My Interview with Red Vinyl Media

I conducted an interview with Red Vinyl's very own artist, Chaz Croaston AKA Pragmatic. Here it is!


What do you plan on accomplishing in the next five years with your musical career?

In the next five years I plan on hopefully being done with school. I’ve decided to go for my bachelor’s degree so it’s going to take a big longer then I had originally planned. I also hope to have my first album out with help from Red Vinyl Media and my crew from Crooked Creations. I also hope to have helped Red Vinyl establish itself as a working label for future students to learn from.

Who's your biggest influence?

Really my biggest influence is my friends, family and life in general. I have such an eclectic taste in music that it’s tough for me to pull a single artist out. I really love what Dj Quik does as far as his production and as far as hustle Tech N9ne impresses me a lot. I grew up with a mother that only listened to oldies and father that only listened to classic rock, so all that old school Motown and classic rock bands like the Eagles got there hooks in me too. I’m not ashamed to say that I can sit down and listen to classical music for hours too. One of my favorites is Sergey Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27: IV. Allegro Vivace to me it just really paints a picture which is what I hope to do with my music.

When can we expect to hear new music?

Right now I’m sort of in a rebuilding stage. I have a few things I’m working on with classmate Alex Staples AKA Toxic Waste. Mostly I’m trying to focus on getting the new podcast I’m working on with Alex set to our liking and spread the word on that. I’m also pursuing opportunities with new producers daily. So if any aspiring producers out there read this and want to help me out with a track get at me. I’m also entertaining the idea of lending a verse to any project that any artist out there would like me on. On that note though I don’t really do that bubble gum rap so if you’re trying to sound like Young Money you can just leave me out of it.

What's the best advice you can give to an aspiring artist?

Stay hungry, stay humble, keep learning because you never know everything no matter what you think, be open to new ideas, don’t take criticism from any producer or engineer personal they just want you to sound your best, there is no such thing as writer’s block so keep the pen moving even if you know it’s not your best work, and don’t give up because good things come to those who want it most.
P.S. if you’re feeling down and out about your career I suggest listening to Mack 10’s Money’s Just a Touch Away featuring Gerald Levert it always perks me back up.