Thierryna
Thierryna is an artist. He is an Actor. He is a model. He is a rapper. So far in his budding career he has put out multiple tracks dating back to his debut single 'Let There Be Light (...)' released on January 7th 2023 with the EP of the same title in the works as we speak. On the modelling side of things, Thierryna appeared at London fashion week 2022 as well as working with a plethora of growing brands within the fashion world such as Ultralight, Nacer world and HEAPDAILY to name a few. With acting, Thierryna had the lead role in short film 'A NEW LIFE' which premiered at the London Child Poverty Summit in 2022 as well as various projects currently in development. He is also a bar waiter. He is also one of my closest friend's and he has played an indescribably massive part in me doing what I'm doing right now. If not for him I wouldn't be pursuing any of this. So with that being said, it's only completely fitting that he is the first person I talk to on this website. Just a warning: this interview is very long. Prepare yourself how you see fit. Hope you enjoy(!)
Okay, first. Let's go, let's go, let's go. Let's go. Okay. Let's go. Alright, you ready? Action.
Okay. So how are you?
How am I? I am good. I would say I am good. Like... I don't know. I'm a good level of good. I know it's stupid to say, but... You know how sometimes you can say "I'm good". And... You're just like decent really. You're not doing too well. But right now I would say I'm good. I've got a... Fluctuating routine. Not fluctuating, I lied. I've got a pretty consistent routine. I've got good people around me. And I've got plans. So I'm good.
What do you do?
Okay, well... To answer that, I would say I am a London resident. Who... resides in London. And I work in London. I'm a bar waiter. Yeah, I was studying beforehand for two years. And then shoutout my poor grades, you know, got kicked out and... Ever since I've been working more often, basically full time, still part time. Don't let them know that. But... Other than that, I've also been doing music on the side.I've been working on my EP and that... Let There Be Light. Shout out. Brrp. So, honestly it’s been mostly just working on that EP which has been taking me a lot of time and… what else would I say? Acting and modeling which I’ve been getting back on because I’ve been focusing so much on music so I haven’t really been able to keep an eye on my other hobbies. So, I would say what I do? I do music, I do acting, I do modeling. And I work as a bar waiter.
What do you aim to accomplish with what you do?
As a bar waiter, I ain't tryna accomplish shit. Except get money. But... Yeah, man hospitality, eesh. But why do I do what I do? Okay, so... With the actual hobbies that I'm actually interested in. So, what I am doing, the music, acting and... Modeling. I would say... I aim to accomplish a lifestyle that I'm happy with. A lifestyle that gives me joy. And it gives me the freedom which I imagine. Everyone's freedom is not the same. But... My freedom is being able to... Have my hobby as my job. And it bring me peace. And I'm able to see people who I care about. As often as I would need to or want to. But... To accomplish goal-wise... I just want to... Make as much content that I love as possible. Anything that comes in mind. All these ideas I have in my imagination. I want to bring them to life. That's what I want to accomplish.
Why do you do what you do?
For joy. For joy. I have realized that... A lot of things that I do in my day to day. They don't make me happy. [Toke] They always feel so... I want to say mundane. I feel that's the word. They feel so pointless. To an extent. Like you just do them to do them. There's no passion behind anything. There's no love… And love is very powerful in this world so if I'm going to do something as a job. I need to love it, personally. That is exactly what I do. Right now, I’m making music which has been struggling and has been very much so… I want to say... Painful to my confidence and self-esteem. It has still been something I love. And I know right now I'm still in the learning processes. But once I do get to who I want to be. I know truly I'll be happy. And that's fine with me. That's Fine By me(!)
What is your greatest obstacle?
[lighter flint noise] Right now it was burning the paper during the wind but… I accomplished that. So that just proves to show that I can accomplish anything but… What was the question? Oh! Greatest obstacle! I would say confidence. I want to say as a kid I had a lot of confidence. 50/50. That might be a lie. As a kid, Confidence to a degree around people I know, around people who shared smiles with me… I would say I was very confident around them, I was very welcoming. I had a lot of joy to bring to the world. Like, as a yute I just had a lot of random strangers. You know? They'd see me with like my family and my friends. They'd just smile at me. They'd share their kindness with me. Because they saw that maybe I was a kind individual and that was good. But I also was quite shy to a degree I would say again. I wasn't the most confident speaking up. With certain topics or individuals. I had a bubble. I had a bubble that I would say expanded when I felt comfortable. That's, yeah. I would say that. So confidence is definitely one of my biggest, biggest challenges. And with music it's been so… Sharing my mind, sharing how I think, the things I say, and my lifestyle. It's scary for people to really see that. You know? It's hard for them to see it, look at me, and then share their thoughts. Because they can really say whatever. They can really be like, "Wow… You smoke? You're disgusting. You're ruining your health. Why do you do this?" Or they can… [scoffs] Christian parents hearing some of the bars I’m saying about relationships and stuff aaah… Not good at all, man. So, it's just, more so I would say… one of my biggest would be just a lot of people were thinking. A lot of people have that fear. So it's not that big of an issue for me.
Who are you?
I am Thierryna. I was going to say the full government, but I'm not going to bait that! But I'm Thierryna. That's all you need to know. Thierryna, the artist.
(*)
So, at the beginning of an artist's careers, there's a lot of hesitation or doubt in taking their art where they truly want it to be. Whether it's due to external pressure or their own selves. What has your experience been like with that and how has dealing with it been?
So, pressure with the external and myself. Yeahhh [laughingly scoffs] that's been, that's been massive. Man, this EP. I wanted to drop it in January 2024 on the 7th. There was going to be like a one year call back to my first single, "Let There Be Light", which is on the same tape. But, honestly, lifestyle. Lifestyle was tough and my mindset wasn't fully there. I was there, tapped into music, but I wasn't as consistent as I should have been. And I want to say that also adds to the pressure. I kept second guessing myself, second guessing songs that I knew I liked, but I just kept looking at the little issues, the little problems. So, that was a very big problem for me. That, that held me back a lot. So, I had to redo songs like a million times. Obviously not a million, but just a million times. That shit was just tough. Every time I did a song, I'd like it, day 1. Second we get out of the studio, I'm listening to on my headphones, I don't like it. The pressure of getting stuff perfect, I wanted to get stuff 99.9999% perfect. Because I know I can't get 100%. So, I always achieved to be close. I wanted to get it to that level. I remember saying to you as well how I wanted to really touch close to perfection, but nothing's perfect, nothing comes out the way you want it to be. So, it's really just about riding through all of that and going with what you're given. And then try to give more.
But yeah, pressure is.. Pshh. I’d say from an external point of view, like other people and etc, kind of links to what I said previously about family, Christian family, so they obviously have values that they live by. And some may say that I don't live by them. But it's okay? It's okay I guess because I've realized the things that I'm doing in my life are the things that make at least myself happy. And I feel like with my family and with a lot of people in general, their opinions… are them trying to stop me from being happy, stop me from getting my full potential, my goal, where I want to be in life.
So at first that pressure got to me a lot. I was scared of even going to my church back in East Ham because that's my family church. Everyone known me since I was like a baby. So to go back, because at first they've really seen my tiktoks when I was my videos were blowing up a bit. Like everywhere I went, the people would be like, "Oh, I've seen your tiktoks! It's always up in my feed man! You're always posting so much! That's crazy! That one that you did!” I go to my church, yeah, I hear the same thing. I said, fuuck I said, "Oh, you've seen it?" Damn. That's not good. This is like one of my mom's good friends too. So they come to my house. So I'm like, "Ah, shit man." And it's like, it'll just be like, "Yeah, I just always see you on tiktok man. I see you a lot. Hey, it's gonna be, man, it's crazy, it's crazy." They just say stuff like that, you know? So it obviously never, they never say negative stuff, but it's like, it's the fact that they see, it's the fact that they've seen the stuff that I'm mentioning and that I'm talking about because sometimes I talk about from like my own point of view in life, maybe I did this and something happened, you know, or maybe I like something. It's just crazy. But I've learned to push that out. I really have.
