Exclusive Interview with NEEPZ

Neepz, who is from the birthplace of Calypso, Soca, and the Steelpan, is a promising new performer who also doubles as a DJ and producer. Neepz was raised in a community that proudly honors its history of dance and music. He was born in Delaford, Tobago. He attributes his own music’s development to the sounds and riddims of his native country, citing influential Hip Hop artists like Nas and Wu Tang Clan as well as legendary Caribbean musicians like Ras Shorty I, Mighty Sparrow, and Lord Kitchener.
A classic Reggae/Hip Hop “mixtape” and the one-of-a-kind Electronic Caribbean Hip Hop/Pop single “MI TREASURE,” which won “Best Pop Video” at Chicago’s 2015 XMAs, were Neepz’s first releases after joining 1440 Entertainment in Los Angeles in 2012. Additionally, Neepz has worked with his brother Nick Arthur on the upbeat, feel-good Groovy Soca song “ROAD CALLIN’ WE!” as well as Najashi of the Dread Daze band on the reggae releases “SURROUND DEM” and “READY TO UNITE [LION PAW]” that have conscious messages for the public.
His love is reggae, his soul is soca, his generation is hip hop, and his vibration is electronic! Neepz wants to express himself through his music and share the messages he writes with the world.

Neepz made the trip from Los Angeles to his native Trinidad & Tobago to work on the song ‘Soul Steady Rock’ with Kabasi , one of the most well-known musicians there who is presently battling stage-4 cancer. The chorus was written and sung by Neepz with Kabasi on his mind. Kabasi immediately linked to record it as a group after giving it a listen and fell in love. You’ll want to move and groove to the beat of these modern Reggae Rockers because the song has an upbeat, jovial Caribbean vibe. People will want to listen to this song repeatedly. Check out the song and the exclusive interview with Neepz below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

NEEPZ: I grew up in a small seaside village called King’s Bay, Delaford on the island of Tobago. My family attended church in a small nearby town called Roxborough where my sister, brother and I discovered a love for singing. We had a children’s cassette tape given to us, that of course as kids, we all loved to sing over and over. One Sunday, our parents set us up to perform the song in front of the whole church and they loved it. That was my first introduction to being in front of an audience. As we got older, we began listening to rap from artists like KRS One, Nas, and NWA. My Aunt Annette in New York sent a boombox with some of her favorite records exposing us to even more Hip Hop and R&B. So, it was on. I was the beatboxer while my brother and cousins freestyled. My brother Nick and I eventually started deejaying and built a home studio after we moved from our childhood village to the other, more populated, side of the island. The dancehall movement was big at this time, and we started recording ourselves and other artists in the area, creating our own group of collaborators we called “Ascention”. This developed into a unique art form and sound that would transcend time. The rest was history.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

NEEPZ: I am self-taught. My brother Nick and I would do research and study YouTube videos. When one of us learned a new thing, we would then teach the other.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘NEEPZ’?

NEEPZ: I listened and learned from many artists such as Nas, Snoop Dogg, Sizzla Kalonji, Garnet Silk, and Ras Shorty I. The name Neepz is derived from a nickname my friends called me. My full name is Neepaul and they shortened it to call me, “Neeps”. So, I decided to write it with a ‘z’. At first, I hyphenated it as “Neep-Z”, but as time went on, I dropped the hyphen.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

NEEPZ: Well, I try to input positivity in all my records no matter the genre. I also try to bring across a feel-good vibe that resonates through the ages, young and old. I want to present a new and unique sound that can be internationally accepted and celebrated. My sound is a mixture of Dancehall, Reggae, Soca, and Pop, with a touch of EDM and Hip Hop.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as Soca Dance Reggae Pop?

NEEPZ:

Growing up listening to West Coast rap and artists like The Wu Tang Clan played a pivotal role in my musical influence. I learned and recited full rap songs and Hip-hop influenced R&B tunes. Soca, Dancehall, and Reggae were already naturally a part of my Caribbean culture, playing everywhere all day. My brother and I used to DJ and collect music so we were exposed to a large variety of musical genres. Organically I fused all these musical elements together to create a sound of my own.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

NEEPZ:

I try to be conscious of the musical content I put out. We all have a responsibility, even as artists, to work to make the world a better place. Music is spiritual whether one realizes it or not. Music will be forever social, political, cultural, and at the same time an expression of one’s personal narrative, personal creativity, phases in life, current situations, emotional battles, and technical artistry, as well as a coping mechanism for the artist and the listener.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

NEEPZ:

It can get frustrating. Music is a business, and it is also a pleasure. Everything I put out, I put out from the heart. My label, 1440 Entertainment, and I are currently in the process of making music work for us. With every accomplishment, a lot of hard work goes into it, and we just hope that the masses enjoy the creations as much as we do.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

NEEPZ:

First I come up with an idea for a song and will have the chorus already written in my head. Then I’ll have an idea of the rhythm that I think should go with it. I’ll go to producers that I’m familiar with and get an instrumental that best fits my idea. Once I have a good base, I’ll record the chorus and then I fill in the blanks so to speak with the verses. Often writing, then rewriting them ‘til I’m happy with what I’ve created. A lot of my collaborations come after I’ve recorded a chorus and then played it for another artist, who then wants to be a part of the vibes.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

NEEPZ: Thus far, I would say the most difficult thing in my music career is just being an independent artist on an independent label, fighting to find a place to be heard amongst the “giants”.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

NEEPZ: It was a great feeling when one of my first music videos, we released back in 2015 for a song called, “Mi Treasure”, won an award for the Best Pop Music Video at an indie music awards ceremony. We got a trophy for it, and at that moment I realized I should never be discouraged about doing music. The song was well accepted and has since had two movie placements, one at the beginning of a movie starring Eric Roberts. Hearing your song played in a movie is really cool.

11. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

NEEPZ: It’s really hard to ignore what’s been said about you. I haven’t had a whole lot of hate that I can’t recall. There are times when people leave comments and I wonder should I even bother. But the love always overcomes the hate.

12. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

NEEPZ: I think both environments do, because it excites me to create something new and it also excites me to perform that record live and feel the energy in the room.

13. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

NEEPZ: I think that people should be free to process, interpret, enjoy, translate, apply, and absorb any creation that I release, hoping that the message received is close to the message intended. If they’re interested in how that song came to be, they can search me out and find the answer.