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Note To Self: This Shit Is Real
89X was the first station to play Richy Nix back in 2007. I remember playing him for the first time on the 89X Homeboy Show, and all those listener emails I got saying, “Jay, what is the name of that song?”
So I decided to play “Note to Self” on the People’s Choice, and it won for 22 straight nights! Richy Nix recently inked a deal with Universal Republic, and within the last six months, he has been hard at work in the studio producing a new EP, Note to Self, which drops March 20.
Richy, you’ve had a lot of Detroiters’ support since you hit the scene in 2007, but many people are reading about you for the first time. So tell me a little bit about your sound and what you stand for as an artist.
My sound fuses rock, hip-hop, metal and alternative with a sprinkle of electro — hard to describe. Same goes for my influences; from rappers like Tupac, Eminem and 50 Cent to rock musicians like Kurt Cobain, A Day to Remember, As I Lay Dying — and more. What I stand for as an artist is a lot simpler. I’m real. I believe in love, loyalty and respect.
You were born and raised in Windsor, but obviously Detroit is a huge part of who you are. How do you compare Windsor to Detroit, in the sense of how both cities have contributed to your music?
I think the overall attitude … the toughness … is something that’s essential to Detroit and Windsor. The grimy rock 'n' roll attitude versus the street attitude. As far as the music goes, I think it’s a cutthroat business on both sides, and these are cutthroat times. May the best man win!
You started making music at 14. What was it about music that intrigued you?
I came into the rap scene first, freestyling. This was before 8 Mile came out and brought freestyle battles to a mainstream audience. I loved how aggressive it was, the competition between rappers. Every day I was freestyling, beating opponents, getting respect. But then a battle went wrong, and two of my boys ended up in the hospital. After that I decided to focus on songwriting. Bottom line: the battles weren’t winning fans over — just making me enemies.
Rap-rock got a bad name in the past years, but lately, different forms of rap-rock seem to be making a comeback. What do you think?
It wasn’t working because it was fabricated. Either it was a dude from the rap world trying to add the rock element, or vice versa. You need somebody who came up in both worlds at the same time! That’s what I did! You can sense the realness. Nothing here is fabricated. This shit is raw.
You have an EP coming out on March 20th called Note to Self. Who did you work with on this album and what can we expect?
I worked with Marty Bak over at SLR studios who cut the demos and vocals. I did full musical production with Elvis Baskette (Chevelle, 3 Days Grace, Incubus) and then sent it to Mike Barbiaro (Guns N' Roses, Metallica) to mix the songs. Everything sounds modern, cutting edge, alive, energetic and in your face!
Thanks, Richy — looking forward to the EP release show on 3/20 at The Crofoot in Pontiac.
No. Thank you, Jay. Thank you, 89X. Thank you, Real Detroit Weekly and THANK YOU TO ALL MY FANS! | RDW
89X Radio Presents: Richy Nix EP Release Party • 3/20, 7 p.m. • Crofoot Ballroom • 1 South Saginaw, Pontiac • 248.858.9333 • thecrofoot.com • $9.89 in advance; $11.89 with CD
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