I've been said, "I want to live my life. That's one thing I want to do." And maybe I might seem a bit um, what's the word? Maybe I might seem a bit, I don't want to say negligent, but stubborn. I want to say, maybe I seem too stubborn or hard headed with stuff. I don't want to do certain stuff that people want me to do. That's purely because I know which route makes me happy. So that's how I'm dealing with pressure just by trying to make myself happy.
So, how did you come to grips with that mindset of ‘you just want to be you’, like that ‘pushing it out’ that you were talking about? How did you go from not having that to having that? And what was that journey like?
I would say… I had it as a kid. Which is why I kind of enforced on having it again; Reacquiring it as I got older. Primary school awh. I remember myself in primary so much because I annoyed a million people. Like, seriously, I had one girl who just hated me. Pretty due to the fact that I was just me. I asked her about it. I'd be break dancing at the- [I break out in laughter] Hey, come on now [laughter] Yes n*****, I break dance. I’m thinking this deep ass story, yeah, Like, "Oh, this girl hated me and shit." Bro, she hated me for real! Cut to like “Yeah, I was break dancing.” I imagine like a 6 year old you, break dancing! [laughter] Yeah, I had the Chicago Bulls snap back too! Ohh myy gosh. I was doing head spins, boy! I was there!
So I was break dancing. I think it was like a year 6 end of year trip. We were a week away in some fucking next ass castle. don't know where it was but it was lit! We were in the hall and I started break dancing because me and my boy Frankie at the time we started break dancing during school breaks and shit. You feel me? Like in a little corner where we used to be in the playground. We was having a fun because break dancing was fun. We wanted to do fun stuff. So I remember at the school at the hall where the end of year trip was… Yeah, I started break dancing. My friends were fucking with it. I had a like a circle around me fucking with it like, they had me in the middle, I was break dancing, It was like, "Hey, what? Yeah!" And then this one person that shall not be named. She knows who she is, init? But she... I asked her because after that year we went to the same secondary school and it was alright. We didn't talk as much but when we did I didn't feel no love. And then at one point I started feeling love and then there was no love again. And I asked her at the end of year 11. So this happened all the way through secondary school yeah, she's been like this. I asked her at year 11 because I noticed a lot of them were going to see each other and shit. One second. [preparing to light the REDACTED]
Was that the last time you saw her? I think I've seen her twice since then [lighter flint noises]So... Yeah, 11 comes. Man, I asked this motherfucker "Yo, like... What's up with you, man? Do you not like me or something? Why do you hate me? What's going on? You always acting bare weird around me or just being rude or some shit, you know? Giving me some attitude." She just goes, "I'll be honest. I just did not like you, man." And I was like, "Why?" She's like, "Man, I don't know. It's just like... It’s just something about you that I didn't really like. Like every time you did something, I was always there like, "Oh, this guy, man. Why is he doing this?" She full on hated me. And she had no reason to!
She told me during that year 6 end of year trip, she saw me breakdancing, she saw everyone was around me cheering me on, and she said she hated that! [laughter] She said she- That’s some hater shit! [laughter] Just watching from the sides [laughter] That's the exact thing I was imagining! Yeah! When you first said breakdancing, I'm thinking she's just there watching you breakdance, doing your shit. She's like, (hatefully under breath) "Damn… I hate this man." Bro she's like, "I hate this n*****, man!” It's like that meme yeah, that guy in the corner of the party saying nobody knows I got ricks on or something like that, yeah, she was doing that thinking (hatefully) ‘nobody knows I hate this n*****’ like [laughter] watching me breakdance. And she said to me, yeah, "Because the breakdancing was so shit and you thought you were so good." I said, "raahh!" I was in year 6, bro. Why are you hating on me so much? I was literally just living my life. At that point, I thought my breakdancing was alright. I was a kid I didn’t know any better and nobody was there to tell me otherwise. I had people cheering me on, like saying that my shit was alright. So... I had no reason to think that I was shit! I was just purely enjoying my life. And she was like, "Yeah, I don't know, man. Just you init in general I just didn't like. You just always annoyed me." So I said, "Ah that's fair! I can't change that. That's fair. Cool. You do you.” And we ended it civilly, though. There wasn’t an argument that was just her opinion. I said, "Blessed. Cool." And I was walking away thinking why? [Laughter] And I was just like, "What the fuck? Why?" And then I was thinking to myself, "Alright, there's just nothing I can do about that situation." She just doesn't like me. There's nothing specific I've done to her. She just doesn't like me, my character. And that's fine. I can't force anyone. It’s fine. It's Fine By Him. It’s Fine By Me. I can't do nothing about that, really.
One sec. [dashing the REDACTED]So, um... There's nothing I can really do to change other people's opinions on me and that's kind of wild because I didn't do a single thing. It's purely just my character. And also, that was me who was the most confident. The most proud to be Thierryna, you feel me? Like, I was rocking my shit, man. I was making hella man laugh. I was break dancing and pissing off people, you feel me? I was out on the playground playing Assassin's Creed, bro. I'd run up to my classmates, yeah. Like, randomly, I would just grab them! I was doing that! I remember one time, yeah. I had this one friend, Evelyn, yeah. Oh my gosh, God bless her, innit. But um, actually don't God bless her. She kicked me in the nuts in year 3, bro. Fuck her. That’s deep! [laughter] But I think, like, year 5 or some shit, yeah, me and Frankie again init; Primary school, Frankie was my boy. And then, me and Frankie were chilling near the garden, part of the playground. And we went, like, under the bench and shit, innit, where people sit and then, we see evelyn walking in, yeah. I think she was probably with her friend, Claudia at the time. And we come out, and from behind… “Assassinate!” [Laughter] It's funny, bro. It was funny as fuck, I don't care! All you hear is "AHHH!" I wasn’t no better bro I was doing kamehameha’s and shit. I was there too, innit, but like I dropped a level, I said fuck it, man. I'm assassinating man. [laughter] You feel me? You did them Naruto hand signs. Hand signs bro. Damn. You think the guy that assassinated Abraham started doing Kameham- [disbelief] nahhhhhhhh [laughter] Sorry, he wasn't about that. He wasn't about that. [Laughter] I be forgetting, man, times are different, innit? Time was different. Time was different. Time Travel and that. Yeah time, time. Yeah he was not doing Kamehamehas in the 19th century. [Laughter] Nah, man, them man did not have nothing close to that. Nah, nah. Shiiet.
But, um... Honestly, just remembering stuff like that. And the times I'd be out with my friends in my area. Playing around, trampolining, whatever. Parkour, man. Cool shit like that. We were just always ourselves. And especially me, I was always laughing. I was always smiling myself, you know? So... When I think back to the confidence I had, so that's what I want to say when I'm confident. And I say 50/50. When I'm saying I’m confident, I'm thinking back to the younger me who was 100% confident. Right now, I'm confident to a degree, I keep saying, because it's just certain scenarios that I'm not 100% in anymore. I really think about stuff too much. And I put too much pressure on myself, you know? I'm my own enemy sometimes. Back then, I only had one enemy, and that wasn't me for a fact. That was literally the girl from my school.So... That's why I would say I realised that in my early music days. So, I dropped music, started working more music, and incidents happened, of course, which prevented my music for a tiny bit. But... I was trying to work back and make more music, dropping stuff, and then there was just more pressure on if I sound good or not.
