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Behind the Music: A Late Night Chat at the Blind Barber
In the dimly lit back room of the Blind Barber, where conversations flow as smoothly as the spirits, sits @namedintro in a post-show reflection. This intimate setting, tucked away in one of Nashville’s most distinctive venues (@blindbarber_nashville), provides the perfect backdrop for an honest exploration into the mind of one of Music City’s emerging voices.
From early musical roots to how cannabis fits into his creative processes, iNTRO gets real about his journey, influences, and how he balances it all. Let’s dive in.
1. Can you tell us about your musical journey and how you ended up in Nashville?
My musical journey goes way back to my earliest memories. Growing up in Nashville and my musically inclined relatives, I was surrounded by music—playing African drums and picking up whatever instruments I could find around the house, like the piano and trumpet. I started writing raps in middle school, but it was in high school, during my audio production class, that I learned how to record myself. That’s when I really began to take myself seriously as an artist.
2. Who were some of your early musical influences growing up?
This list can get pretty extensive but I’ll try to narrow it down for you. Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, The Weeknd, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley and Jonny Craig. I grew up around my uncles so I found myself listening to a lot of what they were listening to, which helped mold a lot of my taste and broaden my palette.
3.What role does cannabis play in your creative process?
I have no problem saying Cannabis plays a big role in my creative process. Not in a way that I need it and can’t create without it, but more it’s just become a part of my routine. Whether I’m prepping while listening to beats, or I’m smoking while I’m mumbling ideas, the ways cannabis benefits my creative process goes on and on.
4. How do you balance your personal life with the demands of a music career?
Balancing my personal life and career has been a struggle and I have no shame in saying that. Especially as I begin to grow more and more in the creative space and see more success, my discernment is constantly tested. I’ve found that I thrive the most when I fall into a good routine. In my personal life I make sure I continue to do the things that bring me joy such as the gym, watching films, listening to music (without the thought of if it will fit in a Dj set), or playing video games. I tend to “lock in” to a degree that can almost be debilitating, so I have to make sure that I make time for the other things I love in order to make space for creation.
