Vancouver native alt-hip-hop artist Boslen released his debut album "Dusk to Dawn" on August 24. The project includes features from artists Tyla Yaweh, Vory, Dro Kenji, Rascalz and Charmaine.
In a recent press conference, Boslen opened up about his creative process and what went in to creating the album. He says he's inspired by artists like Kid Cudi and Kanye West who really took their time on albums. “You’re gonna find an individual being very retrospective,” he said. "We want it to be timeless and have artistic integrity."
In the beginning phases of creating, he only had three songs - "My Ways", "Vultures" and "Have You." The rest of the project came along from building on the theme of light and dark. "Finding that balance is difficult," he recalled. "Sometimes I'm really low, sometimes I'm really high."
He began working at the beginning of COVID in what he recalls as a bad space. "There were rats on the walls," he remembers. "I was going through a breakup. I turned that vulnerability into empowerment and tapped into a dark place." He says keeping his personal circle small really makes him want to work and makes it feel like it's not even work anymore.
Boslen first began dabbling in music when he was much younger. "I was the only black kid in school," he remembers. "I got called 'Jiggaboo.'" Getting made fun of for his high pitched voice took his focus away from music and placed his attention on playing rugby. After tearing his ACL twice, he decided to give music another shot. He says that feeling of defeat gave him more drive and a mentality that he feels sets him apart from other artists.
The moment he saw his mom get emotional and cry at his release party, he knew from then he couldn't stop. "My mom is hard headed, old school, he said. "So seeing her show that emotion really touched my heart - from there I never wanted to give up."
He admits to being very competitive and finds he sometimes compares himself to others based on what he sees online - which can be a gift and a curse. "Social media - it drives me and keeps me up at night," he said.
However, that competitive nature doesn't seem to be an issue in his hometown of Vancouver. While he says their hip-hop scene is still very early, everyone is friendly and supportive of each other. "When I say I'm from Canada, people always tell me 'Oh, I Love Toronto," he said. But he says there are so many talented people in Vancouver just trying to put on for the city.
As a kid, he was most inspired by Kid Cudi. He remembers "The Prayer" as the first song heard by the artist. "That song changed my entire life. Being a kid listening, I was tripping out," he said. He hopes his music can have a similar effect on others.
"I just hope they get inspired," he says. "I want them to hear specific things on the album where you feel like 'I'm not alone.'"
If you'd like to check out Bolsen, you can stream his music of Spotify and Apple Music.
Comments