There was the confidence lacking, you know, I wasn't there for myself. So... I started thinking to myself, "Why is that? Why is it that I don't think I can do this?" Why... Why is it that me, myself who used to be my biggest cheerleader is now doubting myself the most? So, I had to go then, think back onto those times where I was a kid, and think about the things that I was doing, think about how I was thinking, and the life I was living. ​So... What it really did come down to it is, I was just happy. I was just... I was doing things that made me happy. I was enjoying my life by talking about things that I enjoyed, which was, at the time, comics, anime, games. That's that. Those are the things that made me happy. I was playing, I was acting that. I was everywhere, just doing and talking about shit that had, like, close... a close relationship to me. So... I then decide to go back, go back to that, you know? I tried to continue to be invested in the things that once brought me joy. And they still do. I wasn't as involved as I was before, growing up. Now you have less time to really watch the anime as you want, movies, or TV shows, or go to a certain place, and, I don't know, buy some merch, or buy some some good-ass books. Good... I don't know, games even. I don't really be gaming as much at all. So, I started getting back into everything. And I realized, slowly and slowly, I just started being more happier, because I'm doing things which make me feel good. So, that was really the process of how everything came about, like, how I was dealing with everything. I had to just go back on myself and think what made me happy.
How much of that initial experience with that one girl had its part to play and how you went about this?
I would say she definitely opened my eyes up to the possibility of people not liking me for me. Like, I really, like, I think at the time when I was younger, especially secondary school, if people didn't like me, it was maybe because of something I did or said. And maybe sometimes I didn't mean the shit I said, um.. And it really upset them and then that kind of closed us off forever. Or we kind of fixed our relationships. Like, you know, start being friends again and etc. That I was fine with, you know. I did something to them. That's a valid reason. But for someone not liking me, purely because of… just me, that was a shock to me, you know. It was a big wonder. Like, damn. So then, yeah, that just helped me with music. Or it did affect me with music, I would say.
I started thinking of the possibility of how many people are just not going to like me now, that I'm dropping certain music that's not touching their taste because I have friends who don't like my music. And one friend, she said she doesn't like to listen to my music because she knows me in real life. She has good and heartfelt conversations with me in real life and listens to my music and she doesn't feel like that's me. She said I sound different. And I said "How so?" "Your voice is much deeper, you're this and that." And I said "Damn." Because, like, what's wrong with my voice being deeper first of all? It's how I perform, you know. I have different voices for performance. I can go high, I can go deeper, you know, like… I have voices! I've been doing funny, silly voices, you know. I'm not just one set voice. It's not like one day you will hear me with one set solid voice. I be fluctuating. So, that's when it really hit me. Some people actually really not like my shit or like me. And I think they did hold on me for a while. I did. And then I fixed up on that and it got better. So, yeah, I just kept, like I said, the happiness shit. Working in yourself shit, you feel me. Like, just as long as you like yourself then that's all that matters. That was my main thing at the end.
(*)
So, on the other side of that, what keeps you pushing? What keeps you going? What is it about creating art that keeps you here?
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I would say because it's fun. I remember I've said to you before, like whenever you have asked me in general in conversation, why I like doing music and what really does keep me on the go. And I'd say because it's something fun that I like to do. Reiterating what I said before about doing something that makes you happy. This brings me joy, like… creating new stuff. I have a very wild imagination man. Like, I've always got shit going. I really do feel like some of them are shit ideas. But I really do feel like some of them are great. Some of them can be world changing, you know? Like top tier shit. So putting that on paper because I've never been good at putting stuff on paper. I'm great with the thought but actually applying that into practice. That's always been my struggle. But with music, I'm not going to lie, it's been fun putting it on paper. Going through the challenges, trying to make a song one way and then realizing you can't do it one way because at some point in that way, [someone nearby exclaims ‘where should we go!?’ ] man you go away, that's where you go. Sorry. At one point in that route of the song you're trying to make, you might find there’s this big ass challenge that's stopping you from doing the shit. Stopping you from getting specific sounds, etc. Samples.
[offers water bottle] Thank you. I appreciate that. Sorry, water break and that. Damn, water spilled on me and that. I realize you're doing a lot of speaking so yeah, defo need it, defo need it. Thank you bro. [elongated random vocalised noise that he made that I can’t type out] Word, ahlie? [silence]
So, I realized getting through the hurdles and going about stuff differently. Having to hit it at different angles and just try to get your end goal no matter what, you know. Which is probably just one song. It's just so fun. It really is incredibly fun. Like right now, I've started to learn producing. And I was doing stuff on my laptop this morning and shit was fun, man. I was getting samples from Devlin's Fire in the Booth with Charlie Sloth. I found this one other sample which I did, I was trying to like chop up and reverse it to get like a good loop goin. And bro, it was fun. I got something I really liked and I was gassed, man. I was really happy. So, this is why I keep going, this is why I keep choosing to do what I'm doing. Because I just find it so fun. And especially acting.
Acting is one thing that I'm so passionate about because to be in like a great movie. The right script writers, because some of these man are shit, I'll be so honest. They're so whack. To be in a good movie, good script writers, good directors. The plot is not ridiculous, you know. Man, I'm trying to think of a movie, but it's too many movies to think of that are just stupid. But to be in a movie like that, it would just be amazing, man. Would be amazing. Because, I don't know, it's just like the whole process of acting. Being another character and portraying it as best as you could. Bringing that person to life, you know. It seems so fun. I really love doing the voices with music and in my day to day life.
Imagine I can just, imagine I was homelander, you know! [laughter] backlash on that certain side of twitter [laughter] Ah man, fuck that I don’t care! If I was homelander, I’d merk them. Serious. [laughter] But as the actor of homelander, I would be, you know, just, oh man, the faces he pulls! Oh my gosh, man. It's like, I'm not even going to say no spoilers because obviously man like Rohit, yeah. Man like Sun’s First Rays out here thats me! doing the umm, he's starting to watch season one, init. He's a bit slow, little pussy, init, nahhhhh! but like, I'm giving him some time. I’m giving him some time. It took him ages to start the show bro we’re at season four, he just started season 1. Ages. It did take me ages. But, yeah, there's like, stuff in like, earlier seasons, yeah, Homelander's like, maybe doing laser eyes. And the intensity of his face when he does the laser eyes. Evil. He looks furious, but he enjoys it at the same time, you know. It's just, the fact that someone can just pull off that image. So… not easily, because I know he definitely trained for that, but pull it off like that. And it looks perfect on screen, like it looks so beautiful. I'm genuinely thinking this is a- you think that guy is Homelander for real. You see him in real life, yeah, doing all the interviews. Sometimes you're actually thinking, ‘nahhhh, nahh that's Homelander just like doing quick interview as Anthony Starr, bro. Vought got him on a little mission. If he has his beard and his mustache, then it takes away from the Homelander a bit. Nah, It's the eyes, bro! The eyes, like he looks at you just dead eyes and you're thinking, oh shit, this guy's gonna fuck me up. But he's not Homelander, he's Anthony Starr! That's how good he is at acting. People think you're someone else. And it's hard, man. Literally, in X-Men, what's his name? Mystique. Bro, he's so gold. But [in falsetto] yeah, man, fun shit, man.
How important is fun to you?
