A Conversation With Kota The Friend

All photos by Jaxon Buzzell

modrNation: How was growing up in Brooklyn for you and how did it influence you into making music?

Kota The Friend: Brooklyn has always been fast paced with a lot going on, even more so in the 90s. It really just teaches you how to be on the move and be on the lookout, you gotta move with the city instead of trying to control it. Myself and a. Lot of Newyorkers just get stuff done and work hard, we always persevere through everything. With music it’s the same thing I just always ate with that type of toughness.

modrNation: You just dropped your new single Good Friday, is this gonna be a lead track off of Memo?

Kota The Friend: Yeah Good Friday is the first single off the album.

modrNation: You referenced MEMO as your “most important work to date” what makes you say that and what's been the biggest inspiration behind this project?

Kota The Friend: I mean I think MEMO is the end of the story that I’ve been trying to tell for my whole career, I feel like with MEMO I was able to get to the end and express myself exactly the way that I wanted. I feel like sometimes you have so much in your head and it comes out as word vomit, but with MEMO  it’s all so concise. Writing it and listening back, I can feel myself and I know what I’m trying to say. I’ve done so much growing, so I feel like that’s really gonna come through and people are gonna feel it. 

modrNation: Take me through your writing process, do you usually wait for inspiration to hit or seek it out yourself?

Kota The Friend: I think the only effective way of seeking out inspiration is taking a step back and living your life. Other than that I just let it come naturally.

modrNation: Your music has a special way of reaching and connecting with people, what do you think it is that gives it that level of connection?

Kota The Friend: It’s because it’s just about my life. I speak on the bad things about me, the good things about me, the things I’ve been through, and I think when anyone tells their story you’re able to relate. It doesn’t matter who’s story it is, when you’re really telling your truth and it’s coming from your heart, people are gonna gravitate towards it even though they’ve never been through that particular situation. You don’t have to go through it to feel it.

modrNation: You’ve always been able to do it all with your music videos, production, show curation, and even some recent album covers, what led to this creative versatility?

Kota The Friend: I’ve been throwing events since I was like fifteen, I started doing events out here in Brooklyn when I was a sophomore in high school. There were no stages for kids, so we would go to these local venues to throw shows, and 300 kids would come out from all the different schools. We came together and had a show, it’s always been my thing to create these platforms to move the culture. Joey Bada$$ told me this story a couple years ago about the night Pro Era was formed and I was like ‘Bro, that was at one of my shows.’ So it’s crazy that everything always comes full circle and to think Pro Era was formed the night of one of my shows because of a freestyle is crazy to me. I wanted to create moments like that where people are able to come together.

modrNation: What would you say is the importance of building a strong team and foundation for indie artists?

Kota The Friend: Building a good team is everything, community is everything. That’s something that at now point I didn’t value as much as I do now, your community and the people around you is the most important thing, everybody has to be tight and honest and good to each other. The world and the industry is so fucked up, so the people around you have to put life into it. 

modrNation: Let’s talk more about fltbys now, how and when did you get started with fltbys?

Kota The Friend: I started Fltbys in 2008, like I said I was a kid and we were watching N.E.R.D, Billionaire Boys Club, and that made me want to start my own thing even when I was just in high school.

modrNation: You recently announced the fltbys indie artist development program, what can artists expect from that?

Kota The Friend: We’re still working on the infrastructure for the company, but what can you expect is fair deals for independent artists. Artists will own all their music, and that’s really where the industry is heading, artists are realizing they can do it themselves, everybody has to be fair and hones now and Fltbys is gonna be one of those companies leading the way.

modrNation: Did you always want to be independent from the jump?

Kota The Friend: From the beginning I thought the only way you could be successful was through a label, it wasn’t till’ one day I woke up and saw $8,000 in my Tunecore account that I realized I can do it by myself, that was the moment. 

modrNation: We’re leading up to Flight Night in NYC and it seems to be a crazy full circle moment for you. How does it feel to play a show for thousands of people with your friends in your hometown?

Kota The Friend: It feels great, the last Flight Night I did in New York was probably 150 people like six years ago. Bringing back Flight Night which is such a legendary night with so many different artists, and I’m coming back with 1200 people, it’s magic, and like you said it’s a full circle moment.

modrNation: Was there anyone early on in our career who helped you develop and did that spark the inspiration for you to do the same for upcoming artists?

Kota The Friend: It was just something I always wanted to do since I was fifteen. Back then I wasn’t even the one performing, I was just getting other people on stage because I just wanted to do something. I realized there were so many people around me, it wasn’t about me I was just having fun as a kid. I hated school, so I had to find something I could do that was positive to keep me busy and put my mind to it because I had all these ideas.

modrNation: You also started your own book club, what are three books you think everyone should read?

Kota The Friend: Number one, “Body Keep The Score” changed my life for the better. After you read “Body Keep The Score” I’d read “The Four Agreements”, then after that I would read “All About Love”. I feel like you read those three and you’ll be alright.

modrNation: With so many new artists popping up every day now, what would you say is the importance of finding your own identity and individuality as an artist?

Kota The Friend: It’s important because people know when you’re authentic, just be you and be real. Talk about how you really are, your real struggles. That way people will feel you and you’ll help a lot of people get through their life. That’s the job of artists, Nina Simone said; “It’s our duty to speak on the times', so it’s our job as artists to speak on what we see in this world and society, but also our life and our hearts.

modrNation: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Kota The Friend: In five years I just see myself having fun. Having fun with the music, having fun in every art form. Whatever I’m doing, whether it’s starting a garden, or playing with my kids, planning trips for summer vacation, shooting videos for other people, bringing up other independent artists, whatever it is, I just want to enjoy my life and have some fun.