Cilo Q&A
Cilo is an up and coming rapper in Los Angeles, originally from the Bay Area. In November 2022, he released his first full-length album, LOS. I was fortunate enough to catch up with the rising star to talk about the album, his inspirations, and what’s next in his promising career.
Tyler: For those who are unfamiliar with you and your music, what do you want them to know before listening to LOS?
Cilo: I think all I could really want from first time listeners, is to go into the album with an open heart and feeling ready to grow. This album is a journey for me, and if people are ready to take that journey with me, I think our shared connection can create power for all of us.
T: If you could only pick one of your songs to introduce listeners to your music, which would it be and why?
C: This one is a tough choice. There's a lot of songs that have so much content about my life and who I am that feel like a necessity to properly introduce myself. But in all honesty, right now I'm choosing "Gotdamn." It's just fun, it's straight to the point, and it shows the line I walk throughout my music. There's a part of me that's reflective and constantly thinking about how my life has affected me. But there's also the side of me that likes flexin’ on everyone, being witty, laughing. This one shows that balance, and sonically it just fits everywhere. In the car, at the gym, in the crib, etc. It's refreshing every time.
T: Can you walk us through the process of putting this album together? How long you worked on it, your inspirations, production, studio sessions, etc.
C: It's hard to say exactly how long I worked on this album. I want to say that I started sometime around March/April 2021, but it's hazy. I make a lot of music constantly, and sometimes I might make music for a project, and other times I'm just making music to make it. Early in 2021, I was making music to make it. I think slowly over time I was getting myself to a point where I felt like I knew the direction I wanted to take a full-length project, and feeling inspired enough to say something important. I think things really started heating up after I moved to LA in May of 2021. From May 2021 to when we turned in files in April of 2022, I made over 100 songs and around like 400-500 beats. Music for me is a part of my natural life. I don't really do studio sessions like that too often. I make music at the crib, at cafes, at my kitchen table. We recorded pretty much the entire album from my apartment. At the time, co-executive producer Julian Amado Garcia lived with me, and so we would spend a lot of time living in the music.
As far as inspirations go, there are so many. I'm a fan at the end of the day, and I love ALL types of rap. That's why when people listen it sounds like it walks through so many different places. I don't think I could ever escape that I'm from the bay and how much west coast rap has played a part in my life. But I love every era of southern rap. I love midwest rap. I love the east coast. I think there are little nuances in my music that show the influence of all of these.
T: Who are some people in the industry you worked with on this album, and who are some that you want to work with in the future?
C: For being an up-and-coming artist, I've been blessed to be able to work with people I really respect on this project. There's co-production from Frank Dukes, Anthem, and Motif Alumni who each have amazing catalogs. Blessed to have the feature by Poet22 on "Shine," and Nikki Pararuan on "Don't B Bitter/101." The entire project was mixed by the homie Zach Pereyra who has been a part of some major projects. And it was mastered by Emerson Mancini, who has so many Grammys and classic albums under his belt.
Right now, I would love to work with Smino & Monte Booker, Vince Staples, Cleo Sol, Jenevieve, and Paris Texas. My dream production right now would probably be by DJ Dahi. Oh and I'd love to make a song with Tia Corine. I think that would be crazy.
T: What was the biggest challenge you faced when working on LOS?
C: I feel like this album has been such a lifelong journey for me. I think the biggest challenge was figuring out how to properly tell my story in the music. Pushing myself every day to take ideas further and challenging myself to grow within the music to get the sounds that really did the story justice.
T: What has been the most fulfilling moment of your career so far?
C: There's probably two moments I'm thinking of right now. The first is the first time I played the album for my family, and we all sat in the kitchen and listened and by the end of it everybody was shedding real tears. I think we all knew in that moment just how real everything was about to get. The second is the release party we did in LA, and that was just such a beautiful moment of real community. I think that's always the most important thing, doing this music for my community and for the love of all the people around me, and it really just brought us together for a beautiful night.
T: Are there any other up and coming artists you want to give a shoutout to?
C: Absolutely, Jordan Ward just dropped my favorite album of the year so far. Jammy is one of the best out the bay right now. Seen Malaya live, and her voice is insane.
T: Can you give us any hint of what we might hear next from you?
C: A lot of new sounds, new bounces. So much has happened since LOS. Feel like I have so much to say and give to y'all. And LOS was really just the beginning. Things are only progressing.
T: Lastly, since this is for the Music Industry Club, is there any advice you can give us students to help us work with artists and push more great music forward?
C: All I could say is always approach it with love and care. And take that extra step to really go deeper. Music is an essential part of life. Every part of it matters.