100% important. 100%. I have to enjoy the stuff that I’m doing. And if it's something new as well, I would definitely do it to see if I have fun. If I'm not having fun, I'll complete it. But I'm not having fun, I'm not having fun. If I'm having fun, I'll complete it. But I won't do that again, probably, unless I have reason to.
With the stage that you're at now in life, with the beginning of your career, with things getting a lot more serious as we go into adulthood, how do you prioritize fun In conjunction with the responsibilities that come with it all?
What I would say is, obviously there are the main responsibilities that you have to go through with life, whether it's family and friends, work, and sometimes there can be a lot. But I really just try to, especially now, whereas beforehand when I did start music, I wasn't quick scheduling as much. I wasn't trying to put myself in certain places when I needed to be. Right now, especially at the stage, I'm planning. I'm always planning. I'm always trying to figure out next moves. I always just know my schedule first of all to know what days have important shit to do, my responsibilities, my chores. And for those off days, or for the hours that I'm not doing any of my responsibilities, I try to make those times as fun as possible. I try to make them stuff that I enjoy doing. I finish something, I think to myself, and I'm like, "What do I feel like doing?" And I'll just do it. Simple as… because I don't really feel like it should be as hard as that.
Maybe financially, yes. In that sense, it's tough. But when finances are in your way, that's when you have to go differently about a situation. You think about alternatives. Maybe you're thinking, "I want to go to the beach right now, man, it would be good shit, you know, like, it would be sunny as fuck down in Spain or some shit… I can't go to the beach, I'm broke. [laughter] I can't do that. I just can't. I've got to think about what I can do now. So me sitting at the beach, I want to see the water, have some peace of mind. [continued laughing] Why’d you say it like that? It's the truth though! I can’t go to the beach, I'm broke. (i wish you guys heard how he said it in person) [laughter] It's the truth, I'm broke! Like, I ain't got the money to be fucking going out of the country like that. Motherfucking, um, Cass, innit? Oh, my days. Bro, our friend Cass, she's like to me, “yeah, let's go Mykonos, yeah, fuckin’ Greece and that yeah, let's go see Travis Scott for one night and come back." Just like a day trip. I was kind of down for that. Until she said it was 300 pounds for the tickets. I said, "Bro, I can't do that. I can't do that. Money gets in the way a lot of times. It's just the world we live in. It's sad. Because I can't go to the beach, or Mykonos. I really found my alternatives. Cool, I want to sit by some water. Maybe I have enough money to get a train to Brighton. Or maybe I can bunk the train ooOoh. Maybe I can go to Brighton somehow and just go to the beach and enjoy it because it's gonna be nice waves down there. If it's a hot day it's gonna be nicer down Brighton Beach. If not, then I can go somewhere around London where there is less people and there's probably like a shore. There's always places to find. If you don't know where it is, go find that shit. We think, "Okay, water's here. Let me walk along it and see if I can find something." You know? Just like, try to find alternatives. And that's what I try to do in my life. If I can't do the main thing that makes me happy, I at least try to do what I can. That's literally it. Because any effort counts, man. That's my answer.
What are some of the happiest moments in your journeys thus far Artistically?
Artistically, I would say the happiest moments are completing a song. Like knowing that you finished it and it's good to the extent that you like it. So, yeah, you finish it, you wrap up, save the song and you're still listening to it back to back to make sure everything's good. Like you've finished like the last, like adlibs or whatever. And then everyone listen to it. And you're in the studio like, "Ayy, ayy, ay!" Or you can even hear it in your room. But for me, it was a studio, yeah. Listen to a song, "Ayy, ayy, ay!" And like we're going off the whole song, rapping off it. Well, it's like vibes and bass hitting like crazy in the studio. Those are one of my happiest moments because once again, that's something I enjoy. I enjoy listening to good music with big R speakers blasting and like ripping my ears, you know. I like being in that environment. So, being in that environment and listening to my own song, that meant a lot to me.
And for like people close to me to enjoy it too, that meant a lot to me too. That it really did. And obviously it's fine if people close to you don't like the songs. But when they do, it's amazing. It really does feel great. So, it's just nice. And like another great moment too is when other people who I generally don't know random people from like wherever ends know. They just hit me up and be like, "Yo man, I found your song in TikTok." "Cause I must have been posting a video." "Yo, that's shit hard man. Keep it up bro. Literally, I think you can do that shit for real!” I'm there like, “damn man. Thank you. Like I have no idea who you are, but thank you. You've made my day because you just had to go out your way, message me on Instagram and be like, "Your shit fire." That's a great compliment man. So those are literally good moments in my life. When I enjoy my music and how people enjoy it. Man, there's a lot of love in that.
Could you pinpoint, let's say, a couple of like standout ones? Like, specific memories of being in a moment, describing what that moment was like.
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I would say there's one guy yeah, I met him down my road, init. I think he was coming from the studios. And then I just approached him and he looked cool. I see his fit, he has nice hair too. I was like, "Yo, um, sorry to disturb you man, but like, my name is Thierryna, I make music. So is it alright if I could just maybe share my stuff with you, you listen to it on your own time and just, you know, see how it is?” And he said, "Yeah man, for sure." He took my Insta, took my Spotify, and he hit me up on Insta, yeah, and he said, I remember he was really emphasizing how good, how well he enjoyed my music. So he said, "This is goood, like, this is fire man! Like seriously, keep this shit up! Like, keep dropping some shit, I'm gonna be there bro, like, for real, this is some fire. I'm gonna try and keep up with everything!" And I was just so heart filled, I was like, "Bro, thank you, this means the world to me, all this, that." And he even told me, because I think he left, he was only in the end for a little bit. I'm sorry if I got the country wrong, init, but he was either from Lithuania, Russia, I don't know if it's Lithuania or Russia, but he said he showed some of his boys back at home and they're vibing with it. They're saying, "Shit's hard bro." So remember you got fans here in Lithuania or Russia. I'm just like, "Daaaaaaamn." I think I saw that on your top countries once. Yeah? I was like “How's that happened?” Boom. Bro, I can't even tell you. That shit's amazing man, I really loved that, man. That guy was so nice. Yeah, that really touched me. So that's definitely one moment that stands out. Shout out man, like, man-like. He's got a K in his name somewhere, I remember that.
If you could pinpoint the most fulfilling moment you've had as an artist, what would it be? Can you describe that feeling and what does that mean to you?
I can't tell you the most fulfilling moment. I feel like all moments just stand out. They all just make it up for one big thing. Like, if it's a movie, I can't say, “This is my favourite scene.” I love the whole movie, you feel me? So that's why I really can't give you a specific time or a stand out moment that was most fulfilling where I felt, "Yeah man, I've made it or I'm going big." I really am just enjoying the whole thing. That's what I would say to that.
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On maybe just a surface level, modeling is typically an inherently collaborative pursuit, with the task of representing the creation of another, in most cases, in what their ideal image of said creation would be. Acting is in most cases similar with the caveat of drawing on your own experiences and emotions to portray those of the role you're doing. How do you approach bringing someone else's creative vision to life the same way you would with someone else's creation in fashion and someone else's creation in film or theatre?
Acting. What I would say to that is most importantly just listening. Like, really listening to the individual. For example, me in the studio, I'll maybe try to explain how I want a song to go about. And I also don't know how to get the right words sometimes, especially with terminology, with music. It was tough at the start. But I tried to explain that to my brother. And he would do something and it wasn't what I wanted. And I'd be like, "No, no, no, can you try to do this or that?" That was my fault for not learning to communicate properly. But I feel like if in the studio, if a person genuinely listens to me and how I say I want to go about something, that makes me happy. Like, because you're really trying hard.
