Exclusive Interview: Meet – dat_rasta – One of The Fastest Rising Arizona Artists In The Game

Aiden Le Roy Singleton / dat_Rasta / 20 / Phoenix, AZ

Q.) What is your name/stage name?

A.) “ dat_Rasta ”

Q.) Where are you located?

A.) “Phoenix, AZ.”

Q.) What is the meaning behind your name?

A.) “When I was a kid my dad came up with a superhero story meant to inspire me called ‘Supa Rasta’. I had just got dreadlocks at the time after always wearing my afro and I didn’t like them that much at first, so it made me more confident and comfortable with having them. As I grew up i thought people might think it was childish and was thinking of changing it. My friend Sean told me he agreed with me when i thought of the instagram name ‘dat_rasta’ when I was making my first (and only) account, and it’s been solidified since then!”

Q.) What are your roles within the music industry?

A.) “I not only produce my/others music but am the artists and photo/video editor as well.”

Q.) What got you into music?

A.) “ I started off doing fan music videos with my friends under the banner of ‘SantoWorldwide’. We used to get thousands of views before the youtube channel was taken down and we had to start a new one with re-uploads.”

Q.) What type of music do you make?

A.) “From R&B vibes to Hip Hop, it depends on my mood, I don’t really want to keep it in a box.”

Q.) How long have you been making music?

A.) “3 years now not counting playing instruments and being in choruses throughout school.”

Q.) What are you making music for?

A.) “ For fun and to strive for more in life than just the mundane ‘check-to-check’ lifestyle.”

Q.) What’s driving you?

A.) “My desire to live my life without regrets. I want to do everything i want to do, and do it the best I can, and that entails more than just music as well.”

Q.) Who are your biggest supporters?

A.) “I think my mom likes my music so much that it doesn’t matter what I make, she’ll vibe lmao. To the point I need to ask another person’s opinion, but i love her for it. And I can’t think of a single time i can say my dad has failed me.“

Q.) Are you signed to a label?

A.) “ I’m not no. “

Q.) Do you want a record deal, a distribution deal, or none?

A.) “ I don’t Know. “

Q.) Who are some features that you have?

A.) “I don’t have any yet but I have a few people I’ve been planning on working with this year.”

Q.) Who are some features you want to get?

A.) “I wanted a feature with Tysontae who I met out in LA. He was one of the main people who got me to release my first song ‘HeartStrings’ that I edited a visualizer for. Other than him, Dro Kenji, Ski Mask The Slump God, Jaden Smith, Kanye, and 50Cent himself.”

Q.) Who’s one person dead or alive that you’d want to work with?

A.) “ MICHALE JACKSON. I honestly get told I look like him a LOT nowadays, and I been doing the moonwalk since I was 7 so you may be able to imagine how that makes me feel lol. I can’t help but mention XXXTentacion too.”

Q.) Is there anybody else you want to shout out for any reason?

A.) “Joven and Joey that I worked on SantoWorldwide with, wouldn’t be doing any of this if it wasn’t for them, my parents for their undying support, PG (PhysicalGamerz) on YouTube, and my cat Cheshire lmao.”

Q.) What are you currently working on?

A.) “Considering I’m not only working on My stuff, but others as well, I don’t have a song of MINE that I’m currently working on, but I do have Multiple music and YouTube videos that have come out that I did the editing on including my own from people like ‘Zack Lugo’ to ‘Leá the Leox’.”

Q.) What is your latest release?

A.) “’LANDO’ Though a shorter song it’s accompanied by a flashy music video that to this day I’m still kind of surprised we got some things to look the way they did for my first music video.”

Q.) When is your next release?

A.) “I plan to release something in the next few months all leading up to an Project I’ve already named ‘HeartSpace’ equipped with multiple music videos and songs exploring ‘planet to planet’ the contents of my Heart Space. In the meantime, let your eyes and ears marinate in the experience of the songs, visualizers, and videos I have so far.”