P&P Spotlight: Static Res (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)

The DMV serves as an unexpected hotspot for genre-diverse independent artists - it cultivates a bustling environment, yet tight-knit community, around its members. Static Res, a lofi hip-hop phenom paving his own path, brings a unique perspective to the area's music scene. Together, his Rockville, Maryland roots and strong presence in Columbus, Ohio (during his time at Ohio State University) influence his one-of-a-kind sound. Static Res melds mainstream pop and alternative with hard-hitting rap, as well as incorporating a healthy amount of mellow grooves.

Ahead of a new album cycle, Playlists & Polaroids recently got to chat with Static Res about "FALLING UP," a landmark single which closes a musical chapter for him. We enjoyed getting a glimpse into his inspiring creative process, as he wears the hats of singer, songwriter, and producer. While exploring his individuality, Static Res has also founded projects pushing unity and collaboration, such as The Cold Collection. We're in love with his innovative artistry and free spirit!

Image credit: Tres Negative, graphic created by Karly Ramnani

YOU'LL LOVE STATIC RES IF YOU LISTEN TO: Mac Miller, MF DOOM, Alchemist, Cat Stevens, Pink Floyd, MyKey, Logic

Tell us about your stage name! How did you come up with "Static Res" and what does it mean to you?

So originally when I first started releasing music in 2016, I was going by Static301 (only on SoundCloud at the time). I got the idea for Static working my first job out of high school as a pizza delivery driver. I would drive my 2004 Corolla around to deliver orders and since the car didn’t really have a proper “aux” cord, I got one of those cassette deck aux cables that allows you to tune it to a random FM radio station and play your music through the cable. It wasn’t that high of quality unless you held the cord perfectly still, so at the time there’d be a lot of radio static on the speakers lol. I ended up adding “Res” to my name in early 2017 to build out the identity of my brand a bit more and have better search visibility when people would go to look me up. The “Res” is a double entendre, short for resonate, and regular every day shit.

What drew you to the art of production? Describe the moment you realized you wanted to start producing your own music.

I think the early SoundCloud days (as a listener) really drew me to wanting to learn how to produce. Back when I first started dabbling, I was listening to a lot of Soulection radio, Mac Miller (Diablo especially), Chance, Vic Mensa etc. and I thought it was really cool how a lot of emerging artists and producers at the time built a lot of their catalogs out on there. In listening to a lot of people like J Dilla, MF DOOM, Alchemist early on, I also fell in love with the art of sampling and really wanted to learn how to incorporate it into stuff I’d produce.

I love the genre-bending nature of your music. What artists and genres would you say you draw the most inspiration from, and in what ways?

I appreciate that! I think a big one for me on the Hip Hop/Rap side of the stuff I’ve done is J Dilla. When I was first starting to rap, I’d freestyle a lot to his beats. I just always loved the soulful sample chops and drums. As far as the pen goes though, I was really inspired by artists like Ab-Soul and Saba early on. Another big one has always been Kaytranada, he was really my introduction to house/future bass music. I love how in his style of music the production always seems like it’s as prominent as the vocals, and the arrangement is always catchy. I’ve tried to approach my songs with the same mindset almost — I’ve just always had the producer first mindset. My favorite part of the process is post production, because I feel like that’s where a lot of the alternative elements come into play and you can build around an existing idea. I messed around with a lot of different sounds in the process of making my album, but I feel like I’ve really dialed in on a sound that encompasses all of my inspirations and i’m so hyped for people to hear it.

Image credit: Tres Negative

How do the ambient elements of your style of music develop? What draws you to this particular type of sound?

I think a lot of that has to do with some of the music I grew up on. My dad used to play a lot of Cat Stevens and Pink Floyd growing up, so whenever I think of that music I just think of a calm place. I’ve mixed those roots with a lot of future bass and hip hop over the years.

Tell us about your "The Cold Collection" project - what is the concept of it, and what inspired you to found it?

