F  L  A  U  N  T

 [ARSN](https://www.instagram.com/arsn.ftlr/) is here to prove he’s a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, and he’s not letting up until it happens. Hailing from the Eastside of Los Angeles, the recording artist, producer and audio engineer has been enthralled with music since his cousin passed away at age 16, dedicating his life to making a long-lasting impact on people as a whole. Currently signed to an independent label called For The Long Run Ent., ARSN got his start under the mentorship of Teyana Taylor’s personal engineer Mike Adrian Snell, who’s worked with everyone from Russ to Kanye West to Quavo. Shadowing Snell as an assistant during studio sessions at Atlantic Records, ARSN soaked up all the knowledge and game and put it right into creating his own original music.  ARSN states, “I’ve been at my craft for 9, going on 10 years. I’ve been relentless, putting myself in situations where I could have leverage.” Most recently, ARSN teamed up with Waves for the “Like This” video, stemming off the heels of his “Dash For You” single and visual released last year. Flaunt caught up with ARSN via FaceTime to discuss his roots in the city, the turning point in his music career, fatherhood, how he got his name, collaborating with Waves & Bino Rideaux, being mentored by Mike Snell, using engineering to plug his artistry, studio essentials, goals, and more! **What was a young ARSN like growing up on the Eastside of Los Angeles?** My childhood was really dope, I remember the corn man always coming by. I remember being a kid playing with BB buns on the block, chilling with homies. Growing up, I I had this homegirl and we’d be smoking as 7th graders getting stupid high. \[laughs\] Dumb ass shit, but it was cool. It was real dope. It really makes you stick to your roots. It was cool, a good experience.  **When did you fall in love with music?** My cousin had gotten murdered in San Bernardino at 16, his name was Steven Guzman. He got killed and the last thing his mom heard of him was on a song. I tell myself I never want none of my loved ones, even you Shirley — yo, this is a real interaction. It’s destined, this wasn’t off for nothing. This was supposed to happen. Coming into play, never going through the experience of “yo, I’ll never remember what ASRN sounds like after his phone call.”  If something happens, bro you got a whole catalog of music where you can hear me. I’m finna live forever, I’m never not going to be alive. Obviously you get over the grieving stages, but what’s propelled me more is my son. I have a 5-year-old son. I’m 24 years old, I’m chasing my dreams. I’m trying to teach him that anything is possible. I want him to see all the things that I see. Be on set with me, be at big houses, get to experience all this. My cousin passing away and now my son being my biggest inspiration for music. Of course, my lady too. **How did fatherhood change your perspective on life and your music?** It was for sure the beginning stages of life for me. Life really began when I became a father. I remember watching some interview on Russ where Swizz Beatz told him “your life doesn't really begin until you bring something in this world.” I have to agree with Swizz 100%, life really began then. When I got to see the fruit of my seed growing and how fruitful it is, that’s how life is in general. You put something out in the world, you get what you work for. It’s beautiful, it changed my perspective in that category. As far as my art, it made me wonder “what things do I want my son to see and how do I want to inspire my son like so?” I try not to talk about things that I don’t do. If my people do them, alright that’s cool. I might mention it, but I don’t talk about heavy drug use or anything like that. I’m not trying to promote that message. To each is to own, yeah I got partners who do it and I respect it. But for my son, I’m trying to raise him to be a king and that’s not king-like mentality. I smoke though. He knows I’m smoking buds right now, it’s all good. I’m not a perfect person.   **What’s the inspiration behind your name?** I used to tag so it all came from tagging. My brother-in-law gave me the name ARSN and I ran with it for the longest time. Shout out to my brother-in-law for real, the big homie type shit. I rhymed with the name and kept it going. The way I feel about it is you’re always wondering who starts a fire. You see a fire on TV, damn who started that motherfucker? That shit is so big now. \[laughs\] That’s me. They’re going to wonder how the hell this dude from here is doing all this? That’s the best way I can translate it for you. I’m trying to make noise and have people wondering “Yo, who the fuck is that?” That’s me. **You were mentored by Teyana Taylor’s engineer Mike Snell, how did that happen?** Mike Snell, he’s a good guy. Live and direct. I used to go to a lot of DaniLeigh’s events, I seen her blow up and I’d go over there. Really, I’d see people and really network with people. I was able to network with Snell. I’d hit up bro all the time like “Yo, your engineering’s mad crazy. You worked with Russ, Kanye, DaniLeigh, all these great people already and you’re mad young. You’re a big  inspiration.”  Mind you, I’m not just an artist. I’m an engineer too. I’ve worked 24Hrs, Teejayx6, Ballout, Tadoe. I’ve worked with a few people in the game. I’m not just an artist, and that’s for a different reason. I wanted to link up with him to learn my craft, learn how I can perfect my voice. All the records you hear, those are all mixed and mastered by me. I don’t have an engineer, I don’t go out anymore. That’s why I really linked up with Mike Snell, he mentored me. He respected me as an artist as well, not just as an engineer. It’s beautiful, he’s a mentor in many different ways besides just engineering.  **Did you learn anything from him in regards to the industry?** I definitely did. Man, that’s funny. Shit, shut up. \[laughs\] I’m dumb talkative so I’m trying to talk to everybody, and there’s a time and place for everything. You’ve got to talk in the right situations, it’s true. You might see and run into people, but that’s not the time to do business or do everything. I learned that introduction and showing face is the most important for him, just being around. After I met him, I knew okay as soon as I showed face and he recognized who I was, that’s it. I’ve linked up with Phora multiple times, we’re probably going to lock in soon too.  **Talk about the “Like This” music video with Wavez and how that song came together.**  Oh damn, that’s my brother. Wavez is getting ready to release a record with Derek King. Wavez is my partner, my road dog. One of the dudes I’ve been making music with the longest for. We wrote that motherfucker. We were listening to beats and his girl was calling him like “You need to come home.” He’s like “Oh shit, I need to go to the crib.” He laid down the hook and verse down, I came back and I laid the verse down.  You know what since I engineered it, I’ma drop it. You’ve been having hella records dropping, I need a feature with you. We ended up talking to one of my business partners, we got a crib and did the whole thing. It was sweet, it was cool. It was a good night. My son was in the music video, I’m big on that. Most of my music videos, I’m trying to make that a thing for me. It was sweet, it was dope. I really respect my brother and I appreciate him for real.  **Best memory from shooting the video?** Damn, talking with my photographer Divad. I shoot with one of Diddy’s photographer, that’s who all the pictures are by. Seeing my son in the video and how hyped he was, that’s the best moment of the video.  **What’s the reality of the independent grind?** The reality of it, shit you gotta hustle. It’s about consistency, sticking with it, and continuing to believe in yourself. You’ve got to level up at all points of your time. When it reaches a level, you have to level up with it. If you’re going into a higher caliber now, then you gotta adjust. My mom always told me “you gotta dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” You’ve always got to come correct every time. I’m not talking about your fits, I’m talking about your mindset.  You always gotta be ready for the job you’re looking at, not that level you’re in. Stay hungry at all moments. The reality of it is it’s hard, you gotta stay afloat. You’ve gotta believe in yourself ultimately. If you don’t believe in yourself, then nobody will. Once you believe in yourself and show people that, it’s over with. **You released “Dash For You” last year, how was this a new sound and style for you?** That’s crazy, my partners were at a studio. I was running around doing shit, engineering. I couldn’t lock in with them. As they’re making that record, I decided to cook up at the crib. I have a U87 and an Apollo Twin, I have a solid set-up. I cooked up and I was playing with autotune and said “you know what, I need to make a West Coast record. Some shit that’s crackin’ right now, that BLXST and Bino type sound. Let me do it.” You know what, it stuck with me.  For the longest time, I was looking for this specific sound that identifies me as an artist. “Dash For You” was that solid record where DJ Hed reached out to me. After I dropped it, I peeped it to him and he wrote about it. Buzz Music wrote about it. It was really “whoa, okay this is where I’m at. This is me, this is who I am. This is who ARSN is.” “Dash For You” was the one for me for real.  **3 things you need in the studio at all times?** For sure Yerba Mate because I’m sponsored by them. I get unlimited amounts of cases. Based on the event or what I want to do, I can pick up some cases. Some good buds, and the minimal amount of people to be honest. I like to cook by myself, I’m not even going to lie to you. My best records are when I’m by myself. My best records, I have to kick my girl out the room. My son, everybody gotta go. It lets me get to a zone where yo, nobody’s here. It’s a no-judgment zone. I don’t feel nothing but the energy in the room. Good blunt, Yerba, and no one there. **Talk about your upcoming single with Bino Rideaux, how’d that happen?** Sheesh. \[whistles\] The crazy thing is I ran into him at his studio in the valley one time. I ran into his boy Jay Shepp in Hollywood hills one time,  I was with my cousin. I told Shepp that I ran into Bino and I know bro. If he needs an engineer, hit me up. I’ll cut records. Like I said, that was for a different time. I come in as an engineer to make myself known to people, and I’m really an artist. That’s how I build relationships with people, you do a favor for someone and they respect your hustle and work ethic.  I locked in with bro and what happened was, I posted the record. I went on Instagram and played a little snippet of it, I tagged BLXST and Bino. I told them “yo, somebody tell BLXST or Bino I got an open verse for them. They both viewed my story. I reached back out to them and said “I appreciate the love.” They didn’t reach out or say anything, but they viewed it and that was cool. Bino responded and said “let’s lock in, let’s get the business right.” From there, it happened. **Talk about your merch and how this is an experience for fans?** I want to make merch where it’s an experience. People aren’t on that wavelength, they’re trying to get it and go. Make pop-up shops out of it, do things where it’s creative. Pull up with a taco truck, make it an experience for people where you can visit me and take pictures with me. Not just “oh I’m dropping merch, go and buy on my website.” Have fun. Obviously I’m going to have online merch, but make it an experience for people. People really want to get to know who the artist is and feel like they’re a part of us. That’s the most important thing. **Any goals for yourself at this point of your career?** For sure, more features. Just working hard and doing shows for sure. Getting shows is one of my goals, going to try to start performing soon. Get in contact with some venues in the city. I want to do something like Kalan.FrFr and friends. Continue the LA wave. I see a lot of support going on Kalan.FrFr is real big on the support for LA artists. I’m trying to stay on that wavelength, it’s a big thing. It’s been a long time since the city’s been together like this. The beauty and unity is amazing. They’re fucking with Ohgeesy and he’s Latin, this is beautiful. We’re all coming together, it’s amazing. I’m real big on that. **What are you most excited for next?** The release and man, just going up. It’s long overdue for shit like this. I’m ready for that shit and really…. to get performing. Now that Covid’s coming to an end and we’re back outside, I’m ready to go. Ready to get some show’s cracking. **Anything else you want to let us know?** Follow your dreams for real, shit’s possible.