I've been with, um… I think his name was maybe, what was his name, Ben? I think it was Ben. Man like Ben. I forgot his tag.(@zeo) But I was working with him one time. He was one of my early collabs with music. I'm not sure if you remember, but it's the guy who went to visit down in Wimbeldon. Oh, yeah, yeah. The producer. So he sent me some beats online that he had. I fucked with him. I think we met in the Len discord init? Oh that brudda, he’s cold! He's cold init. So we were just chatting. He said, "Yeah, come through Wimbeldon, come through to my accom yeah, just vibe, make some shit." Went through, tried to make some shit for real. I would say he did listen to me for most parts. And there were some parts where he didn't listen to me. And that's on me because maybe I should have spoken up a bit more. And said, "Nah, man, I said I wanted to do this, do that." But instead I stayed quiet a bit and I let him run with it. And most of the vision did come through, but not fully as I wanted. And that kind of tore at me. It kind of felt like I'm missing something now. So when he did listen, like, we were having fun making shit, you know? Like, we were really on a roll. So I really did enjoy that session with him.
So for me, when it comes to doing other people's stuff now, I need to listen to other people. I ask them questions on how this person will probably react in a situation. Or how would you want me to pose wearing this certain garment? Like, would you want this part of the jacket showing? Or would you want me to stand up this way? Because maybe if I had crutched down, it might, you know, it might encase some of the clothes. You won't be able to see really some of the detail. So it's really just asking their opinions, asking how you can help them. So that way you can go about it the best way. You're not upsetting anyone. You're really trying to just help this individual bring their creation to life, bring their passion, you know? You have to just listen to people, I would say.
Quick side question. What does modelling bring you? Because, the nature of it, which is that it's someone else's creation and not yours… Creatively, or maybe even not creatively, whatever it might bring you… what exactly is that? Can you describe that feeling?
So, what it brings me despite not being my creation? Yeah. Honestly, so modelling anyways is a passion of mine, something that I'm interested in. So that's why first of all, it's bringing me something. It's bringing me some kind of a... Enjoyance, you know? Some entertainment there. But I would say what modelling brings me in general is… in a bit of an egotistical way, it makes me feel good. Like, I don't know, modelling, like I'm just out there maybe when someone else’s clothes, maybe doing some specific shit, doing whatever. And I feel like I look good, you know? As long as I think, I mean, no, there's some pictures where I've looked horrible, but sometimes it really does bring up my confidence when I model more. It makes me feel like, yeah, man, I am a good looking person, maybe. Especially when I'm feeling down, you know, like, I'm thinking, yeah, I'm good looking. I have done modelling, people thought my face was good for their product, you know? I'm good, my looks are good for something, you feel me?
So, yeah, there's just been like tough times with my self confidence. I feel like modelling kind of boosts, it really does boost my ego. But it's not to an extent that you should be worried about, you know? It's not like, look at this egotistical prick, you know? He thinks he's hot shit. [Laughter] Nah, man, like, I'm just chilling. I'm tryna feel good about myself, you know? Me feeling good about myself means I feel good about my life, so I'm kind of happy with that, man.
Now, having been involved in the music scene for over a year now and having met fellow artists in the scene, what can you say about the landscape of music right now, speaking on both the 'underground' as well as the wider scope of the scene?
Just a note, this brother put quotation marks on the underground. I don't know why he's hating, but... No, I'm not hating. It’s just that ‘the underground’ is kind of not ‘the underground’ right now. Okay, I get that. I do get that. It's like, it's own mini mainstream, you feel me? So that's kind of interesting there. Okay, okay. So what I would say is, I'm fearful of rappers dying. I am fearful. I just came in to start rapping. And now I'm seeing a lot of rappers who I enjoy and who I saw growing up and they're not doing the same anymore, you know, like they're kind of cheeks right now. Some man’s flow are kind of wack right now. The songs that they’re putting out are not vibey, they're repeating the same methods and shit.
Like, me personally, I'm gonna say this is an example, like, Lucki. I like Lucki a lot. I came into him like a year and a half ag- pause. Oh my gosh! Oi! Oi! Nah, nah, nah, no! That was crazy. No, um... I wanted to continue but like shiiiiet… I was thinking as soon as you said that sentence, I was like, is he going to continue? There's no way he keeps it pushing after that one. [laughter] Nahhh! Nah, that one is nuts.
It's like, two months ago I did that. A year and a half ago. No, actually, I was... I found out about Lucki in secondary school. Oh shit. Oh shit, my phone ringing. It's my mother. Sorry, pause the interview. Hello, mama. [pause as he talks to mother] [starts rapping] Back to the topic. Quick, let me drop it. Ask me the question one more time. You were talking about Lucki if you want to carry on. Yeah, cool, cool. Lucki, yeah. The question, if you want to hear it again, is... I know, I know, I got this! Don't worry! I gooot this! I got this! [laughter] So Lucki, that n*****. [laughter] So, nah, because I found out about Lucki in like, maybe year nine. I think I saw his song in- year 9!? Yeah, I saw his song in an anime edit. I thought, yooo, this is a hard song. I think it was Sunset. Literally, Sunset, I heard it in an edit. And then I heard... I started looking at his soundcloud. I think I saw another song, yeah. Uhh, what does it go like again? It was one of his older songs. It has like a... It has like the sun somewhere. I don't know what it is. Some dark cover, the sky and that. So, yeah, I had like two Lucki songs from then. And then, obviously I tapped out because I was just young. I was listening to a lot of people back then, innit. And then I come back to Lucki and I’m fucking with his shit. Like, I finally listen to the album that the song's from, that I listened to back in secondary school. I'm like, yo, man, this is crazy. Beats. Crazy. That guy has good beat selection, you know? Flows here and how he's like going about his business. Crazy.
And Lucki now, we are at... what was it? Gemini right now, yeah wiith Lucki. And Gemini is cool. That's all I can say about it. It has songs with nice beats and cool flows. But it doesn't move me the same way. Lucki doesn't move me the same way he used to. So, all I can do is catch a vibe. I'm not wild anymore. And I feel like that's how it is for a lot of people because they're finding their lane. They're finding like... Well, it's not bad to find your lane, honestly, but... They're just finding like a method to go by. It's like a TikTok algorithm, you know? They're just sticking to their algorithm. And it's kind of sad, man. I want to hear new shit.
Len is definitely an example I should use for the underground because he's UK underground. That n*****, man, that n***** Len music good. I like it for real. So, following his music, I was very happy. I'm like, "This is a n***** who's gonna blow for sure." He's got potential. He's got the swagger, you know? That n*****... Man, I'm thinking Miles Morales, exaggerated swagger, you feel me. He's just good. You feel me. Sorry, I said you feel me bare times. But I think with his older tapes, he was always trying new shit. Every tape, there was new shit, man. And I really like that. There's one song on Days Before Interstellar. That's definitely a lucki fucking reference, Days Before. But there's a song called End of Me. I love that song, bro. [singing the song] I knew these times would be the end of me, the end of me. But who knew it would be the end of us? Look in the mirror, it's the end of me. Like, some heartfelt shit. He was trying some different vibes, you know? It was different sounds, every tape. And especially in those tapes, I heard about four different sounds. Like, it wasn't just one song that was different. Bare songs were different. It was good shit, man. And then Juggernaut dropped. No, it's not Juggernaut, it's not what it's called. It's an album with Juggernaut, innit? [singing again] Yo, yo, acne coat and the skincare right. That was hard. I love that album, man. I love it. I think that was his last album before he started sticking to an algorithm. He dropped that and he started doing other shit, meth music and all that. They all have the same sound. They really do. Beats are different-ish, but same sound. And those who know would definitely know what I'm saying about that. They'll understand what I mean.
