We sat down with fleetwood huey to break down home, heartache, and headaches on a journey half a decade deep.
“Track Review,” is a bit of a misnomer since there isn’t an actual “review,” with a rating. Rather it’s a way for me to feature some of my favorite tracks with an added two cents from my end. And this ones a long time coming. During the tail end of the Ave, we had the chance to sit down, and break down his artistic journey. It’s been nearly two years since, and with that article in the wind, and a thousand moments in-between, this feels like the right way for our first article to come out.
As Fleetwood’s been crafting tracks as long as he’s known how to write, with more under FOREVERHOME, then some have in their entire careers. He calls Fleetwood, Surrey home. A capital of migrants from its very inception, the region remains cosmopolitan to its core to this very day.
A facet reiterated a dozen times over within Huey’s own kaleidoscope of genres, and soundscapes he cruises through. Combined with his penchant for wordplay and a decade-long bid to master his cadence, Fleet’s tempered his skills all the further. And so, without further adieu, “Headaches,” with Fleetwood Huey.
LOVE AGAIN” INTERTWINES A MELANCHOLIC MESSAGE WITH A CHILLHOP BEAT. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH HOW YOU CRAFTED THIS UNIQUE SOUNDSCAPE? DID THE EMOTIONAL CORE OF THE LYRICS INSPIRE THE INSTRUMENTAL, OR DID THE BEAT SPARK THE LYRICAL THEMES?
I enter every songwriting process with an open mind and ear. I let the production lead in the process, like a dance. When I first heard the beat for “Headache”, I couldn’t help but hum the melody for the hook. I kept repeating the refrain “ cause you know i gotta chase it”. It was during a time where I was doing deep reflections into my personal and professional life. The energetic and melancholic vibe of the beat felt really personal to me at that time.
YOUR MUSIC, LIKE “HEADACHES,” SEEMS TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN EFFORTLESS FLOW AND COMPLEX LYRICISM. CAN YOU SHARE ANY PRACTICES OR EXPERIENCES THAT HELPED YOU DEVELOP THIS SEEMINGLY EFFORTLESS APPROACH TO YOUR CRAFT?
I think the nature of my lyrics and flow is mostly due to my time listening to punk rock, 90/00’s rap and my love for drama and improv in highschool. I came into rapping through freestyling at lunch with the homies. Since I was really good on my feet from improv, I would be able to turn a mistake into a flow switch or cadence flip.
From rock artists like “Rise Against”, “Linkin Park” and “Three Days Grace”. The lyrics I grew up listening to were very grim, poetic, triumphant and vulnerable. Artists like “ Kendrick Lamar”, “Isaiah Rashad” and “J Cole”, showed me that you can push hip hop to new ideas. With a song like “Headache”, and really any song I make, my first priority in my verse is flow. I can write the wittiest and clever bars, but if it isn’t delivered in an interesting way, then its message gets buried.
MANY FANS DISCOVER NEW ARTISTS THROUGH THEIR HOMETOWN CONNECTIONS. HOW HAS BEING A SURREY-BASED ARTIST IMPACTED YOUR JOURNEY, AND HOW DO YOU WANT TO REPRESENT YOUR CITY ON A LARGER SCALE?
Honestly i did not know how i felt about representing more than just myself. Even though my hometown is in my name, it still feels a little trippy. I love my city and the experiences I’ve had in Fleetwood is the core of my inspiration. I feel like growing up, the rap scene in surrey felt intimidating and not very unified. My goal is to create an integrated network for artists of all genres in my hometown. I want a community that supports each other’s goals and dreams.
It sounds very idealistic but i am a wishful thinker. After visiting places outside my city, i think the only that’s stopping us is pride. If we can connect and create our own market in surrey/van it would make independent art more sustainable. Not only that but when the outside world see’s that market, the industry is going to be forced to tap into BC. I do want to give credit and recognition to the people that are working so hard to make it happen today. Like BEATCAVE, PALM ST STUDIOS, PHANTOM SOUND MEDIA, COUCH JAMS and so many more.
WITH “HEADACHES” BEING SUCH A STRONG OPENING, CAN YOU GIVE US A HINT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF MUSIC WE CAN EXPECT TO HEAR FROM YOU FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR? WILL IT BE A FULL ALBUM, AN EP, OR A SERIES OF SINGLES?
This year I’m doing more showing than telling, just so I can keep my focus on executing these next steps. However I do want to say that this year I dedicated all my releases and milestones to the people that have stayed with me throughout the years, and put their chips on me. This year is the cash out for them. This is going to be the best year to become a part of the FLTWD family. Everyone eats.
Photos courtesy of John Stolzle