Carlow born, Phoenix based singer-songwriter Pop Wallace co-founded Poxy Records in 2020, along with hip-hop producer Willhouse and songwriter/producer Lenny Melon. His debut single ‘Link Up’ was released in June, 2020, which was popular enough to warrant a successful crowdfund for an entire full-length album, Good Boy, whose limited edition vinyl record became Poxy Records’ first physical release in less than half a year of its existence.
He has received airplay on Cork’s RedFM, John Barker’s Totally Irish Show. on 98FM,
Hermitage FM, RTE Pulse, London’s Reprezent FM, California’s KOCI 101.5FM, and has been featured by outlets including Nialler9, Goldenplec, and Pop On Down. Pop Wallace has gone on to collaborate prolifically, with other artists on the Irish scene including Cheesmore, Absentee,
Sam Healy, Mila Moonlight, and Willhouse. As part of Poxy Records’ intelligent approach to
crafting top-tier Irish R&B, electronic and hip-hop, he is fast proving them a force to be reckoned with on the Irish and international scene.
Tell us about the story of your act?
I started making music as Pop Wallace in the early days of the pandemic back in March 2020. I wanted to make something I felt was an honest reflection of myself and my tastes. I started making some rnb and pop in a short time started exploring different sounds and improving my production which is something I’m still growing and figuring out.
What is the message behind your art?
Still figuring all that out really but I’d say just being yourself and doing what you want. My first few songs were very pop and rnb driven and had me singing aswell. My last few singles were really going in a more contemporary approach and now I’m releasing more trip hop, house/garage, ambient type music without vocals to show that I don’t want to stick to what is expected of me and just do whatever I feel like at the time. It gives more freedom to make different things.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
There’s a lot of artists I look up to a lot. I’d say at the moment I’d say someone like Yaeji who can also go in between singing or not on her music. She does what she wants and that’s something I love. I also find myself inspired a lot by Kojaque who goes between hip hop and rnb and other styles so seamlessly.
All time favorite record?
Impossible question. There’s no way I could ever just put it down to one all time favorite. Some of my favorites would be Era Vulgaris – Queens of the Stone Age, Mezzanine – Massive Attack, Peripheral Visions – Turnover, Silent Alarm – Bloc Party, Placebo – Placebo, Destroy Rock and Roll – Mylo would be a few
You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?
This came about from me wanting to make something different from anything I’d put out before. I love all types of music and wanted initially to just make a House track which came to be S.D.S. After that I started making something garagey that became Wet Whistle and then something more Trip Hop and moody like Serial Experiments. Initially these were just one off tracks but by the 4th track I started to hear a particular mood and vibes come together between these tracks. By the time I had about 9 tracks made I cut them down to the 6 on the EP. The theme of the record is me figuring out these sounds and figuring out what I want to be at the same time. These were made during a time when I was on a personal level outside of music figuring out a lot of things about myself personally and mentally etc. so it was very fitting that the title be “Noises Made Figuring Things Out”. Inspiration came from a lot of places like Sneaker Pimps, Mylo, Massive Attack and Unkle.
What excites you the most about what you do?
The process. I can’t begin to describe how therapeutic it is making music. It does wonders for my mental health. I’m instantly in a better mood just messing about and eventually making that mess turn into something that I can actually enjoy listening to. If others like it’s that just cherry on top but I absolutely love the process from start to finish. If anyone ever needs a distraction or likes puzzles, I can’t recommend enough how making music is the best puzzle there is and how satisfying it can be. Best part is there’s no wrong moves.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In my dreams making music well enough and consistently enough that I can do it for a living. In any capacity whether it be having successful music releases of my own, producing for other people, mixing or mastering other peoples tracks but that would be the dream to just somehow make music from it and get to make music all the time. I would absolutely love the chance to make music for a film or a tv show or something. Realistically, I’d like to have a job that pays well enough but gives me enough time to still be able to make music consistently.
Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics?
Dunno really I think I just make stuff that I like. If I don’t like it it’s not going out so whatever I’m into at the time. I don’t really put too much thought into aesthetic and being consistent with it, just whatever I think suits the mood at the time for that particular piece.
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
Honestly no clue to be honest. Probably something stupid like tik tok or twitch or whatever is unfortunately the popular online way for people to get attention. I’m not a fan of any of that crap at all and just wish there was better outlets that people can make music, share it, have it available to the masses but not having to follow a particular trend. If I’m making a hyper pop track lip syncing on tik tok anytime begging for likes then please put me out of misery. Just isn’t my thing but hopefully we get a SoundCloud/Spotify hybrid that’s less exploitative but just as popular I guess.
