LOUDER Sits Down With Lil Mosey

Takes from my interview with Seattle native Lil Mosey last week.

LOUDER: You’re still really young, but it feels like everything happened incredibly fast. When did you realize this music thing could actually become a career?

Lil Mosey: Probably when “Pull Up” started going crazy. Before that I was just making music because I liked doing it. I wasn't really thinking about all this other sh**. Then people started playing the songs and showing love, and I was like, “Okay, this could really be something.”

LOUDER: “Pull Up” was a huge moment for you. What do you remember about making it?

Lil Mosey: I remember it being really quick. I heard the beat, sent it to Royce, went to the studio and just started freestyling. The song basically came together right there. I knew it was fire when we finished it.

LOUDER: You and Royce David seem to have a really natural chemistry. What makes that relationship work?

Lil Mosey: We've been making music together for a while, so he knows what I like. I know what he likes. He'll play something and I'll already know where I'm trying to take it. We don't really have to force anything.

LOUDER: Your sound is really melodic. Do you think of yourself more as a rapper or a singer?

Lil Mosey: I don't really think about it like that. I'm just making music. If I feel like singing, I'm gonna sing. If I feel like rapping, I'm gonna rap. I just want the song to sound good.

LOUDER: You've mentioned Meek Mill as one of your biggest influences. What did you take from him?

Lil Mosey: The energy. Dreams and Nightmares was one of the first rap projects that really made me want to do this. My brother had it on his iPod and I listened to it all the time. Meek made me want to actually take rap seriously.

LOUDER: You’re from Seattle, which isn't necessarily the first city people think of when they think about the current rap scene. Do you feel like that influences your music?

Lil Mosey: Yeah, definitely. Seattle is different. I grew up around different sounds and different people, so I think it naturally comes through. But I don't want to sound like anybody else from Seattle. I just want people to hear a song and know it's me.

LOUDER: “Noticed” has taken things to another level. What was it like seeing the Cole Bennett video start taking off?

Lil Mosey: That was crazy. Cole's videos always have their own look, so when we shot it I knew it was gonna be something. Then it started getting all these views really fast. Seeing people from everywhere talking about the song was crazy.

LOUDER: Did you expect “Noticed” to get this big?

Lil Mosey: I knew people liked it, but you never really know what's gonna happen. You can make a song and think it's the biggest song ever and then nobody cares. So when people actually started going crazy over it, I was just grateful.

LOUDER: What do you think makes your music connect with people?

Lil Mosey: I think it's just fun. I don't try to make everything super serious. I want people to be able to play my music and have a good time. The melodies, the beats, everything is supposed to make you feel something.

LOUDER: You're working on Northsbest right now. What can people expect?

Lil Mosey: Just a lot of new stuff. I've been recording a lot, so there's a lot to choose from. I want the project to show people that I'm not just “Pull Up” or “Noticed.” There's different sides to what I do.

LOUDER: Is there anything you're trying to accomplish with the project?

Lil Mosey: I just want it to be better than the last thing I did. Every time I make something, I want to improve. I want people to hear the project and know I'm getting better.

LOUDER: You're already getting a lot of attention at 16. Does any of this ever feel overwhelming?

Lil Mosey: Sometimes it's crazy, but I'm used to working. I'm just focused on the music. I don't really want to think about all the other stuff too much.

LOUDER: What's the biggest thing you've learned since “Pull Up” took off?

Lil Mosey: Probably just to keep working. You can't have one song do good and then stop. There's always somebody else coming up. I just want to keep making music and keep getting better.

LOUDER: Last question. Where do you see Lil Mosey a few years from now?

Lil Mosey: Hopefully everywhere. Bigger shows, bigger songs, more music. I want to keep dropping hits and keep going up.

LOUDER: Sounds like you're just getting started.

Lil Mosey: Yeah. For sure.

Lil Mosey’s rise accelerated rapidly in 2018, with “Pull Up,” “Boof Pack” and “Noticed” establishing him as one of the young artists to watch out of Seattle. His debut studio album, Northsbest, followed later that year.