Interview With MUGEN! The Human
Hunter:
To start, one thing we gotta talk about is your kind of transitioning from being like, a "bedroom artist" with that stuff and then coming and working in a studio like this with an actual label. What's that like for you? I mean—because it's gotta be a relatively weird transition working with AEMMP in a studio like this while also recording your other material on your own.
MUGEN!:
Right. Exactly. It's not a bad weird. It's just like a new weird, because like, this isn't the first time I've been in studio or even this specific one.
Hunter:
Yeah (laughs).
MUGEN!:
But it's like, the little stuff that can make the biggest difference, like the way my voice may sound when I record at home. And then I get in here. I mean, it's a completely different atmosphere. Completely different stakes. So just trying to get used to that is this is more of like a development thing if anything. And it's good. It is definitely needed because I do what I do well. But this is like the next step that I've always worked toward. Like I said I do what I do and it is what it is. But it's definitely good to give more experience under my belt. Actual studio recording.
Hunter:
Most definitely. Can we talk for a second about what collaboration does for you as an artist? I know that's pretty big considering the number of people you work with.
MUGEN!:
(Laughs) I mean, it is big, you know. I think it especially is for me because like—and I try to say this as humbly and as straightforward as I can.
Hunter:
No, talk your shit, go ahead! (Laughs)
MUGEN!
I'm going to be real like, I'm kind of all over the place with my sound. So like being able to collab with different people depending on their sound always allows me to grab from different bags or just try something new. So with PostnJimmi, I get to sort of rap in a form of hip hop that really does speak to me more than any other style. Nonetheless, my solo song is like trap. It's completely trap.
Hunter:
Yeah.
MUGEN!:
And I'm hoping with Piwa and Cellar Door—when we get to work—I'll be able to explore the R&B side of me. So more singing and my soulful side. I think it's me at my best in a lot of ways.
Hunter:
I know a lot of artists I think that feel the very same way.
MUGEN!:
For sure.
Hunter:
It really is cool. Because hearing those other people and their sounds can just bring out something new in you as an artist. They can put you on the right track. And like, while it may not be where you end up eventually, it makes you more well-rounded. It makes us more versatile.
Hunter:
That's a good word for it.
MUGEN!:
Yeah, I mean, but I understand what people mean when they say it's cocky for artists to use that word to describe themselves, but I really don't mean that. Like, I'm a guitarist before I'm a rapper—like no matter what. The way I'm going to approach hip hop is going to just be different because I didn't start out being a rapper and hen turn into a musician. I'm a musician first. And even still, I'm probably not a total "hip hop fan" when it comes to me like liking music. If anything, I'm more of an alternative R&B fan before I'm a hip hop fan just because that's how I came up. Just, exactly like you said, we're all just hearing anything new or anything different and that's always gonna push your sound no matter who you are.
Hunter:
In that case, who would you say are some artists that inspire you the most right now or have inspired you along with your career in music thus far?
MUGEN!
So like, back when I was playing guitar when I was younger, I was on Gorillaz and John Mayer a lot. So I know those two did. Of course. Yeah.
Hunter
Damon Albarn is the man. Dude’s kind of a genius.
MUGEN!:
A GENIUS, brother! Everything from John influenced me, just like on a musical level—on a guitarist sort of level. People sometimes don't want to give him that credit because he could be a bit of a dickhead at times in the past. People need to give that man his dues. Give that man his dues!
Hunter
Hard agree. He's incredible.
MUGEN!:
His style of playing is ridiculous. And then even with Gorillaz, with what they've done in terms of always pushing the sound of music with every single project they have while also breaking the boundary of, you know, not having their physical persons by their persona for their artistry like that? It just blows my mind. That's one of the things that inspired me to, like, take my name from an anime.
Hunter:
Honestly, it's something I think I'm scared to think about for too long. (Laughs)
MUGEN!:
(Laughs) Getting into the mind of somebody you know—somebody like that. I mean, it's just—it's so genius that it's almost crazy. And those two just back in the day to even now, those are definitely like they'll always be my biggest influences. But rap wise, I mean I didn't feel like this when I first started out. But because I am so versatile, I guess as humbly as I could say that I think Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, those are probably like—Childish Gambino too. Those are probably the guys when I'm at my best that I can be compared to the most.
Hunter:
That’s dope. It's like a modern, really West Coast-heavy sound.
