Jul 314 min read

NAS 10 Questions with KROSS KID

This time on the NAS 10 Questions we get to know KROSS KID, a one man show who produces, records, mixes and masters all his own works. Based in Ontario, his diverse influences include Rage Against the Machine, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Gob, Bigwig, right through to Killswitch Engage, resulting in a hip-hop/rock fusion

The track "Throwing Paper Jets" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.

Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:

https://www.newartistspotlight.org/playlists

1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario which is right on Lake Superior. I have been an active musician in our scene since 2004. This is a big year for me musically and have a number of solo and collab songs in preparation for release. This past Father's day I opened for Canadian, hiphop-allstar, Merkules, which was awesome to add to my resume.

2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?

I think it was really just accepting that music needed to undeniably come out of me. Which started as a youth. I started playing acoustic guitar and getting into heavy metal vocals. I had recognized that I could scream similar to the popular NU-Metal bands of the 2000's era, which quickly made my presence valuable to bands in the music scene.

I had always a love for radio. Putting together mixtapes, cd's and playlists for my friends and family was a fun and regular task for me. I could always find the newest and rarest tracks before they even hit our small town market.

In high school I took a video production course which introduced me to audio production and creating instrumentals which I really took to. Programs like Sony acid and Garage band helped me learn the building blocks for music creation.

𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?

I tend to fall back to the influences from social outcasts. I grew up listening to music from HED p.e., Disturbed, Papa Roach, Rage Against the Machine, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Gob, Bigwig, Killswitch Engage, 36 Crazyfists, A Day to Remember and so many others. I couldn't help but get excited when I heard an artist that could cross genres or play an event like the Family Values tour.

Aside from music influence, I'd say lots comes from pop culture, movies like TMNT and Ghostbusters from the 80s/90s, and political and social issues that we face today!

I also must include my family as they all have a great influence in my creative process and how things all manifest.

4. What are your goals in the music industry?

I'd really love to be a successful touring artist. There are so many great festivals across the world and I'd love to share my messages with the wonderful people out there.

Canadian tour, US tour, and European/world!

I would also really love to get my music in tv/movies/video games.

5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.

Usually I'll build an instrumental first and feel it out and give it a funky name which sets up the song theme. I love creating a progressive sound that you can truly feel. Something that'll bring on emotions. I also try to blend genres together and make sounds that aren't common but flow well together.

6. What is your all-time favorite song?

Thats really tough. I wouldn't say I actually have a top track but more like a collective of tracks that shuffle through. I love dynamics in music and sounds that push limits or genre boundaries.

7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?

It wasn't directly music-related but it was tech-related. I had a college Professor who was real tough. The course was building computers from ground up. We had to assemble the whole machine the correct way and then install the operating system. He provided a set of instructions in paper form that were exact to what would appear on the computer screen.

Here comes his advice which was basically all he would tell us if we had questions.

"READ THE SCREEN"

When it came down to the instructions on paper or information like errors we encountered on the screen, all the answers we would need were found on the screen(or on paper the predecessor to the screen).

It was a hard lesson when that is how he answered the majority of our questions.

The takeaway was that I could find the answers to whatever I needed to in life as long as I kept looking and reading. It's really just right in front of me. I think without learning that tough lesson I may not have overcome many of the obstacles I have in music. In most instances such as beat creations and even playing guitar I am self-taught.

8. Proudest accomplishment?

I am grateful to have been the opening performing act for many of my favorite artists, some of the most iconic musicians this world has seen. Some of the most notable artists I have shared the stage with are Madchild, Merkules, Darkest Hour, Unearth, Suicide Silence and August Burns Red.

9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?

Back when I was playing guitar in a metalcore band called Bleed For Summer, we had entered a battle of the bands.

We were known in our city for having an entertaining stage show, unafraid to actively move around and roxming out hard while performing.

I had just kicked into the air with my guitar above my head while in a musical "breakdown" I had my own breakdown....slipping on my own patch cord and falling right on my back mid-song. We continued to play and rock the show. Ended up with a solid 2nd place.

𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.

A few years after my old band Bleed For Summer had ended, we found out a member had passed away in a tragic vehicle accident. He will forever be an inspiration and in our hearts.

I had taken an almost 10 year break from music in that time frame. Which gave me recoup and rebuild time. It's helped me become where I am today.