RickExpress — Not As Blue
For RickExpress, music is more than what you hear. The Brooklyn-based musician takes a holistic approach to his artistry, pulling from his emotions and surroundings to make something personal to him and relatable to us all.
His latest single, “Not As Blue”, is a captivating track anchored around an airy guitar and funky bass. RickExpress compliments the track with soulful lyrics that guide us towards something greater. At his core, RickExpress is comfortable with who he is and isn’t afraid to tell the world.
Last month, I sat down with the creative musician and fashion designer to talk about his latest single, working with Topaz Jones, the importance of community, and more!
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Noah Lyons: You are currently enjoying the success of “Not As Blue.” The song is soulful with an emotional undertone. What place were you in when you were writing it?
RickExpress: Of course, we were going through the pandemic. There were some parts where I was sad and lonely, and thankfully others where I got to see friends and family. Last October, I just needed to get away, so I went to LA.
I had my engineer with me and was in the studio with Alissia, who produced the song. We were vibing to different stuff, and she told me she had a song for me and wanted to hear it in the morning. When I heard the song, it connected to everything I was feeling in that moment, and it just grew from there. The next day I came back to the studio, and we got it done!
NL: How was it transitioning what you were feeling onto the page and ultimately on the record?
RE: When you come from an honest place, it should emote that way and connect to the audience. I was coming at it with raw emotion. An important thing is to believe what you are saying. I was going back, tweaking words to fit the vibe and energy I was trying to get across.
NL: The beat stands out because of its funk and soul. Did you talk with Alissia beforehand about what you were looking for, or did she give it to you knowing it fit your style?
RE: Alissia and I go way back! We’ve been best friends for ten years. Musically, communicating with each other is as natural as talking or having a cup of coffee together. It was just another magical moment. We mesh in that way.
NL: You share that same connectivity with Topaz Jones. You helped him on his last album, fitting that he features on “Not As Blue.”
RE: Working on his record was super dope! To have him come through in LA was a dream. The brother pulled up and wrote the most beautiful shit!
NL: The music video was playful. I could sense you enjoyed shooting it! What was that experience like?
RE: I love video production. Listening to music is amazing, but visually you can express yourself differently. I was in Joshua Tree National Park on vacation, but I brought my setup.
The last morning before heading out, I woke up super early. I grabbed my camera, went out, and recorded all morning. It took about two hours. I got back, saw the footage, and was like OH SNAP! Everyone was sleeping when I did it, but it was all about having fun.
I was in this place where I felt very isolated, but I didn’t want that to mean sadness or weakness. In those lonely times, you can have fun with yourself and do whatever.
NL: Your 2020 track, “New Normal”, has the same sort of awareness and range. The vibe, in the beginning, is totally different from the end.
RE: Yeah, I like to create how I experience. In Brooklyn, one moment you hear jazz, and you turn a corner and hear something completely different. I have fun following with different vibes. It keeps things fresh and new.
NL: Your podcast — “I Am Because We Are” — has that same kind of collaborative approach.
RE: There’s a whole community of artists and people who need different outlets. Opportunities to perform, talk about their music and build businesses outside of music. Everyone needs a space to feel comfortable and relax.
I’ve been able to build a community of friends who are amazing artists and creatives. I try to provide a platform for them to show their talents and art.
I run a pop-up shop that grew from my love of fashion and design. Part of the proceeds from my shop goes toward helping artists with photoshoots, mixing and mastering, and renting clothes for shoots.
NL: Is it hard to balance in those two spaces? I assume fashion and music require different types of thinking.
RE: Certainly! Everything eventually comes together! If I’m working on a song with an artist, I can use that in my show. It’s all connected at the end of the day.
NL: Growing up, what was your exposure to fashion and music?
RE: I’m from North Carolina, which isn’t hype. I remember growing up in choir and didn’t like that we all had on the same clothes.
NL: It was too boxed in! Everybody had the same drip.
RE: Yeah! We all had to rock these plaid ties and stuff. I had to switch it up and got rebellious. The older I got, the more I played around with things looking at art.
NL: It’s a lot to leave a place called home. Did you feel an overwhelming need to experience something else outside of North Carolina?
RE: Growing up, I always wanted what I called “small-town escape.” My goal was to get to a bigger city because I felt I was from a close-minded place. Little decisions involving fashion or music would often get me judged.
NL: What’s next for you? I’m sure that’s a complicated answer.
RE: A lot of things are in motion right now. I want to come out with a visual album. There’s stuff coming that I haven’t told anyone about yet.
Overall, just entertainment and putting artists on. More music, collaborations, and opportunities to share my art, which is why I’m glad you reached out, and we got together and talked!
