A-Villa Talks ‘Carry On Tradition’, Drops Track List & Cover Art

When did you decide to jump in the music business? You’ve been a fan for years, so what made you want to make the jump?

I always had a dream to do something in music, but was never motivated to pursue it. Finishing school and excelling at a career in finance was more my parent’s dream for me. But after I accomplished all of that…graduating from DePaul University and eventually becoming a bank Vice President…I got sort of bored with the daily work grind and needed a creative outlet. So being a continued fan of Hip Hop music…I went to a local Guitar Center, bought an MPC drum machine, and taught myself how to make beats. Making beats started out as a fun after-work hobby, but that changed when Guru of Gang Starr passed away.

I didn’t know Guru personally, I was just a fan of Gang Starr’s music coming up. But it triggered something in my own life and sort of put things in perspective, in regards to my own personal legacy. I can be here today and gone tomorrow, but what exactly am I leaving behind for my loved ones or the world to remember me by. I mean…money is nice, but you can’t take it with you. But then it hit me…I should create art by making my own music. Competing and winning local producer competitions gave me the confidence to make songs…and those songs and the birth of daughter motivated me into creating my own work of art…which is my album Carry On Tradition.

Do you want to continue pursuing music after this release? Or was this just a one-off type of thing?

I don’t feel like I’m pursuing music anymore. With this album finished and set to release via retail, I officially have both feet in the music industry now. However, I don’t think I’ll make an official album like this again. Before, I had the time and motivation to make it. It was a dream of mine that has been realized and I’m very proud of it. It’s the best album I could have possibly made creatively at this time in my life and I don’t know if I can top it. Right now, I’m a father to a wonderful daughter and raising & caring for her is where my time & motivation is.

I’m not going to lie, making this album was a lot of hard work and took a lot of time to create. Unless someone cut me a nice check and I found the time to do it, I could pull a Jay-Z or Too Short and would reconsider my early retirement. But if you asked me today, Carry On Tradition is my first and last official album. I still have a lot of beats in the vault, I have instrumental albums in the vault, I have unreleased songs in the vault, I have side projects in the works, and some upcoming beat placements. So there is still plenty of music to come…just not an actual A-Villa album of this magnitude.

Who was your favorite artist you worked with on this release?

I’m a fan first and anyone that you hear on my album was a result of me being a fan of theirs and I sought out to work with them. So working with each artist was a great experience and meant a lot for different reasons. Working with someone like Action Bronson or Cormega was a joy, because you get to work with these guys and you realize that they are just good, genuine people.

Till this day…I can have a phone conversation with them, they ask how my daughter is doing, and sometimes it’s never a conversation about music. That’s not always the case when you get to meet some of your heroes or people you look up to. The most memorable and emotional studio experience was going to Gary, Indiana and recording with Freddie Gibbs. I could write an entire book of that experience, but it had a tragic ending when I found out mid-session that my friend Joe Buck got shot & killed. So hearing the song “Gunnin’ For The Throne” that we finished that day, still stirs up mixed emotions.

Did any of these collabos blow your mind, like “I can’t believe I’m doing this right now“?

Working with a legendary artist such as Kool G Rap is something I could never fathom in my wildest dreams. Growing up and being a Hip Hop fan, he was my generation’s Nas or Jay-Z. His whole style as an emcee was the blueprint for those type of artists, so it was definitely a blessing to work with him. Also, my first ever experience working with an actual recording artist will always be special for obvious reasons. So experiencing my first real studio session with Mikkey Halsted and making a song with Rapper Big Pooh was both surreal & scary. I couldn’t believe what was happening and I barely had a clue what I was doing. But that excitement & nervous energy turned into great music and I’m thankful it happened like that. I learned from it and it made me a better producer.

 Have artists been reaching out to get production from you after hearing these first few leaks?

Oh yeah, most definitely. My email, Twitter & Facebook inboxes, and phone have been blowing up lately with inquiries from established artists, music heroes of mine, and new artists looking for production. Just recently…I got a message that read “is this A-Villa?” and I responded “yes, who is this?”. Come to find out, it was the manager of probably my favorite rapper of all time reaching out and telling me that such & such loves my beats and that he will be calling me personally real soon. It was one of the most amazing feelings ever just knowing that he heard my music, he’s a fan, and wants to work with me. I don’t want to say which artist yet, because I don’t want to jinx it. But I expect that call to occur soon and I still don’t know how I will handle it.

Also…DJ Premier, Pete Rock, The Beatnuts, and many others have reached out to tell me that they’re fans of the music that I am making and I even hear that the RZA likes my song “The Colosseum.” Praise from the likes of these artists and producers means the world to me. Along with making good music for Hip Hop listeners, I also wanted my music to make a good impression on the legendary artists & producers that helped pave the way for people such as myself. Their approval means a lot to me and shows that I’m representing the culture & music in the right way and sustaining what they started.

How has your life changed since releasing the music?

My life is still the same at home. I’m still Adrian…my parent’s son, my daughter’s father, my sister’s brother, my niece’s & nephew’s uncle…and so on. And I want to keep it like that. My family really supports what I’m doing, are excited for me, but treat me the same. I still get up early for an hour commute to my office each day, where I’m in the business world wearing a suit & tie. However, I’m starting to get recognized a lot more in public for the music. I also have new supporters popping up from the UK, Africa, Asia, South American, & all over the world messaging me in English, broken English, & in their own language about how much they love my music and that they can’t wait for my album. It’s a wonderful feeling, but a little bizarre at the same time.

Overall, I’m grateful for any support I get, so I would never turn away anyone who is a fan of what I do and I try to respond to everyone. Hearing my producer name in public, reading about myself in a major publication, or hearing my music play on major radio airways is something I don’t think I can ever get use to. However, these things are happening every day and it’s a very rewarding feeling. I understand that this is Hip Hop music in 2014, so I have no financial expectations from the music I make. But making money is not why I made music or this album in the first place. I feel I created a great work of art with my album that I think will stand the test of time. Making the music was my dream and now that’s it’s done…I just want the people to embrace it and enjoy it for many years to come.

BONUS: A Special Letter From A-Villa (Carry On Tradition Guest List)