IN CONVERSATION WITH TY DOLLA $IGN

interview by SAMO ŠAJN

TY DOLLA $IGN is a GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur and music executive whose influence has helped shape modern R&B, hip-hop and pop. Praised by The New York Times as “one of the richest R&B talents of the last decade,” the Los Angeles native has amassed over 10 billion streams, nearly 100 RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications, and a catalogue of hit solo records and chart-topping collaborations with artists including Post Malone, Ye, Rihanna, Drake, Beyoncé and Chris Brown. Beyond his own music, he is the co-founder and CEO of EZMNY Records, where he continues to champion the next generation of artists while pushing the boundaries of contemporary music.

You've always blurred the lines between R&B, hip-hop, pop and even rock. Do you consciously think about genre when you're creating, or has making music always been about following whatever feels right in the moment?
Making music has always been about following whatever feels right in the moment. I like all different styles of music. I’m always trying to come up with something new and just experiment. Like, for instance, we’re listening to this playlist right now, full of old vibes, and I’m loving it. There are probably a few genres I don’t really listen to, but for the most part, I just listen to what sounds good and go with whatever feels right.

jacket RAF SIMONS c/o RD ARCHIVES
shirt RICK OWENS
trousers ANN DEMEULEMEESTER
shoes 424
necklace SIX 95
sunglasses JACQUES MARIE MAGE

Your sound has influenced a whole generation of artists, yet you're still constantly evolving. What keeps you hungry creatively after everything you've already achieved?
I’m constantly evolving because I listen to the youth. You gotta listen to what the younger generation is doing because they’re always coming up with some new shit. I like hearing new sounds, new artists, new ways of making records. That keeps me inspired. You also have to listen to your fans and give them what they want, while still evolving.

I feel like you gotta keep switching it up and keep learning. I’m still a student of music. There’s always something new to hear, and I’m always trying to figure out how I can take that and make it my own.

jacket BOTTEGA VENETA c/o RD ARCHIVES
shirt ARTIST OWNED
trousers COMMES DES GARÇONS c/o RD ARCHIVES
belt SUCIARATA
necklace MARTINE ALI
shoes DR. MARTEN’S
sunglasses JACQUES MARIE MAGE

You've built a career where you're equally respected as a solo artist, songwriter, collaborator and producer. Do those different roles satisfy different parts of your creativity, or do they all feel like one process to you?

It all feels like one process because, at the end of the day, it’s about being the master of making the whole song. I met this really famous guy whose dad always taught his kids to be great at one thing, whether it was a sport or an instrument. For me, even though I play bass, guitar, drums and keys, the laptop is really my main instrument. Pro Tools, Logic, whatever you use to create the whole song, that’s the most important part to me. Everything comes together there. It’s all about being the master of making the whole song.

Your collaborations have become legendary because you seem to bring out something different in every artist you work with. What's the secret to creating chemistry in the studio with someone new?

The secret is really just getting to know each other first. Those conversations before you even start recording are the most important. The studio talks. The vibes. That's always my favorite part because you're learning who somebody is, seeing what you relate to or what you don’t relate to but can learn about. I'm also the type of person that feeds off reactions and energy. I like to mess with people a little bit, ruffle their feathers, make them laugh, just to bring something different out of them.

shirt and suit GOODFIGHT
tie RAF SIMONS c/o RD ARCHIVES
shoes BOTTEGA VENETA
necklace CHROME HEARTS
sunglasses JACQUES MARIE MAGE

Your most recent full-length album, TYCOON, which you released last October, felt like another chapter in the Ty Dolla $ign book, rather than a victory lap. What did you want people to understand about where you are today, both as an artist and as a person?
These days, I don’t really care that much. Not in an uninspired or apathetic way at all. I care about what I do and I’m still extremely ambitious and work my ass off, but I don’t feel the need to act important or make people feel small just because of my position, the way I maybe felt earlier in my career. I see people in all kinds of jobs, artists, musicians, creatives, even bouncers outside a club, who take their job so seriously that they start treating people like shit just to prove they have authority. I don’t want to be like that. I really try to be as humble as possible, enjoy what I’m doing because I’m blessed to do what I love for a living, surround myself with good energy and kind people, and not let success or a title or accolades become my whole personality. At the end of the day, nobody should take themselves that seriously.

full look 424
belt ARTIST’S OWN
sunglasses JACQUES MARIE MAGE

You've worked with some of the biggest names in music, but you've also spent a lot of time helping shape the sound behind the scenes. Is there a project you've contributed to that you feel never got the recognition it deserved?
I feel like the projects and songs I did with artists like Jeremih (MihTy), dvsn, George Duke, Lil Peep and Mac Miller didn’t get the recognition they deserved at the time. It’s crazy that even years later, a song like Cinderella comes back around, gets a huge resurgence, and not only has more success than it did when it was initially released but gets all this love now, ten years later. Shoutout to all the fans out there and shoutout to my brother Mac Miller.

But honestly, I take all that back because I trust Allah and His timing. Everything happens when it’s supposed to. Sometimes a record might not get its flowers right away, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen later. You just gotta trust the process. Whatever is meant to happen is going to happen.

With EZMNY Records, you've gone from building your own career to helping build other people's. What qualities do you look for in an artist beyond just talent?
Talent is first and foremost because Shawn [Barron] and I started EZMNY with talent and good, quality music as the foundation. Beyond that, I look for how seriously someone takes their craft. Talent can only take you so far, you also need dedication, discipline, and the willingness to put in the work. The 10,000 hours idea that Malcolm Gladwell talked about. Being talented isn’t enough; you have to keep developing your craft, show up consistently, never let someone want it more than you, and genuinely care about becoming better.

The music industry moves faster than ever, with trends coming and going almost overnight. How do you stay true to your own identity while continuing to sound fresh?
I give a lot of the credit to my daughter. She's always put me onto what's new, what she's listening to, what's happening. She's helped keep me tapped in. At the same time, I’ve learned the importance of staying authentic to who I am as an artist and what my secret sauce is. So even though I collaborate with a lot of the newer, rising artists, I try to always look at it as an opportunity for us to learn from each other and to each bring something to the table.

jacket DE LA TOMBE
sweater HEDI SLIMANE for SAINT LAURENT c/o RD ARCHIVES
sunglasses JACQUES MARIE MAGE

Looking back at songs like Paranoid and comparing them to what you’re making today, what do you think has changed most about the way you approach songwriting and storytelling?
Not much has changed. The songs still come out of the sky, into my brain, and out of my mouth. I give all that to God and the universe. I'm just the vessel.

You're now balancing life as an artist, producer, label executive, entrepreneur and father. When people look back at your career years from now, what legacy do you hope Ty Dolla $ign leaves on music and the next generation of artists?
I want people to remember that even though I’m a rockstar, one of my biggest accomplishments is seeing my daughter graduate from Pepperdine University with her master’s degree.

And musically, I just want to be remembered as somebody who helped create opportunities for the next generation. I’ve always loved working with different artists and being able to bring something to the table, whether I’m producing, writing, playing an instrument or just collaborating. If I can help somebody else get to where they’re trying to go and leave some good music behind, then I feel like I did my job.

TEAM CREDITS:
talent TY DOLLA $IGN
photographer LE3AY
stylist MICHAEL COMRIE
groomer TY MOSBY
digi tech DAVID JUNG
set design KIRIN ZHANG
photography assistant ANDY LEI
styling assistants MELINA PASSALACQUA & MARCO CONSIGLIO
pr THE LIAISON AGENCY
location INTERWOVEN STUDIOS
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director JANA LETONJA
interview SAMO ŠAJN
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN