☆ Q&A with KrisSoap ☆
- Ale <3
- Dec 16, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Feb 8, 2024
KrisSoap on A New Album, Musical Influences, and Creative Evolution
Being in the studio with his dad early on in life was impactful for KrisSoap and his creative journey. In addition to having an older sister with solid music taste, all of his life experiences have ultimately played a part in the craft of his brand new album “LET IT BE KNOWN”.
With the album title being sprinkled throughout songs like “LES YE BE SICKR” and “TUNNEL VISION”, there are overlapping themes embedded within the tracks and his work as a whole. From instrumentals with ranging moods, to honest and personal lyrics that grab your attention, Kris’s new release is one you do not want to miss.
While drinking an irish cream cold brew (with extra foam), Kris shared some insight on the process of creating “LET IT BE KNOWN” and his excitement about the release. Additionally, he talked a bit about his favorite songs on the album and his favorite local restaurant! Scroll to read our conversation.
Ale: Hi Kris! It’s really nice to meet you! Where are you from and how have you been lately?
Kris: I’m from Wichita, Kansas and based in Hutchinson, Kansas, which is like 45 minutes away from Wichita. I’m in a really really really good place right now. Today I got my first day off, and that’s awesome. A bigger reason why is because I just dropped my first single, “LES YE BE SICKER”, streaming on all platforms. But yeah I’m honestly just in a good place. I also got a sign-on bonus this week! I’m also joined by Paul’s door here [points to door].
Ale: I’m curious to know more about Paul’s door! Can you tell me more about him?
Kris: Paul’s door is a mythical creature that has long lived in Caleb’s studio. He’s just a guy. He’s very photogenic. You can find him on my insta @paulsdoor [laughs].
Ale: That’s really nice to hear that you’re in a good place! Was music a big part of your life growing up?
Kris: My earliest music memories are from being in the studio at my uncle’s house. Him and my dad had a group with my dad’s friend. I never played any instruments, but I would like, beat on the tables with pencils during class and honestly whenever. To give you an idea of how long ago I’ve been writing, I think ever since Clinton was in office, and I’ve been recording since Obama was in office—if you get what I’m saying.
Ale: I thought the song “BOARDING PASS” had a very captivating instrumental, and you mentioned that growing up you liked to beat on tables with your pencils. Do you make beats now, and do the instrumentals for your songs influence your writing?
Kris: With the beat, a lot of the material was mixed media as far as when it was written. I would have an idea that I wrote for a 16-bar verse, and then I would have a newer one that I felt went with it. It’s very rare that I’ll sit down and hash out an entire song. If I write something, and I don’t feel like it sounds right over the beat I’m using, I’ll scrap the verse and use it for something else. There’s a few songs on the album that came together in that same mixed media fashion. I still love making beats, especially when I’m humming a tune when I have a beat in my head. I’ll record it as a memo and then I’ll transfer it into something more palatable for the general public. But yeah. . . I’m just glad you liked the song [laughs]. There are some verses that I write where I’m like “Okay, this is really good pen material, and it needs a really good backdrop before I use it.” I'll just sit on it until I find something that meshes well with it. The first track “CUT BACK” is very much like that. I felt that with the writing, it needed to [be] put on something really different or well crafted. Matt’s really good at crafting things. Their production is awesome – I love their production.
Ale: Instrumental tracks always stand out to me, and “THE VOID” caught my attention while listening. Is there a story behind that track and its placement?
Kris: That was a beat that didn’t really have a name before I decided to put it on the album. It may have been the last track that got on the album. It was meant to be much longer, but we chopped it down. The idea of putting it in there was to have some space before a long winded, lyric-heavy track. The track before it kind of starts you down that road like, “Okay, we’re going to be locked in and the void or break that we have will take us into the rest of the album”. I’m always straying away from making period pieces. I tend to overthink things, and I’m doing a whole lot less of that more recently. I’m not worrying about the fall out, and I’m just making what I wanna make. It doesn’t always have to be so critically thought out. “THE VOID” was a good fit for where I was putting it. Caleb made a joke when we were deciding to put it on there [laughs]. He was like, “So you’re gonna put a break before the longest song on the album?” and I said, “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m gonna do,” and that’s what we did and I’m glad I went with it.
Ale: Do you have any favorite tracks on the album?
Kris: “TUNNEL VISION'' is my favorite song on the album. I think because it came together so fluently. My second favorite is “COOP” because [laughs] it could not have happened so many times. This was one of those beats that I hummed at my job, made a voice memo, made it into a GarageBand beat, and I thought “Okay let me write something for it.” At that point, I was thinking of sending it to Maxx and being like, “Do you wanna get on this?” and he was like “Sure.” And then I was faced with the task of getting Caleb to turn it into a Logic file which was awesome, because I am not going to do that [laughs]. I really liked the production and recording – it was easy. I think it took one or two takes for my whole portion of it. Maxx’s verse on there was very personal, and I was honored that he chose to do that for this project. But yeah “TUNNEL VISION'' was one of those where I kept adding things to it and then I was like “Okay. . .let me just take it more back.” It was a process of adding and taking and then at one point my niece listened to it and she was bopping her head, and I was like “Alright, let’s leave it alone.”
Kris: Me and Maxx have an understanding where like, if we get on a song together, we’re gonna talk our shit [laughs]. Whatever he wants to get off his chest, he’ll say and whatever I want to get off my chest, I’ll say. A lot of the time, the title of the tracks will not be the central idea. It’s super easy to collaborate with Maxx. He’ll record something and send it to me or I’ll record something and send it to him. With Caleb, it’s a little more difficult to get him on a track with you, and I’m his brother [laughs]. Like me and him have the same mom and dad. But I love it when I can get him to work with me.
Ale: You mention your family in the tracks “FLY PILOT” and “CUT BACK.” How does your family influence the music you make?
Kris: You can only work from experiences you have and whether you’re drawing from your stories or values, I think the people and experiences you have will deeply influence what you have to say. I spend all my time with my family. All my best friends are my cousins. The friends that aren’t my cousins, I consider them family. More recently, I’ve been spending time with my son, my wife, my dad, and my mom. I feel like I’ve been spending more time with them now living in Hutchinson than living in Wichita. At the end of the day, I want something that I can bring to them and they can either palate or feel good about, you know? I think it’s really important to carry that with me. There’s a time when I didn’t do that and you're not gonna find that material anywhere so don’t go looking for it [laughs].
Ale: You released two singles in 2021. How does it feel to be releasing a new album, and how have you changed creatively since then?
Kris: It feels great. The love I have been getting from people who heard the album and the single has been really encouraging. The difference is that I had my eggs in a basket with this one – all of my ducks in a row. I got my priorities straight. The music’s better throughout, because I'm more organized. Being so busy now, I’m less likely to dwell on the material. It’s less of a deal for me because I have way more going on. That’s crazy because those singles were only a year ago.
Ale: With the year nearly coming to an end, what are some things you’re looking forward to in 2023?
Kris: I wanna see my son grow up. He’s turning two next year. I’m looking forward to the “terrible twos” – that’s going to be a little bit of mayhem. I have some material I'm sitting on as well that I want to work on, and I would love to move back to Wichita. My wife and I actually were born in the same hospital like two months apart. We are very much seeded and rooted here in Wichita. It’s not so bad here. It’s a good place to be.
Ale: Now for the get-to-know-me questions! Any favorite T.V. shows at the moment?
Kris: Atlanta. . .oh my god it’s such a well-written show. Also Abbott Elementary – those are my go-to right now. Especially the last season of Atlanta, it’s so good. If you haven't seen it, you should go take a peek at it.
Ale: If you could live in the universe of any movie, which one would you choose?
Kris: NOT the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That shit is fucked up right now, but I am going to see Black Panther this weekend and hopefully they reign it in a little bit. I like the universe I live in right now [laughs].
Ale: Favorite album of all time?
Kris: Madvillainy by Madvillain. . . no wait fuck that my album [laughs]. No no yeah definitely Madvillainy – for all intents and purposes.
Ale: Dream collaboration?
Kris: J Dilla and MF DOOM. Also Freddie Gibbs or Benny the Butcher. I know they’re beefing right now, but I love their past collaborations – they’re some of my favorite songs. Action Bronson, Madlib, and oh my god Alchemist as well.
Ale: Favorite restaurant right now?
Kris: Angelo’s! They’re a locally owned Italian restaurant. They are a staple here [Wichita, KS] and are so good. Shout out to Gina Fasciano. We really appreciate them. They are longtime friends of the family. I love the lasagna, cheesy garlic bread, the house Italian salad; and if you want, you can get an extra cup of pickled eggplant if you're about that life.
Listen to Kris’s new album “LET IT BE KNOWN” – available on all streaming platforms. Follow his instagram linked below to keep up with all future releases!
Click here to view my playlist filled with artists you need to "keep on ur radar".
Article was written by: Alejandra Moreno (@alejandrmor)
Article was edited by: Martha (@marthaa.22)
Photos provided by: Kris (@wiley_burp) and t.i.n.a.s LLC (@tinasllc)
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