The ultimate Malibu boy, Aaron Smith, better known as Shwayze, is back with a new summery album, ‘Surf Trap,’ with standout singles including ‘Hate Me’ and ‘Stuck’ with Cisco Adler.
‘Surf Trap’ marks a new chapter of a long and storied career, which began after Shwayze skyrocketed to fame back in 2008 with his single, ‘Buzzin.’ We caught up with him over the phone to discuss his newest EP, his writing process during quarantine, and how he chose the album name.
The Knockturnal: How are you? How have you been staying busy during quarantine?
Shwayze: Well I mean luckily I’m pretty much a homebody anyway so quarantine hasn’t been too bad for me. The good thing about it is I’ve been able to hang with my family, cause normally I’m traveling non-stop. I have actually been living in New York for the last two years; my son’s out there so it’s been nice to slow down and slow down on the shows for a little bit and just get some ‘me’ time. Start reading a little bit, start writing a little bit, you know? The album that I have coming out right now, ‘Surf Trap,’ part of it was done during quarantine.
The Knockturnal: When did you start working on it?
Shwayze: We started like a week before. I had my producer—who’s really really dope, we had actually made two records together in the past—fly out and we had this plan. He was gonna stay for two weeks. We luckily got the two weeks in. And when was it, end of March or something? The last few days, we were like, ‘Oh shit, don’t come in contact with people.’ But it was cool. At the very beginning of quarantine, and then during quarantine, we finished two more songs for the album.
The Knockturnal: What was your inspiration for ‘Surf Trap?’ And how does it feel to be back to promoting music again?
Shwayze: Well I came out with an album last year called ‘Beach Boy,’ and the songs in there were kind of a different mood. I needed a break up, to put a different feeling out there. I’ve been in LA a lot the past few months, and I just wanted to have a good time and mix my old style of beachy, acoustic vibes with doper beats.
The Knockturnal: What was your creative process like for this? How do you typically go about writing your songs?
Shwayze: Well this album, I didn’t have anything written before going to the studio so it’s kinda like when I go to the studio, Paul (Couture) pretty much gave me a pack of like thirty, or maybe even fifty, beats. We would just sit around and I would pick one for the day, and then we were just making a song a day for around two weeks. It’s rare, but I kept every song that we made for the album because normally a bunch of songs get cut. On this one, just because of the vibe and because it was all one shot, I kind of fucked with every song and we kept them all.
The Knockturnal: That’s amazing. And Cisco Adler—did you guys collaborate for this?
Shwayze: Yeah. The last few albums, I tried to collaborate with Cisco on a song. On my last album, ‘Beach Boy,’ we did a song too. We haven’t made an album together for a long time, but he’s still the homie, and I have mad love for him. Mad love for all the throwback Shwayze and Cisco fans because no matter what I put out, I still get a few of those comments that are like, ‘I miss the old Shwayze!’
The Knockturnal: Oh my god, well I remember your song ‘Drunk Off Your Love.’ In high school, my friends and I would play that song all the time.
Shwayze: That’s what’s up. That’s awesome. So yeah, the collaboration with Cisco is on there. We have a song called ‘Stuck’ on there, and that’s a really dope vibe. I really mess with that tune, I’m happy about that.
The Knockturnal: How did you guys come up with the title [of the album]?
Shwayze: ‘Surf Trap.’ Well, I was actually in San Diego with Couture and my boy Danny Way, a legendary skateboarder, and I was at his house recording. I just started freestyling on this beat, and I was just like, ‘Yeah, this is beach hot… surf trap.’ I was just rapping and I was like, ‘That’s kinda hard, surf trap.’ So we made the song ‘Surf Trap,’ and most of it is off the top; we didn’t write any of it down. It’s not my lyrical best, but that song was a vibe. Anyways, I made the song ‘Surf Trap’ and that inspired the name of the album.
The Knockturnal: I love it. Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
Shwayze: I’m independent. So I do all my songs with my label, FeelGood Entertainment. It’s just me and my small team. Right now, we’re just focused on a few more records and a pipeline, and there are a couple other artists I’m trying to develop right now. I’m really excited about all that.
The Knockturnal: Wow, that is so exciting. Who are some of your music inspirations?
Shwayze: It’s so funny, people think I’m so weird. I mean, for this album I can’t really pinpoint any because I don’t listen to music in my free time. But as far as inspiration in general, Chili Peppers were a big inspiration for me as a kid and grown-up. Anything Pharrell did, I pretty much worshipped when I was growing up. Early Kanye—still Kanye, but early Kanye was inspiration. Rock, like Jimmy Hendrix and Led Zeppelin and Bob Marley; you know, old classics that I listened to thanks to my grandmother. She would play a lot of dope shit. I got all that.
The Knockturnal: Yeah, I was going to ask if your parents and your family growing up was into music as well, or if it was something you got into on your own.
Shwayze: Sometimes my mom. But my grandma was always singing in the house and playing a lot of amazing music. She grew up in the Motown era and her brother, my great uncle, was a producer for Motown, so it was definitely always in the household. But I didn’t know I was going to do music. I thought I was going to be an actor, I always envisioned that but I guess it never happened. It’s not too late though, it’s not too late!
The Knockturnal: No, it’s not too late! And you have a son, right? Does he like music too?
Shwayze: Yeah, he does like music. It’s so funny because I always wanted to make sure I never pushed him in any direction, but he really has an amazing ear and an amazing singing voice, which is so exciting. He sings in the choir and the plays at school. He’s really into the arts, and he’s really good. I can’t wait to see what he ends up loving, but he has it in him.
The Knockturnal: That’s so amazing. Anything else you want to say to some of your old faithful fans?
Shwayze: Yeah, just much love. I have actually a couple singles that aren’t on my album that are really dope. I just did a feature with this guy named Todd Carey, a really cool artist, and we have a song out called ‘Matthew McConaughey’ right now. I also have a collaboration with this dope reggae band called Common Kings coming out on August 28.
The Knockturnal: That band name sounds so familiar.
Shwayze: They’re amazing, you gotta check them out. We have a crazy single coming out. I’m going to be releasing a lot of music and a lot of content, you know, taking advantage of quarantine because I have nothing else to do but make music and create stuff.
The Knockturnal: Which is perfect, because everyone has lots of time to listen to new music. It was so great talking to you and I’m excited to listen to ‘Surf Trap!’
Stream Shwayze’s Music below:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2OnKqwzhgooz5XfRuHCxqv?si=PRkPIt3WSz-uMHarbejrHw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtfu5NHoYP9LBEWKJp7ETJA
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/itsshwayze
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/shwayze/270838920
Social Handles
FaceBook: https://m.facebook.com/shwayze/
Instagram” https://instagram.com/shwayze?igshid=15x4pdx3d2i81
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/shwayze
