Enchanted Future is Bullish on Elevating PFPs
Multitalented creator Enchanted Future discusses breaking the mold with his new PFP project, the “Bull Run Crew” — fusing a passion for art, music and NFTs.
On April 27, artist and music producer Enchanted Future will unleash 10,000 raging bulls on the Crypto.com NFT platform. In this “running of the bulls,” however, the cattle won’t stampede — instead, they will dance. A collaboration with The NFT Agency, “Bull Run Crew” differs from most popular profile picture (PFP) projects in a couple of noticeable ways: the NFTs are both 3D animated and set to original music, depicting colorfully dressed, full-body boogieing bulls.
“I wanted to create a PFP collection, but was disappointed by the lack of creativity that I saw in the space. Most projects seemed to be copies of other projects.”
Future is a platform veteran, having made his Crypto.com NFT debut last August. Titled “Ancient Relics From the Future,” the collection included three 3D animations portraying what he described as “artifacts from an alternate timeline” — a dimension in which mechanical and biological entities have merged, intended as a metaphor for the NFT movement. He also participated in Crypto.com’s “Art of Giving” collection to aid the victims of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, alongside other marketplace heroes such as Ugonzo and DaRealGenius, Travis Ragsdale, Ari Hersch, Caitlyn Grabenstein, Fran Rodriguez, Machado Leão and many others. Whether creating elaborate optical illusions, adorable creatures or genre-bending music, Future likes to walk the line between organic and digital — as well as nostalgic and futuristic.
“When I set out to create a piece, I like to challenge myself and do something that pushes the limits of what I thought was possible. When a piece is done, it’s great to know that it started from nothing and now has a life of its own. Music gives me the same satisfaction; it has so much potential to transform the world and bring happiness to people.”
In charge of marketing and partnerships for “Bull Run Crew,” The NFT Agency connects creators, communities and brands in the NFT space — and is no stranger to the marketplace either. Run by cofounders Jesse Galati and Jay Devonish, the firm has collaborated with Crypto.com NFT on many successful drops including a collection celebrating the 30th anniversary of Death Row Records with renowned 3D artist Tillavision, another with record producer Murda Beatz, a drop with hip-hop legend Erick Sermon of EPMD and artist David Strickland as well as boxer Mike Rashid’s “King’s Collection,” among several others with talented NFT artists from the community. Serving as the crew’s project manager, Galati has launched NFT projects and consulted for record labels, athletes, celebrities and artists entering Web3. Leading partnerships and corporate relationships, Devonish is a seasoned music industry marketing A&R who has worked with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang, Aloe Blacc, DJ Khaled, Jim Jones, The Diplomats, J Dilla, Madlib, Sizzla and Gyptian.
A true family affair, rounding out the team is another previous Crypto.com NFT collaborator: “Bull Run Crew” brand director, Germán “gervisuals” Benito. A graphic designer whose super clean work has been featured by brands such as Wacom and Adobe Photoshop, Benito has released two curated collections on the marketplace to date: “Scars to Your Beautiful” in July and “Powerful Portraits” in December.
“It’s clear that the team is truly committed to taking NFTs to the next level. And with their strong connections in the entertainment and music industry, I knew it was the perfect team for this project.”
Crypto.com NFT spoke with Future about his vision for the project, how the “Bull Run Crew” team assembled, his musical background, his experience in the NFT space and more.
Read the Q&A with Enchanted Future below and visit the “Bull Run Crew” drop page for more information.
How did you come up with the idea for the “Bull Run Crew?”
I wanted to create a PFP collection, but was disappointed by the lack of creativity that I saw in the space. Most projects seemed to be copies of other projects, and nearly all of them consisted of simple static images. On top of that, music was — and still is — underrepresented in the NFT space.
I come from a music production background, long before I started making art. After I began to publish artwork, I decided to hide my music production skills from the NFT world until the time was right. When I decided to create a PFP collection, I knew that I had to mix my passions for art and music — and what better way to do that than with cute dancing characters?
