In the sprawling, sun-soaked city of Los Angeles, Sueco's venture into the music industry reflects the city's diverse and vibrant nature. His musical journey began in the peaceful streets of Pasadena, where an unconventional introduction to music through the video game Rock Band sparked his passion. From drumming in church and local hardcore bands, Sueco's path has evolved into creating viral hits that captivate global audiences. This interview provides an intimate glimpse into Sueco's early life, the influences that have shaped his unique sound, and the exciting new musical chapter he's crafting as an independent artist.

Can you share some details about your early life in Los Angeles and how you first became interested in music?

I grew up in Pasadena. I started playing the drums because my dad gave me the game Rock Band for Christmas one year. I consistently hit 100% on the drums in the game, which helped me get familiar with the drum rhythm. Sitting at a drum set made it feel like I knew how to play. I started playing in the church band, then moved on to hardcore bands. After that, I joined the jazz band at school and later the marching band. My dad, a guitarist and a church leader, taught me how to play the guitar, and I started writing songs on it. Initially, I was the drummer for local hardcore bands, but eventually, I said, ’Fuck this, I want to be the screamer,’ and so I learned how to do that too.

What was the inspiration behind your first viral hit, "Fast"? Did you anticipate it becoming such a sensation on TikTok?

SUCEO At that time, I was already producing music for other rappers and gaining popularity for making beats on Instagram using unusual sounds. During this time, one of our friends, involved in the marijuana business in California, invited us to their place, and I started working in that industry for a while. Working as a grunt in the trap factory, I didn't mind it. Everything was moving fast, and none of it was mine. But as a clueless 21-year-old, it was a crazy experience. After a night out, we returned to the garage of my dad's place where I was living. I had been producing beats on a worn-out laptop. One of my friends overheard what was coming from my broken headphones, and we jumped into an hour-long writing session fueled by 7-11 wine and Black and Milds. I recorded "Fast," which was maybe the fourth or fifth rap song I recorded during that time, but that song changed my life. I had been making beats for years at that point, but I never saw myself as a rapper. I thought my future was in music production.

How did you transition from working with a major label to being fully independent?

I mean, in a sense, it can be a little scary because when you're independent, it's in your own hands, right? There's no safety net, but at the very least, you can hold yourself accountable for your success or failure. Nowadays, artists or their teams pretty much handle everything themselves, so labels aren't really necessary anymore.

Many artists choose independence over record deals because of their ability to self-promote. Do you feel that creating social media content comes naturally to you, or was it something you had to learn?

Back in 2017-2018, many of my friends and I were YouTubers. I would occasionally appear in their videos. My first viral video came about because of my friend Lamont Holt. I was producing for him in the back of my dad's garage. I was dead broke, and this was around 2018. I asked him if he could help me sell some beats because I needed to make some money. He suggested creating a challenge video: I would make a beat in five minutes; otherwise, I would get tased. After posting the video on meme pages and DMing most of them, I sold a few beats. Overnight, I gained around three or four thousand followers, and that's when I realized that this was what I had to do. It was a bit of a learning curve, but I figured it out. I had friends already doing that, at least in long-form, because it was YouTube, right? So it's just like, how do we do a YouTube video in 60 seconds?

Speaking of music videos, the recently released "Outta My Head" video received an impressive viewership response. How did you develop its concept? Were you heavily involved in that process?

I've been constantly on the road over the past two years, rarely back home in LA. We went on four major tours, with around 100 headline shows in 11 or 12 months. I was recording demos and getting inspiration from seeing different parts of the world. When I finally returned to LA after the last tour, I went to my dad's house and sat in the garage, where it all began for me. That's where I started making music. It reminded me of when I was a kid discovering music and feeling the dream and the hunger. I set up a small studio and spent two weeks going through about 200 demos. I spent a lot of time in my dad's garage, sorting through my belongings like a Frankenstein, picking out the best parts of different songs, and writing and recording new ideas as they came to me. This process ended up forming the backbone or foundation of this album. When it came to making music videos, "Outta My Head," the story revolved around everything happening in this garage because that's where the album idea was born. We filmed music videos and flash visualizers for every song on the album. We have 11 more music videos that will be released simultaneously.

