For Papa Mbye, art is his chosen language. Papa’s an interdisciplinary artist working with mediums such as animation, drawing, film, and music. As an artist that guides his visions all the way through a natural yet calculated process of creation, all of his work is intertwined and a “consequence of having to express something.” Music happened on a whim for Papa but even when it did, it continued to be an extension of himself like the rest of his art. With two singles under his belt, the elusive, Minneapolis-based artist evokes and maintains a curiosity in anyone who ventures into his work because he never really has to say much for you to understand what he means. We caught up with Papa on a recent trip to Chicago to talk about how his evolution as an artist led him to music, his creative process, and the music that’s to come.

How have you been these days?

I've literally just been chilling with my friends like making stuff I’m interdisciplinary so I like to draw as well as like do animation stuff and paint so I've kinda just been in cook mode.

How did you get into music? Did you always know or imagine it to be a big part of your life?

Yeah I mean I really started doing the music ‘cuz me and my friend used to throw parties and I remember just like on a whim I decided to perform at one of the parties, just like a freestyle or something. Then this dude booked me for a show after that and I literally would just make songs so I could play shows.

You’re from Minneapolis, right? What impact would you say it’s had on your identity as an artist?

Yeah, since it doesn't have a really concrete identity, it’s appeal is in how eclectic it is and how everyone’s doing their own thing. I really never was pressured to conform to some sort of Minneapolis sound, like we all were just trying shit and seeing what works.

Other than music, what are some of your creative outlets and how do they influence the music you make or vice versa?

Well, I really like to do everything! I like to draw, I like to do animation, I like to make small films, I like to edit photos. I think it's all just a consequence of having to express something, and every different form is just another translation of it. It almost feels like being bilingual or something.

“IDONTSENDSEX” was a wonderful introduction to your sound & “NOFOODINMYTUMMY” was a perfect follow up. I saw you wrote, produced, and contributed to the art for “NOFOODINMYTUMMY” along with some other folks, how important is being involved in the process?

Oh yeah! I mean that's just like who I am, I like to have my hand in all facets of creation and as an artist, at least for me, I value taking control of how people see you. There's only so much control you have ‘cuz once it's out there everyone kinda has their own perception so I like to put as much of myself in it as I can.

Speaking of the process, what’s your creative process like & who are some of your influences?

For music particularly, I'm really inspired by Michael Jackson, Frank Ocean. I make a shit ton of demos and I love developing a demo from the ground up, like taking six months to one year to really zoom in on this thing that you feel is special. My process is kinda like, I try to allow myself to be as free as possible in the beginning, just to capture a feeling. Throughout the refinement of it I just try to keep that feeling in a bottle, never lose it but just raise it until it's the best it can be.

With 2020 behind you and forthcoming EP in the works, what can we expect from you this year?

I'm releasing another single soon and like you said an EP is coming, which I’m excited for. Honestly, I'm kind of a loose cannon. I feel like you shouldn't expect anything, you should just expect a surprise every single time. I'm also interested in doing side projects and me and my friends have been making a bunch of different stuff on the side that we wanna release. I've been making a lot of different instagrams, like secret instagrams, almost like putting a time capsule into the ground. I'm putting a bunch of these capsules into the cloud of the internet and I'm really interested in seeing how people find those and how they can spread and what not.

You’ve been teasing a music video for “NOFOODINMYTUMMY” - which is finally here & it’s incredible. How has this week been with it being out in the world?

It’s always nice to put stuff out. We worked really hard on that video and I’m extremely grateful for all the love it’s being shown.

The Creative Process of Papa Mbye