You’ve built a strong creative presence here in Edmonton. How has the city shaped your sound, your work ethic, or the stories you choose to tell in your music?

Well I am honoured that you think I have a strong creative presence in Edmonton. At times it doesn’t feel as such. But that being said, I have tried many creative endeavors here from selling my mixtape in the hallways while I was in highschool, to trying to sell out venues for album releases. Some with success, many with big failures, but regardless, many lessons learned from all the experiences. And all of those experiences good, bad, happy, sad, usually find their way into the art to some degree. Now when it comes to shaping my sound, I think that's a little different. I have always been very different from the other artists in my “genre”, for better or for worse, I was jealous at one time of many of the other artists I thought had a better sound that “fit” the style. And because of that I think I pushed my sound to sound very different from others in Edmonton.

A lot of artists talk about the challenges of breaking out from Western Canada. What has your experience been navigating the industry from Edmonton, and what advantages do you think this city gives you?

This is an interesting question, one that I have had with a lot of artists actually, because we now live in the internet age, I think this question is kind of irrelevant to a degree. I think what is more important is how an artist “shapes” their music business. For instance, I wanted to be an artist that performed a lot, and made a living that way. But due to my location and genre, there isn’t a whole lot of “hip hop/rap” shows every week that an artist can perform locally to make a living off of. So I structured my business differently, building an online presence, selling vinyls online, making money selling music to music licensing companies, etc. The music business is large, and very interconnected. That being said, I know lots of musicians that live in other cities in Edmonton, and they tell me how good the music scene is here. So just because my genre is necessarily the biggest for live entertainment, doesn’t mean that there isn’t a way for musicians to grow, especially their live performances here. I think Edmonton is pretty dope.

Your music often blends emotional vulnerability with high‑energy delivery. How intentional is that balance, and where does that duality come from in your life?

I think this balance is just naturally how I create, I create from the deepest rawest, and potentially some of the ugliest parts of myself. The stuff I am processing, the emotions I am feeling the most in that moment. Music is my escape, my means of expression. I also have a background in sports/personal training, so I think that’s kind of where my high energy comes from too. I have a lot of deep emotional, real thoughts and feelings, and when it comes to music I’m very comfortable sharing them.

You’ve created characters and visual worlds  like Mr. J that go beyond traditional hip‑hop. What inspired you to build a narrative universe around your music?

As much as I am a musician, I am also creative. Even when I am making an album, I am trying to create a “sonic universe” for that sound to live in. I think creating characters and visuals help translate to the audience the impact of the music. To be honest, I have never really sat back and thought about what inspired me to build a narrative universe around my music. I think I just feel like every song and album I am creating and releasing it feels like it takes up so much of my “life” again for better or worse, that I want to try and show people in the tangible world that my music and this “sonic universe” is “real”. If that makes any sense.

Edmonton’s hip‑hop scene is growing but still under-recognized nationally. What do you think the city needs to push its artists into the spotlight, and how do you see yourself contributing to that shift?

Well to be honest, I don’t know if it’s on the city to “push its artist” I think this is the work of the artist themselves to do, both individually and collective. I have been part of different collectives that have tried to grow the scene in their own way and failed, and I do understand the frustration, it’s a very very hard thing to accomplish. But just like any kind of business, its not the customers fault they don’t like the product, its the creators job to create something of value. And I know that this is art, and it may not  be as “cut and dry” as other industries, but it’s also the cold hard truth of all. I see myself contributing by just creating the best art and trying to get the most eyes and ears on it as possible. Right now my career goals are pretty simple, 1 billion streams, 1 billion views.

Your YouTube presence has become a major part of your identity. How does content creation influence your music career, and do you see the two merging even more in the future?

Haha, that's funny especially because of how I ended the last question. Content creation has been a blessing. It has helped me grow my music business, and allow me to create even better art. I like to create, and it's given me reason to explore and connect in different ways with people all around the world. I completely hope that I can continue to merge both more and more, because the two benefit each other greatly, and the audience seems to connect with both sides of me.

You’ve released projects like Road 2 Olympus that explore ambition, struggle, and transformation. What chapter of your story are you writing right now with your new music?

It really seemed like you did your research on me. I like that. This new chapter “Mr.J and the heartbroken homies” is really about the heart break of the world. I think this is just a time in the history of the world, where there is a lot of heart break everywhere. I think music can help heal that. I am currently working on 3 mini albums, all electronic music focused. But this first one is centered around heartbreak. Simple, dark, tragic. But healing can occur.

For young Edmonton artists watching you build momentum, what’s the most honest advice you’d give them about staying consistent and carving out their own lane?

To be honest, it's hard, really hard. You got to love it, even when everything in your life is going to shit, you still need to be creating. Even when no one is listening, you need to be creating. It took me over a decade of creating, hundreds of songs written, thousands of pieces of content before I got a million views. Then in one year I did +35 million views. And my newest single release “Atmosphere” has already been my most successful single release so far in my career.

It’s hard to build an audience, it’s hard to be original, it’s hard to consistently create. But when people truly connect with what you make, even when you are starting and its one person, wow is that feeling ever amazing. Especially when what you have created is authentic.

My best advice is get comfortable failing, and after you get comfortable with that, try, try and try again. Figure out how to create your idea without a budget, find a way to create the idea with no help, do research, learn, grow as a human, grow as an artist, as a creative. Never stop.

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