Today we had an exclusive chance to interview Systovis:
What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want to be remembered?
I want my legacy to play a large role in showing others how to freely live in a world without judgment or ridicule. I want to be remembered for being a modern-day prophet who enlightened the world on the importance of free-will and manifestation. I want to serve as an example of achieving overall happiness and the reduction of judgements upon others for the way they think or view the world. I hope that through my unique and ethereal music, people will remember my legacy and what I stood for.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
If I could change anything about the industry, I would have to change the lack of originality, as well as the lack of lyrical depth in mainstream music. The industry needs lyrical depth and genuine art. New sounds need to be a norm, not a rarity. Songs should contain substance and stand for something or propose an idea, tell a story, not be a meaningless record that’s filled with the same phrases and jargon we hear over and over.
How do you currently feel about the state of Hip-hop in general? I think Hip-hop is still very much alive today. I think Hip-hop is stronger within the Underground of the industry rather than mainstream. There are a lot of talented individuals who are beyond the realms of creativity in the Underground of Hip-hop. I would say Hip-hop is going in the direction of mainly keeping to the Underground where it is thriving and leaving the mainstream level, only because Rap and Trap have such strong presences within mainstream music that it will be hard for traditional Hip-hop to shine through.
What surprising lessons have you learned along the way?
Surprising lessons that I’ve learned on this musical journey is that not everyone will like your music. Not everyone will think you’re talented. People within the industry will try their hardest to make you fall due to envy so you must watch for devious people. I’ve learned that the more versatile you are, the more appealing you are to more people. Your work ethic and energy are vital to your success, as well as your network. Never be afraid to be different and unique. Try to do it on your own so that you can learn more trades along the way. Most importantly, make music for yourself before anyone else.
What’s your best advice for handling criticism?
My best advice for handling criticism is to always remember that everyone is different from different walks of life, yet we are all one organism working together, so if someone has some insight or criticism to give you, always welcome it with an open ear because it could add to your artistry and even your outlook on life.
What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?
If I knew back then what I know now, I would have started doing what I love a lot sooner. I wouldn’t have listened to society, and I wouldn’t have made myself get degrees and lie to myself that I needed college and that I could never be famous. I would have started on this passion earlier and gotten a lot of this stuff knocked out already. I would also have learned that time is just a figment of our imagination and that would’ve helped a lot with my anxiety when it got to its worst part.
Have you heard the theory that some musicians write their best music while they’re depressed or going through a bad time?
I have not heard the theory that some musicians write their best music when they are depressed but I have heard that some musicians are amazing writers when they are sleep deprived and up for longer than 24 hours. And this happens to be the case with me as well.
Do you have a mantra?
I do not have a mantra, but I do have one of the hardest work ethics and go-getter attitudes around, and that alone is as powerful as an utterance or sound.
Who do people say you sound like?
My vocal tone has gotten compared to Kendrick Lamar, Logic, Rittz, Token, and many more. I’m a very versatile artist so you never know what I may sound like next. But in the end, it’s all original. It is what comes out when I create my art.
Who would you say inspired you the most, as an artist?
I would have to say Yelawolf and Rittz have inspired me the most in many ways. They are the 2 biggest influences on my artistry and my confidence with making music.
Hulda Hicks was born in Brooklyn, NY in the late ’70s, at the time when Hip-Hop music was just emerging as an art form. Her entire life was influenced by the culture, having grown up in the epicenter of the creative movement.
As a trained musician and vocalist, Hulda got exposed to the industry in her twenties and has worked on projects with iconic figures such as the Chiffons, the Last Poets, and Montell Jordan, to name a few. Her passion for music extended past the stage on to the page when she began to write ad copy and articles as a freelancer for several underground publications.
A written review from “Jubilee Huldafire” is as authentic as it gets, hailing from one creative mind that has a unique voice, on paper and in person.
