by emily harris
photo by cameron corrado
Boslen is the newest genre-bending artist of the scene. The twenty-two year old has been working tirelessly since the release of his first mixtape in 2018 to fuse hip-hop, rock, and pop into his discography. His newest track, “QUARTZ” featuring Charmaine, is nothing short of a testament to his meticulous production and powerful lyricism. We had the pleasure of catching up with him!
Let’s talk about your newest single, “QUARTZ!” What was the writing process like?
Boslen: “I went in with a freestyle approach on ‘QUARTZ,’ which is different compared to any other track on the project. My executive producer justsayin and I picked multiple different takes and put the verses together like a puzzle until we found the right fits, which is how they change flows so naturally. The one thing I wanted to feel intentional about the song was that it's for my city Vancouver.”
How did the collaboration with Charmaine come about for this track?
B: “I’ve been looking for a female vocalist for my project DUSK to DAWN since I started making it. In my mind I was always thinking a collaboration with a singer would be what makes the most sense, but justsayin brought her into discussion for ‘QUARTZ’ and we both felt that she was a perfect fit. It has always been a goal of mine to bridge the gap between the East and the West coast of Canada. I don't think anyone saw that coming.”
You also filmed an accompanying music video! What was the filming process like?
B: “The process was so much fun. I think ‘QUARTZ’ being such a high energy song gave my creative director, Natasha, and I the opportunity to do something we have never done before. I wanted every moment to feel exciting and give the viewer no reason to look away. I think Natasha really captured everything I imagined in her role of editing and directing the video. The process was much smoother with a smaller crew and my friends around to set the vibe. Charmaine killed it as well, be sure to check it out.”
“QUARTZ” follows the release of your last single, “DENY” with Tyla Yaweh. What was the recording process for that track like?
B: “‘DENY’ is still to this day one of the most enjoyable studio sessions I have ever been a part of. I walked in thinking the project was done since justsayin only had a week before he had to return to Turkey. However, right as we got set up, he played a sample by a producer named Stoopid Lou which gave an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia. The feeling we had in the room I can’t really put into words. To be honest, it felt like we were in the right place at the right time and everything aligned perfectly, as if by a higher power.”
You dropped your first mixtape Motionless in 2018. How has the way you approach your music evolved since then?
B: “Everything about it is night and day different I would say. I think during the era of Motionless, I was solely going off feeling and I possessed no knowledge on how to build a verse, a pre-chorus, or how to really structure a song. Now that I have more life experience and have done a bit of research, the way I approach the recording process is much more productive. For example, back in the day I would spend hours on YouTube searching for ‘Type Beats.’ More recently, I am fortunate to have talented producers around me who have the knowledge on how to build songs in different ways. I can’t really explain it honestly, once DUSK to DAWN drops you will see what I see and feel what I feel.”
You also have a debut album DUSK to DAWN on the horizon! How does it feel to have such a large project coming into fruition so soon? Can we get any details on it?
B: “It has been a long time coming. We originally started this project last summer before COVID under a different name. But once COVID hit, it really gave us the opportunity to take a step back to push ourselves sonically beyond our comfort zones. This project blends vulnerability and self-empowerment in the most extreme ways together. It’s difficult for me to explain, but I think you’ll know what I mean when you hear the project. Pop, alternative hip-hop, rock, and even R&B are all genres I explore on this project. This is truly my best work to date, and I have never felt more proud of a body of work. One of justsayin and I’s main goals was to make every moment feel timeless. We wrote that on the white board while making this project. I want people who are lost and who feel weak to connect with this project. At the same time I can rage on stage to the very next song. I want this to be a moment in time for my city of Vancouver.”
How have you managed to balance your influences from hip-hop, rock, and pop into your current sound?
B: “I think that's the best thing about being creative. You can pull from opposite ends of any spectrum and make it connect. That's what makes every person unique. Managing how to balance my influences came easy to me. My mom has loved pop and my dad has loved rock since I was a kid. Hip-hop was only introduced to me when I found Kid Cudi. I am still early in my sound. I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn, which motivates me to keep pushing forward.”