You mentioned that you have been planning Attempted Lover for a considerable amount of time, and it was pieced together like Frankenstein's monster. Do you feel that it embodies a specific theme or concept?

It's not like a concept album with a storyline, dialogues in between, or anything like a musical. These songs are the best and most impactful ones I've created over time. What story does this tell? I didn't think about it initially, but looking at it afterwards, I noticed the themes in the songs. The name "Attempted Lover" even came from this search for genuine love that lasts; everyone wants that, don't they? Then there's the yearning and longing for something more significant, the frustration of not finding it, and the hope that it's out there somewhere – maybe with her. But I believe that feeling is out there and waiting for me.

Do you think this album has a similar sound, or do you consider it a mix of genres?

They consist of more acoustic, heavier, and electronic elements that all work together like a married couple.

You collaborated with multiple contributors on this album, including Colin Brittain. How significantly did their direction influence this album?

Colin is the executive producer. I handle everything myself and finalize everything with Colin. Songs can be created anywhere, like on the tour bus, in my room alone, or with some of my friends. Songs come from wherever inspiration strikes, and then we finalize them. It's all me, and sometimes my friend Dwilly, locked in a room for 12 hours straight, obsessing over the guitar and chorus. Thanks to my friends and collaborators like Colin and Dwilly, they are essential to my music; I wouldn't have that sound without them.

What has been the most fulfilling part of creating this album, and how does it reflect your growth as an artist?

I was excited to release our music finally. I had a lot of issues with the record label, and I was grateful to become independent. Dealing with creative problems and getting songs released was hard. I was really stressed because we had finished the album, but I didn't know if it would actually be released. It was frustrating to be almost done with the album but not knowing when it would come out. So, being able to become independent and say, "It's done, I'm putting it out," was a huge relief for me.

Having control over your creative process is how you begin. It feels unnatural to involve others unless you choose to.

This is my evolution, the evolution of my artistry. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to take the sound from my last album and make it even better. I asked myself, "What more can I do? What haven't I done that I can do while still maintaining my signature sound?" It's been a journey of exploration. That's why this album has some acoustic tracks, some with a full band, and some more electronic ones. It's been a learning process for me.

What are your plans for promoting the album? I remember you mentioned having 11 music videos, which means there will be a video for every song on the album.

Every song is a video; I'm just dropping them all simultaneously.

That's so unheard of. I love it

It was not easy, but yeah, the kind of thing that I'm learning now is mainly because of the internet. Like, dude, just put it out. You can promote that shit when it's out.

There's no reason to wait.

There's no reason to wait! If you do, then you lose the idea. Just put the work out there and post it. Hopefully, people will like it. We'll see and keep going. I feel like the idea of holding off and trying to build and build and build can get boring. I want to keep putting work out. When you release something, it's no longer just yours; it belongs to the world. So that's when you let go.

Do you ever check the comments once something is released to see if it's getting good or bad reviews? If it's getting bad reviews, do you take it to heart or try to shut it out?

I believe a healthy approach involves understanding that not everything is for everyone, and that's okay. We can't predict what will happen and are constantly learning and growing. It's good to consider what others think, but it shouldn't be the only factor. Sometimes, people don't know what they want at first but love it once they see someone else enjoying it.

You seem to have a good balance and a strong support system to keep you grounded and not worry about external pressures. Many people are unaware of the effort that goes into creating art and how much thought the artist puts into every little detail.

You've put your heart and soul into it, and now it's on display for the world.

His unwavering commitment to authenticity marks Sueco's impact on the music industry. His artistic evolution encompasses musical growth and underscores the importance of creative freedom and self-expression. With the recent release of Attempted Lover and its corresponding music videos, Sueco aims to unveil the depth of his artistic vision. His journey is a testament to the resilience and enthusiasm required to pursue one's aspirations. Moving forward, fans can anticipate more groundbreaking music accompanied by the same unfiltered honesty that has been a defining feature of his work.