Hailing from the Midwest, Finding Novyon has become a force in the hip-hop industry. The 25 year old rapper has gained international recognition for his #TheFoodNetwork album and has shared stages with popular artists such as Big Sean and Rae Sremmurd.
On Wednesday, Red Bull Sound Select opened the stage for Finding Novyon to perform along side hip-hop duo Shabazz Palaces after the premier of his new single “I Can’t Lose”. The Knockturnal sat down with Finding Novyon to find out more about his music career and his Red Bull Sound Select performance.
How did you get your start?
I started at a very young age, like at 14.
In High school, I just came home from school and I recorded in my basement ever day and from then on I know I wanted to be a rapper. Also, in my city, Minneapolis, there was a hip hop artist that had this organization going on in the community called the Hope Community and he would like have young artists come through to his studio and he would teach us how to do rhyme schemes or teach us how to formulate our own songs and stuff like that and every year he and this show and he my very first show when I was 14 was at 1st avenue where prince did Purple Rain and everything so that was kind where I got my first kinda break.
What’s the inspiration for the “finding” in your name?
Honestly when I was 19 I had this girlfriend and it didn’t work out and at the end she was like “do yourself a favor and find yourself” so I kinda just used that as inspiration to actually do something good with my life and change my life around and do something to make people proud of me but also I feel like as an artist, or just as a human being in general, your’e in a life long journey of finding yourself so I feel like throughout my music it’s just an expression of me finding myself and figuring our who I am as a person.
Tell us about your new song “I Can’t Lose”.
So, I worked with Sony Digital about a year ago November 2015 flew out to LA for my very first time and spent the week with him in his studio and “I Can’t Lose” was one of the last songs that we made out of the four that we have but ti was particularly one of the songs where he was like “okay we made all the turn up songs, we made all the party songs. Let’s make something that actually comes from your heart and means something to you ” and within the lyrics it’s very simplified, but what I’m saying at the moment and what it meant for my city and where I’m from it meant a lot. We just flowed honestly. It was cool.
What separates you in the hip hop industry?
Well, from the start, I produce my music. Not all of it- but my most popular songs are produced by me. I mixed all my music for a very long time. I feel like I’m very DIY and self sufficient. I really don’t rely on anything, I don’t have a manger or PR or anything. I really pride myself in doing everything myself and having that drive and there’s a lot of other talented artists within the industry but I feel like they don’t really work that hard. Like, they get placed in certain situations. For me, I just do it myself.
What does it mean for you to be a part of Red Bull Sound Select?
Well, where I’m from it means a lot because artists like me never get the opportunity to go places like this, or do things like this, or meet artists of this caliber, or work with anybody that has like these legacies so it gives me the opportunity to start my own legacy and do something great for where I’m from.
Which artists would you like to work with in the future?
Kanye West, of course. Drake of course. Any body who’s popping. Just whoever’s hot honestly. I like whoever’s poppin’ and whoever’s got their own lane and doing their own thing.
Anything else you’d like to say?
Just keep looking out for me and keep expecting me to grow and keep making better music and become a more comfortable person and to really improve.
Interview has been edited for clarity.
Nicole is a contributing writer for The Knockturnal. Find her on social media @NcolAlexandria
