An Interview with $avvy

'I like to feel like style, music, and everything is all a part of who I am, and I guess in a sense that's where the aesthetic comes from'

Evan Dale // October 20, 2021

Nashville, Tennessee by way of Huntsville, Alabama by way of Riverside, California, $avvy is nothing if not savvy through the indefinable sound and style he’s crafted via his inescapably broad foundation of influence. The 21-year-old enigma of creative breadth is a product of many places, many sounds, many looks, and many passions. A musician, a rapper, a vocalist; a model and a designer. $avvy at once breathes of a creative maturity and an easy-going youthfulness that leave him in a place to create freely while also doing so with an exactitude of direction. And so early on in his career, the bountiful range he already exudes is sure to continue to bloom. But for now, we speak to him on his roots, his influence, and the depth of his vision.

RNGLDR: Where to even start with $avvy? I suppose where it all began, so, you draw roots from Riverside, California, right?

$avvy: Yes, I was born in Riverside, CA on December 19th, 1999.

RNGLDR: You’ve spoken before on how fellow West Coast super-creative enigma, Tyler, the Creator has been a huge influence on you both in music and in fashion. Can you dive a little more into what his influence has meant to you, to culture at large through your own perspective, and on how we can both hear and see Tyler in the work that you present to the world today?

$avvy: I think that Tyler is an inspiration to us all. He is one of the most influential and creative minds that this world has ever seen. I think the main thing for me is just his drive and attention to detail, and I think that's the main thing that I take away from him. Whenever he wants to do something, he’s gonna get it done. Even if you don’t like it whether it be music, fashion or commercials, whatever it is, you have to respect someone who is creating a world that they want to.

RNGLDR: Speaking on the fashion element of your well-rounded artistry, what does style offer your creative palette that music doesn’t? And how do the two lanes intertwine for you?

$avvy: For me I feel like style is a direct reflection of who you are and things that you like, so I like to feel like style, music, and everything is all a part of who I am, and I guess in a sense that's where the aesthetic comes from. I love certain styles and more than anything I like trying new things that I feel like I wouldn’t or couldn’t pull off. Same with music. I never want anything to be stale.

@303jac

RNGLDR: A great example of how the two lanes have always intersected is the idea of album merchandise. But for you, with the release of your 2021 debut album, Boys Wear Pearls, you took – as you always seem to – a different approach. Shirts, sure, but the idea of dropping a line of album jewelry is a wholly unique direction. Was it a natural derivative of the album title, or something else? And how did the creative process of designing jewelry – especially pieces that are so important to your music – unfold?

$avvy: It was a mix of both. With the album being titled Boys Wear Pearls of course it made sense to have the merch incorporated with the name of the album, but more than anything I wanted to give people something that they would be able to be a part of. And so making pearl friendship bracelets made sense, and I’m thankful and blessed to have a talented team surrounding me so that it was easy to get those produced and given to the fans.

RNGLDR: For those that may not know, talk to us about getting your Boys Wear Pearls bracelet on Tyler, The Creator’s wrist, because it seems like it’s quite a story.

$avvy: Man, that whole experience was just insane. I actually was in New York for a whole other reason and I just happened to check my phone when I was coming back home early that morning from a night of partying, lol. I saw that T was throwing a secret show in Brooklyn. So, I look and I’m like “hey I’m in Brooklyn.” Mind you this is my first time in New York. Long story short, I stood in line for 4 hours, it started raining, hadn’t showered, hadn’t eaten anything. Finally got a ticket, waited another hour for the show to start and when he came out on stage it kinda felt like the world had come to a stop. Later on in the performance I thought to myself “OMG, I NEED TO GET HIM THIS BRACELET.” The kids that were next to me were super cool and helped me get his attention, He looked at me holding the bracelet in the air for like a split second and then he told me to throw it to him. He put it on his wrist, we had a moment where we were screaming “I LOVE YOU” back and forth to each other and the rest is history. He still wears it to this day and I just wonder if he’s ever asked himself wtf does “BWP” mean lol.

@303jac

RNGLDR: Taking it back a bit so we can round out the image of your roots, how does the up-and-coming rapper who got his custom album jewelry around Tyler’s wrist, also have roots in Huntsville, Alabama?

$avvy: I grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and it was there that a lot of my earliest creative sparks started to show.

RNGLDR: What sort of creative scene does Alabama have that we should all be more aware of? And in which ways has that scene helped create your own well-rounded artistry?

$avvy: Huntsville is a rising city in all aspects. It's beautiful to see people making cool shit there because I felt as if the city had nothing to offer me as a creative and that's what prompted the move to Nashville. To go back and perform there is still insane to me every time. There's for sure a scene in Huntsville and if you are unfamiliar let me put you on. @notoutofservice, @mileskwhitmore, @_kourtneyiman, @sincerehunte + @damagedgoods.us are some of my favorite creatives coming out of the city.

RNGLDR: On the subject of influence, you’ve spoken before on how your rangy childhood was soundtracked by soft rock from Cyndi Lauper to Fleetwood Mac, while hip-hop and jazz entered the frame in your early teens and later years. So, if you could work with one artist from each stylistically distinct chapter of your life as a fan of music – one artist from the soft rock days, one from hip-hop, and one from any jazz inspirations you may draw from – who would you want to work with and why?

