We recently connected with Tristan Waldron and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tristan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I feel like there were many incentives that came across my life that gave me the inspiration to pursue music. To be honest I’ve never been good at anything in my life until I started making music. People I surrounded myself with really pushed me to start taking this craft seriously when I had zero intention on putting anything out. I think after many long nights I spent in a basement during the pandemic digging through the “scene” to find more artists that gave me the closure I desperately needed at the time really gave me the battery I needed to start going down this path.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Tristan, some people call me by my project name “TRISTANTHEEND” and others just call me 2k. I’ve lived all over the place but I’ve spent over half of my life here in Virginia so if I were to claim anywhere it’d probably be here. I’m a music producer mainly based in abstract/experimental rap.

I found a way into the scene through mutual friends really. I put out a tape which I soon deleted and redid called “2000to, theend.”. A couple of people who were with me while developing my craft urged me to keep going while also at the same time showing people my music. It was nerve wracking at first because I’m not someone who likes too much attention. But overall I was thankful to have the support group who’ll really support me 100%.

I then released my first real tape named “theshiptomelancholia” and that I feel is what kind of put me on peoples radar. There are people who found me off that tape who I now frequently collaborate with and call friends.

In terms how my art sets myself apart from others I really can’t put a description on. I just make the music I make and try to portray emotions I feel to truly build a world that people can get lost in for however long a tape I release is. I think how much I focus on affecting the listener as a producer with few words is what sets me apart for most people. At least that’s the main compliment I get usually.

That’s probably the one thing I’m most proud of in my own work if I had to pick one thing. I love affecting people positively and if I give them a form of escape then that’s the highest honor in my eyes musically.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

For a lot of us who work on music on a daily basis, it’s all we have I feel like. At least in my personal experience as I’ve stated before I’ve never really excelled at anything else in my life. I was pretty average at most things and nothing about me really made me stand out in terms to what I’m offering to the world before music. So since this is the only thing that truly challenges me and makes me want to develop and learn I chase it unhesitatingly.

I feel as though people who are happy working a 9-5, making their money, and feeding their families, often look at musicians or artists in general as people who waste time chasing a gamble. When I personally look at them as strong willed individuals. It’s a feeling I cannot directly relate to but something I can definitely admire and respect about the common individual. My life ‘is’ music. So if I had to give any advice as to how someone could understand an artist or the other way around, just watch the movie “Soul” by Pixar it explains it perfectly!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Self development. I want to learn more about myself, learn how to better deal with situations that come in and out of my life. I don’t chase being number 1 or try to prove to people that I may be musically inclined. I just want to portray the feelings I feel while also trying not to let too much of myself out there. I appreciate the privacy I have and the company I keep so if I can manage to keep a hold of that while also having complete creative freedom then I’m satisfied. But possibly helping my family financially is definitely another incentive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/tristantheend?fbclid=PAAaaxt7vn43TSg-Pqwq3SEIW2-BBlX5FgfREVJBXVF3qPaiC2iDheSKbBfkI
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/tristantheend?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=