We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Toshiki Khi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Toshiki below.
Toshiki, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
It was the summer of 2017 if I’m not mistaken, and I remember taking a road trip to see some family with my mom. At the time, my mom used Pandora to stream her music, and during the road trip the Drake radio station played. I was a huge drake fan at the time, but it was one song in particular that caught my eye and it wasn’t even from the artist the station was named after. The song was The Greatest by Logic and that song made me completely fall in love with, and wanted to know more about Logic. Through that entire summer I spent listening to anything I could find from him, and later on would be inspired to try my hand at my own material. However, it wouldn’t be until 2018 where I would actually start crafting, as a long time friend of mine, whom I consider a brother would hit me with the idea to actually create music. He’s an artist by the name of Ahmel WIlson, and from there on out, we devoted the entire summer to just making anything and everything fun. It wasn’t until later that year in November we would release our first official singles, with projects coming in the early year of 2019. Fast forward to the year 2020, and we both decided to take becoming music artist extremely seriously. As we had gained alot of love and feedback for our respective tracks, and even high praises for the first tapes we dropped as individual artists. My brother was always headstrong and believed in the endeavor, but for me that wouldn’t click with me until late 2020. Where I actually began to bring in even more of audience than I had prior, and came to the realization that what I was doing brought me true joy. As the summer of 2020 was the summer me and Mel locked in for the entire summer, and just created our projects. Moments like those and the various strangers telling you your worked helped them, and even becoming friends with them.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I wouldn’t say I’ve gotten into the industry yet in terms of music. In fact, I’m very far from it but it always feels like I can reach out and grab at it. As far as what I provide as an artist, I bring in a very dark and sometimes blissful tone to my music. Everything is from my perspective, so there is always a sense of introspection and deeper meaning to everything I make. I try to immerse my audience into a world where they can not only hear what I’m saying, but feel and see the images I’m trying to create. Everything has to have structure and there’s always a story to tell. You can really say I try to be guide to those who are like me. Preventing others from making my mistakes, or even simply relate to them.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The joy of being able to wake up everyday and create in itself is reward. Outside of that I would say the people you meet, and releasing a finished project for all to enjoy
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
No mission honestly, Just the ability to live off of what I love doing is enough to drive me. In addition to seeing how hard my parents worked, I want to repay them and give them a nice retirement. My friends keep me going as well, as they remind me that I am capable of achieving what I set out to do. I honestly feel like an anime mc in the final fight, and all of his friends he’s made along the journey, show up to root for him.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toshiki.khi/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToshikiKhi
- Other: https://linktr.ee/ToshikiKhi
Image Credits
Austin Chester