ONE-ON-ONE With International Rising Artist FoXx Williams
International Rising Artist tFoXx Williams Drops his First North American Single "UP TING" The Toronto Canada native is hitting the international market with his captivating signature sound mix with Hip and Reggae.
ONETEN Magazine: Please introduce yourself and where you are from? Foxx Williams from Toronto. Born to Jamaican Parents (1st generation Canadian).
ONETEN Magazine: What first got you into music? I’d have to say, my mother and father. My father is low key an amazing vocalist and mother we call the harmonizing specialist.
True story: when I was 10 my cousins signed me up for a talent show to lip sing R. Kelly’s bump n grind. Had all the dancers. We killed it we won the show. On the way home I was listening to the song and started to sing it. I realized I could sing at that point.
ONETEN Magazine: How would you describe your music? Unique, energetic, and melodic. I’m a singer, but my sound is a fusion of reggae and hip-hop and R&B.
ONETEN Magazine: Who are you inspired by? Sean Paul, L-L cool-J, Snoop, Jay Z, Drake,
ONETEN Magazine: What is your creative process like? It’s a vibe more than a process. I’m recording melodies on my phone whenever they come to me. Writing is something that I only do when the vibe is right. I don’t force it. But when I'm ready to write I like to be alone in a quiet setting without distractions.
ONETEN Magazine: What was your first paid gig and how was it? Black history month show when I was like 12 or 13. It was a great way to get exposure and made a few contacts.
ONETEN Magazine: Who are some of the people have you had the pleasure of working with? Karl Wolf, Choclair, Thrust, John Fx, Sly & Robbie (Murder she wrote riddim), DJ Vincent Vik (Poland) and Mr.Rustle(Naples, Italy)
ONETEN Magazine: Who would you most like to collaborate with? Snoop Dogg. I think meeting him would be such a crazy experience. Would love to see if I could keep up. Lol
ONETEN Magazine: If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be? I'd have to say, Sean Paul. I respect what he's done for reggae culture and I've seen how his musical reach has expanded. His ability to be relevant not just only in the reggae culture, but also other genres of music is inspiring. When I was touring in Poland they have a music channel called ESKA Tv. I kid you not I heard about 4 different songs I'd never heard before that had Sean Paul features on them in about 2 hours. I just sat there thinking to myself "This guy is a genius."
ONETEN Magazine: What are your top five favorite albums of all time? Why those albums?
- Usher -8701,
- 50 Cent- Get rich or die trying.
- Garnett Silk - It’s growing
- Justin Bieber – Purpose
- Dru-Hill - Enter The Dru
Each of these albums played an intricate role in my life. I grew up listing to Garnet Silk with my father. Dru Hill and Usher had legendary sounds and helped me with my melodies and harmonies. I rate Justin Bieber's album "Purpose". I respect the message and it also helped me to reflect on my life, my growth, and my walk. Lastly, 50 Cent – Get rich or die trying was the first Hip-Hop album I listened to from beginning to end. It opened me up to the hip-hop culture.
ONETEN Magazine: Now you had the pleasure of having two songs you co-wrote featured on the Showtime hit show the CHI. How was it to hear something being played on a show that is so epic? Honestly, it was such a surreal moment. I've been writing music for over 10 years for myself and others, but never on a level like this. To get a placement on SHOWTIME's "THE CHI" was the catalyst in expanding my reach with regards to my music. Hearing my music during an episode was an amazing feeling and it honestly gave me a boost of encouragement to keep on pushing forward with my music and to keep an open mind to other possibilities.
ONETEN Magazine: What does your music say about you? My music says that I can adapt to my surroundings and that I'm musically versatile. Through my work in Europe, I was singing dance music, house, pop, tropical, EDM, and a bit of fusion. It allowed me to grow musically and to create a unique sound. Growing up in Toronto (The most multicultural city in the world) you end up meeting many people from different cultures and backgrounds. These experiences helped to shape me to have an open mind and a love for all through music.
ONETEN Magazine: Now you just dropped your first North American single "UP TING. What’s the concept of that song? The concept of this song is an introduction to me and my musical madness. "UP TING" explains a bit of my journey and what I've gone through in life. The main idea is that when you work hard you can reach the top. And it doesn't matter what level you're on, if you continue to grind and work at it you'll be further ahead than you were yesterday. And if you see this type of progress in your life, then that's what I call it a "UP TING".
ONETEN Magazine: What favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? Why? The favorite part of this line of work honestly is doing shows. There's something about getting on stage and seeing a huge crowd rock with you. I love interacting with the crowd and getting them involved. It's such a rush and it's an addictive feeling. It is a blessing. My least favorite thing about this line of work is that in life you may find yourself in situations that may be compromising to you or your morals. This industry is cut-throat so it pays to educate yourself and to also have a good manager you can trust.
ONETEN Magazine: What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps? Keep an open mind and be open to exploring all the possibilities. In life, there are many roads. There is no right or wrong road...All roads lead somewhere, just don’t be afraid to choose the road less traveled.
ONETEN Magazine: What is your favorite song to perform? F4L (Friends 4 Life). My follow up single on my EP "PRIMAL FUNCTION". It's a high energy song that will guarantee to get people on the dance floor.
ONETEN Magazine: If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be? I wish people would be more open to building together and sharing connections and best practices. I find that a lot of artists have many experiences that could next up and coming artist out. In my case, I'm an open book. I'm always willing to share, build, and network.
ONETEN Magazine: What’s next for you this year? The plan for the rest of the year is to release my EP entitled "PRIMAL FUNCTION". This project is extremely important to me because it illustrates my growth, my musical versatility, and introduces a new sound of fusion that I'm sure everyone will enjoy. On this project, I explore the fusion of hip-hop, Rnb, reggae, and afro. I'm so proud of this project and can't wait to share it with the world. The release of "UP TING" is just the beginning.
Photos provided by Artist/ Foxx Williams / Sasha Stoltz Publicity
Photography by Cheryl Duggan
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