We caught up with Shawty to talk about his music. At Indiy we champion musicians.

Let's get to it...

What do you enjoy most about being an independent musician?

What I enjoy the most is most likely the freedom.

I love to be able to make what I want when I want, & with whom I want.

Complete creative freedom is what I want as an artist at all times, honestly.

If we were to peek over your shoulder, what does your studio look like? What gear do you typically use?

I use an audio interface with my computer or I record on my phone with my Beats headphones.

And I have someone engineer my vocals.

I only go to the studio for fun because I have one of my own.

Do you enjoy recording and production, or do you like performing live and promotion?

I’ve never performed live!

So for now, I’d say I enjoy just the creation and the art.

I love to embrace the fact that I have this gift that not many people have.

How would you want people to describe your latest project in a tweet?

I want people to say where it could be better.

'Mid' is the term I’d prefer...

As I have much better stuff in store!

Do you plan your music releases, or do you just finish a song and release it?

I don’t typically just release music, I have to sit and plan a release.

As I have a tendency to hold on to music and place it in a vault, per se.

I won’t ever just finish something then release it...

As room for improvement could always be there.

What can we expect from you within the next 6 months? Any releases planned? Future gigs?

I have my 6th studio album 'With Or Without You 'releasing on June 4th, 2021.

And I should be releasing my next single, 'Sick Of You' on Friday, February 17th, 2021.

Are you planning any videos for your music? Are there any videos we need to know about!?

I would love to shoot, or have a video done for my 2020 single 'Thought Wrong'...

I have a whole vision planned for this song as it’s one of my personal favorite songs!

Are there any collaborations, past or future, that you are excited about?

Diablo The Rockstar, Default, Massiimassio, Makoto, Vakame, Lilonit, really my whole rap collective, VV.

As for producers...

I would love to work with Internet Money...Nick Mira specifically.

What inspires your creative process?

I feel like I’m driven by past experiences.

Any pain that was dealt to me is put into passion within my music.

I try to embrace it!

And wear my heart on my sleeve...especially while recording.

What are your top three favorite albums of all time & why?

Goodbye & Good Riddance by Juice WRLD is one of my favorite albums of all time...

It influenced practically my whole style!

Nothing Was The Same by Drake is probably another one of my favorite albums of all time.

And as for the 3rd...

It would probably be Hellboy by Lil Peep.

Who makes up your existing creative team?
i.e. photographers, video directors, social media managers, paid media specialists, stylists, hair, and makeup…Name someone who you think deserves a special shout-out?

Shoutout to DiabloTheRockstar...

My close collaborator, friend, and engineer.

Where can we find you on social media?

@Shawtyastar on Instagram.

And @Flackoouttalove on Twitter.