? by Jayoh
OnCue, rapper, Eminem co-writer, and indie rock fan, has been on a tear. He’s been releasing singles every two weeks or so over the past year. He just dropped his most recent track, Big Mad, on 11/11. Taking some time out from his recording schedule, the ever-affable OnCue opened up about testing himself with his breakneck recording schedule, hard pretzels, his love of the Postal Service, and what he hopes to do once the world gets back to normal.
The following interview has been lightly edited.
What currently influences you?
It’s kind of funny that you asked that because I kind of feel like I’ve been void of a lot of influence this year, just the way the year is going. I’ve been getting into Aphex Twin, randomly. I’ve also been listening to this dude Alex G, and he’s really dope. I know it came and went, but I liked the PARTYNEXTDOOR album a lot. I’ve been all over the place, but one thing that is consistent in my rotation is Bon Iver. I’m a gigantic fan. That’s my go-to.
In terms of the new shit, I really liked A$AP Nast’s record, Designer Boi. I’m just all over the place; my taste in music has been broad since I was 18. Before I turned 18, I was a rap head. I did not fuck with rock. I liked some R&B. But now I’m all over the place.
What are some of your all-time influences?
I grew up a big Roc-A-Fella fan. I’m from the East Coast; I grew up two hours from New York. So Jay and Kanye have always been massive, massive influences on me. Also, I found the Postal Service album when I was 18, and that changed my life. A couple of years ago, and a couple of projects ago, I ended up working with Jimmy Tamborello, who was one half of Postal Service. At that time, I was working with Just Blaze frequently. So I was able to combine both those worlds into the nucleus of what I ended up becoming and developing into. If you trace the lineage, even my VST patch choices when I’m in a session with the producer are really on some Postal Service shit, but I’m trying to push it into a hip-hop form. Kanye was my idol up until the red hat, everything, and trying to derail the recent election. But that’s a conversation for another day.
What’s the most overrated right now?
I would say the most overrated thing right now is TikTok. I fuck with it, but it is definitely overrated.
What’s the most underrated?
Pretzels as a snack.
Just plain pretzels? Not even the little peanut butter pretzel bites?
Naw, fuck those. Just hard pretzels. People might come after me, and I almost tweeted this out a couple of weeks ago. Pretzels are hella underrated. Frankly, soft pretzels are underrated. They don’t get enough props.
Do you put anything on them, like mustard?
I guess I’m kind of white trash, but if there’s any ranch in the vicinity, it’s going in some ranch. Or some hot cheese.
What are you excited about?
It’s been such a bleak year, but I’m excited because I’ve been in a very productive space. Chronically, I’ve been an over-thinker for most of my career. I hit this stride, like in the last year, where I’m letting go and creating. I feel more, literally and creatively, free. I’m at a different part of my journey where it’s nice to be able to create. This year, my whole plan was to stay in the crib and put out as many songs as possible, all as singles. I wanted to test myself. I wanted to keep a consistent release schedule, and I wanted to give my fan base hella songs. This year took a turn, but I had no intention to tour before everything happened, do one-offs, nothing. I wanted to lock myself in my room and create. And I’m excited to keep it going because the process is starting to click. It’s really exciting and one of the very few things I look forward to right now.
What’s next for you?
It sounds cheesy, but I really have blinders on to see this through. I want to get off so many fucking records in a year and a half. I set that goal for myself last year, and obviously, I had to pivot. There are so many different things that need attention right now instead of some random white dude with long blonde hair dropping rap songs every two weeks. So I’ve shifted a little and slowed down the pace of releases, but I do want to ramp up again and see how far I can push myself. Once the world gets back to normal, hopefully, do a tour. I’ve already put out an album through singles, so I feel like I have to figure out something.
