“Anybody making art is an independent artist, you don’t need to make money off it”
On July 4th Aaron Fairchild released a beautifully disorienting video that throws viewers down the spiral of raw emotions in quick succession. With a goal to indefinitely release a new track every month, Uwavee linked up with the electrifying up-and-comer to talk about his early career, the story behind his latest song Keep Living, and what it truly means to be an independent artist.
“The tricky part is, I find more about myself through the process of making art… it’s really just an exploration”
In Illinois around 2009, Aaron Fairchild began his career with his friends in a basement. He was pulled into a group who loved hip-hop, and started making remixes and chopping samples. However, whenever he isn’t directly collaborating with other artists, Aaron Fairchild is a one-man show that produces, mixes, masters and engineers on his own. He fell in love with hip-hop as a global phenomenon and due to its many different far-reaching branches, but has showcased his talent in other genres like rock and jazz as well. This talented individual is now going full force, building skills and musical exploration has compounded to a point where he is willing to try anything and everything.
“As I made finishing touches, I had Dr. Dre, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and The Cool-era Lupe Fiasco on my mind…”
The Keep Living video features Aaron Fairchild in front of a mural backdrop. He had just recorded the track a day before with Mike Rimbault, Daniel Damien, and Jonathan Tyler Koski who also helped film, direct, and produce the expressive visuals. The beat showcases production from Aaron Fairchild himself, taking listeners on a journey of tone switches and an outro of dark chords and drums. The lyrics standout as brutally honest and accurately depict a conglomerate of emotions relevant to the present day, albeit some lines were written as long as a year ago. The video concept draws inspiration from Childish Gambino’s Freaks and Geeks, but with progression of raw confidence dissolving into confusion and exhaustion.
“When it comes to saying someone is unsigned, it’s gatekeeping for people in the industry.”
According to Aaron Fairchild, most artists out here doing things are independent, it’s the industry that makes an artist “signed or unsigned.” He believes anyone making art is an independent artist regardless of the payout. The Portland artist aims to keep exploring his creativity and has more fresh music on the way each month — “If anyone wants regular new shit 2 years from now, minimum 24 new songs.” You can follow Aaron Fairchild on Instagram, and peep his new song & video for Keep Living on Youtube and Spotify.
Social Media:
Aaron Fairchild — Youtube, Spotify, Instagram
Johnathon Tyler Koski — Instagram
Mike Rimbault — Instagram
