We recently connected with EB Rebel and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, EB thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project I have done is an EP named Mama, I’m OK. It was a project dedicated to the relationship I have with my mom and it’s complexities. I talk about my struggles with mental health and how it affects the relationships around me. As an only child we have a special bond and my recent move away from home heightened her concern. I used her voicemails as narration (interludes) to tell the story of the project. Despite hearing the worry in my mom’s voice grow from interlude to interlude, the project ends on a positive note of perseverance.
EB, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I began my musical journey in 2016. I was compelled to act after the murders of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. Around this time, I wrote a Black Lives Matter anthem that I hoped would inspire the movement. In May 2016, I released the single and video for “Don’t Care”, the lead single from my EP “TRANCE”. After sharing the single with BLM activist DeRay Mckesson, the song began to spread. The anthem landed on Dallas/Fort Worth’s Central Track, and was featured in the national publication Afropunk. Within a week, the song would make it to the team of “Stay Woke” a BET documentary directed by Laurens Grant and produced by Jesse Williams. The documentary aired on BET May 26, 2016. The soundtrack also featured hip hop heavyweights such as J.Cole and Kendrick Lamar.
As a musician, I aspire to be a genreless artist. I want to be able to inspire people to reject labels and to explore different avenues.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Being an independent artist, I am able to explore and release the type of music I want and when. It is also cool to see how people connect to the songs, especially in different parts of the world. It is great to be asked to be a part of projects like this that give artists an opportunity to share their stories!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I personally think that social media has been a gift and a curse. With such fast consumption there is a lot of music that is being made. With that, the general public doesn’t value the art as much. It takes a lot of work and resources to create art. I also think that artists should be better compensated for streaming.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.ebrebelmusic.com/
- Instagram: ebrebel
- Facebook: EB Rebel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EBRebel
Image Credits
Deon Visuals