whiterosemoxie Talks "Human Behavior" Album, The Importance of Family and What He's Watching on Netflix
Pants With Overlaid Skirt ($130) 8 by YOOX.
Kolor Magazine here with whiterosemoxie.
Hey, Hey, Hey!
whiterosemoxie. When you came in, you introduced yourself as Moxie. Why is the white rose significant?
I feel like it's two parts to it for me. I grew up with a lot of influences. We had ASAP Rocky, the whole ASAP Mob, for example. It was always a forename for what you represent. I represent keeping that childhood innocence, that purity. That good mindset that you have to have when you're creating allows you to channel pure energy through you. That's where my music is. I don't have to make it a specific genre [of music] because it's just pure channeling. I feel like the "white rose" represents that best.
Who are some of your musical influences? When I listened to your music, I heard Cudi. I heard Kanye. I heard Travis Scott. I heard Juice Wrld.
I would say all of them. I say those are a lot of my influences. But one thing I've realized the more I've answered that question is those artists also listen to the same artists I listened to that came before them. I love everybody from Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Jimi Hendrix. My mom loved The Temptations, Stevie [Wonder], so she got me onto them. My dad was on a rock shit like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen; he got me hip to all that. Then I develop my taste like Pierce the Veil, Green Day, and shit like that. I'm listening to The Stroke, too; I have to put them in there.
Let's get into the album. You're new single"Flavors" is out. The movie NOPE inspired the music video. Did you enjoy that movie? What was behind that inspiration?
I like Black Cowboys. My granddad used to love cowboy movies, but there were always white folks in them, which is cool, but the vibe gave me a Black cowboy movie like The Harder They Fall. He's [my granddad] super southern, so they live in that lifestyle, and NOPE gave me the energy like when I'm in Alabama visiting family.
Pleats Bottoms 2 Jumpsuit ($695) HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE.
But you're from Detroit?
Yeah
Are Southern influences in the art you create?
I love Southern artists. It's definitely in the art. My pops would always make Cajun bacon and Cajun food. The food would be a little burnt, but little stuff like that, or the cheese grits? I feel like that energy is in my music. It's heartwarming.
You have the album "Human Behavior" coming out, and you're releasing a weed strain to accompany the album. How did that come together?
I enjoy smoking. I think it [weed] offers some cool benefits. I feel like weed can add to your day. That's where the inspiration came from. How can I create something that's still at an accessible price but will offer you the benefits of luxury weed? All of our weed has no chemicals. It's grown in Michigan. It's small batches trying to focus on quality.
Tell me a bit more about the strain. Is it Indica, Sativa, or a Hybrid?
It's a Sativa-heavy hybrid. I like to be up. We have two different variations right now. We have a chill one, more on the Indica side, and the Radio K Mainstream to get you through the day. I wanted something similar to a coffee that you could use to recharge.
What can we expect from "Human Behavior"?
"Human Behavior" is going to be fire. I explain it as a mirror. With that pure channel, I talked about earlier, all the emotions will allow the listener to take whatever they can out of it. I want you to see yourself in that album. Each person's perspective will determine how to hear "Human Behavior".
Jumbo Overall ($1,095) Skate Long Sleeve T-Shirt ($325) R13; Talent’s Own Sneakers.
I know fashion is an interest of yours. What are some brands that you like right now?
I like Ambush right now. I also love to mix and match. I'm more about the silhouette and the look of the fit.
We live in a streaming age. What shows are you streaming these days? Are you a binge-watcher?
I haven't had as much time as TV. I like a good documentary. If it's an hour and it'll teach me some shit, through that on. The last show I recently binge-watched was Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal and MH370: The Plane That Disappeared on Netflix. I like anime too. I've been watching Fire Force recently and Tokyo Revengers. And then I also like Power. I have to catch up.
Best anime of all time?
Soul Eater. I have that shit tatted on me.
Techno Print Sweater with Logo ($745) ICEBERG.
And I was looking at some of your tattoos.
Yep. [Juice World] had a tattoo that said "Ally's WRLD." I don't know what it was about having "world" tattooed on your fucking bicep, but that's huge to me. I have an angel tattoo. This one reminds me I can control my mental space. Then I have a Scorpion and a rose with thorns to represent my more real-life side. So "world" on my bicep means I have the "power" to do whatever I want.
I see your hair is purple. What's the significance of purple?
I have a crazy relationship with that color. It means royalty. I want to give off that energy. And my grandma's church would pick a color of the month, so I was always big on what the colors represented. My aunt's favorite color has been purple since I was born. Her entire house is purple. Auntie Nana, that's what I call her. When I call and tell her, 'I have your favorite hair color,' she'll lose her mind.
What does family mean to you?
Family is everything. I was blessed enough to have a loving and wonderful big family. I don't want to take that for granted anymore because I didn't realize how blessed I was to have family in the first place. Now, it's everything. I have a 10-year-old sister back home. It's good to have time to build a relationship with her.
Where does Moxie see himself in five years?
I'll probably be doing the same thing in a better place. I like helping people. I want to get to a place where I can help other people. I help my homies with their music or contracts. And not that they need it, but I like to help anybody I rock with. In five years, I'll have a bigger platform to do that, and hopefully, what people need with their music I can offer on a global scale.
What can we expect sonically from "Human Behavior"?
With Moxie, it's about authenticity; you'll catch a couple of moods. It's a lot of melodic stuff on there. I'll say it's the most lyrically and melodically confident as I've ever been on music. Ever since I was a kid, I would make these rooms. I'd invite everyone to the same room to do the same shit. I've continued to do that as I've developed in my career. I'll have my photographer come, and then my homies, who might be doing a song with me. Then the engineers are from wherever and the photographer is from wherever, so I'd say with all my albums, it's that energy. You may not go into it expecting to like something, but the common point that everybody has is we all fuck with Moxie. You're going find something you rock with, and you'll hear some shit you would have never heard before.
I want to open up the floor. Is it anything you want to say or tell us as a final note?
Yes! "Human Behavior" is out now. We're coming straight out of Detroit, and I want to make noise for this new underground scene in Detroit: me, Loc, High Tech, Ace, and more. It's a new way of coming out of Detroit, and this is the first attack.
Jersey (similar styles) PHIPPS, Pants With Overlaid Skirt ($130) 8 by YOOX, Chuck 70 Vintage Canvas ($85.00) CONVERSE.
Photographer: Ammar Thomas @iam.ammarjamal | Fashion Director & Interview: Nigel Isaiah @nigel_isaiah | Barber: Jomocuts @jomocuts | Location: The 9 Studios | Special Thanks: Audible Treats @audibletreats
