One on One in 10: NTellekt

Hello and welcome to One on One in 10, where we pick the brains of some of the most talented Indie artists in the tri state area with 10 questions. It’s your girl Mai Mazzi reporting live on the scene, bringing you the real with today’s movers and shakers, allowing you to meet them, one on one.

I hope that all the lovers out there enjoyed Valentines Day. I try not to go crazy for the hype. I believe that you shouldn’t take one overrated day to show someone you love and appreciate him/her.

Black History month is in full swing. From the African American actors and actresses boycotting the Oscars to Beyonce’s color conscious Super Bowl halftime show, everyone is feeling the energy. Even the negative people who have nothing better to do than blow everything out of context. Coincidence it’s going down in February huh?

For our February one on one interview, I have the pleasure of chopping it up with the talented singer/songwriter NTellekt, repping Miami, Florida.

Mazzi: Thank you so much for taking the time out to sit and speak with me.

NTellekt: Thank you for having me!

Mazzi: So for our first question, what made you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

NTellekt: I have always listened to a lot of the old souls, the old music growing up; legends like Luther Van dross, Whitney Houston, Earth Wind and Fire, and the O’Jays. R&B music has always made me feel something very deep in my soul. The more I listened to it, the more passion and fire I had in me to want to write music. Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J; all of the hip-hop legends also influenced me and inspired me to pursue music.

Mazzi: How would you describe your music for the public audience if they have never seen or heard you before?

NTellekt: I would describe it as positive, clean messages; something to make you think about it and challenge your brain.  The way I like to write is with double entendres, similes, and different metaphors that also at the same time give you a message behind it.

Mazzi: If you had to categorize your music, what genre would it best fit?

NTellekt: That’s a hard question. I would have to go with a mix between R&B and Hip Hop. It’s the two together, with the old school R&B harmonies and a modern hip-hop flow. It’s a fusion of the two.

Mazzi: How does your style differ from other artists in the same genre?

NTellekt: I know there are millions of artists out there, but I have never heard any use the old school harmonies. I hear a lot more auto tune nowadays. I feel like R&B as a culture is leaving the music industry. Like it’s being shut out and replaced by auto tunes and machines. R&B is something that is instilled in the listeners when they were young. Most of us grew up on old school R&B and it seems like major music labels are ignoring it. I understand that the music has to evolve, but I don’t think that the old school music “feel” should be completely shut out. It is a part of history and a big reason for the new school wave today.

Mazzi: Are you familiar with the term “starving artist”?

NTellekt: Yes.

Mazzi: How do you cope with major obstacles as they relate to the term?

NTellekt: I feel like everyone starting out is always a starving artist. You are trying to gain recognition and invest your money into your work. If you do not invest money into your work you will never see quality work. If you are always primed to do things for free or have not opted to make music in a real studio, I feel like you aren’t looking for the best quality at all.

Mazzi: What do you think your “biggest break” or “greatest opportunity” has been so far in your musical career?

NTellekt: Well first of all without God nothing is possible. He has opened up a lot of doors for me. At first I was only writing songs for myself and now I have moved on to writing for others. I love writing and producing behind the scenes versus being out in the open and I have had the opportunity to do that. Being able to be recognized by others is one of my biggest accomplishments.

Mazzi: What image do you think your music conveys and why did you choose this image?

NTellekt: I think that my image conveys more of a positive side and image versus the guns and drugs. I am trying to bring people more happiness and more realness. Some artists who have approached the music with the negative have never actually been through what they sing or rap about. Since so many artists have that approach, I chose to bring a more real and positive aspect to the music.

Mazzi: Art and music has an impact on both the young and the old; sometimes the older generation loses respect for the music we listen to today because they cannot comprehend the value of it. What advice can you give to the youth of today looking to enter the industry in regards to being able to stay relevant for every generation and for any audience?

NTellekt: I think that the music industry is all about connections and networking more than just making music. Artists have to get an understanding of what you’re trying to do and convey in your music, and this comes about with communication. I feel like alot of the younger generation do not research the history about who people were or how they got started. The older generation doesn’t want to listen to the new generation because they are stuck on the old school ways. But at the same time I feel like you can have both and both can be very successful if you bring the two together. It would be beneficial for both generations to communicate with each other.

Mazzi: What are your immediate music career goals (1 to 3 years)?

NTellekt: My goal and my ambition is to work with a lot of the current music legends. I would love to write for Beyonce, Jay Z, any and all current music artists, I am not discriminating. I would love to write for pop, rock, soul, R&B, hip hop whatever the genre. It does not stop with the high profile artists, I would like to be recognized for my talents in the Indie music realm as well. I just love to write!  I would love to one day be on that red carpet receiving Grammys for my songs and being nominated for Grammys for producing.

Mazzi: Do you have other interests or talents that you would like to share with us? How do you relax when you are not concentrating on music?

NTellekt: I always wanted to do a little writing for movies and acting projects. I have been thinking about it lately. I like to spend time with my family when I am not doing music.

Make sure you tune in to Mai Mazzi’s Top 10 Countdown show every Friday, 7pm eastern and Indie Live Music Radio to catch some of NTellekts’ dope songs!

And to you, the readers thank you for tuning in. Make sure you vibe with us for more NMNJ One on One in 10!

Mai Mazzi
Facebook Mai Mazerati
Twitter @Mai Mazzi
Instagram Mai_Lux

&nbsp