So, it's just... That's what I would say about the state of it right now, you know? Like, how it's kind of going. People are just taking it to algorithms. They're not trying new shit, man. And when people do try new shit, some people aren't here for it. And I don't blame them. We can't force you to listen to the new experimental stuff, the different rhythms. Because even me, I was you at one point. But, man, people really gotta get out of certain zones. If you do have one lane that you like, that's fine. But at least try have an ear in somewhere else, you know? Damn, bro. I can't listen to some of these man the same. I really can't. Like, you know I haven't touched my UK playlist in time. And I need to leave it like that because I can only come back to it like once every few months, just so I get a refreshing feeling. If not, I'm gonna get bored by the time I finish. And it's just sad. But, yeah, man, that's just weird.
Mainstream, them man just sticking with the algorithms too, man. I've heard- Ugh. Ay, J. Cole. J. Cole, I'm sorry. [Laughter] I'm sorry, man. I'm really sorry. I really am. Jermaine. Cole. What's going on, man? You're my n*****, man. I just feel like you're just doing some same flow, same type shit, man. You hurting me, man. You hurt- I was gonna reference Drake, but I can't even. But, no, Jermaine was cool, bro. Like, he had nice songs. Like, what's that one song? [singing] I see them. I see them. I- Something bells, bro. It was banging. And right now, I feel like around the last two years he's been having the same sound. That's kind of boring. What was that tape he dropped? That was dissing Kendrick. Seven-minute drill. Seven-minute. My broski. And then there was- what was it? He dropped that EP. What was that EP called? I don't know. It was the one with uhh- Probably gonna delete this or something. Yeahh! Probably gonna delete this later. Might delete this later. That’s what it was. Yeah. So, bro, those songs are ass, man. All of them. I'll be so real. Every single song I didn't like. But there's a song yeah, my brother showed me. I'm not sure if it's a new song, or if it's something that I just skipped at the time. I didn't skip any song, but I think for a fact, there's one or two songs I said I did alright, kind of like. But "Trade Truth" was... I think it's "Trade Truth" or something like that. "Trade Truths". Bro, that's good. That's a good song. I'm listening to it. I'm listening to the bars. I'm like, "Okay, this one I appreciate, man. I have a good feel for this song. It's making me enjoy life. It's making me think about certain shit. This one's a moving song. This is a nice type of song, you know? That's the first song I've liked from him in time. You feel me? Other songs are just vibes. Like, like, Caddy's song. I'm in the back, send me a- drop me the addy. I'm in the caddy. That's a 2K song right there. It's a 2K song. 2K ass song. I liked it because RDC were in that video too. Really? Yeah, bro, they were in the music video. They were geeking. They were like, "Jermaine! Cole!" It was sick, man. But that's the only reason I like it. That's it. I'm bored of the song. I got bored of it quick. Nothing's lasting. Nothing's hitting as it should be. But that's the game right now, man. That's what I'm saying.
What about outside of rap?
Outside of rap, them n***** doing shit different, man. I'm listening to more experimental stuff, more classical sounds, more rocky stuff. Like, a lot of people in other genres, they have good sounds, man. They're really going at it. I enjoy it a lot. And that's what I've been listening to a lot so far. I would say one guy, who I rate highly. Shout out to the London brothers." Mark William Lewis, bro. Ask my girl, I've been talking about that n**** every day, bro. She's defo jealous. Like, it's... man. This guy's cold! Fucking Cut Glass? [attempting to sing it] So cold. I want to do it. I want to do his voice but it's difficult! Oh, I can’t I can’t!. He's good, man. He's good! Simple passion. Fucking painkillers. Have you sent me this brudda? I've told you this- I’ve sent you this brother bare times, man. He's good. He has the harmonica, man. He's fucking hard. He's good. Are you sure you’ve sent me him? I've sent you him at least three times. What's his name? Mark William Lewis. I've sent you his songs for sure. I don't think I sent you painkillers. Painkiller is my favourite. [singing] 29, 29, teeth in my mouth. Never mind. Ha ha ha. Someone's got a tooth in my head. And he just goes to the most beautiful harmonica piece ever, man! N***** said, [tries to replicate harominca] I can't even do it, man! He did what? [Laughter] [tries again to replicate harmonica] I'm going to find a way to include that audio on the website. Please, man.
But, yeah, man. People outside of rap are doing nice stuff, man. Like, soul-moving stuff. And I really like that. But, yeah, I've been outside of rap right now, trying to improve rap. I've got to save this... Save the rap game, Ichigo! You have to. I've been saying this for years by the way. I know you have. And that's why I'm upset. I'm very much upset. I'm like, "Damn!" What's happened to the game? I love so much. It's a bit trash, man. You were talking about Lucki, I didn't want to see it. I don't want to see it.
Where do you fit in there?
Okay, where I fit in there? I would say... I'm one of them n***** who think they're the best. But they're really not, you know? Like... me for a fact, I know I can wash bare n*****. But I'm not there yet. I'm just not there yet. I'm still up in my game. I'm still practicing, learning. And that's the field that I'm in now. I'm in my training arc, you know? Come on training arc and that. I'm just... I'm trying to progress and trying to be better so that when I come back to my music, especially my EP, I want to... That way, I'm not as cheeks as all the other man, you feel me? Like, obviously when you hear my shit, you're going to think, "Okay, this is different, but it's not there yet." And the thing is, I want people to think and to really just stay with me. And to, like, how that one guy said yeah, from Lithuania or Russia. And how he was like, "I'm going to be there for that when you drop some shit." I want niggas to be there for the drops. I want to be to the point where you see my drop, I want people to think, "All right, cool. I'm seeing the potential for real. This is... It’s either ‘this is hard!’ Oh! Or it's either ‘Yo, this is kind of cold still. There's potential here. I'm going to stay by to see what the next thing is saying. So, see how this guy progresses.’ And I want you lot to see me progress. Because mandem are not progressing no more. You feel me? If I'm not progressing, come and slap me, bro. Like, and the thing is, you've got to tell me why you're slapping me init. Don't come and slap me randomly. Just be like, "You're not progressing n****! Fix up!" If you're white, don't say n**** though. But if you’re a black guy say that exact same phrase, you feel me? But, yeah, I want to be to the point where I'm progressing and I'm not standstill like these man.
Like, I've been saying, especially to you, yeah, I've been saying, "I'm going to take over certain games." I've been saying me and brother are going to be the next- what’s it called? See, I even forgot them n*****. They're that relevant right now to me. The next family ties. Oh, right. Yeah, Rohit is a Kendrick fan for sure. Yessir. So, whenever I say to him, yeah, me and brother, me and KZE shout out, yeah. @KZEWorldwide Instagram. Whentever I say to him, we're going to be the next family ties even bigger than them, man. This guy is a hardcore Kenny fan. He will just keep saying "cap." What??! Well, not cap in the negative way, yeah, but like, "cap" as in like, these niggas are cold. These niggas are cold, like, these are my guys for real. [shock and disbelief on face] You know I'm going to be up there, but you're there like, "Oh, I don't know about Kenny though." Because Kenny's your GOAT. I hear that. Kenny's definitely your GOAT. I never said that! What's this? No, you never said it like a negative, that type of ting. I never said you're not going to reach Kendrick! I'm talking about you right now! I'm saying I'm going to wash Kendrick. I'm going to get there. Oh, yeah, that might be tough. That might be tough. Yeah. So I'm not saying that he said it in a negative way, but like, he says it's going to be tough. And even me, I know it's going to be tough, you know, like, hopefully I can reach that one day. And with my will, my power, I'm going to reach, inshallah. Come on, man, praise the God. But like- He's a Christian. I am a Christian, innit but come on man Tower Hamlet's and that. I support my community.
