Kweku Collins is heading out on a 17-date North American Tour with fellow Chicagoan, Jospeh Chilliams. The tour kicks-off on October 25th in Detroit, with a hometown show on October 26th at Lincoln Hall. The tour is presented by Ones To Watch, "a collective of bloggers, music geeks and concert fanatics based in sunny L.A." The artist discovery platform has produced similar tours for breakout artists like Sabrina Claudio, Hobo Johnson, blackbear, LANY, COIN and more.

Before he hits the road, we hit up our old friend Kweku with some rapid fire questions. What makes it on to his tour rider? What are his go-to pump up songs? What goes into onstage fashion decisions? Read it all below.

These Days: If you emptied your pockets before going on stage, what would we see?

Kweku Collins: Haha, my inhaler. 

TD: What 5-songs are on your pump up or zone out playlist before a show?

KC: Anything Isaiah Rashad, Robb Bank$, or Rico Nasty. D'Evils by SiR. Kings Dead, Paramedic!  

TD: What's the best advice you'd give to up and coming performers about being up on stage? Wear layers? How to hold the mic? Engagement with the audience?

KC: I'd have to say warm your voice up and learn your breathing. Get it down before you go on.  

TD: What is your favorite pre or post show meal? Or both? (In Chicago?)

KC: Wings. Low key Reggies has fantastic wings.

TD: How do you determine what to wear on stage / to the show?

KC: My placement on the bill is the biggest thing. If I'm an opener I keep it mellow. It also depends on the scope of the show, like when I opened for Whitney at Thalia I wore leather pants and cowboy boots. It comes down to how I'm feeling that day... if I'm reserved and tired, its a hoodie and black jeans then I'm mobbing. It changes from day to day.  

TD: What have you learned about the sound check process over the past few years?

KC: Patience is important with sound check. The mic will feed back super crazy most of the time at the beginning of a sound check. I just chill for a little bit and listen to what the sound guy does, but if it's wack for too long its like... fuck you doing... then you start sliding in some recommendations. College shows are hard but just do what you're supposed to do. Please and thank you goes a long way, be patient and polite. 

TD: Any tips to keep your voice polished going into a show or tour?

KC: The day of, or just on tour in general, definitely keep it mellow. Don’t be hooting and hollering. Watch what and when you smoke. I know bowls will blow my voice. Save your voice, that’s your instrument. Drink water to keep your throat lubricated, ugh that sounds terrible. Tea is good. On stage, be conscious of where the mic is relation to your mouth so you don’t throw your voice super far. Always listen to yourself and keep stock of where you at. If it’s a show where people hella fuck with you, I get really excited and I want to go as hard as I can because of the audience’s energy and I start going really hard and then I’m horsing my way through the second half and that’s not cute. Just keep a cool head.  

TD: What's it really like to hit a hometown show during a tour?

KC: I’ve only done it once on the first tour I ever went on. I’m looking forward to a live show where I know a lot of people. The tour is where we workshop a lot of stuff, and it’s cool to try that in front of a crowd that is out there for you. There is a certain level of love born out of pride. When you see someone who is really from where you’re from, it’s like YO we from the same place, this the home team. 

TD: What are you green room rules? What do you have on your rider?

KC: 24 pack of water. Fruit. Tequila. 

We’re giving away a pair of tickets to Kweku’s hometown Chicago show at Lincoln Hall on Oct. 26th. Follow @TheseDays_News and RT this tweet for a chance to win. Winner will be selected at 6PM CST on Thursday, Oct. 25th.

Check out the full list of tour dates below. Tickets are on-sale now at KwekuCollins.com.

Kweku Collins 'Tour One' with Special Guest Joseph Chilliams

10/25    Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
10/26    Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
10/27    Toronto, ON @ Adelaide Hall
11/01    Boston, MA @ The Middle East Upstairs
11/02    Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry
11/03    New York, NY @ Sob’s
11/04    Washington, DC @ Union Stage
11/07    Durham, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
11/08    Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5
11/09    Nashville, TN @ The High Watt
11/15    Austin, TX @ Barracuda
11/16    Houston, TX @ House of Blues
11/17    Dallas, TX @ Three Links
11/24    Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
11/28    Portland, OR @ Holocene
11/29    Seattle, WA @ Neumos
11/30    Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Ballroom