MUGEN!:
Yeah, you know what I'm saying? I know—I'm from the East Coast. It's really weird that I have that sensibility when it comes to the beats that I choose when I tend to choose like, it's very east coast. I love i—... I prefer Biggie over 'Pac. I know a lot of people don't like that. But just in terms of sound, like of course I'm on the East Coast all day.
Hunter
Low key I can definitely agree with you.
MUGEN!:
Sometimes I think it just depends on where you're coming from.
Hunter:
Honestly, I think one is more of a storyteller. And the other is like, just so fucking in your face.
MUGEN!:
Yeah, yeah. Even even though they're both kind of in your face in their own way.
Hunter:
I find it harder to ignore Biggie. And I think as an artist, that's a really valuable trait to have.
Hunter:
(Laughs) Anyways, one of the things you pride yourself on as an artist is your ability to operate outside of a studio like you're working in right now. Whether it's on your device, like in your room doing whatever, how has that shaped, you know, where you are, like right now?
MUGEN!
Yeah. Every time I thought, "all right, this is the last time I'm finna use this shit, I'll be in the stu every day", like, here we are. I'm still at home every now and then on my phone making my music I think is giving me my own lane. I'm not the first to do this. Obviously Steve Lacy has done it at a much higher level. But I think, you know, seeing him alone just proves that like—and this has turned into my saying—no matter where or how it's made, it deserves to be heard. You know what I'm saying? And I feel like the fact that I'm able to perform and get in front of people physically has coincided with the fact that the stuff that I've created on the iPhone, all things considered, is at a very high level. Just considering the type of technology that I'm utilizing, the fact that I can literally make something that sounds either somewhat or completely industry level with an iPhone and Apple headphones. That notion is ridiculous. Yeah, but I guess if anything, I'm proof that like if you really want to just sit down and put the time into anything, no matter how you create or what you're creating. You know you can really like, I guess, make your mark. You know, what's real, is gonna always catch on. And like I said, I think the physical part of that with performing, I think that's helped it pay off also.
Hunter:
I mean, that's like so so true, what you just said. Like, it seems like nowadays if you ask like engineer or producer at any high level in the industry, they're just gonna say whatever works, works.
MUGEN!:
Right, right.
Hunter:
You know, it's almost like, as weird as it sounds to make a song like that—like on the phone with headphones. As weird as it sounds, that's almost like what's appealing to some people. I don't know, it's like that sort of accessibility drives the whole thing.
MUGEN!:
Yeah. I mean it's like I said if you have the tool, why not use it to its capability. Every time I make something new, I feel like I discover something new that I didn't know before. And that's the thing. Every time I told myself I was going to put it down, I discover something new. So there's no reason to completely get rid of it. And I kind of want to be like I said, I want to show people that this can really work. Somebody is going to do it better than me, but I'm making it work right now and I'm able to develop the same way anybody in a studio can do.
Hunter:
What is one thing you want people to know about what you're doing with AEMMP over the next few months?
MUGEN!:
For real, that it's never too late because this is my fourth year here, despite the fact that part-time, so I'm not a senior. It's my fourth year here and I actually at one point thought that this was gonna be my next step. Like years prior. And looking back, Nah, I was not ready. Like I had some buzz. You know, I was doing some shows but like, I just think sound-wise. No, I was just not ready. Experience wise, I was not ready. I want to show people that, like, it's never too late for you to "get recognized" by either the people that you once recognize you or just by people that you don't expect. If you put in the work, you're gonna get recognized and you're gonna be able to, you know, have the access to the resources and opportunities that you want. And I want everybody to know that, like, I'm still going to be 100 percent me. I'm going to of course stay in the lane of AEMMP make sure that the things that I create are as much within the culture of Columbia as possible while, not losing my own personal identity and my own musical identity. Yeah. I just want to show people that you can be different and you can create things differently, but that recognition will come as long as you stick with it and you just work hard. It's a little cliché to say, but I mean, it's true at the end of the day.
Hunter:
It's real, though. Anything else you'd like to say before we go?
MUGEN!:
Yeah for sure, I want to shout out Cldwaterr for his production on the AEMMP project. For real, people don't know this but Cld is gonna be the greatest producer of all time one day. I stamp on that. I stamp on that.
Hunter:
I'm quoting that for sure. (Laughs)
MUGEN!:
(Laughs) Hopefully, I'm right. But I'll make sure he follows through with that so I don't look stupid.
Hunter:
Word