Whether through your headphones or in front of your eyes, Medellin's talent and passion for music reveal themselves to you very quickly. The melodies draw you in but it's the emotion at the center that really shines. Here he speaks on legacy, dream collaborators and how creating as his authentic self has paid dividends professionally.
Jay: Your music expertly blends emotional songwriting into a melodic hip-hop sound. How did you land on your unique artistic vision?
Medellin: Honestly, my mom told me to not talk about what I don’t have and what I don’t do. I tried my best to balance that while not being corny tbh. As well as if you’re serious about something, you’ll find a way to do it.
Jay: What moments of life do you make music for?
Medellin: I make music for myself honestly. Music to me is an offering and to offer the world something is very personal.
Jay: What was your most recent moment of creative breakthrough, where you felt yourself leveling up as an artist?
Medellin: When I booked my first session at Classick Studios. Working with Cole and Matt Audio Dope really showed me where I can be and more.
Jay: Working a 9-5 while spending your free time pursuing your true passion is not for the weak. However, in my experience, that pressure and strain can help grow and strengthen the creative mind. How do you balance the two and have you found either positively influencing the other?
Medellin: I found that my love for the art is what got me where I'm at job wise. I literally landed my current job because of my IG page and pursuing art. Since then, this job has allowed me to pursue my love of art in so many ways that I'm beyond grateful for and in debt to be honest. What I did is so rare in not only this area but in this world.
Jay: One of the most important things a creator must experience is discomfort, to fulfill that intrinsic need to be challenged. Are there any specific people or places that you can count on to push you forward?
Medellin: Easily Chicago, Indy, South Bend and Goshen. Being around such insane talent, experiencing such crazy talent in small rooms showed me what is possible and that I need to keep hitting not only the shed but also the books to better round what I do and to communicate with others.
Jay: What do you see as the most seminal works in our country’s musical history?
Medellin: There are so many to be honest. I study a lot; from engineering and producing, to artists of different genres from the past to now, it’s beautiful. I can take up a lot of time in this.
Jay: What/who are your biggest influences?
Medellin: Easily Modest Mouse (and lead singer Isaac Brock), Childish Gambino and Bon Iver. These people raised me and finally the Mennonite Community, they always harmonize so you’ll always hear me stacking my vocals.
Jay: Many artists throughout music history have traveled to other continents/countries searching for inspiration and returned with some of their most revelatory work. Where would you go to unearth your magnum opus?
Medellin: Definitely China (Sichuan Province), Camp Freidenswald, my parents house, Zacatecas where my dad’s family is, and Brazil where my mom’s side of the family lives.
Jay: What does success in the local artist scene look like to you?
Medellin: Leaving behind projects in this world that outlive me.
Jay: Everyone has a list of dream collaborators? Who’s on your’s?
Medellin: So many. Eliot/Ollie Nafziger, Clark Diesel, Stretch, Brinson, Sayde Sanchez, Matt Audio Dope, Tizzy, Tyrus, Joshua Garcia, Ryan Carillo, The Kendals, Brian Sapp, LaStar, Hulli, Lauren Steinhofer, Heyzeus, Shianne H, David Choi, Ben Yonts, Thomas Hiem, Beverly Bounce House, Crumely, Jake Miller, Roberto Brown, Pogi Studios, Jeremy Blye, Wellium, Jm.edia, Rylee, Chris Nieves, Even Dawkins, Frank Leone, Victor Intornet, so many more to be honest.
Jay: What is the legacy you hope to leave behind in your music?
Medellin: I want to leave behind that art is something that comes from within, take what you like and blend it into everything you do. Nothing is off boundaries. Like my homie Seth said “Create the life you want to live”.