Cold Collection my whole collection 4L! There wasn’t really one true founder — the concept of the The Cold Collection was to bring together a group of creatives, artists/producers, videographers, fashion designers alike to build a collective brand and create all of our art in house! What inspired all of us to come together was really the friendships we all made over the year in our time at Ohio State. Myself, Dot Bryant, and Cropscropscrops all met through the Ohio State freestyle and beatbox club actually. Around the time I joined, our boy Drolym also started MPC, a music producers club at OSU and we all ended up connecting through those club get togethers and just going crazy. Shoutout to everyone — 96 sins, Sai, Wenxin, Charter Beatz, Race Bannon, Darkoh, Manny, Lo V, Jazi, ISWUO, Keanu, Zay, Billy.

Who are some of your favorite artists that you've played alongside and opened for? How do these artists influence you, and what are some of your biggest takeaways from these experiences?

My favorite has got to be my dude MyKey. We played a show together in 2018 in DC which still might be one of my favorite shows to date — since we’re both from Maryland we had a lot of high school homies pull up and it really felt like a homecoming. To have seen MyKeys growth over the years really inspires me and he’s always given me great advice whether it’s life, music, whatever it is. My biggest takeaway from that 2018 show was to always show love to where you’re from!

What were some of the biggest highlights of working with Stale Brick, on "FALLING UP" for you?

Stale Brick is a crazzzyyyy producer and musician man. I made the original FALLING UP beat on my laptop and after recording the demo to it I just felt like it needed some more texture/post-production. I sent it to Stale Brick and as soon as he sent me the bounce with his additions I was geeked.

What inspired the lyrics and production of "FALLING UP"? Does real-life experience play a part in it?

The lyrics in FALLING UP we’re less real-life inspired than it was just the energy I got from the beat when I first made it! I’ve been getting into more liquid drum and bass music that my boy will send me and I was just like woah I want to try to make something like this.

How have both the locations of the DMV and Columbus, Ohio impacted your artistic journey? What made you decide to move back to Washington, D.C?

Columbus definitely helped me build the foundation I have now. Early on, meeting people like Dot Bryant, Drolym, and Manny while we were students really tapped me into the network of creatives I was looking for at the time. When I was first starting out in 2016-17 I felt like Columbus was full of opportunity to perform and I was lucky enough to start getting shows around the city which made me want to take it more seriously. As far as the DMV goes, I think growing up seeing artists like Wale, Logic, IDK, etc. put us on the map really inspired people out here In addition to that there’s a lot of music history in Washington DC with go-go music, and I just remember always bumping the local radio stations out here in my 04 Corolla and thinking it was so cool how an area can cultivate it’s own “sound” like go-go music has done in DC. I ultimately moved back to DC to be closer to family but Columbus always has a special place in my heart!

What tips would you give to aspiring singers, songwriters, and producers in the business?

Be yourself, and just make the art that makes you happy. And don’t be afraid to put yourself out there!

And finally, the P&P Classic - Tell us your favorite lyric from "FALLING UP"! What was going through your head as you wrote that lyric, and what does it mean to you?

My favorite lyric in falling up was “I can’t grow estranged, I’m attached, I just need to stay away from distractions.” This was an brutally honest ode to myself, as often times I have an addictive personality with my phone and other technology so I try my best to limit them as distractions. I said I can’t grow estranged, I’m attached because I almost feel as an independent artist in 2023 it’s necessary to be online, interacting the majority of the time — which results in a lot of time on my phone, haha. The lyrics also felt right with the overarching themes in the song and I honestly was freestyling that part when I first recorded it, I loved how it turned out.

We can't thank Static Res enough for sharing his creativity and perspective with us! With something in it for everyone, his bold catalogue can truly attract music fans from all across the spectrum. We hope this feature inspired you to dive deeper into his world - here's a playlist we've curated for you to get started!