Q&A: Silas Futura
Originally from Mahurangi, the now Auckland-based artist Silas Futura (previously Bobandii) has landed with his new EP “Pluto”! With neo soul, jazz, funk and R&B influences, the release includes the vibrant & uplifting single “Precious” produced by SmokeyGotBeatz of SWIDT (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock collaborator) as well as “Compulsion” featuring the smooth, stunning vocals of Tei.
We’d love to know a little bit about your musical journey from when you first started creating music!
I think I first started making music when I was around 10. A few homeschool mates and I would busk and play covers, and write the odd original here and there. But I got into skating in a big way around the same time, and that took up all of my time until I was 18. I really got into music around 18, when I was introduced to FL Studio. For a long time I was just making beats, and then I gave rapping a go before finally transitioning to singing. I haven’t really stopped since I began all that time ago!
Congrats on your latest EP “Pluto”! What would you say is the main concept of the EP and how did you decide on its name?
Thank you! I’m so happy to have it out. The EP is based off this idea I had back in 2019, a kid who lived on Pluto and was exiled for pushing back against the colonial reign of Mars. He then decides to fight back with a few other exiles, kinda like a space Robin Hood haha.
As I was writing it though, I started just writing about my own experiences, being true to what I’ve got going on on planet Earth, and so there’s a blurring of the lines there. I kinda like it that way.
Your latest groovy, energetic single “Compulsion” with the incredible Tei. is one of our fave collabs at the moment! What inspired you to write this track and what was the writing process for this song like?
This one was so much fun! It was a lockdown baby - I was just writing every day during the first lockdown, and I had no money coming in, and I didn’t know when I was next going to get work. So I just channelled that frustration of how F*CKED our financial system has become. Like, we have access to so much information at our fingertips. We are SO rich for that. But we also have barely any opportunities to get out of living paycheck to paycheck, and buying a house is near impossible without a leg up. Something needs to change.
Tei. came in and just completely dominated that track! I was laughing like an idiot in the studio when she was recording because I was so blown away. She’s so amazing, I’m such a fan.
We’re also loving the refreshing, carefree vibes of “Precious”! Can you tell us about the meaning behind this track?
“Precious” is one of those tracks that is all about the feeling I think. I’m usually really focussed on pushing deep narratives into tracks, but that one is really just about being present and enjoying the privilege that we have living in Aotearoa, having running water, power, no wars. Smokey’s beat was just so sunny, so vibrant and uplifting, and it snapped me into the present moment every time I listened to it, so I ran with it.
What were your main highlights working on this EP?
Definitely the recording process! Working with all the incredible artists on this thing was like a dream come true for me. Shout out to FABLE, Tei., and PollyHill for the incredible features. Shout out to Ezra Donelly on drums, Michael Pawley on Bass, Michael Howell on Guitar, JY Lee on Saxophone, Pavel Kazinets on Saxophone, SmokeyGotBeatz for his production on “Precious” and Ben Lawson for engineering the whole project. It blows me away that I get to work with these people.
If there’s anything you could change about the current music industry, what would it be and why?
I think that streaming royalties needs to change for a start. In no world should artists be payed fractions of a penny for their tracks. Not when the executives of Spotify are making billions of dollars for providing the service. Most of the artists that we think are cracking it are just paying the bills, and that’s messed up. Artists already know that if they want to be financially stable, then music is not something to pursue professionally, and that’s so messed up! Because it’s making a few people filthy rich. But there are so many problems with the current music industry model, that’s just one.
Who are your biggest inspirations in music?
My friends for sure. They are making such interesting music, and I learn so much from them! Aotearoa’s music scene is incredible, and I truly seeing it being a worldwide phenomenon if we keep at it.
Who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you love or connect with?
Anything by Troy Kingi is right up there at the top. He’s doing some amazing work with this 10 albums, 10 genres, 10 years project.
And all my friends, the people on this album, incredible.
What do you love most about living in New Zealand? Do you have any favourite places to travel to or local spots to visit?
I love that this place is so small, everyone is connected. Within our studio of 10 people, we probably know everyone in the entire music scene in Auckland, and that’s crazy! I think we need to start looking at that as a super power instead of treating a small scene like it’s a bad thing.
In terms of beautiful spots to travel, I just love going back to Mahurangi, my home town is so beautiful, theres beaches 20 minutes in any direction, bush walks, all the amazing natural places we love about this country.
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your career so far and what advice do you have for new artists out there?
Far, I can’t really offer any advice, I don’t think it’s my place to. Everyone is so different and going through different things, and I really think the only way through is to keep picking up whatever you love doing.
But one of my biggest lessons to date has been to see the abundance we have. This spot is NOT too small for us all to come up together, and I used to think it was all competitive. I think as soon as you get into that competitive headspace you’ve already shut yourself out. That’s at least what it was like for me.
Lastly, if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?
Be kind and don’t take it too seriously.
Thanks so much Silas Futura! Make sure to keep up with him on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify or Apple Music.
