by mariah estran
photo by ari karamargin
In January, hip-hop/alternative artist 6VIB3Z released his genre-bending track, “Runaway.” Now, four months later, the single has accumulated over two million streams. Once fans got a hold of it on TikTok, the numbers have continued to climb with no current end in sight.
But while that popularity is euphoric for any up-and-coming artist, the song still possesses a grave personal experience. It’s a single that came to fruition after a toxic relationship left its damaging effects. The artist decided to pen “Runaway” as a form of relief, soon realizing that more steps were needed, such as going to therapy. “I will forever voice and share my thoughts on mental health because society doesn’t really teach you how to deal with these types of things,” says 6VIB3Z.
He took the time to tell us more about “Runaway.” We discuss how this single aided his mental health, what the production process was like, and what we can expect for the upcoming music video.
You’ve recently released “Runaway," a single that expresses the negative side of toxic relationships but also inspired you to make some changes. What was it about this track that made you want to look inward and analyze your mental health?
6VIB3Z: “This song gave me a chance to be completely honest with myself and actually sit down and reflect on my current relationship situation. Once that was done, I realized that I’m not alone dealing with this issue.”
The track mixes alternative guitar chords with a quick beat that compliments your flow style. What was the production process like?
6VIB3Z: “The production of this track was instantly jarring to me because the chords that were used were so simple but so different from music that is getting released today.”
“Runaway” got a lot of love on TikTok and other platforms like Snapchat. What was it like seeing the single gain momentum months after the release?
6VIB3Z: “Seeing my song get the amount of good feedback it did, made me realize my sense of purpose in life and it makes me want to continue to consistently put out more great music.”
I know you're about to release a video for the track! What can you tell us about the visual?
6VIB3Z: “The visuals for ‘Runaway’ will be eye catching and stand out more than every music video you have ever seen.”
Mental health has become a focus in your life. It's inspiring, considering many might find the topic taboo. Do you think you will continue to share this mental health conversation through your music?
6VIB3Z: “Yes, I will forever voice and share my thoughts on mental health because society doesn’t really teach you how to deal with these types of things.”
Regarding the future of your music, what’s next? Is there an EP or album in the works?
6VIB3Z: “Personally, I think my future is full of me constantly evolving, getting better at different genres of music, and I’m currently working on an EP.”