"Although I didn't write this song, it spoke to me in a way that made me feel as if it was my own story,” Brandon said. “I found myself playing it over and over again in my bedroom, remembering situations that I've been through.”
Check out the video for yourself below.
Check out our exclusive interview with the artist below.
How has gratitude helped ground you into your identity?
Without having a sense of gratitude, you can’t truly appreciate the moments. As I get further down this path I’m on, all that matters is those moments you look back on. Nothing else matters but the moments. I remind myself to be grateful in the here and now. I have to be mindful that this moment is going to pass and it will be a memory and [I’m] gonna look back and wish [I] enjoyed the moment more. So for me, it’s very important to be grateful. Just to soak in everything. I’m from Dublin and [I] don’t think that it’s an option to make music and be respected, so I’m just doing me and expressing myself. All the shit, I can’t be responsible for that.
What has your life looked like in the past four years?
I have a very strict regimented routine. I’ll wake up, drink two bottles of water, exercise. I’ll try to spend an hour alone with music. I’ll read. Check-in with family. For the last two years, I’ve liked to be outdoors as much as possible. Especially around trees. I’m a fucking tree lover. When I’m around trees, I feel this sense of solace, man. The last four years have been me killing whatever ego that’s there and then completely connecting with the outside. There was never an ego, but when I make music, I have to be very mindful that this persona I have can’t exist on the off days when I’m not making music. The last four years have been me trying to work through that identity thing. Just killing all that shit and coming back with a whole new perspective.
How has your production skills evolved within this project?
I’m more confident. I know what I want from every track. There’s no indecisiveness. I came into this music thing not knowing anything; just a person with ideas. I’ve been fortunate enough to be around amazing producers [and] talented humans. I’ve observed a lot throughout those years. Now, I’m at a place where I can truly create what’s in my brain. But you know, I’m black, so we have that in us. I’m in a good space compared to my first record where I was a little bit nervous. Mainly because I was putting so much energy into the world. This time, I understand the musical space more. I feel more relaxed - you can hear that in the music. It’s more concise, whereas my first record was brain scattered. I made the record two years ago so it’s a little bit stale. If you were to listen to this album it’s very much a collaborative album. You’re not gonna come away from it knowing how I feel like as person, which was my intention. That’s all I want to do- put out good music.
In the “Relax Interlude,” you talk about how darkness is beneficial to us. From the past four years, how has unknowingness and darkness helped bring clarity into your life?
I feel death in itself is something that we all avoid, but when it’s staring you in your face, you can’t shy away from it. It shows you that you have to live life correctly. For me, death is a dark thing. It’s always been something that I’ve shied away from, but now, I’ve been able to heal and mature with the process that comes with that. Life throws you a lot of shit when you’re in a world of music and entertainment. Dark days are just as important as bright days.
What was the process of working with MF DOOM?
I was fortunate enough to meet him 2 years before at dinner. When I sent him the record for “Cookie Chips,” it was just business. I made sure he had his bread. I’m so grateful because this is someone who I listen to every single day. His music hits a different part of my body. When I see that we made something together, it trips me out so much. It brings me to tears. There’s never gonna be anyone like that, again. When I found out he passed, it was crazy because my grandmother had passed the day before, so it was a shock. To have him on my record, it’s an honor. I can’t wait to put my daughter on to him.
What was it like being in Egypt? How is this place significant to you?
I guess the label had a budget so I was like, ‘I want to go to Egypt.’ I turned it into a holiday because you know, finesse gang. But Egypt - that’s where my head is at. I grew up and didn’t know where my parents came from so I’ve been deep diving [into] history. Egypt is this place that I’m so intrigued by so I figured, ‘Why not go there?’ We just shot the video, really simple. that’s why it’s quite simplistic because it’s just me there as a tourist. It’s a really beautiful country. I went to the markets, I got to meet people. My father’s Nigerian so I’m only now getting to connect to this place. I went to Egypt with one piece of clothing. It forced me to go there for the right intention.
Love is the one thing that we can count on for being constant in life. How has fatherhood healed you?
There’s no greater love than fatherhood. It’s only been two months for me, but the one thing I’ve felt has just been the admiration I have for women. The vessel, the body they have- it’s incredible. I’m kinda getting the sense that this is my purpose. I was made to do this, you know. It’s such a remarkable thing; to bring life into the world. To have someone with your DNA, it hits different you know. I’m not gonna lie, I felt guilty for not being nervous and shit. Man, I was so lax. I was just high off of love. The vibrations in the room were heavy. When she first came out, she looked at me, first. I felt instantly, like, this is my G right here. Like, I’m about to protect you.
Tell me about the ways you’ve been finding yourself outside of your music.
Just connecting on a human level with everybody I meet, not just people that are closer to home. I feel like as I’m getting older and shit, I’m getting better and wiser. I’ll be forever finding the person that’s in here. Forever. Now that I’ve got a responsibility that’s greater than [myself], it’s important to be bettering myself. [I’m] making sure that everything that consumes me, consumes me in a positive, righteous way. I’m soul searching in every angle. I think it’s nice that I do music because it’s gonna come out in the music.
Your music seems to center itself around identity. Why do you think it’s essential that we outgrow certain identities?
You have to make new experiences on the earth. It’s the only way to understand yourself, but it’s also the only way to find your place in the world. It’s hard to understand because there’s so much ego you have to kill. With social constructs and ideologies, It’s hard to look at yourself - who you are, where you’re from, the mission you’re on. Not everyone has a mission, but everyone has a purpose. My mission would be to do good with the platform I have. But yea, It’s so deep.
Who is Alex Anyaegbunam, right now, at this moment?
I’m just a person with a lot of love to give. I’m excited about what’s down the line. I’m grateful, too.
The unisex pieces are embellished with RuPauls’ autograph, along with the words Balenciaga Music Limited Edition Merch. Everyone will be sure to know who you’re wearing and will be upset that they didn’t get it first! This collaboration was announced through a collection of videos blending current and early RuPaul performances, as well as cameos from some of nightlifes’ fixture faces.
Balenciaga is not unfamiliar with the world of curated playlists. As an official Apple Music curator, Demna hand selects which creators the brand will be teaming up with and the direction the collaboration will go in.
Look at the collection HERE
The single comes ahead of the release of Fantasea II, the long-awaited sequel to Banks' 2012 debut mixtape Fantasea.
Listen to "Fuck Him All Night" here
