Meet Simplyrich | Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Simplyrich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi SimplyRich, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
A mantra I’ve recently adopted is “guide and be guided”. In my art and in my life, I often feel conflicted, torn between two options. After all, to live is to create, and creating is all about making choices. It’s hard not to feel like choosing the “wrong” option will be the end of the world. It’s hard not to feel like “my body” is telling me to do one thing while “my mind” disagrees. So what I like about this mantra is that it reminds me of my agency. The ability to choose can feel like a burden, but it’s a privilege. In reality there are infinite options, not just two. Giving space to hear out all sides (rather than deeming one “right” and one “wrong”) allows me to create options and ultimately make a choice I feel resonates with the complex aspects of my being.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is a vehicle for my thoughts and feelings. Music has a way of transcending barriers, packaging complex ideas and emotions and making the intangible real. It hits us personally while also showing us that we’re not alone. This is ultimately why I create.

I think what sets me apart is how I tap into the different, seemingly contradictory facets of being. This year alone I have songs about pining over an ex, enjoying the friendzone, appreciating white pedicures, reflecting on my religious upbringing from my current lens as an atheist, and so much more. Delivering these feelings through singing, rapping, and producing further extends my range of expression, which is fun for me!

One of my biggest challenges as SimplyRich has been wanting to be “further along”. It seemed like so many artists were ahead of me: they had bigger followings, their music sounded “better”, they received opportunities I could only dream of. The awareness of this gap was often very discouraging. However, as I’ve stepped my skills up (in how I write and how I engineer) and more finely defined my musical sensibilities, I feel a confidence in myself and my music that gives me a sense of security and presence with where I am and where I am heading.

The narratives we engage with affect us deeply. Don’t reduce yourself. Don’t allow yourself or others to limit who you can be or what you can do because of an aspect of your identity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Here are some of my favorite things to do!

yoga (Boheme Yoga in DTLA, R&B Yoga)
dim sum (I like Won Kok in Chinatown)
beach (Santa Monica and Venice, but not on the weekends lol)
concert at intimate venue (Grammy Museum, Moroccan Lounge)
Latinx night markets (great food, art, and music)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out two organizations and two artists.

Hyperflow (https://www.instagram.com/hyperflowla/) is a production workshop and community of amazing producers and artists; I’ve released multiple songs I made during these workshops (some of my favorites are King and Pool Party). Garnish (https://www.instagram.com/garnishmusic/) is a school with classes for producers, engineers, and DJs. The teachers are super kind and knowledgeable, and what I learned there has noticeably improved my skills as a producer and engineer.

Shoutout to my vocal coach and mentor, Erinn Monique (https://www.instagram.com/emoniquemusic/). She’s a professor and working musician who I consider #goals. My lessons with her have allowed me to release constraints I didn’t know I was putting on myself when I sing and write songs, making me feel more empowered as an artist than I ever have.

Also shoutout to my sister, Huck AKA GapEe (https://www.instagram.com/gapeemusic/). She’s a multi-hyphenate artist (musician, graphic designer, painter, model, photographer, and more!) whose artistry has demonstrated to me what it means to really live and identify with what you create. She also convinced me to become SimplyRich, so I wouldn’t be here without her!

Website: http://simplyrichmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyrich_music/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplyrichmusic

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0lSqXL1FCUm5L860lYyEgA?si=XDkNNR_ESW2TYl9s4BC3Ow
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/simplyrich/1510728284