Boy Soda is blessing the holiday season with a a new, soulful mixtape. Our kind of holiday cheer. The nine-track tape YC-TAPE: Vol. 1 is being released advent-calendar style throughout the month. Filled with his clever lyrical flows and soulful production, the EP has been crafted alongside producers including Finbar, Club Angel, Jarryd James and more. “YC-TAPE Vol. 1 is a liberating project for me to release. I get to empty the vault of songs I’ve been sitting on, and deliver definitive proof of who I am as an artist and a songwriter. The project is about communicating the way I create as a hybrid artist, influenced by multiple genres and tastes but consistently me. I, the artist, am the common denominator throughout these tracks that dip into R&B, Hip-Hop, Funk but aren’t exactly one or the other. I surrender to any sense of concept with this project, and allow it to exist as a track record of me creating freely and authentically.” We spoke to Boy Soda about his innovative release schedule and how his music-making has evolved following a stint in London:

We love how you’re about to begin rolling out this mixtape. Tell us about why you decided to release it like this?

"I find the normal release schedules and formats quite uninspiring to execute and wanted to try something different that at the very least for me, would be inspiring and engaging to be a part of.  It's a format that I’ve loved in other artist projects like Russ, and it’s a liberating feeling to say fuck it, let’s drop an album-length project and deliver 10 songs back-to-back that differentiate in colour and sound palette.  My art spans across multiple genres and moods and releasing a song every two days is exciting because I'm able to freely express hybridity and range, which to me, is the quintessential essence of the Boy Soda project."

We looove how the mixtape begins with Strawberry Szn (above). Such a strong intro. Tell us about the creation of Strawberry Szn, what was inspiring you when you made this track?

"Thank you! It’s my favourite currently, and I spotlight a dear friend and incredible artist/producer Lovemedo for what he’s done with the production. We were living together and always creating ideas, but this expression of our funk sensibilities was the perfect tone setter for the project. Originally, LMD had programmed the drums and that allowed the rest of it to arrive quite naturally. He programmed and produced every sound you hear, and I still remember us freaking out of the baseline he plays in the verse! Having produced the opening track for my last project, it was only right to maintain the tradition for this one too. I love that we were able to make something that highlights my awareness of tone and character as a singer and open the tape with something that feels obnoxious and off-the-leash."

You took a trip to London which ‘divinely inspired’ you. What happened on this trip? What provoked this shift for you?

"I just needed the reminder that the world was bigger than Sydney, and being immersed in a city of cross-pollinated cultures and tastes makes it easy to feel inspired and to discover ideas and sounds that may not have necessarily arrived while I was back at the home studio! Different countries and scenes are all short flights and train trips away so I can’t wait to go back, I adored my time there and the people I was able to work with. I linked with an amazing producer LVTHER while I was over there and one of the songs we made was ANOMALY which is on the tape & one of my favourite songs I've done to date, real R&B shit!"

Who did you work with on YC-TAPE: Vol. 1 that taught you a lot, or helped to evolve your artistry?

"This project feels incredibly true and exciting to me, and I credit the producers for the way they’ve facilitated and amplified my expression of self as a main reason for me being able to feel that comfortability. Finbar, Club Angel, Lovemedo, Jarryd James, Tentendo & LVTHER all provided me with the space to experiment with texture, and tone and create songs that reflect who I am as an artist currently. There’s production and vocal elements that are reminiscent of Anderson Paak, Lucky Daye, there’s a G-Funk vibe, Outkast-inspired voicing, elements of Brockhampton hooks etc. Elements of things I love have all been focused into the YC-TAPE and I love the way it’s allowed difference and cohesion to co-exist."

We love the collaboration with Jordan Dennis - how did you guys meet?

"I linked with him in Naarm earlier this year and we were in a room with Billy Davis & Milan Ring making soulful music. He’s my favorite rapper and lyricist in the country hands down. He’s got an incredible sense of tone and artistry and I was sooo precious about who I wanted for the 3 Little Piggies features. It had to be Jordan and Charbel for me and they ticked all the boxes. It’s such a classic track and the first time we met I played it for him with only my verse and the hook and he freestyled for like 2 minutes off the dome mid joint-rotation. It was very fitting, and I was always going to ask him but if that had been an audition of sorts I would be stupid not to ask him to bless the song."

Is there a song you’re most proud of?

"For me right now it’s ANOMALY produced by LVTHER. I started it in London and wrote the second verse back home which is my favourite on the project. I love melody and feel more than anything and the way it flows, and leads into the tiered harmony layers of the hook feels exaaactly how I felt writing it. It’s about love and lust and all of the things that my favourite artists were singing about in early 2K R&B joints, clutching their chest in baggy jeans and delivering vocals in front of a fan haha. I love the Usher 8701 period of music and Anomaly feels like my version of whatever that essence is."

Who’s on the Boy Soda bucket list to work with?

"Bucket list people are André 3000, D Mile, Kid Cudi, SZA, Jazmine Sullivan, Lucky Daye !!!! There’s a lot, and I just love the process of collaboration, the songs don’t even have to come out haha. Aus artists and producers I want to link with are Hiatus Kaiyote, MXXWLL, Kevin Parker, FNZ,  Maina Doe, Larissa Lambert – there’s heaps and I trust that I’ll link with everyone when the universe allows!"

You have great style. Who do you love in terms of designers, brands, style icons? Who would you collaborate with on a tour wardrobe?

"I love KidSuper, Maharishi and locally everything that Sweet Dreams Bitter Reality make is amazing. I don’t think too hard, and I love fashion but for me it’s about how it makes me feel so I’m always looking for local brands and smaller business wherever I am. I was in NYC recently and a homie put me onto Bailey Goldberg who makes amazing knitwear that I want to spend all my money on. On tour imma go local and rep pieces created by friends and family for sure though."

What do you hope people take away from listening to the mixtape?

"I want people to know that I write big songs, that I got hooks and I have great taste. There’s too much tall poppy bs in Aus that stops people from saying shit proudly and with their chest so this project is evidence of my confidence and the start of a bodacious era in my music. I don’t believe I can be defined by just being R&B, Hip-Hop or Soul etc - it’s Boy Soda music and this tape has allowed me to find peace in being the common denominator, as a creator and a hybrid artist."

What’s happening for BOY SODA in 2023?! We’re excited :)

"This is Volume 1 of the YC-TAPES so trust that the other ones are already being completed. 23’ will be about consistency, amazing music and community. The wave of R&B, Hip-Hop and soul music being made in Aus right now is the best to come out of the country in my opinion and I am proud to exist and contribute to that community of creatives. Trust that there will be a lot of shows and a lot of music!"

Listen to YC-TAPE: Vol. 1 so far HERE.

@boysoda