ‘IT’ and ‘The Dark Tower Drawing Of The Three’ by Stephen King. Also the punk band ‘Black Flag’.”
When asked about his creation process, AliveQuan explains, “I make the beat, and when it's done, I record. None of what I record is written. I just come up with it as I go; any mistakes I make, I record over… I didn't have any idea in mind, but as I started making this project, it came together and evolved into the final product."
"NO FOLLOWER SHYT" opens with 'IDONTLIKEU', before transitioning to 'IWasGoingCrazy', 'Rise Up', 'ShutYoMouthUp2', 'YKBIDGNS', 'Time To Attack', 'SCREAM', 'They Can't Stop Us', 'That Day', 'Don’t Let No One Say You Ain’t On', 'Freestyle', 'Yo F*cker', and AliveQuan concludes the project with the finale track, 'AllTheseMfsKnow'.
In an exclusive interview with RSO Underground, AliveQuan discusses his childhood experiences falling in love with music production, dives into his new SoundCloud/Youtube exclusive "NO FOLLOWER SHYT" album, along with sharing a message to the world, saying, "Never give up at something you love doing. If you're bad at it, you'll get better. Stop caring what people think. Don't make something for views and plays; make something that has meaning to you, and other like-minded people will end up listening to it."
RSO Underground Interview with AliveQuan
Who are you?
I'm from Coraopolis PA from a small town near Pittsburgh. There's really no music scene that I know about. Some people used to rap, but they all stopped or grew up or some shit.
Why did you get into the music/creative industry?
I started making beats when I was younger on a first act child's toy keyboard that I had since I was 5. I used to use a drum app on my phone for the drums while I played the synth and recorded it. I used to put them on SoundCloud. I discovered FL Studio and used it for the first time in 2018, and it's what I still use for making beats today.
Who and what inspires you?
Chief Keef and Young Chop are probably my biggest inspirations for making music/beats. I used to watch the interviews and documentaries where they showed how Young Chop was making beats for Chief Keef, and it made me want to try it for myself. The album by Chief Keef "Nobody" has some of the hardest beats, and that was a big factor in making me want to make music.
Do you have any stories of your artistic journey to share?
When I started making music, it was only instrumentals recorded off of an android phone using a toy keyboard, and they sounded horrible. As time went on, I got better equipment (FL Studio) and the sound got a lot better. I learned to structure beats and songs. I learned how to make hooks, verses, bridges, make hi-hat rolls, and all types of new cool shit.
What song/project are you currently promoting and what is the story behind it?
The Album I'm currently promoting is called NO FOLLOWER SHYT, and it's all about rejecting people who are cowards and followers who do everything the teachers and the government tell them.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Every beat of every song I've ever made is produced by me.
Where can we find your music and art?
SoundCloud and YouTube. I have a song on Spotify.
What is your message to the world?
Never give up at something you love doing. If you're bad at it, you'll get better. Stop caring what people think. Don't make something for views and plays; make something that has meaning to you, and other like-minded people will end up listening to it.
"NO FOLLOWER SHYT" QUESTIONS
Describe the project in 3 words.
Dark, Energetic, Spiritual
What influenced you to create this project?
Books like "IT" and "The Dark Tower Drawing Of The Three" by Stephen King. Also the punk band Black Flag.
What is your typical writing process for tracks/ What made the creation process for this project unique?
I make the beat, and when it's done, I record. None of what I record is written. I just come up with it as I go; any mistakes I make, I record over.
What emotions or lessons do you hope listeners take away from the project?
I hope this makes people question authority, make them think about a higher power, and make them want to expand their minds.
What did you learn during the creation process?
I learned that you can be inspired for music not just by other rappers but by real-life experiences, books, and other things.
How did the final product differ and evolve from your initial idea?
I didn't have any idea in mind, but as I started making this project, it came together and evolved into the final product.
Do you have any promotional materials for the project (music videos, graphics, artwork, etc.)? Who was involved in creating those?
I am going to work on music videos for this project in the future. The front and back of the album cover are made by me.
How does this project fit with the rest of your discography?
This is my 7th full-length album.
What is next in your creative journey?
I'm going to continue releasing singles for a while, and they'll all be produced by me.
What is your favorite part(s) of the project?
The beat selection and the song "IDONTLIKEU".
In what vibe or situation do you imagine people listening to this project?
Dark room or alley
Where and when can we find the project?
On SoundCloud and YouTube
NO FOLLOWER SHYT on SoundCloud
AliveQuan - NO FOLLOWER SHYT (FULL ALBUM) ALL BEATS PROD BY ALIVEQUAN (Isn't that crazy???)
Check out AliveQuan Everywhere!
"NO FOLLOWER SHYT" on SoundCloud