But, yeah, so like, hopefully I'm going to be better than these, man, you feel me? And that's what I'm going to try to do. I'm not going to try to be like, everyone trying to do the generic beats. Oh, everyone out here in the fucking ultra trap beats, yeah. Like [immitates ultra trap beats] with the big ass drums [immitates big ass drums]. These type of songs, yeah. They're good vibes. But like, people are just doing that and they're doing that for the whole discography. What the fuck are you doing? Like, you've got to have some change. You've got to progress, man. Like, as an artist, you have to progress because that's just bullshit. What's the point of you making art?
Like, it's just sad, man. It really is fucking Charles Dickens. He didn't make one book about one character and keep the same character about everything. This guy did hella characters, man. Fucking, what's his name? Motherfucking, Jim Carrey, yeah. This guy creates, bro. He don't stick to just the mask. He is the mask, so he does different faces. You feel me? Like, he keeps doing different characters, different shit, different types of stuff. Truman Show. You’re telling me Truman Show and the guy from the mask do the same guy? That's crazy. That's kind of cold, man. It's good shit, like. You've got to be different. You've got to keep... You've got to keep advancing, man, because progress is everything. So that's what I'm going to say. I'm trying to be progressive. I'm not trying to be like all of these man on the stand still, man. I'm going up, boy. That's me.
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Number 5. What is your favourite snack?
I've got bare snacks, bro. Favourite one. I've got bareee snacks. Favourite one. Number 1? Number 1. I can't give you a number 1 though. There's gotta be a number 1. There’s not. There’s always a ranking. What's the top 3? Top 3, yeah. Right now, top 3 are Belgian Buns, Mr Kipling, Cherry Bakewells and Jelly Babies. (that’s 4) The yellow packet, Jelly Babies. The Haribo ones are cold, but the yellow packet ones that you normally get from any corner shop or Tesco. I don't know is it Maryland? I don't think it's Maryland. Cookies. I know that's what I was thinking but same brand though, maybe. I don't know, you know. Maybe. It has MA in it, Mary Something. Marry Seco. But Jelly Babies, lit.
What's the difference in your approach to each of your pursuits, acting, music, and modeling?
Always, in all of them, confidence is the main approach. But trying to battle everything as swiftly as I can. You know, going head held high, I'm wearing my knight's armour, you know. Knight at the round table type shit. Acting like I know what I'm talking about. You feel me? Yeah. Especially in these fields here, in acting or... Every field! Acting, music, modeling; When they start using big word terminology with me, I'm there like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Word. And yeah.” And I just try to go off what maybe what another person is doing. Or what I'm insinuating that they're saying, you know. So, confidence for me is the main thing. I have to go in right, I have to go and feel like I can take on the world. And I'm also gonna have fun. Yes. That's the main thing. So, yeah, just a smile on my face, chest up. Just going with what falls before me, you know?
So what would the differences be between how you would approach music, how you do approach acting, how you do approach modeling?
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For me, I don't really know too much about the differences. Like I want to say with acting, obviously I'll be rehearsing the lines and trying to get it right. Get the faces right. Get every movement, every repetition that I do. Get it in every sequence so I get like a perfect scene, perfect rehearsal. But then, at the same time that’s what I’m tryna do with music too. I would try to go over my bars, get the flow right so that way I'm not stumbling as much as I do in the studio. Kind of go with the beat and go without my bars so that I'm getting the sequence in right. So that way when I do record, I'm in sync, I'm in rhythm, you know. Like modeling. In modeling maybe I would go in the mirror, like try to pose, do like a few looks, etc. The looks are hard because I'm not going to lie, I cringe at myself a lot of times. But I'm trying to do some shit so I've got to keep going with it. So I wouldn't really say there has been any difference in how I approach any of them really. I mean I approach them just the same way I would say. Like trying to have confidence and trying to have fun.
Now, what's the difference in what each of your pursuits bring you personally?
What they bring me personally? Yeah. Okay. I'd say the only different one I'd say is modeling. Because acting and music, yeah, it’s creating something and seeing that come out and just enjoying it. That's what each different pursuit kind of like brings me. They bring me the joy of seeing something I've created, you know. Modeling, obviously they're taking photos, doing etc. And maybe see myself somewhere big with a good collab or maybe see myself just doing more stuff, you know. Like knowing that I am out there. I'm trying my best to give it all. And I'm proud, you know. Yeah, I would say that.
Yeah, like I know one of my goals is to be on one of those boards at Westfield. You know when you're walking on the bridge and you have the boards against the bridge, like on the walls. Or the one big TV board, like right at the entrance of it when you come off the bridge. Like I want to be one of them shits man. That's when I’d be there like, “Yeah, I’m in ends bruv! Like see, mandem know my faace! They come westfield and be like, "Is that THiErryna!?!" [laughter] Like, you feel me? Yeah, that's cold. That's the only difference I would say. One of them is a bit more egotistical. That's it. I reckon you could even do Times Square mate. Times Square man, watch it. That would be crazy. I ain't got the money to go out there to take a photo with it but I'll ask someone that's there. I'll go there at some point.
What to you is the importance of the art of acting?
Man, the importance is... wild. I want it to be one of my main roles, like sorry, my main occupations. So I want to be a big actor acting in many films and series… That are good, you know. I want to portray different characters, bring alive individuals who were once just on piece of papers and have even their creator be proud that I did it well, you know. And then have the audience be amazed and wowed. Like, "Damn! That nigga is good! Hey, someone give him an Oscar or some shit!” I don't care about an Oscar, to be honest. But like, if people are rating it, then I know I've done a good job, you know.
So, what was the question? What to you is the importance of the art of acting? So, honestly, the importance, I would say, is like... Man, the importance of acting is honestly just... What is the importance of acting? Okay, okay, okay. The art of acting. It's important to me, I would say. It's... I want to say just the ability to act. Acting as it's itself. The ability to... Do everything I've stated previously. The ability to move, to create… and to wow, you know. Like, a good actor, wows. A good actor impresses… Even themself, you have to. So, I want to be able to amaze myself in my accomplishments. I want to be able to... I really... Okay, I really just want to make good shit. Because I feel like there's a lot of bad shit. There is a lot. I would say that. That's definitely a big importance to me. I just want good products in the world, man. Good content. Because some of this stuff is brainwashing. It's rotten. It's just garbage, man. They're putting it out just for Ps. What show or movie are you going to put out just to make money? It's just so I can get some audience. But they're not putting it out for the purpose of creating something good.
What the fuck are some movies like Madame Web, you know? [Laughter] Like, I've got to say it. Like, I know a lot of people are hating on it. I wasn't trying to be one of those people, but I have to say it now. Madame Web was ass, man. Mobius is ass, man. Guys are putting up... Hey, I'm going to be so real with you, man, yeah? Venom's a cool movie, but it's not as good as it should be. It should be way better. I rate Tom Hardy. He's the guy. He's the guy, but Venom could be way better. Maybe Tom Hardy got the right mandem in the team. That's all I'm going to say. Maybe Tom Hardy is the team. If you are, yeah, I'm sorry, brother, but... Man, you could be... It could be cold. You could make some good shit. If people really sit down and try to invest, do your research about certain stuff, man. How to make something have its full potential. No one does that no mor- some people do, but not many people do it as much as they should. People are just money grabbers here now, and it's just pissing me off. We need more people who are willing to create good content. And I'm going to be the top of them!
