F  L  A  U  N  T

 [Swang](https://www.instagram.com/swangsix/) is all about the _Expensive Taste_, and his drip does not go unnoticed. Hailing from Seattle, the rising star has big dreams and aspirations, with the same level of confidence as all the hottest artists in the game. Having made music since 15 years old, Swang is here to become the biggest Asian-American in recording artist to ever do it—and he’s determined to surpass Rich Brian. _Expensive Taste_ is Swang’s latest EP, 5 tracks that showcase his unique sound blending the worlds of hip-hop and R&B and adding his own swag and style. Created a whole year ago, the 6-track project follows the success of his previous single and visual for “HEAD 2 TOE.” From recording in his basement to now living out his dreams, Swang continues to grind daily, staying locked in the lab perfecting his craft. Flaunt caught up with Swang via FaceTime to discuss the new EP, the creative process behind it, taking a break fro music, recording “HEAD 2 TOE,” being an Asian American in the industry, why he’s underrated, and more! **_Expensive Taste_ out now. How are you feeling?** I'm feeling good. The work that we put in is finally going to see some results, getting recognized a little bit. Those songs are still the project that was made a year ago.  **Why’s now the time to drop it then?** Because I have too many projects. I gotta drop some. I gotta pick a few and drop in now basically, save the good ones for later. **Why did you name it _Expensive Taste_?**  I was talking about the lifestyle that we're looking for, the lifestyle that we're chasing. How people doubted us that we weren't going to make it. We weren't gonna be able to do that and live up to that lifestyle, but we did it anyway.  **What is _Expensive Taste_ to you?**  It's a money life that everybody wants to live right? That's really what's behind it really. I like watches. This is a Rollie, we're getting there. Haven't got a bust down yet ‘cause we're not there yet, but we're coming.  **What was the creative process? Was it made during quarantine or before that?** It was made in quarantine. We had this studio in Seattle, that we go to with the homies. We made it on the spot because really, music’s a way for me to speak my mind. I don't really talk too much or share my emotions with anyone. In general, I don't talk about it. Whatever I say in my songs, it's whatever is on my mind at the moment. It's made up right on the spot. I never write music. **Ever?**  Nah, I don't write music. I'll freestyle structure, what's on my mind. Obviously, I'm not going to be able to freestyle a whole song exactly the way it comes out, but at least I can get a concept, then I'll fill out the rest. **What were you on recording “HEAD 2 TOE”?** It took a break from music for 3 or 4 months. I was thinking "Yo, should I be doing this?" You know I've been doing it for 5 years, but I felt like I never took it that serious. When I came back, I said "if I stop right now, then I’d just go back to when I first began so I can't stop now." For 5 years, I gotta keep going. **Where did you shoot the video and what was the best memory?** The funny thing is I busted out the video with no ideas in 3 hours. Shout to my guy Luka and Royce, we busted it out in one night. In general, I probably could have put more thought and ideas in it, but that's really one of the first official videos I put out. Lucas is a really good film director, music video director. He's really good. We didn't put a lot of time into it, but the song in general speaks for itself. If you listen to the second verse, I say “we just focus on ourselves.” Basically, that's what the message is about. We're just folks. We're not listening to the haters, fuck all of that. We're focused on ourselves, trying to get that money and that's it.  **One thing you want fans to take away from the project?** Oh, that's a tough one. I hear a lot of feedback, people be in the comments. There's gonna be people that will hate. They say, "Yo, it's autotune. It sounds like anybody else, blah, blah, blah." But in reality, it doesn't. If you really listen to the music, it doesn't sound like anybody else. To be honest, I don't listen to anybody else really. **You don't listen to anyone at all?** Yeah remember, I told you that. I have my own stuff. Yes I use autotune, but people get it fucked up. At the same time, that's my creation. I didn't get inspired from anybody else. I want to keep it my style. If you fuck with it, you fuck with it. If you don't, then you don't. Really if they listen to it all the way through, I threw a trap song in there, then the rest of the style is different. If you listen to the very last song, which I wrote for homie who’s going through some shit, it was the first ever modern pop rock music I've ever made. I record all that stuff myself. I did it on the spot and I was shocked. Hold up. I can do rock music? \[laughs\] It turned out sounding pretty good. I'm not stuck in one genre, I can really do everything. **I know we’re Asian, a lot happened in the past months with the Asian American attacks. That really struck a nerve with me, how are you feeling with everything?** I grew up in a small town right? I was honestly the only Asian kid in the whole county, so I experienced that type of stuff. What makes me angry is I don't look at another person for their race or anything like that. At the end of the day, people make choices based off their own opinions. Shit’s fucked up, that's how I feel about it. **Why do you feel like you're underrated?**  If they really listened to some of the music, know that I record, mix, everything on my own. If you really listen to it, they’ll know I'm underrated. People are starting to listen to it. The new video’s going crazy, _Expensive Taste_ got a lot of views on it. I'm averaging 27K listeners on Spotify. There's more projects coming that’s gonna be better. I'm underrated in general, not even in Seattle as an Asian American artist. If I had the opportunity and that's the thing, it's all about opportunities. I’ve been blessed with a lot of good opportunities, but I'm talking about the opportunity of having a good engineer, making it perfect. Sometimes, I record that shit in the house or in my room. **What inspired “Green Light”?**  There's so much inspiration behind that song. The way I make music is whatever's on my mind at the moment. Oh yeah! ‘Cause I got a new car, I just remembered. I got a new Benz so alright then, we gonna make a song about that.  **Any goals for yourself at this point in your career?** My goal is to pass Rich Brian. That's my goal right now, and I know you talked to him. He's cool. I have no hate for him whatsoever. It's nothing but respect, but at the same time, I could do a song with him or at least be recognized by him. If I was a celebrity Asian American artist, I’d want to support the other ones. I don't think he's better than me whatsoever, \[laughs\] but it's all love and all respect. **What can we look forward to next?** Look forward to the next single. We're going to shoot a really good music video to it. There's gonna be a lot of meanings behind it. You guys will hear it, it’ll come out in a month or so.