Being a musician today is a different beast. With record companies becoming less and less important, artists need to figure out a way to sell themselves to the public. The easiest route seems to be marketing yourself as the next big star, but some take the path less traveled. DummyFresh, formerly known as Penn’s own Andrew Ellis (C' 18), isn't trying to fit into a mold.
“People are searching for the next 'Gucci Gang,' not the next ‘what the fuck is this,'" he mused. "Describing yourself in the sound of other artists immediately boxes you in, and that is fine because it can help you become recognizable, but it’s not where I find my sound.”
And he’s right. He doesn't have a ‘sound.’ The 21–year–old hailing from Columbia, Maryland, has been working with music his whole life, studying classical from the age of five. A tea–drinking, Seinfeld–loving, low–key skater, DummyFresh is a unique everyman musician. This guy became even more confusing to define, as he shifts from playing a swing jazz song to a trap record he's been working on all in one session.
Dummy is clearly influenced by everything. His walls are covered with records from a plethora of different artists, mixed in with prints of different Matisse paintings. His SoundCloud is chocked full of lo–fi beats, and the music he's been producing lately combines that sound with indie–wave melodies. On his new album DummyFresh Presents, he combines all of these sounds into a package that shows the world what he's really about: “I’m just making as much music as I can, as best as I can.”
DummyFresh, by all means, is a perfectionist. He's never happy with the final product, even after making hundreds of different cuts.
“I just made final cut of this album today and I put it out previously a week ago. So I thought I had the album done over a week ago and then I went back and listened to it and thought ‘eh gotta tweak this,'" he explained. "Things that used to sound really fresh and new start to sound boring, like 'oh god that was a horrible idea.' And every mistake you hear so clearly.”
Upon listening to those tracks, I couldn't discern any of those so–called mistakes. DummyFresh's feel–good voice coupled with his rhythmically sonic beats makes for some serious jams. His ability to combine genres, not just within one song, but within a group of them, is a unique talent that he attributes to his ability to make anything have that bit of “DummyFresh to it.” That bit of consistency is his selling point, his all–smiles attitude coupled with determination and a need for perfection is exactly what makes his music so enjoyable.
“I try to make everything I write a good song first and foremost, catchy is the best way to put. Something you can grasp on to in everything," he continues. "Writing, recording, mixing and mastering all my own stuff, because of that every track sounds like me.”
The small music scene at Penn could be stifling for most in his situation, but DummyFresh sees it differently: “Some of the most incredible musicians I have met in my life go to this school. Everyone enjoys all kinds of music.”
Finding confidence in the Penn community has allowed him to reaffirm his belief in indeterminancy. He is never shy of collaborating, working with different singers, saxophonists, and producers, whether through jamming or in his band. With the small scene, he makes due on what he has. His lo–fi sound is not a purposeful choice. For the most part, he legitimately does not have access to high quality equipment.
“None of my stuff is lo–fi because I want it to be. It’s always because I’m working with the materials I have around me, like FL studio demo," DummyFresh clarified. Still to this day I lack resources, I like how it sounds though, it’s not intentionally lo–fi, but it sounds good to me. Ya gotta work with what ya got.”
And he does, the kid rocks. DummyFresh is a perfect example of a new–age artist putting themselves out there and just making music for the people as much as he can. He continues to stay true to his music–first attitude, always looking to create something new, yet true to himself. His new album is something to look forward to, as he continues to grow by leaps and bounds. And on the horizon, he's slated to make a solely accordion and ukulele album, as well as an out–there album titled I’m Black, I’m Kinky, And I Hate Myself. I'm more than interested to see what's to come for DummyFresh.
Check out his new music video for “Claire De Looney Tunes (Light Comes From Tha Dark)” and check out his new album here!
