We were lucky to catch up with Hafto recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Hafto thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

There were two projects that come to mind are the EP’s that I had released. The first one was Altered Reality where I talk about a range of themes from Loyalty to Love to Faith. The plot of “Altered Reality” revolves with the repercussions that might result from decisions and alternatives that take one’s life in an unexpected direction. It is not about conforming to societal norms or expectations; rather, it is about the decisions that individuals make and the chances they take to forge their own paths. The backstory is that music is used for me to express myself and is an outlet for me and I was able to touch on many different parts of me that I plan on expanding later on. This was the key highlight for chapter 1. The second EP that I released was Love, A Drug. This project revolves on love and is an album consisting of six tracks. The title is also a play on words, and it may be interpreted in a couple of various ways depending on how you look at it. The first possible interpretation of the title is that it refers to love as a drug that is enjoyed by a certain individual, and the second possible interpretation is that love is itself a drug. I was working through some troubles in my life at the time, and the endeavor served as a kind of therapy for me. Something that was ironic is that it played out in real life based on the flow of the album. The backstory was that I wanted to look at love as a concept and looked at people that I have interacted with and how they dealt with their love. While working on the album, I caught feelings and it ended up changing the process for making the album. It was a weird manifistation as this was the key highlight for chapter 2.

Hafto, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a 20-year old recording artist from Dallas, Texas who is currently in college. I started my career by writing poetry and playing the piano and guitar. I now am a creative artist that does graphic design, digital art, and music that ranges from classical to spoken word to hip hop. I got into music at a very young age. When I was in fifth grade, my English teacher had us choose a song and create our own educational-themed version of it. We collaborated on a remix of Jay-z and Alicia Keys’s “Empire State of Mind,” which we decided to work on with some friends from high school. We presented, wrote lyrics for, recorded, and filmed a music video for. After that, I transferred to a different institution that had a reputation for being too restrictive when it came to musical expression. Therefore, I would proceed with caution and keep the volume of my music production moderate. Instead of showcasing my musical abilities, I would create poems and recite it. After that, I transferred to a different school where I found a more welcoming environment and quickly felt at home. Let’s just say I created some music that wasn’t great, but I learned from my mistakes and am now able to create music just for my own enjoyment.

At first, I focused on poetry and expanding my musical knowledge. I dabbled with music theory and practiced on the piano and guitar for a few years. Different aspects of my life, both spiritual and secular, would provide as fodder for my writing. I stopped making and releasing music for a while, but then I felt compelled to do so. I took my time and listened to the greats in hip hop and music for guidance. Certain bands and artists served as inspiration and guides along the way. To back me up and give me their honest feedback, I have a solid group of friends to rely on. When I was ready to take my career elsewhere, I looked for the appropriate distributor online and eventually discovered them. It’s been a lengthy process, but I’ve finally begun making music and singing publicly. Having the seclusion and mystery that comes with being an artist suits me just fine.

As of right now, I do run a business that helps artists get free publicity. I do everything I can to give other creative people hope and ideas. I am most proud of the fact that I have stayed true to who I am, and I want other people to feel like they know me and help make the world a better place.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

My recommendation is that we should remove any barriers that prevent artists from freely expressing themselves. The act of placing a barrier in front of someone’s thoughts is something that can stifle their progression or the pursuit of new knowledge in a society. One more idea is to simplify the process of promoting your music and getting it heard by more people. The creative ecosystem has the potential to flourish with the introduction of an appropriate networking event or a seminar. I am referring to all types of creative people, including painters, video editors, and other like individuals. Because creating art may be a sort of therapy, I think it would be wonderful if society could also aid artists by providing them with mental health services. To the best of my knowledge, art should not be too sexualized or promiscuous to the extent that it has an effect on the brains of young people. There is a wide variety of diverse methods in which members of society can work together to support artists without having to make concessions to the art form in and of itself. It is not the purpose of this type of expression to encourage illegal behavior or to diminish the significance of another individual.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

The use of comparisons that are not reflective of reality or the failure to appreciate the challenges faced by artists are two things that I see rather frequently. When I put out new music, it comes from a place of suffering, and I feel the urge to express myself through it. This is something that irritates me. When I am interacting with someone new, people have a tendency to make fun of the final product or bring up the fact that I compose music in an effort to embarrass me rather than offering assistance. People have a one-track mind and are only concerned with the destination, therefore they do not grasp the journey. They anticipate that each song will be successful or that it will be shared widely online or anything along those lines. People don’t seem to grasp that you are doing the best that you can given the circumstances. They make fun of the artist and act like vultures in an attempt to extract something of value from them rather than making an effort to assist or truly comprehend the individual. It is a very unfortunate thing when artists are influenced by people they consider to be their “friends,” and the end result is that their identity is destroyed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unitedmasters.com/hafto
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hafto_/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hafto_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfEv5P40WfGIjgJlpXV2uHw

Image Credits
Myself