Crux Reveals His New Album Title & Rebrands His Name
Intro:
TheEarthsCrux is one of the best lyricists in Reading, PA today. He’s currently working on a new album & has been recording a lot of new material so far this summer. By using songwriting, Crux has the ability to express his life, perspectives and imagination. In his own words, “It’s a creative outlet, mental exercise and form of therapy all in one.” Before reading our full conversation below, you can follow the artist on all platforms @theearthscrux to stay connected.
Meet Crux
Me: Growing up, what got you into music initially?
Crux: Being very young and hearing/seeing hip-hop and music videos. The earliest videos I remember seeing were Biggie’s “Hypnotize” and Busta Rhymes “Gimmie Some More”. I remember hearing Jay-Z’s “Nigga What, Nigga Who?” And the atmosphere of the song really captivating me. The beat and the way Jay & Jaz-O were rapping were incredible. Still is to this day.
The music industry I became interested in when I realized that these musical titans were actual people and mythical figures who were divinely skilled at making music. I think I started watching musician interviews around the time I was 11 and that was the point of realization that there’s an industry where people make music and perfect it through many steps and much time before it becomes something that the public is able to consume.
How did that translate into your first creations? Do you remember the first song you ever made?
I do remember the first song I ever made. I think it had a lot of the elements that are in my music now just not as informed by the 10 thousand hours that exist between that one and the songs I’m making now.
And, how would you describe your style musically? And has it changed since you started?
I can be verbose and abstract in my music sometimes but also direct and heartfelt. I try to express an emotion or idea to the point where I can’t say anything else about it until I experience more with that idea or topic. I have melodies in my music. It’s introspective. I use a lot of literary devices and pay as much attention to the writing as I do the delivery.
My sound has evolved a lot. I started out not really knowing how to condense the content of a song into a hook and then learned that. That helped me to really make a marriage of expression between the verses and the hooks. As of late I have been trying to be a little more melodic with my hooks and even verses. I always want to try and change my approach when I hear an opportunity to in the music.
How do your friends & family help or view your career? It’s always nice having a support system.
Fortunately yes. They all are eager to see and hear what I do next and are always willing to listen and offer feedback from the perspective of the listener which is a major tool for me.
Who are some of your favorite artists & producers to work with?
Man, the local scene is insane so I hope I don’t forget anyone. First and foremost my brothers Robin Fresco and Quasii. We are also a group named 3 Card Monte. All 93 members of Frenz. They’re all super talented but it’s hard to call all of their names to mind. They’re Reading’s Wu-Tang for sure. The man himself, Oryah! Once upon a time, there was a wonderful singer named Rachel Dodson. I still hope she makes a musical return. There’s a rapper named Zeke (@_mrdolo_ on IG) who is super dope.
He and I actually have one in the tuck with Warhead from Frenz which is incredible. Soon to be released My guy Captain Brick is one of them ones! Engineers are my guys Jay at Pagoda City, Engeli, & Nate Kobain. I feel like I’m forgetting a few others so my apologies I did.A lot of my beats are produced by Epik The Dawn and he’s amazing. Rivers and GMS of Frenz. JReam is amazing. J-RoD although I haven’t locked in with him yet he’s an incredible producer as well. K’riem Scott! I actually have some beats from him that I plan to use very specifically because he’s that good.
It’s great seeing all the love you have for you collaborators! Who are some artists you would like to work with around your area?
Mack Simmy, still have to get one in with Soul Papi, Melanie Ilana. I’m drawing a blank haha.
Where does your stage name originate from? Have you ever changed your name?
I just always loved the word Crux. It means “the most important part of something” so I use it as an artistic baseline to make sure anything I say or do as an artist is of the utmost importance to myself and hopefully the listener. I haven’t changed it yet but I definitely plan to change “TheEarthsCrux” to just “Crux” very soon.
What are some other talents & hobbies outside of music that some may not know about you?
I’ve been trying to get back into more consistently but I loved to draw as a kid/teenager. I still do but just don’t set the time aside for it enough these days.
What does a world without music look like in your imagination?
That episode of The Fairly Odd Parents where Timmy wished everyone was exactly alike and everyone was gray blobs. We’d be so void of what makes us who we are. I think music plays a bigger role in personal development than people give it credit for.
I agree! And are there future plans for your career? Additionally, who is an artist/producer you dream of collaborating with?
Yes. I have a project in the works. Tons of loosies and I want to kind of empty the drives this go ‘round. So tons of music. I want to perform live more so I’m looking into ways to facilitate that. I’d love to work with producers like DJ Premiere, HitBoy, Alchemist. So many more. Artists definitely Aesop Rock. Lupe Fiasco, Open Mike Eagle, Kaleida, Charlotte Day Wilson, Snoh Aalegra. A Jay-Z feature would be amazing. Nas, Eminem. Way too many to name haha.
Is there any advice you would give to someone who is thinking about getting into music?
My advice would be to know and learn to love that it’s not glamorous. It can be in the sense that it’s a labor of love and it fulfills you personally but it’s one of those things where you should manage and shape your expectations. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t strive for your music to be the best it can be and believe it will reach millions if not billions of people.
Just make sure the love of making music comes before anything else. That already yields the best art which in turn will fulfill you and then as you pursue everything around that, anything that comes of it is a bonus. That’s the way I go about it and it’s allowed me to not lose the love for it while not achieving the idea of success that I had before I actually started making music.
And last, how would you describe your music in ONE word to someone who's never listened before?
Cerebral
Any Final Words For The People?
The project I have in the works is called Smile Scheme. It sort of documents the ups and downs of life as a man just trying to be responsible and accountable. It’s like if my smile became a person and wrote a memoir. You see the smile, but there’s a whole lot that went into that smile existing. I’m very close to being done recording. I’ve had the cover art for a while too. Very excited for this project to be completed and out in the world.
