Going against the status quo tends to be the arc for most popular stories. From the book Catcher in the Rye to even the most recent Top Gun movie, the characters of these tales have all broken the rules or found creative ways to think differently and own it. The same is true for Miink, a London R&B singer that is unlike your run-of-the-mill R&B singer. As an artist, Miink leans more on the darker side and touches on scenarios not commonly heard in R&B. From songs like āScorched Mothā and āYellow Dustā that focus on breaking bad habits, to the ominous visuals he chooses to accompany his music, Miink is as original and forward-thinking as they come both within the R&B and production space. His drive for innovation and novelty makes him the perfect fit for our latest commercial. We chatted with Miink about his work on the StockX production, how he fosters creativity and individuality within his community, and what continues to influence his authentic ideas.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
StockX: How do you ensure that youāre being as authentic as possible through your work?
Miink: I maintain my authenticity by not complying with narratives pushed on us as the standard- by realizing there are a number of ways things can be done and not necessarily just by the common formula. Weāre often pushed mainstream ideas as the only option and I always ensure I go against the grain to get the result that I know in my heart is what I and others like me need more of.
Who or what has inspired or influenced your personal style?
The never-ending search for something rare influenced everything I do.
Why do you think itās important to own your personal styles and interests?
Without owning your style who really are you?
How has boldly embracing yourself, your own interests and personal style, made you feel more empowered as a creator?
Embracing myself gives me ultimate freedom. I donāt feel any pressure to conform. I believe there are a thousand ways to go and while a lot of people will take the same route, the alternative routes make everything more interesting and the results unique. Being unique will make you stand out and to me thatās more important than blending in with the norm- being forgotten as just another of the masses.
Of course standing out can also make you a target, alienate the less secure around you and make people doubt you but when the reward at the end is far greater, being bold pays off and itās worth taking that risk.
How do you feel like you and being your own personal self has given you the opportunity to create spaces for others to be themselves in your own community?
Itās difficult for others to see another way if no one will take that first step. Iāve always enjoyed digging and finding the reference of the reference and upon digging deeper Iāve found my interests getting wider. I believe itās important to introduce people around me to new ways of thinking or things they wouldnāt have necessarily come across before. Equally, I believe itās just as important to be shown new things from others and consider their perspective. I like the idea of sharing and exchanging to help grow collectively. Blending pieces from everywhere creates something truly unique.
When going about creating the music/visuals for this commercial, what made you come up with this sound?
After a back and forth, testing out different pieces of music to the visual we landed on an unreleased song that seemed to fit perfectly.
How did it ultimately make you think about StockX and our messaging?
In my mind StockX is for the people who want a little bit more. They want something different, something out of the ordinary. The things that you donāt come across every day are far more interesting. This way of thinking fits perfectly into what I do and made me feel perfectly at home.
How does working on this brand campaign link with your style of music?
StockX is all about finding that piece that isnāt easy to come by, and I never want to make something that can be found anywhere by anyone. My music goes against the status quo in a lot of ways and is for those people who donāt want the norm.
Youāve worked a lot on music that accompanies a visual medium. How does the creative process change when youāre creating music that also lends itself to a visual narrative?
Even when Iām not creating music for visuals, my music is visual. Sometimes people can get hung up on a certain aspect of a song like a single lyric and not consider everything else. Mood and feel are more important to help aid a visual narrative and make it more powerful and evocative. This for me is the most important aspect.
How did that play into the work youāve done on the Own It campaign with StockX?
For a campaign about owning your own style it was important to use a piece of music that felt different. Those who get it will understand the music. Those with the confidence to own it will get it.
How do you imbue your music with the values that you find important?
When everything comes from the heart and reflects your true feelings you donāt need to think about it. Feeling is the most authentic thing you can do so my music always comes from a place of feeling.
Did you feel like you were able to exercise that while working on the music for this project?
The whole team working on this project was of a similar mindset and that makes working on things way easier. We were all on the same page and nobody was closed-minded enough to shoot down ideas before they were fully exercised or at least considered. Everything was looked at from a number of perspectives and experimentation was encouraged. I felt comfortable the whole time working with people who get it,