Soon the idea and name “Bull Run Crew” suddenly came to me. That moment of inspiration would evolve into months of hard work to create this collection!
Jesse Galati and the rest of the team at The NFT Agency have been a great source of guidance and inspiration for this project as well. We’ve been working together for months now, making sure this collection will be as bullish as possible. I’m lucky to have found such a passionate, hard-working team.
How exactly does this project differ from other PFP projects?
“Bull Run Crew” was created specifically to be different from other PFP projects. Most PFP projects consist simply of static images. Each “Bull Run Crew” NFT is unique, fully 3D animated and set to original music.
There are several other 3D animated PFP collections, but none are nearly as complex as “Bull Run Crew.” BRC features 14 different animations, different clips from seven original songs and over 300 traits. I wanted to create not only an immersive world that we can continue building out, but also a brand that would stand the test of time.
What else can you tell us about the music? Is it also generative?
When creating the music, I set out to make songs that bulls would dance to. The music draws heavily from the years that I’ve spent living in various Latin American countries. I have a lot of love and respect for Latin American culture, and the wonderful people that I’ve met in those countries throughout the years. Rather than generative music, I decided to create an album that could stand on its own. I’m really proud of the songs that I created for this project.
One reason I put so much work into the music is that I wanted to raise the bar for music in NFTs. In NFT projects that have incorporated music, the music itself usually seems to be an afterthought. Music is one of the best use cases for NFTs, and I believe that the NFT community deserves a great soundtrack.
The BRC team has a lot of experience in the music industry and we’re excited to bring about groundbreaking collaborations and utility with music NFTs.
What is your background in music?
I’ve been making music my entire life. I was originally trained in classical guitar, but have since branched out into music production. Music is a great passion of mine, and I’ve created a lot more music that I plan to incorporate in future NFT drops.
Tell us more about the team.
We have an amazing team that is well-versed in the entertainment industry. For example, our head of partnerships and corporate relationships is Jay Devonish, who is the head of A&R marketing for MNRK Music Group — a major record label and music management company out of New York City.
Our project manager is Jesse Galati, whose extensive experience in the entertainment industry has included serving as [the] senior director of marketing for King of the Dot Entertainment — one of the world’s biggest rap battle leagues. Jesse has worked with many athletes, celebrities and record labels who want to get into Web3 — and has managed many of their drops on Crypto.com NFT.
Our Brand Director is Germán Benito aka gervisuals, a renowned Spanish artist and designer. He has built a solid following on social networks and his work has been featured by brands such as Wacom and Adobe Photoshop.
That hardly scratches the surface regarding the team’s experience in art, music and entertainment. We have several other amazing people on our team as well, and I recommend anyone who is curious about our team to check out our Discord.
How did you all connect to work on “Bull Run Crew?”
We connected right around the time I had my first drop on Crypto.com NFT. I was impressed by their professionalism, respect for the art and desire to truly innovate in the NFT space. It’s clear that the team is truly committed to taking NFTs to the next level. And with their strong connections in the entertainment and music industry, I knew it was the perfect team for this project.
Tell us about your prior projects on Crypto.com NFT.
My first drop on Crypto.com NFT was “Ancient Relics From The Future,” a collection of three animations that envisioned historical artifacts from an alternate timeline. In that collection, I sought to create a world in which mechanical and biological entities have merged — serving as a metaphor for the merging of the physical and digital realms characteristic of the NFT movement. After that, I airdropped gold, silver and black coins to holders as a way of thanking those who have supported my art.
Recently, I participated in Crypto.com’s “The Art Of Giving” collection, in which I donated two pieces named “Goddess of the Known” and “Goddess of the Unknown.” These are the first pieces of 2D artwork that I’ve released, and it was an honor to be part of that drop and help the people of Ukraine.
