Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to IamCHANGE. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

IamCHANGE, appreciate you joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

The most unexpected problem that me along with the rest of the world faced was the global pandemic. For some artists, the pandemic allowed them to put in creative work right away and build their careers even more. However, for me it was a double edged sword because right before the pandemic I was planning on releasing my first project “In Progress” and building up my fanbase in person. Without that push, after the album released I was stuck in a creative block for most of 2020. Last year, I wrote a lot of music but was also managing a collective at the time and my heart still wasn’t in it enough to release. 2022 definitely broke that hiatus, though, as I’ve returned to the stage this spring and released my first full-length project “Offbeat” in June. My momentum has returned and more music and content will be on the way as I write this, including a new project “Believe It” slated for later in the Fall.

IamCHANGE, 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’ve been producing and making music as “iamCHANGE” for over five years now. I’m usually in the rap and hip-hop space, but am influenced by and can work with many genres. My beats are unique for how they bring together sounds from subgenres and samples others may think won’t fit at first glance, which usually fit well and satisfy me or my clients. I’ve been using Ableton, Logic, and Pro Tools to create and mix songs for other artists since 2018.

Aside from being an artist and producer, though, “iamCHANGE” is growing into its own kind of brand. I’m a graphic designer as well so for my next project “Believe It,” there will be a full-fledged campaign with posters, merch, and unique visuals directed by me and my friend AlFilmedIt who’s a respected underground music filmmaker in his own right.

In the past, I’ve been creative director and manager of two different music collectives. Both were rewarding experiences, but I’m taking a break on that for now as I build my own business and image from the ground up, using all I’ve learned from both groups to avoid mistakes in my independent career.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I’ve had different goals over the course of building my career and discography, but one I always return to is unifying people through my music, content, events, and spaces. I got the name “Change” after one summer in high school where I ended all my social media posts with “#thechange” as I improved myself and had fun. I came back to school the next year and people across social cliques, races, and classes were calling me by the name I never thought I would get. I embraced it, though, and since then I’ve attempted to bring people together in similar ways. More than ever in my generation, a bookish nerd can be listening and connecting to the same music, art, and technology as a basketball player, goth girl, or a rugged traveller. Unifying these people and destroying, frankly, stupid social barriers will always be part of my mission. Along the way, I aim to build a fanbase that inspires the modern rap community to think differently.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Another reason I eventually made my artist name iamCHANGE is because for me, I’ve always had a gut instinct to not do the expected or normal thing with whatever I do. I respect and am still influenced by greats in the rap world like A Tribe Called Quest, the late MF Doom, and Kendrick. However, my own creative mindset is more like Kanye West’s, as I often either find a current but underappreciated style to work from or I create my own sound using the collection of influences I’ve amassed throughout my journey. Lately, I’ve been working in the plugg and NYC drill styles that have been popularized in the past three years on SoundCloud, and it feels weirdly natural rapping this slightly offbeat way like I’ve been doing it my whole life. Some potential fans may be turned off by these new flows, but I’d rather have an audience that embraces them anyway, which is why I named my last project “Offbeat.” You can check that and all the rest of my music out in the website link at the end of this article.

Contact Info:

• Website: solo.to/change
• Instagram: instagram.com/iamchange
• Twitter: twitter.com/changestwts
• Other: soundcloud.com/changeinprogress

Image Credits
Alvin Hamilton