So, You then, as an actor, who sees it for the art it is... What would you say its importance is to the world?
Entertainment’s everything, man. I would say. My girl showed me this TikTok the other day. No. It was a YouTube video. This one lady yeah, she had like 320 views, 47 likes. My girl was the 47th. Like, it was low vision. Not many people have seen it, but she was spitting facts about entertainment. Humans are kind of like trapped in entertainment right now, you know? Yeah. We kind of need it to function. Whether you're watching something, when you're doing something, or listening to music as you... I don't know, walk. We need something to supply us and assist us as we go about our time. And saying that now, I also think that's not a bad thing.
Entertainment really does help a lot of individuals. Movies make people cry, you know? And movies have moved me mentally to think differently. And to go about certain stuff, you know? How to act properly. I would say I had my mom, luckily. I had my siblings help me grow up as I was a young child, you know? Because I didn't have a... I’m kind of separated from my father, so we didn't really have him around. So everyone obviously says, "Yeah, you need a father figure in your life." I never really needed that because I had my family and I had entertainment. I learned a lot from movies, from TVs and animes, etc. These things are world-changing. They educated me on how to be a proper man, on how to talk to people, how to go about business. My mom obviously starts with the manners, but the movies, when they give you a cool character, and he's a right gentleman, you know? He's treating everyone nicely, like the women, the men, the kids. Like proper respect, and people respect this person. I know a lot of people probably thinking about Godfather and shit right now. But that man’s a criminal, you might not admire criminals, but still, some people really just push you to be better. You see them and you're lik- man, they just change your life. They really do. It's phenomenal. So that's how I would say it, that's how big it is to say, for me at least.
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Well, technically, the next question you answered in that last one; it was, Where do you want to be?
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I want to be up there. I want to be up. You don't ever want to come down. I don't ever want to come down, because, like… And the thing is coming down isn’t me falling off, you feel me? If I do ever come down, that's just maybe I'm doing less stuff, because I’m at a point where I'm just living my life now. I've done all the stuff that made me happy. I've done bare acting stuff. I've done bare music, bare modeling gigs, you know? I finally did the Calvin Klein in the boxers. The mandem seen me in the Bruce Lee fucking lean body ting. You feel me? I might have that body by that time. Just you watch. I'm gonna be that Bruce Lee shape, bro. I'm gonna be in the boxers, yeah, slike, "Yeah, Calvin Klein. Come get it." You feel me? So, like, once I do all of that shit and I'm able to be with my girl, living life comfy, like in a nice space, away from civilization, like just doing my thing, off the grid, yeah, so the government can't catch me pussy. [Laughter] Just doing my ting, man. That's when I'm gonna be blessed, you know? There's no fall off, you feel me? Like, I don't know why J.Cole named it the fall off as well, because I don't want him to fall off. I think he's taken a jab at people saying he has fallen off. Yeah? I think that's what it is. Alright, cool. So hopefully he hasn't fallen off, and this fall off is gonna be banging like he says it is. But I don't ever wanna fall off, because I'm not gonna fall off. I'm gonna keep progressing, keep going up. There's not gonna be a stop. I'm gonna do all the shit that I want to do and then I'm gonna live my life. I'm gonna go off, Thanos at the end, I'm gonna sit, and I'm gonna just look at the sunset, bro. That's the shit that needs to be, bro. I'm gonna be J.Cole on the beach just living life.
What do you want to leave?
What I want to leave behind like life and shit? Honestly, the same thing that other people left behind, just inspiration, motivation, and just good entertainment for yourself. Good music, good acting, and good pictures for anyone to look at, you know? Like, oh shit, man, it's gonna be nice if someone goes, "Damn, that was your dad when he was younger? Your dad was leng!” [Laughter] Like shit like that, you know? People can look back and be like, "Damn, he was the guy, for real. "Like, he was doing his shit. "He made this thing, and that really touched me. "He was in this movie, and he was good in that movie.” Like, even that is good for me, you know? Someone to just be like, "Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm not gonna lie, this guy was my favorite character, man. I feel like his acting was good." Stuff like that, man. That's what I want to leave behind. I wanna leave behind just good content. People to enjoy their lives and for them to also progress.
'Cause I don't want to just be the guy who does everything, does well and like, fucks off. I want to be there for like, the next generation going onwards and continue, continue, you know? Some people's music lasts. People still listen to like jazz from like time ago. 'Cause their music's phenomenal. Beethoven and that, bro. Like, literally, that's where my name, Richtofen, comes from. So I got Richtofen from Black Ops and I got Beethoven, two German n*****. 'Cause I'm German myself init. My nationality is German. So when I was a yute, I was like, yeah, these are like, these are two characters who I think are big. Richtofen moved me in umm- I think it was Blood of The Dead init? Like, when he died, I was like, "I'm not gonna lie, this nigga was evil as fuck. He was with, like, the German mandem during World War II, like, he was a bad guy. But like, his death and his progress yeah, it did move me. Him saying, he didn't want to go, he didn't want to die. That shit, that lasted with me, bro. So like, for a character to progress and for a character to be great in the end, that's what I want to be, that's what I want to leave. And I want to leave that for other people to then see that and want to be great themselves and to push other people to be great. You've got to keep motivating other people to have kindness, to have love and to be the best that they can of their potential because if we don't, we're gonna fail as humans, man. Humans have to progress, humans have to be better than what they were. So if we're not, we're wasting our potential, man. That's what I want to leave. Mandem got to push their potential.​
Might be exactly what you just said! But what message do you want to give to the people?
Okay. My message to people, bro, everyone has potential. We’re all God's creation, even if you don't believe in Him, we are a creation. We're in this universe at this time, with the technology we have, with the people we have, with the environment that we have. Like, people that live in cities, you can do anything in cities. People that live in the countryside, you can have more fun in the countryside than you can in the city. It just depends on the person. But what you have should never be wasted. Everything you have around you, you utilize that shit, man. Try to be the best. Try to find what makes you happy, and just go with that shit, man. Try to use all that potential you have, and don't waste it. You have so much potential as human beings, as a creation, as a part of the universe, which is so much greater than we understand. This world is complex, bro. Whether you believe it's Big Bang or God from Genesis, like, we were brought in here. We have gifts that we were born with, you know? We have a brain that developed yeah, and our brain is stuck with certain shit, certain habits, certain patterns, certain hobbies. Bro, use those interests, you know? Use the skills and the knowledge that you have. Better that, and try to better yourself. Don't waste your potential, you know?
There's a quote, I will say this. I personally don't know if I created this quote, or if someone else said it. I might have seen a quote from someone else, and I might have developed on that. But, someone said we are a part of the universe so we are the universe experiencing itself. It's a good quote, man, honestly. That quote is beautiful. But what I got from that quote is, oh my gosh, yeah, I was chilling with a guy I'm no longer friends with, no more, yeah, but we were all talking about, literally, that, we're experiencing it self. And I said to myself, because me, I see life as art. I see life as like one big, Vincent Van Gough painting, bro. Like, it's beautiful. You can look at the sky, you can look at a fucking building, water, anything, a person. Life as art, human body is the greatest art piece ever. So if life is art, therefore, we are art. That's my quote there.
So view yourself as art, have the responsibility to push out art in any form you can, whether it's love, or whether it's a creation, like music, or invention, such as, you know, being mechanics, et cetera. We have that in us to then push forth more. Life is art, so therefore, we are art. And that's what I'll leave you with. Please ponder on that and try to be better.