You’ve described your work as “a fitting metaphor for non-fungible tokens — where the traditionally distinct boundaries between digital and physical objects are being continually redrawn”; can you elaborate?
Most of my work has focused on visual illusions, material transformations and visions of alternate timelines. I like creating pieces that evoke the feeling of witnessing multiple worlds, or witnessing an alternate reality in which magic is possible. In terms of music, I enjoy fusing real instruments and international influences with modern day dance music. That is evident in the “Bull Run Crew” album, in which I mix Latin and funk influences with electronic dance music.
What inspires you artistically, in general?
Nature and animals are good sources of inspiration. I enjoy spending time in nature and soaking in its language. Most animals are born playful, and that spirit of playfulness is something we can learn from animals in regards to art. I also get some inspiration from dreams, in both art and music. It’s amazing what the mind comes up with when we aren’t confined by the limits of the waking world. The love and support of my family and friends also helps me to stay motivated and creative.
But mostly, I’ve just worked hard to be a creative person. Creativity is like a muscle, and the more you exercise it the stronger it will become.
If you could collaborate with any artist throughout history, who would it be and why?
For a musical collaboration, I would say Nick Drake. He was a reclusive singer-songwriter who made beautiful, ethereal music that was ahead of its time. I’d love to know how he went about creating his intricate guitar parts and dreamlike lyrics.
For an artistic collaboration, I would say Jinan Kobayashi. His pieces, for example “Monument ’84-S,” have been a big source of inspiration for me — and embody many themes that I try to incorporate in my art.
What do you love most about working in 3D art?
I love that 3D art allows me to create anything that I’ve envisioned in my head. When I set out to create a piece, I like to challenge myself and do something that pushes the limits of what I thought was possible. When a piece is done, it’s great to know that it started from nothing and now has a life of its own. Music gives me the same satisfaction; it has so much potential to transform the world and bring happiness to people.
What do you like most about NFTs or working in the NFT space?
The community! I’ve never been a part of such a supportive, talented, ground-breaking community of people. I feel so at home here, as if I’ve been waiting my entire life to fit into this niche. I love how fast everything evolves and how you always have to be on your toes — it gives me a lot of inspiration and drive to keep doing what I love!
Who are some of your favorite NFT artists in the community?
Some of my favorite artists are Michael Kozlowski, Furio Tedeschi, Markus Magnusson, Sameer Baloch, CRAFTW3RK and gervisuals.
Were you interested in cryptocurrency or blockchain technology prior to NFTs?
I’ve been involved in crypto and blockchain technology since 2014, and spent some time through the years trading crypto as a hobby. When I first learned about NFTs, I was ecstatic to have found something that could combine my passions of art, music and blockchain technology.
Do you work with any charities that you’ll be donating proceeds from the NFTs in this collection to?
I plan to donate some of my proceeds towards pancreatic cancer research and prevention. Pancreatic cancer is the third highest cause of cancer deaths, and cases have risen dramatically in recent years. However, awareness is low and research towards treatment and prevention is slow and underfunded. Not only that, but there isn’t even a reliable way to perform preventative tests for it! Most people who have pancreatic cancer find out when it is already at stage four, meaning the cancer has already spread throughout the body. This is because there are often no symptoms at all until someone has reached stage four.
This cause is important to me because my mom is currently fighting pancreatic cancer, and I want to do what I can to prevent more people from having to experience this terrible disease.
I’m so sorry to hear that! Wishing your mom a full and speedy recovery. Do you have any other goals or future plans for your art or music, in the NFT space or otherwise?
I’d love to continue mixing art and music. I have so much music that I can’t wait to unleash upon the world. On top of that, we have a lot in store for “Bull Run Crew” — our team is tirelessly working to create a truly revolutionary project!
Visit the “Bull Run Crew” drop page for more details.
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Editor’s Note (Oct. 10, 2022): an earlier version of this article was originally published on April 25, 2022 and has since been edited and/or updated.
