by alex grainger
photo courtesy of happytree
Happytree released his latest single “Don’t Fight It” on July 1st and we can’t get enough. “Don’t Fight It,” is a house music track of addicting beats that naturally make you want to let go and just dance. The single came together as “pure creation” and it’s all about having self-confidence and being authentically yourself. Read more about “Don’t Fight It” and Happytree below!
Can you tell us what “Don’t Fight It” is about?
Happytree: "‘Don't Fight It’ at its core is about self confidence. Having full belief in yourself and not allowing the day-to-day doubts to hinder you from growth. No matter the direction. We must have trust that we are able to achieve our goals.”
What was the creative process behind “Don’t Fight It?”
Happytree: “Like most of my better songs (in my opinion), this one came together really quickly. I remember being annoyed that I wasn't seeing ideas through to completion. Just thinking way too much without action. Full-on analysis paralysis.
I decided that I was just going to try and create without judgment. This process was just extremely organic. I built the beat as I was writing the lyrics so it all came together seamlessly. I had a lot of fun with this one.”
What is the message you are sending to listeners in this single?
Happytree: “The message is authenticity. Be yourself.
I feel like people feel they need to act or look a certain way to fit in with the world. There's space for all of us. We can't grow as a species without varying opinions and unique perspectives. We even get so caught up in the ‘image’ we created that we lose who we really are. Stop fighting yourself and just live.”
You mention how “Don’t Fight It” is about “staying true to yourself without fighting yourself.” How did you find the ability within yourself to do this?
Happytree: “Time and consistency. Recognizing patterns of negative self talk and course correcting. ‘I can't’ turned into ‘I can't yet.’ Every time I would have a thought doubting myself, I used it for fuel to prove myself wrong.
Also realizing that it's alright to not have control over everything. I can only control myself in this world, and knowing that brings a calmness to the chaos. We don't have to be perfect, we just have to have a need to be better.”
Was this song a reflection of the process or did you create it while in the middle of learning to stay true to yourself?
Happytree: “This is a 1:1 reflection of the process. The song was created out of an obsession to express myself. I've always tried to stand out as a rapper and be unique, but somewhere along those lines you get caught up in the trends. You start to hear today's music leaving its mark on you.
This song allowed me to just create. No thoughts, no fears, just pure creation. I wanted to try and share that freedom.”
Do you have a favorite lyric in “Don’t Fight It?”
Happytree: "‘...reaching new heights, this life get spicy, but I still do the right thing like Spike Lee...’
This lyric stands out to me because it's truly the never ending struggle. Trying to do right and continue to do right even while being tempted to do the opposite. As I get closer to my goals, challenging situations are constantly being thrown in front of me. Learning to navigate these properly and keep your truth is the key.”
This song marks a transition into a new genre for you as an artist. How would you describe this sound? How did this sound evolve into “Don’t Fight It?”
Happytree: “Honestly, it's just house music to me. I wanted to make people dance and forget about their problems. I used to think the sole purpose of music was to enlighten/educate the listener. As I continue, I recognize that's not always the case. Sometimes people just want to turn on their favorite song and not think about anything, just feel and enjoy the music. ‘Don’t Fight It’ is my attempt at blending a conscious topic with the option to completely tune it out and just vibe with the track.”
What are you most proud of upon the release of “Don’t Fight It?”
Happytree: “Honestly, I'm proud of the fact that I actually released this one [laughs]. I was sitting on this track for awhile for who knows what reason. I sent it to my manager, J Chung, just thinking we'd leave it as a throwaway. He really motivated me to believe in this track. Couple months later, I'm in LA performing the song and shooting a music video. It was a surreal experience.”
What has the reaction been since the song has dropped?
Happytree: “I think people like it, but then again, I'm trying not to read too deep into numbers and analytics. I really just want to focus on creating and polishing the art. I learned I can't fully control the result, so I just release and allow the chips to fall where they may.”
What was the creative process behind the music video? How was it translating the song into a visual piece?
Happytree: “Just want to start by giving a huge shout to Ethan Frank. He directed the video and really captured the idea of the song. The contrast between conforming to the status quo and expressing yourself freely. I don't have many music videos out yet but I loved the process and experiencing the final result was amazing.”
What’s next for you?
Happytree: “I'm constantly growing and trying to push my limits so the possibilities are endless. More music on the way, with some potential features that I think the people will admire.”