We were glad to have one of Houston’s Indie recording artists Favor Abel tap in for an interview to get to know him more and pick his brain.
What’s the origin of Favor?
“I don’t really know where Favor came from honestly, to this day I haven’t asked my parents where my name came from, I just took my own meaning to the name, which I think works both ways. One way is the way where I’m in the world to serve people, to do favors on to people, and vice versa people not are not necessarily obligated. But I feel like I’m more favored in a sense because people do favors for me.”
And tell us a little more about yourself were you born in Houston?
“Actually no, I’m originally born in Nigeria and I grew up in Houston I came to America when I was seven in 2006, I’ve asked I’ve only been here for 16 years, I’m still low-key a F.O.B.”
What’s been your hardest obstacles being an artist?
“Every day is an obstacle, even being able to put out my latest video. This is probably the most amount of people I’ve worked with on a project and it was really cool and inspiring to like, work with different people who have a lot of different ideas and see how they could add to my own vision… It wasn’t all fine and dandy though getting everything together but I love the process.”
In the music video all I can see was sand, were you really in the desert?
“I’ve always had this vision of like being in an apocalypse and like in the desert, vast wasteland on some Mad Max type shit, where I’ll be there posted up. It was cool bringing that idea to life, I originally told my girlfriend Eli my idea behind shooting it and she let me know that her hometown have plenty of Sandune‘s. It was crazy no shooting a video because they don’t we went to her private we owned land, so we were really trespassing.”
Would this video experience be your favorite piece of content that you’ve created so far?
“Fuck yeah, hands-down. I think it’s just cool, how I mentioned before the amount of people that touch this project, although they have their differences, it’s a project that’s meant to share a positive message. The main thing of Cash over six years choosing what’s best for you in that moment. Even though it wasn’t fully executed the way I wanted it to be, I think that’s the beauty of art at the end of the day. Now the next project gives me a blessing to strive for that, near perfection. “
As an artist, what would you say sets you apart from others? and what’s been your favorite part?
“I think I’m just like everybody else, I mean obviously is some separation like physically and morally, but at the same time I’m just human. As far as my art, I’d say my work ethic, I really be trying to get shit done honestly. “
“And my favorite part is well, being an artist is my life. Don’t get me wrong I’m a big nerd, a big ass geek. But art, even if you think about it, art has mathematical elements. I just love seeing the beauty in that and having that booty to create.”
What keeps the drive in you going?
“Having accountability partners, because I realize I can’t do this shit myself. When I used to be by myself I was fueled by a lot of anger and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing, because if you use anger the positive outlet, you can create. Having accountability partners makes me have to own up to my word, because I know people are depending on me. It’s easy to let yourself down, when is a man it’s difficult to others down.”
What’s been your process of making music
“Depends, I’ll be producing too so sometimes I’m here in my studio. I make a beat, I like the beat export that bitch, put it on ProTools, record the song, done. Sometimes I like the beat, sit on it for a few weeks, then I’ll pull up the Apple West studio shout out with the beat and lock in. It’s really none definition of processed to it, I’ll be all around the place whatever the moment creates.”
What some skills you say you need to improve on?
“Communication for one, time management and honestly, I wanna fail quicker. Failing is the path to success, so the faster you’re able to fail, the faster you’re able to pick back up and get to where you’re going.”
What record label would you want to sign with? Or would you stay independent?
“I’m a businessman, and so I see the necessity of having the corporation that exist of that sort, it’s more of a partnership. So I fuck with cactus Jack, capital records, and even though they got a bad rap I still go with DEF jam. “
5 years down the line who do you see yourself working with ?
“SSG Kobe for sure, he for sure, I can make us some crazy beats to hop on. Also Kanye of course”
