Rising pop artist Brooklin Rich (great-grandson of jazz drummer Buddy Rich) is carving a place in today’s musical landscape with his latest single. “Fight Me” blurs lines across genres, while providing a raw, authentic look at Rich’s rapidly evolving songwriting. The 20 year old artist is already releasing more music via his own imprint and promises much more to come. Atlas sat down with the budding superstar to talk about the new song, waiting for the right moment to release music and his own lofty goals for this project. Check out our conversation, and stream “Fight Me”, out now!
Atlas Artist Group: Can you tell us your artist origin story?
Brooklin Rich: There’s so much that defines my story but I’ll keep it somewhat simple. Really I was born with the knowing of this is me- music and art is me and there’s never been a separate option. I knew that it’s what I need to survive, really. Since I was a few months old, my dad put drumsticks in my hand and drums is what I focused on up till I was about 10. He had a little home studio and then I found a new love for my voice and recording- something I never explored or something I never even knew I had. So from 10 on to this day, it’s my life and it’s something I’d rather die than not do.
Atlas: When you started exploring your voice, how did you decide on a direction for what your sound has become?
Rich: Man, it took me so long. From [age] 13 is when I really started to focus and when I really started to record and write. So at that point, I obviously didn’t know and up to 13 to 18, I was just exploring. I tried everything. I tried rock, I tried rap, I did everything and then eventually got to a point where none of it feels authentic. None of it feels like me.
The moment I turned 18, we just said, ‘what’s me? Who am I? What is this?’ This is literally creation, we can do whatever we want- there’s no boundaries. The moment we started to think of that mindset is when we really found our sound.
But something about me- which I will always stand by- is my sounds always evolving. It’s the hardest thing- as an artist- to not pinpoint on a sound, but I can’t really say I’m one specific sound because I just want to do everything. I think it all just comes down to just being who I am and that’s how I found my sound.
Atlas: You come from a very musical and artistic family. Beyond putting those drumsticks in your hand, how has that driven your passion for this path?
Rich: Definitely on a spiritual aspect, just from the generations, is what plays the most factor in what I do. It’s really hard to explain, because it’s just a feeling thing. It’s just me. But another thing that also helps is having people around me who understand the passion and understand the drive, because a lot of my family doesn’t understand that.
I also have another side who get it and understand that it’s bigger than what it appears to be. It feels good to have support.
Atlas: It was mentioned that you wrote “Fight Me” awhile back but were waiting for the right moment to release it. What was the creative process behind the song and what made you decide that now is the right time?
Rich: This song specifically was one that always touched me because it was…the concept of the song is just the fight of betrayal and disloyalty and releasing that and fighting against that. It’s something that myself and the people around me were going through at the time, literally. The song was really- which you don’t get often- just a flow. The moment I heard the music, I knew what it was going to be and it was just all what I was feeling- my anger, the betrayal, the hurt. The moment I got on the mic, it just flowed and I think most of it honestly was just one take and it was just the whole thing. I saw the vision. The song was originally a demo- everything that you hear on it was just demo vocals. We were planning on re-recording it so that’s why we waited the year or however long to release it.
I think we eventually got to the point now where it was like, I don’t think we can recreate that specific emotion for the song because it’s so raw and it’s so authentic and real. Plus, we were trying to find just one extra person to mix it and who can help it just come alive a little bit more. That was also a part of it- we didn’t think it really hit yet. So with that now, I think people will be able to understand it.
Atlas: When you’re writing music, do you tend to focus on lyrics first and then the melody or does the melody inform the story? Does that change for you?
Rich: Well, it always starts obviously with the music. I hear that first and I’m just the type of person where when I hear something, I know what it’s supposed to be just off the bat. The moment I hear the music, I just get a whole vision of what it’s supposed to be. Then usually I’ll take it and I’ll just freestyle melody and then I’ll just pick little pieces from that. Usually it all comes together pretty nicely.
Freestyling melody is something I’ve been doing for so long so it’s just natural to me. I’ll be able to freestyle somewhat of the whole song and then I’ll write the lyrics to it and then I’ll bring it back to the drawing board with my father- who I work with- and then we’ll craft it and we’ll finalize it. But it’s always music, melody, lyrics for me.
Atlas: Who or what do you count among your biggest influences- musical or otherwise?
Rich: My number one, the person I could say obviously is somebody I idolize- Michael Jackson has been my everything since I was born. He’s really who I take all inspiration from. I listen to everything and anything and I try to just add everything I know and listen to into my own sound and make my own thing. He’s obviously my number one, which I’m sure is the same thing for many people.
I’m inspired by so much. That’s the hardest question for me. I listen to everything, to every genre- I grew up listening to everything from Paramore and heavy metal and everything. Most of my inspiration honestly just comes from my own mind and my own insanity and also nature. I love the outdoors- just mountains, the rocks I love because we live right by Red Rock National Park in Las Vegas. I’m there constantly and it’s really something that I think has helped evolve my sound and my artistry.
Atlas: Things are really just getting started for you- where do you hope your music takes you? What are your goals for this project?
Rich: My main goal- and I’ll always stick by this- is to provide and to help and save because music is what saved my life. That’ll always be my first goal- just to provide hope and just help others. Obviously I want to change the world and I want to change music and I want to change the direction it’s going.
It’s kind of a bold thing to say, but I think music- especially in the pop genre- needs an authentic figure and a raw figure and that’s something I want to provide. I have some pretty huge goals, not only for music, but just entertainment and art in general. But I’ll start with saving lives.
Atlas: Is there anything else that you want people to know about you or your music, or is there anything you wish you got to talk about more that people might not ask you?
Rich: I feel like the music and the artistry as a whole kind of explains itself but something I want to get across and will always try to get across- whether it’s for people who currently know me or in the future- just for anybody to feel free to reach out to me. If anybody ever feels alone or needs a friend or just a voice in their life, like I want to be the person there for them.
I always want to try to have that connection with anyone who supports me or anybody who doesn’t. I think it’s very important to have somebody that you can connect with, somebody that you can talk to. I want to make that clear to anybody- I don’t care if I get known or not. I just want people to know that they can reach out to me, DM me, text me, talk to me anytime.
Stream “Fight Me”, out now!
