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

Hi fxlln, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
When I was around 8 or 9 years old, my mom showed me the DVD of Michael Jackson’s Dangerous Tour in Bucharest. That’s when the magic hit. I was instantly mesmerized by every dance move, every song, the vocals, the visuals—the entire spectacle. Before long, I became what everyone around me called “Michael Junior,” learning every step, every lyric, and picturing myself on stage in front of thousands.

That, along with my introduction to hip-hop music in middle school, led me to dream of becoming an artist with a legendary catalog, unforgettable performances, and a presence that would inspire others to be great. What really solidified this as my calling was when I started writing songs about my trauma—my personal struggles that I knew others were hiding or trying to mask with self-destructive behavior. I realized that if I could make as big of an impact on someone’s life through my music as my inspirations have made on mine, then this was what I was meant to do.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art and the way I express myself best is through my music. I write, record, engineer, and sometimes even produce my own songs. The two genres I work with the most are hip-hop and R&B, with influences and experiments in future garage, house, rock, and pretty much anything that sounds good enough for me to write to. I feel like what sets me apart right now is my approach to music and the way I compose it. I love adding little surprises within songs to throw you off, or even turning an entire boom bap rap song into a soft rock ballad halfway through. I love genre-bending and adding my own touch to my music.

In terms of subject matter, I’ve been exploring topics that I feel aren’t covered in mainstream music. I speak on traumas that a lot of boys/men don’t usually open up about, hoping it can help the healing process for anyone who has been through similar experiences.

It was never easy distinguishing myself from my inspirations. I had to draw a clearer line between inspiration and imitation, making sure I could pay homage while still being original. In my most recent album, I opened up about the most traumatizing experience of my childhood, and that was one of the hardest times I’ve ever spent writing music.

I’ve been blessed enough to learn from failure, not let it discourage me, and never walk away from what I love the most.

I want the world to know that my intention with music is to bring love, unity, healing, and fun into everyone’s lives. It’s okay to cry, especially for men and boys—I feel like they should cry even more. We should all express what we feel and not let trauma cloud us to the point of giving in.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love hanging out in Burbank! If anyone came down to LA, explore Burbank! There’s this really cool spot, Catnip Coalition Vintage Mall. It’s a really cool vintage shop with these adorable cats that just chill there all day. One of my best friends, Orlando, works there and he’s one of the sweetest most amazing people you’d ever meet. That whole strip is full of cool thrift/vintage shops and a Porto’s for some food or dessert. For food spots, in Sylmar, there’s this taco spot called Angel’s Tijuana Tacos, it is BOMB. If you’re looking to shop for records or even catch a live show, The Midnight Hour in San Fernando is a beautiful spot with amazing owners who inspire change and equality with their messages. There’s a lot to do in Downtown Burbank, so definitely hit that spot if you want to have a fun time. They have night markets over the weekend!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First off, I want to dedicate this to my mother and father, who have worked extremely hard their entire lives to provide for me and our family. I also dedicate this to my beautiful fiancé and our son, who we’re expecting this May.

Instagram: @_fxlln_

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fxlln?si=SQP01cVT7Npo2J2t

Other: On Spotify, Apple Music, and all other streaming services as fxlln

Image Credits
Photography by @thevanesamelemdez And @thisisrobjr

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