GET FAMILIAR: Rivan C.

Rivan C. is a young emcee who has been getting praised here a lot lately, so it was definitely time for a proper interview. As expected, he's an eloquent and thoughtful cat. Just about everything else about this wide-ranging talk, however, was surprising. Well, except for the part about him being a serious, savvy student of both music history and music business. There are a ton of gems here. Enjoy.

VTHH: To what extent did your dad's music collection shape the artist you are today?

Rivan C.: My dad has had me listening to all sorts of music since I was a little kid. When I was in elementary school, he would make me write research papers on artists like Sam Cooke, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, etc. The papers I wrote were absolutely horrendous, but the interest in discovering new types of music left a lasting impact on me. His vinyl collection is gigantic and he’s put me on to some gems that have certainly played a roll in the music I make. I don’t make my own beats yet, but when I start, I’ll have a gold mine of samples just waiting for me to tap into.

VTHH: Your music is such a fluid journey through different eras of rap -- but do you have a favorite? Is there a particular point in time you think influences you the most?

Rivan C.: Not really. My taste and my interests are always changing at a pace that I can’t keep up with. That’s kind of the reason why my projects tend to have such a wide assortment of different styles. One week I’ll be super into UK garage, the next I’ll be into chopped and screwed. I take a crack at making a song in the style of whatever I’m into at that moment, and if it’s good I just go with it.

VTHH: What is your creative process like in the studio? Are you a home booth type dude or do you go somewhere else to record?

Rivan C.: When I have a song I’m super passionate about putting out there and I know it has potential to do well, I try to record it in a studio so that it can sound it’s best. However, studio time can be pretty pricey for a full-time student like myself. I do a lot of recordings in my room with help from my homie Sam Mark (shoutout to @sam.mark.music).

VTHH: I love the energy and sharp lyrics, but what I really love is how cohesive and consistent all your projects are. Do you have a larger loop you share your tracklists and demos with when you're laying out albums, or is that is all just your own third eye horse sense?

Rivan C.: It’s hilarious that you say that, because creating cohesive projects is something I struggle with the most in my opinion. I’ve always had a hard time making songs with the intention of connecting them all in one EP or mixtape. I usually just make songs that I think would work well as singles and then try my best to make them connect after I’ve finished writing them.

VTHH: That last EP was such a sharp turn from the laid back vibe of the 2nd Teenage Apollo tape. What are you cooking up next?

Rivan C.: Right now I’m pretty focused on making high energy music. When I made Teenage Apollo Vol. 2, I was like a freshman in college and had only performed a handful of times. I made “Rewind “and “Elevator” after performing at a couple of basement shows and I took note of how the audience reacted to what songs I played. igotthejuice is a lot more energetic because I made a lot of those songs with the intention of performing them live so people could dance, mosh, and let loose. I’ll always make laid back music because it comes to me naturally, but I’ve been putting a lot of my focus towards making music I know people will turn up to.

VTHH: It seems like the BTV house party circuit is a completely different orbit of artists than what people see going to Nectars or Radio Bean. Is that accurate or am I an old, old man?

Rivan C.: I mean it sort of just depends on the age of the artist. I could understand why a musician in their 40’s wouldn’t want to play at a basement show. All of my music friends my age are fully equipped to do both though.

Usually when I do a venue gig it’s with the same people I do house shows with and then a couple of the older cats that have stayed rocking shows. Vermont artists are super versatile and can easily rock both. Also, you’re not an old man yet!

VTHH: Has the success of 99 Neighbors changed the way young hip hop artists in BTV see themselves? Do you feel like the national market is a more realistic goal, or at least, more accessible now?

Rivan C.: I think it definitely gives Burlington artists hope. Their continued success reassures our dreams that it’s possible to make a living from rap music. I don’t think their success makes it any more accessible though. They managed to make the right connections at the right time and took full advantage of them.

In my opinion, Vermont will never be able to consistently put rap artists on the map, because there are not enough people invested in the music business of hip-hop here. I’ve been looking for a qualified manager for like three years… it should not be THAT challenging. I am eternally grateful for the connections that I’ve made in Burlington over the past 4-5 years though. The people who genuinely care about creating dope hip-hop in Vermont, are what make this place livable. We just need more of them.

VTHH: In the talks I've been having around doing the Vermont Hip Hop Awards, one thing that keeps coming up is how the scene can sustain itself and keep growing. Do you think the older generations of 802 hip hop artists are doing enough to provide opportunities for young heads?

Rivan C.: I wish some of the older generations of hip-hop artists would put more young artists on bills with them. It can be a real eye-opening experience to perform at a larger venue, but a lot of young artists aren’t given that opportunity until they’ve been at it for a good few years. Es-K, Konflik, Rajnii, and some other artists from Burli gave me solid guidance and opportunities from the jump, which is one of the reasons for where I’m at right now. I can’t really speak for other younger artists though, It seems like there's somewhat of a divide. I’m not really sure who’s supposed to make the first move.

VTHH: You've built up a lot of momentum so far. What advice do you have for rappers trying to create a buzz around Burlington? What are the mistake s they should avoid at all costs?

Rivan C.: A lot of our rap idols will tell us that we can accomplish our dreams if we believe in ourselves enough. They also mention that it takes a lot of hard work, but they always fail to mention what that work actually looks like.

In my personal experience, you can’t make it as a musician by being just that, you have to be a hundred other things. Learn how to be a multimedia artist early on, and you will progress much quicker than those who stick to one job. That includes being your own booking agent, your own publicist, your own graphic designer, your own producer, your own social media manager, your own whatever. Like I said before, it can be pretty challenging to come by good people in the music-business in Vermont. You can fill those gaps by playing their roles.