DMV Rap Artist Peter Wil$on Discusses His Chill Trill Sound And New Single 'Tooned In'
/
Peter Wil$on is a DMV based rap artist who describes his sound as "Chill Trill". Peter just dropped a DOPE track entitled 'Tooned In', produced by Curtis Williams, which appears on his recently released EP "dREamALITY", available for streaming here. We connected with Peter to find out which artists have influenced his "Chill Trill" sound, what his musical goals are for 2017, and much more.
What part of Maryland are you from and would you say that your surroundings have influenced your music?
I was born in Washington, D.C. but I’ve lived in Montgomery County, MD my whole life. I lived in Silver Spring until my parents divorced when I was 8, then my mom took me and my four siblings and moved us to Potomac to live with my grandparents. Potomac was a weird place to grow up, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Even though it is one of the most affluent towns in the country, it is extremely diverse and has undoubtedly shaped me as a person and as an artist. There aren’t a lot of people that have made it big in music from my area, but guys like Wale, and especially Logic, who grew up right down 355 in Gaithersburg, have paved the way for new Maryland artists like me to make a name for themselves and help put Maryland on the map.
We're really feeling your new track 'Tooned In', especially the Houston chopped/screwed vibe. How did this track come together?
First off, I appreciate all the love and thank you for the feature! ”Tooned In” is a track that came together over the course of about a year: The instrumental was made by Curtis Williams, originally it was a track titled “Vernon Kirk”. When I first heard it, I was mesmerized, and got in contact with Curtis to get permission to use the instrumental on my debut EP, “dREamALITY”. He gave me his blessing to use the beat and I immediately got to work in the studio.
The Houston chopped/screwed vibe is something that you will hear a lot in my music. I describe my sound as “Chill Trill”: I want to make dope music that everyone can vibe to. Music that is relatable, true and real.
Who are some of your musical influences and how do you set yourself apart from these artists?
I’m a huge fan of music of all forms/genres and have a wide range of influences, almost too many to list! They include: Bob Marley, Tupac, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang Clan, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Biggie Smalls, Outkast, 8Ball and MJG, Chuck Brown, Nas, Jay Z, Big L, Mobb Deep, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, B.O.B., Lil Wayne, T.I., Ludacris, Usher, Boyz to Men, PartyNextDoor, Travis Scott, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Wale, Logic, Spark Master Tape, and ASAP Rocky.
All these artists have shaped me musically, and helped me to form my unique style. I’m not like a lot of rappers out here just looking to make a radio hit and get rich quick. I’m all about the music and want my music to have substance: I want to provoke thought and inspire change, but also want to help people to enjoy this wild ride we call life.
Tell us about your new EP, "dREamALITY". What are you most proud of with this 2-track release?
What I am most proud of with this first project is just making it happen. Too often in life, people settle for what society deems as “realistic” and let their dreams slip away. I want to use music as a platform to make my dreams a reality, and encourage others to do the same. You only get one life, don’t waste it doing what everyone else thinks you should be doing, LIVE YOUR DREAMS. Take risks, fail, learn, and grow.
As 2016 is winding down, what are your goals musically for next year?
Big things are on the horizon! My second project, $uburban $ound, is due out on New Years Eve of this year, but I have a lot of moves in the works for 2017. I’ve started doing some shows locally and want to go on a national tour next year. We’ve got the merch line coming out soon, and the visuals for the singles as well. I really just want to continue to grow as an artist and develop my sound, work with some dope people, see the world, and have fun.