There are producers that conform to the popular motion but then, there are rebels who create their own motion. We Are The Tay is definitely one of those producers. He understands that his instrumentation is more than the music by creating an artistry that is cohesive with strong branding. With his undeniable wit and talent, this Detroit native is a visionary who will not only captivate you, but humor you as well. Get to know the man behind We Are The Tay.
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Bria: Let's rewind to the days of Young Tay, an offspring of Detroit. He awakens in the morning and the first thing he does is:
Tay: Young Tay wakes up in a bunk bed above his little brother, on the second floor he shares with four other siblings. He goes downstairs to make a CD of beats that he stayed up until 4 AM creating, and songs he downloaded off Kazaa [P2P music software program]. Then, he treks through foot high snow to wait in fifteen degree weather for the bus to school.
B: Growing up in a cultural mecca such as Detroit, what aspects did you admire the most? Which did you despise the most?
T: I loved the car culture in Detroit. Old school cars would ride by with trunks rattling to the rhythm of the bass. I loved figuring out which song the person was listening to by hearing the trunk. What I hate? Well, in Detroit, I was kind of a homebody. I purposely sheltered myself because when I did step out, away from the beat machine, I got into trouble. I was a good kid, but I hated that all it took was walking down the wrong street, or talking to the wrong girl, to have your life be in danger. The one situation I did get in was over a girl. It was stupid.
B: What is responsible for cultivating you into becoming a producer?
T: My brother really. I always thought it'd be cool to make a beat, but my brother showed me the program [software] he used to actually do it. He was/is a highly skilled rapper as well. I just wanted to be as cool as he was/is.
B: Conceptualization seems to be a large part of your brand; even the artwork for your projects is impeccable. What inspires the concepts for your music collections such as Girls Like Kings, Cool Under Shadows, and the rest of your repertoire?
T: Stories. I'll come up with a crazy story in my head, write it out, and then figure out how to put it in music form. For instance, Girls Like Kings wasn't about girls at all. At one point in my life, I had gotten complacent. I was working at CVS [retail pharmacy] and all of my dreams were fading each time I rang up a cigarillo and pregnancy test. The album was me reminding myself that I'm talented and worthy of realizing the dreams I had. I had to work hard to pull myself out of that situation, and I wouldn't get rewards (i.e. girls) until I did so. I had to be King, so I could get the girls. Because Girls Like Kings. Get it? Yeah you get it.
B: Your production is versatile throughout every element that you create. What separates you from the majority whom choose redundancy over diversity?