Kid Quill’s album, “Ear To Ear,” dropped yesterday and landed in iTune’s Top 40 Hip-Hop Albums chart.
He’s come a long way, from the small town of Shelbyville, Ind. to become an aspiring rap artist opening for big name acts such as Jake Miller, Somo, Mike Stud and Huey Mack. When Kid Quill isn’t on stage, you can find him leading his alternate life as Mitch Brown. Mitch is a rising junior at DePauw University, former Division III athlete and a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Even with all of the anticipation and excitement that comes with releasing a new album, he still had time for a phone interview to talk about his life as a college student and professional artist.
How do you balance being in school and keeping up with your music career?
KQ: It’s pretty tough. I’ve had a lot of sleepless
nights. For example, one night I played a show with Somo in Louisville and had
to drive back that night to Greencastle and go to my 8:20 a.m. class. I just
have to really stay ahead, use time management and make some sacrifices. There
will be some days or nights when everyone is out partying and I just have to
say, no. It’s all worth it in the end, though.
What’s your
writing process like?
KQ: My favorite way to write is to go into the studio
with my producer [Travis “Kold Kut” Moore], and we create a song together. He
starts creating the music and I start creating content and coming up with the
lyrics. Eventually, it all comes together. It’s just one big process. So, if I’m
making time to go into the studio I have to have a game plan going in so I can
get in and out and be as efficient as possible. During winter term is when I
wrote and made most of my best music for the “Ear To Ear” album, because I had
more time on my hands.
Does being at
school stifle some of your musical creativity?
KQ: I have to say, it does. I’m just so busy during the
school year. It’s hard because during finals week I had this super cool concept
for a song and I just couldn’t take time out to write it because I was
busy studying my butt off for finals. After finals were over, it was hard to
get the concept back as strong as it was when it came to me.
Do you feel
like being associated with Greek life helps your music? KQ: Absolutely, it’s like a little support system. When I
had my first big show a bunch of them came out to watch and support me. It also
helps because once everyone goes home from DePauw we are all from different
states and cities and the music can filter out through people showing their
friends back home.
Do you play any
instruments?
KQ: I actually just went and bought a keyboard at a
garage sale that I’m going to try and learn to play. It’s on my to-do list this
summer.
Has there ever
been a moment when you felt famous?
KQ: Yeah, kind of – when I opened for Somo. The crowd was
mostly all girls and as soon as I walked out on stage they all started
screaming, which doesn’t usually happen. At first it was overwhelming but then
the more energy the crowd gave me the more energy I had to give. I’m still adjusting
to signing autographs, too. The first time it happened, I was caught off guard
and signed Mitch Brown instead of Kid Quill.
What do you
take when you go on the road?
KQ: It’s literally just my manager, my show DJ and me. We
hop into his Mazda with our merch table and a change of clothes in the trunk.
We’ve never stayed in any of the cities I perform in because we always drive
back to school that night after the show.
What’s your
craziest fan story?
KQ: One time we were driving back after the Champagne
show. We had given some fans our business cards that have all of our social
media outlets on it and a cell number to book us for shows. Well, this girl
thought that phone number was my number and she started blowing up that phone
asking if I was still in Champagne and if I wanted to hang out. She sent us
this weird picture of her in a Kid Quill shirt sticking her tongue out and we
had to contact her to tell her to stop texting my manager.
What are you
listening to on your iPod right now?
KQ: Right now I’m into some more underground artists like
Jon Bellion and Tory Lanez. I also listen to a lot of Chance the Rapper, Hoodie
Allen, Mike Stud, and G Eazy.
What’s your
biggest inspiration?
KQ: The biggest inspiration to me is just real life. It’s
the daily encounters with people and experiences everyone goes through that
inspire me to write my music. I think also the humbling things that happen to
me and the experiences that I have on the road when I do my shows inspire me to
keep writing.
Now that Mitch has elected to end his collegiate soccer
career and concentrate on school and music, stay tuned for more show dates this
fall. Kid Quill’s album, “Ear to Ear,” is now available on iTunes. Check out his website www.kidqill.com and follow him on social media.
Twitter: @KidQuill
Instagram: @quit_mitchin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KidQuill
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2zRkMYVJycWecfmD...
