Written by: Alexis Muthoga Feb 10, 2024
“It's about attention, clicks, and likes; we forget at our core we are just being creatives,” emphasizes Foolie Surfin, a native of Oceanside, California, underlining the importance of individuality and uniqueness in the music industry. As he expressed in our interview, “In a world where attention, clicks, and likes dominate, we often forget that at our core, we are simply being creatives.”
Foolie, a self-taught musician and producer, honed his skills by making beats alongside his father growing up. Additionally, his grandmother's extensive collection of records and her habit of playing music in the house, especially on Sundays while cleaning, further fueled his deep love for music from a young age. Now, after 15 years in the game, Foolie’s passion for music remains unwavering as he continues to explore and refine his distinct sound.
As a child, Foolie had a reputation for being quite the troublemaker in his neighborhood, his family called him Foolie because he was particularly good at finding trouble and acting a fool. He takes immense pride in being from Oceanside, California, and it’s no wonder that his name is a reflection of his hometown. Although Foolie isn’t particularly the most passionate surfer, his beats are undeniably wavy, hence the origin of his name, Foolie Surfin.
While pursuing his studies in digital media and design at the University of Kentucky, Foolie also excelled as a student athlete. Currently, he finds joy in his job as an athletic coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, where he enjoys being able to give back to the community. While he thoroughly enjoys coaching, his ideal day involves hitting the gym, spending time in the studio, and end his days sharing music with homies. Similar to most creatives, he aspires for a life where he can fully immerse himself in his craft.
As an artist, he avoids confining himself to specific music genres and instead focuses on creating whatever feels right in the moment. He values depth in his music and enjoys exploring a wide range of beats. When creating new music, he makes sure to appreciate others’ art without trying to imitate their sounds, in order to maintain his own originality.
He greatly admires Lucky Daye for his vulnerability in the music he creates, as he openly discusses personal experiences and bares his heart to his audience. The genuine connection Lucky has formed with his fans through his music is something Foolie values. He believes that the relationship between an artist and their listeners goes beyond a surface level, touching souls on a spiritual level. Theres something special about understanding that although you may never know who the artist is, their music has the power to connect you with the artist on a deeper level. When defining what a great artist is, Foolie believes it boils down to creating something that leaves people in awe, questioning how it was achieved. That, in any form of creativity, is what constitutes great art. What sets one musician apart from another is their ability to convey their unique style and passion through their music, creating a feeling that cannot be replicated by another.
He draws much inspiration from PARTYNEXTDOOR, admiring his approach to music production and his deliberate expression through his art. Reflecting on the evolving landscape of music, he observes a significant shift towards authenticity, as artists increasingly embrace vulnerability as they work to bridge the gap between their art and authentic emotion. However, the reality is, the contemporary music industry often values attention, clicks, and likes, over the quality of the art itself. As Foolie mentioned, we forget at our core we are just being creative, we're all only here for a certain amount of time which is why creativity should remain untainted by external pressures. Foolie aims to use his gift to touch as many hearts as he can, encouraging other artists to do the same creating a space where listeners feel connected and understood.To him, music isn’t tangible, it’s something that enters your ears, goes into your brain, and commands a response from a deeper place.
Now, Foolie is focused on perfecting his craft, striving to make better beats everyday. With a vision of leaving a lasting impression through his art, he understands that true quality stems from embracing individuality and celebrating the distinctive essence of each piece. To fellow creatives and musicians, he says: “This ain’t the end, keep going, and pushing forward, because the possibilities are truly endless", truly inspirational perspective, calling for creatives to stay true to our roots as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of music, and sharing our unique voices with the world.