Today, Verzache released his third studio album, “Hypocrite,” which embraces the messy, complicated truths of being human. He spoke to NYOTA about feeling distant from social media, genre exploration, and what success looks like for him.
How would you describe yourself as an artist right now—and who or what has most shaped this version of you, musically or otherwise?
I’m in my pragmatic era where I don’t make music to make music, but I make music as a release. I would say the hurdles in life over the past few years have really shaped this outcome. Unfortunately, more pessimistic and cynical than I’d like to be, but maybe subject to change.
Your music often feels emotional and nostalgic. How do you usually turn a feeling into sound—does it start with a lyric, a melody, or just a mood?
It starts with a mood and chords to match! Then melody. I really wish I started with lyrics naturally, but I’ve always been a producer first, so it’s hard to find that perspective or tactic inspiring. I find it difficult to make music that’s not emotional or nostalgic, too. It’s something I’ve been trying to work on, but it’s very second nature.
You move fluidly between indie, electronic, R&B, and pop. Do you think about genre freedom when creating?
Honestly, I don’t think about it at all. At least until I’m pretty deep into creating something, and then I can make decisions based on what direction I’m heading. I rarely think about genres, and that can be bad, to be honest. The freedom is great, but I feel a certain cohesiveness throughout my discography is missing, which can be unattractive or even uncomfortable as a listener.
You’ve joked about “trying to be more online.” What’s been the biggest surprise—or challenge—of balancing creativity with the realities of being an independent artist today?
Dude, everything. If I didn’t need a smartphone for my career, I would get a dumb phone or even a pager. The older I get, the more distant I feel from social media, and posting becomes a lot more tough. The frequency that artists are supposed to post and promote themselves online is wild nowadays. But also, I’m just complaining like a baby because all I want to do is make music, put it out, cry, play games, sleep early, add good jokes to my joke list (very long), hang with friends, sleep early, make music.
You’ve developed a strong visual identity—videos, artwork, aesthetics. How early in the process do visuals start shaping the music, or vice versa?
I wish I had a stronger visual identity, to be frank with you. Let’s just say visuals are very late in the process—way after I finish the music. Similarly to how I feel about lyrics, I wish I thought about visuals while making the music, because I really don’t.
How does Hypocrite feel different from your past work—emotionally or sonically? What story or idea ties it all together for you?
It feels more processed and self-deprecating than usual. Very post-breakup heavy tunes, very emo. I’m pretty sure I say this about absolutely everything I’ve ever made, but it does feel more honest than usual. It’s kinda opening up a can of whoop-ass emotionally on me. To keep it straightforward, while making the project I found a lot of my stresses or what I saw as flaws in others were the same flaws I had or things I did. I was completely unaware, and it’s embarrassing. Labeling myself as self-aware or transparent put blinders on me.
When you think about “success” now—beyond streams or numbers—what does it look like for you, especially entering this next chapter?
Currently, to me, success is to accomplish putting my whole being into what I love. And, in turn, keeping myself happy by doing that. And if it means people listen to it, awesome; if it means they don’t, that sucks a lot, but at least I did literally all I could. I have money saved up, so if music fails, I’ll buy a little Shrek-type shack in the middle of nowhere, and I’ll get a dog (name them Chulula). I’ll live my life out making music with a guitar and a tape recorder and maybe a harmonica too. And I’ll be sponsored by Whole Foods so they can deliver me groceries for free because they like me for some reason in this scenario.
What’s one lyric from Hypocrite that hits the hardest for you personally?
“I hate all my favorite things,” Or “I’m what you’ll deal with forever.”
Check out the full album:
