Interview: Blvck Hippie
Who’s the Arthur Lee, Jimi Hendrix, or Prince of the 2020s, inspiring a younger generation of Black kids to pick up guitars and write songs? Brittany Howard, Bartees Strange, and Algiers’ Franklin James Fisher are all names that come to mind. But don’t sleep on Memphis-based musician Josh Shaw, aka Blvck Hippie, who likewise aspires to be a representational voice for weird Black kids.
Shaw knows just how important it can be to discover an artist whose work makes you feel like less of a social outcast. “Kid Cudi was the first person who made me feel okay about having depression as a Black kid,” Shaw says. “He kind of paved the way for what I do now.” More recently, Brooklyn-based band Proper has made an impact on Shaw. “I played with them in 2019 and it was the first time I saw an all Black band doing what I was doing,” he says. “I always credit that experience for why I didn't quit music.”
Blvck Hippie’s 2021 debut, If You Feel Alone At Parties, is a heart-on-the-sleeve indie rock record that fits well within the midwest emo framework set by Cap’n Jazz, Mineral, and more recently by The Sidekicks and Joyce Manor. While music centered on raw emotional earnesty hasn’t always been immensely popular, the recent success of Phoebe Bridgers and Mitski has proven that there’s a large audience for it.
“I feel like people being vulnerable with art has always been an inspiration to me,” Shaw says. “It's so cool seeing artists reaching so many people through being open and vulnerable. Things like that definitely get me through days where I feel like what I’m doing is meaningless.”
For as much self-doubt as Shaw may encounter on a regular basis, he was able to take the emotional cliff dive of releasing If You Feel Alone At Parties — an album chocked full of songs about loneliness — ultimately breaking through the pasty-white-boy-dominated world of midwest emo to find a fanbase, which still blows his mind.
“Most of it was done in just three days in the studio because we were broke. It's wild seeing people grasp onto something that caused us so much stress,” Shaw says. “It means a lot, though. I feel like this record was me learning about myself and making art in a way I loved. Getting great feedback means I learned what I needed to learn, and it's given me so much confidence going forward.”
As isolated as he may feel as an artsy young Black man playing sensitive indie rock, Shaw has found plenty of support from his family. Speaking of his mother, who gave him the nickname Blvck Hippie, he says, “She’s always been super supportive. She kept me from quitting piano in high school, has always pushed me in music, and is very invested in my career. When we’re on tour, she’s always finding every post/article/picture from shows. And my dad kind of created this by asking me to analyze songs in high school and college, and buying me Pro Tools.”
Few cities have the kind of rich music history that Memphis has, and Shaw’s connection to his hometown is strong. “My grandpa produced Wattstax and worked a bunch for Stax Records, and did the whole Black Moses [Isaac Hayes] campaign,” he says. “I feel like I’ve carried his Memphis music accomplishments close to my heart, even down to my Stax tattoo. I feel like all I want to do is represent my city and its history in the best way possible, and honor my grandad’s legacy.”
If having familial ties to some of soul music’s definitive record label isn’t inspiring enough, Shaw also works as a tour guide at legendary Sun Studio, where such greats as B.B. King, Ike Turner, and Elvis Presley once recorded hits that defined rock ‘n roll in its earliest form.
For Shaw, Sun Studio has also been a point of connection with Fleetwood’s, where he and his band will be performing on Thursday, Aug. 18. “We played there last fall; it was our last stop before [recording our] Audiotree [Live session in Chicago],” he says. “It was super sick, and I found out the person who runs Fleetwood’s used to work at Sun Studio back in the day … so it was like a cool hometown, blast-from-the-past moment.”
IF YOU GO
Who: Blvck Hippie + Mad Mike Martinez + Nostalgianoid
When: Thursday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m.
Where: Fleetwood’s, 496 Haywood Road, fleetwoodschapel.com
Tickets: $10
(Photo by Vivian Cheslack)
