AyeNeon is a hip-hop and R&B artist from Rochester, NY. He grew up listening to soul music, rap, and is strongly influenced by jazz. He’s notably inspired by artists such as J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Monte Booker. His music not only consists of R&B, but spans different genres to create his unique dream-like R&B sound. In addition to his own solo work, he is the leader of a musicians’ collective called Ikhanda Creative. The other artists making up Ikhanda Creative are JONO, 5g¡, AntoneNow, STRIPE, Nam:/D, JC, and Jared Evans. Together, these artists support and collaborate with one another through the collective.
AyeNeon recently released a new album, Ghetto Sunroof. The album consists of seven tracks. It’s a mellow, feel-good album featuring artists 5g¡, AntoneNow, Chosen, Samad Savage, Lenny G, and JC. We had a chance to talk with AyeNeon about his new album and what experiences led up to its release.
What made you want to pursue music?
I’ve always loved music. Music was there for me in times where I didn’t really have anywhere to turn to. Music would always be therapy. Whatever I’m feeling, I can instantly convey it in music. It’s to the point where I’ll be locked in my room for hours on a track. Apart from it being my therapy, it’s also the business coinciding with the music. I can be my own boss. Of course I have managers, but with music—it’s my creative range. I can do a lot of things with my music that I wouldn’t be able to do with a normal job.
What can you tell us about your newest release, Ghetto Sunroof?
Ghetto Sunroof is a collection of songs essentially. The songs all have a really different vibe to them. For example, “Meditate” is really different from rest. It’s a cut on a Kendrick type of bass-like, meditation kind of song. The chorus is repetitive in the way that meditation is with breathing. It’s just going “meditate, meditate, meditate, meditate.” That’s a highlight for me.
For the intro, I sampled Steve Arrington from “The Joys of Love.” Steve was doing R&B so differently than everybody else, so I had to sample him. It’s basically a production similar to a cover.
To talk about another track, it’s going to be “lightin the flame” with 5g¡. He’s another up-and-coming artist; I had to push him to write more. He wasn’t writing very much at the time and I had to get him on the chorus. [He got on the chorus and] absolutely dominated it in one try, completely freestyled. Those are three highlights off of the album for me.
When people listen to your music, what are you hoping they get out of it?
To have fun. Life’s too short to always be depressed. I’ve always had sad moments, but I was never the one to make sad music. If I was ever sad, I would make music that would make me happy. I like to make music that’s going to brighten my day and not lower my energy. Because if I’m not feeling great, I’m not going to make something that’s going to make me feel worse. I’m going to sit down and make something that feels good that other people can vibe to—make them feel good.
How would you describe your journey or process?
A lot of rough drafts, redoing my discography. I’ve had previous songs up on my Spotify. I had a couple projects and singles up, but it came to the point where I would evolve more in my music. I would listen to [the music] and be,” This is not what I sound like anymore,” and I would wipe it and go through [again and again]. I kept going through these phases where I would make different types of music. It’s cool to be diverse and make diverse music, but it’s another thing to be consistent with it. I would say building that [progress] from 2017 to now has been crazy. I’ve been refining my sound, getting better at writing lyrics and at production. That’s what led me to this point. Now, I finally have something out that I think represents me pretty well and I won’t take down. I found the greatest representation of myself that I have yet.
What can you say on Ikhanda Creative?
Ikhanda means to meditate in Zulu; it means speaking with the head. I wanted for us to come together and be able to make something that would change other people’s lives or make other people feel better. Put them in a meditative state. To speak on some artists, 5g¡, now going by Montgomery, his lyrical ability to freestyle off his head [is amazing]; he’s like a poet.
STRIPE, I toured with him in Mexico. We did Tecate Pa’l Norte 2021 and 2022. He takes trap to a new flow, what he can do with ethereal sounds. I would compare him to Mac Miller. His project Shit Happens (That’s Life) really changed the way I look at music. It’s just out of this world.
Are there any upcoming plans for new releases?
I plan to do more festivals next year. Definitely [expect] more music. I plan to release a single every month. I am planning on doing collaborations with different people such as Red Veil, Mavi, and Monte Booker.
AyeNeon’s new album, Ghetto Sunroof, is available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.
