BTD Interviews Marcy Chin

BTD Interviews Marcy Chin

Hi Marcy Chin, I am looking forward to interviewing you on your new single “I Wanna”, and dig into your musical journey. So, let’s get started.

As a Dancehall artist from Kingston, Jamaica, how do you feel your cultural background influences your music, and what elements of Jamaican music and culture do you strive to incorporate into your work?

My cultural background influences my music heavily. I am my culture! I strive to incorporate the core dancehall sound which I like to call the original style “buff baff”, as it is the sound that influenced my decision to create music. I am also intentional about incorporating our cultural expressions – our fashion, street slangs, as well as elements in the beat I know our dancers will enjoy. Our dance fraternity inspires me a lot and I enjoy attending the parties in my home community Kencot, where I get to witness these dancers’ expressions of Dancehall and I draw deeper inspiration from them. The audience looks to Dancehall for creativity, slangs, style, and fashion so it is important to me to make my mark in these categories and push the genre even further locally and abroad.

In ten words or less, how would you describe your music to a hard rock fan, the key here is to get that fan to listen to your music.
You and I?

We’re alike. Our music infuses different genres but my core is Dancehall.

I noticed that diversity is a key element in your approach to music. How do you navigate jumping in and out of various styles and sounds while maintaining your unique artistic voice?

I never really think about that. It kinda just happens that way. I think that has a lot to do with my flow, which is unique to me. I effortlessly fit my flow on whatever beat that speaks to me.

Let’s talk about your new single “I Wanna.” Can you share with our BTD Radio listeners the inspiration behind your latest single, “I Wanna,” and how the idea to create a parody of Wheeler Walker Jr.’s “Born to Fxxx” came about?

My manager Josef Bogdanovich, first sent the song to me with great enthusiasm and thought it would be a great idea to make my own version of Wheeler’s song. He said “I can see you making waves with this one”. After listening to it a few times, I was inspired and the lyrics flowed.

“I Wanna” is described as a daring and powerful track that fearlessly explores a woman’s perspective with unfiltered honesty. What motivated you to take on such a bold theme, and what message do you hope listeners take away from the song?

It was pretty clear after listening to Wheeler’s version that I had to hit him with a reality check lol. My message is always that we (women) have autonomy over our own bodies and that sex isn’t something that happens to us, it’s something you have WITH us, so no matter how big you want to talk, it’s still our show. It’s always our show!

Could you tell our listeners about your collaboration with producer Jon FX on “I Wanna”? How did the partnership contribute to the creative process, and what dynamics do you find most important when collaborating with other artists?

My manager connected with Jon because he thought he would be the perfect man to recreate the beat and maintain the production essence. He sent me the beat and I recorded the track in Jamaica and sent it back to him to work his magic. When collaborating with other artists, I find that being flexible with your style is so important. Expectations often lead to overthinking and it dampens the creative process. So going in there to have fun and build real chemistry is much more imperative to a successful merger of two artists. You can’t trick the audience so they need to see that this coming together is real and intentional.

The use of strong language in “I Wanna” adds a bold and edgy dimension to the track. How do you approach incorporating explicit content into your music, and what role do you believe it plays in conveying authenticity and raw emotion?

I use explicit language as a way to exclaim and emphasize my point or emotion. I find that it comes off way more authentic and passionate than if I censor myself and overthink the lyric.

What’s a day in the life of Marcy Chin in the studio? What goes on? 

If I have my song written prior to studio time, it’s really an easy day. I just go in and record, make adjustments if necessary and I’m out in a couple hours. However, if it’s a full session that requires me to write and vibe, like with a collaboration… then it’s the instrumental blasting through the speakers, while I’m smoking weed and connecting with the track. When I’m ready, I’ll let the Engineer know and then we do our thing. My sessions are usually closed. I don’t like having people around when I’m creating.

Having performed at the Reggae Sumfest in 2022, how do live performances contribute to your overall artistic expression, and what was the experience like performing in front of the audience at such a prominent event?

It was a tricky experience because I was kinda inserted in a time slot that people were not expecting, and could not appreciate. My culture is very rigid when it comes to their expectations on live performances. So that moment felt like a bit of a challenge, but something I definitely knew I could conquer. There was no anxiety or fear, but an acceptance of a challenge. Live performances teach me how to relate to the audience better, seeing the bars that they connect with and belt out with much fanfare. I get a better appreciation for their love of my artistry through performances.

In the ever-evolving music industry, what challenges and opportunities do you see for artists, particularly those who, like yourself, embrace diversity in their musical expression?

The primary challenge we face is finding the balance between being relatable yet unique. It’s easy to lose the audience when you’re different, offering something different or in a different way. So there needs to be something that bridges the gap. The biggest opportunity arises when you can bridge the gap enough times to create a consistent lane for yourself that people grow to love and appreciate.

Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Marcy Chin in terms of future projects, collaborations, or any new directions you might explore in your music?

I always tell my fans, my Chin City, to just keep their eyes on my social media for the next thing. I don’t really structure creative processes into my plans…I work by inspiration.

Lastly, as an artist driven by truth and passion, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians, especially those who aim to bring honesty and authenticity to their craft?

Be fearless in your expressions; understand that you create for you first, and never lose sight of that. Doing this for you is the easiest and in my opinion, only true way to convey authenticity through your craft. Keep up with Marcy Chin on social media.

Instagram: @marcychinofficial

TikTok: @marcychincitypresident

Youtube: @MarcyChinCityVevo

Also be sure to check out the BTD Radio music review on Marcy Chin’s new track, “I Wanna.”