$avvy: Man, The Police are my favorite band of all time so I would love to work with them. Also Take 6 is another musical group that I grew up listening to so it would be super crazy to work with them. As for jazz I would have to say either Herbie Hancock or Jacob Collier are two of my favorite artists in that genre and I’m interested to see what we would be able to make together.

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RNGLDR: And if, removing yourself from the equation, you could have any two contemporary artists collaborate, who would you want to see working together, and why?

$avvy: Tyler and Smino would be a fire collaboration.

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RNGLDR: What about from in fashion? If you, as someone who deeply cares about style, could work with any brand as either a model or a collaborative designer, who would you choose? Why?

$avvy: It would probably have to be either GOLF or Advisry. Those two brands I feel like always amaze me with their collections. Tyler and Keith pay such huge attention to detail with every collection and I think that that’s something that me as an artist can take inspiration from and apply it to my creative process with music. Huge shoutout to those guys. Also, I think that we would make some crazy shit together.

RNGLDR: And can you speak a little on your own fashion undertaking in the works, Poor Clothing?

$avvy: All I will say is that I've had this idea brewing for a while now and when it's time, it'll be time. POOR IS ON THE WAY!

RNGLDR: And how has modeling shaped your perspective on the always evolving cultural spectrum, from hip-hop to thrifting? How has it allowed you to expand your own creative perspective? And how has your time spent in modeling influenced the direction of the clothes you’re now making?

$avvy: I think the biggest thing with modeling is building relationships actually and I think that that benefits everyone at the point. A lot of times people hire models as just pieces of a certain project and their main thing to do as a model is just to do that. But building an actual relationship with the photographer on set or the designer of the clothes I’m wearing has had more of a lasting effect than just being a part of something cool. Some of my most frequent collaborators and now best friends came from just being on set for a shoot. As far as influence I can say that it taught me how to be a part of someone else’s vision which I think is very important for every creative. To not always have to be the one executing a vision but to be able to be a part of someone else’s process is a very influential moment.

@303jac

RNGLDR: Jumping back to Boys Wear Pearls, first, we just want to say congratulations on releasing such a distinct hip-hop project. And second, we want to ask about the album’s conceptual direction. Musically and thematically, what were the important things you wanted to accomplish with the release of your debut album?

$avvy: The main thing that I remember telling the homies while making this album was that I wanted to make something for everyone. I wanted there to be a song on that project that even if you didn’t like the first two, you’d love the next four. I think we accomplished that, and I say that because my favorite songs on there may not be the next person's favorite songs. I've heard so many different takes on what the best song is so it's hard to say which one was the hit, ya know, but that's a good thing and I’m happy that we could achieve that.

RNGLDR: It’s only 20 minutes, but Boys Wear Pearls really plays like a much longer project. From top to bottom, the album brims with uniquely layered production, addicting hooks, and understated lyricism that is incredibly thought out and nuanced but, delivered with such a mellow, effortless cadence, blends it into the other elements of the music, making it all one, cohesive composition. What do you think it is about your studio presence that lends itself to such an easy-going delivery?

$avvy: Man, I record in a space that I feel like I can be myself and I think that's so important. A lot of times I’ll go to studio sessions in these huge studios with hella people in it and I’m always so interested in how people record in these places, because a lot of times it honestly feels so intimidating, lol. So I like to be in a place where if I need to jump, use a funny voice, or just any spontaneous or crazy idea I may have, I wanna be sure I’m in a place where I feel like I can do that and the studio I record at emits that feeling for sure. Big shoutout to Hank & Ohdee for opening the doors for me. Forever grateful.

RNGLDR: Also, having seen you perform, we know that you bring an insane amount of energy to the stage. So, what do you think it is about yourself that makes for such iconic, explosive live performances? And how do your energies differ between the studio and the stage?

$avvy: I think that it's just all genuine energy. I just get a rush when I see the crowd. The more people the more energy I get honestly, lol. I feel like the hulk or something, lol, but nah, I also think that when you have the team that I have a lot of times it feels like I’m not even on stage. Like it's just us at the crib or something jumping around and then I remember, ‘oh yeah people are here.’ I think my energy is kinda the same in the studio as well. Just pure, natural, good fun energy, lol.

RNGLDR: We saw your set at Deep Tropics this Summer, and needless to say, it was a show. On a festival stage that put on a display for the wide-ranging Nashville hip-hop scene on the rise, what did the two-day festival mean to the scene? And as an important part of that scene, where do you think it’s all headed?

$avvy: I think that it means a lot. Not being from Nashville I can still sense that this festival and festivals alike are a big thing for the city. That's why we were so stoked when we found out we would be playing the show. I think that it's just a glimpse of what’s to come in Nashville as a scene and a city.

RNGLDR: On Boys Wear Pearls, you had the chance to collaborate with a few of Nashville’s most prominent rising hip-hop figures. How was it to work with Chuck Indigo and Brian Brown? What can you say about their own music? And who else in the Nashville scene do you want to collaborate with in the near future?

$avvy: Dude, huge fans of both of those guys. Brown and Chuck are like family and I have a genuine relationship with both of them. Really good dudes always shedding wisdom and showing love to me as well as the team. It means a lot and I’m just so thankful that they along with other creatives in the scene accepted us as newcomers in this shit, man. As far as people who I would love to work with in the future they know exactly who they are, lol, I’m always gonna reach out whenever I’m a genuine fan of something.