If you’re like me and joined TikTok during this time of self-isolation, you’ve probably heard the clip “ily (i love you baby)” that many users have used. Aside from TikTok fame, Surf Mesa has a collection of hits. It was so exciting to get to talk to him about the reach his latest has gained as well as what is next for him this year.
Talk to me about how you came about starting Surf Mesa and creating this musical identity?
Surf Mesa: I’ve been producing music on and off for around 10 years and in high school I started to take it very seriously. This was also the time when I was playing lots of CS:GO which is a computer game that I was really addicted to. The time came when I needed an artist name and I chose Surf Mesa because it is a map from CS:GO.
Did you expect "ily (i love you baby)" to go as viral as it did?
Surf Mesa: I didn’t know it would be this song. But I had faith that music would play a large role in my life since I was young.
Who are artists that inspire you?
Surf Mesa: I look up to artists who include vibrant energy into their art. This is what makes music an art form in my opinion. My main musical inspirations would be Coldplay, The Chainsmokers, and Kygo. They shaped my sound by demonstrating how much they are passionate about the music they put out.
Who are some artists you want to collab with?
Surf Mesa: I can’t stop listening to Loud Luxury. They are super dope people with a vibrant take on the house scene.
Tell me about what you have planned for this year?
Surf Mesa: This year I am nonstop working on music. Since the quarantine is happening I don’t plan on touring or performing live anytime soon so I am building my catalog on what I would love to play live!
Samantha Fong
"At 15 years old, I begged my mom to take me to Walmart to get Taylor Swift's debut deluxe album and I never turned back. This was my very first entry point to stan fandom. Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee I was exposed to a ton of music - from rapping 3 6 Mafia to bopping to Justin Timberlake's solo discography. Now, in LA have a day job working in nonprofit development, but by night, I'm a full-fledged fangirl. I'll listen to generally any genre, but I'm a sucker for a good pop song. If you ever need someone to scream sing Carly Rae Jepsen's E·MO·TION with, I'm your girl. No, I still have not gotten over the One Direction hiatus. Please continue to respect my privacy. Twitter : samfonggg, Instagram : samantha_fong"
