IS CAPELLA GREY THE INDUSTRY’S NEXT MUSICAL GENIUS?

Two years ago, Capella Grey took the industry by storm when he dropped his hit single “Gyalis”. Released in January of 2021 the song flooded the streets of New York City and made its way to airwaves across the world, becoming a summer anthem turned classic – peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, gaining over 18.1 million streams on Spotify and going platinum. Recently, the singer/songwriter sat down with us to talk formula for “Gyalis”, the state of R&B, what he wants his fans to feel when they listen to his music and why the industry needs a “Capella Grey.”

“I feel like right now with music it’s either they tryna be too gangsta that they forget to vibe or they’re trying to do this ‘you had my heart from the start R&B’ – it’s not realistic. I feel like right now we need someone to talk spicy, people need to hear music they can just vibe, when I go outside I wanna feel good energy, I don’t wanna dance to people writing poems about they opps”

Over the past few years there has been an influx of artists who have hopped on the beats of their favorite songs from the past. While many have attempted to spin a track and make it their own, there are only a select few who get it right. Whether you’re at a club, baby shower, wedding or party, the second you hear the beat to Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up” the atmosphere changes, you’re on the floor instantly ready to shake some ass. “Gyalis” which is sampled by the Cash Money classic, two years later, gives you the same feeling.

Successfully elevating a track that didn’t need to be elevated can only be accomplished by someone who understands the intricacies of making a timeless record. Every so often the music industry is blessed with a visionary who understands music in its totality. What it needs and how to bring that to life. For those who haven’t caught on yet, Capella Grey’s creative formula is exactly what the industry needs to preserve true artistry.

“I feel like there’s a void in music right now, I’m trying to make music that gives you the feeling that you feel when you listen to 90’s R&B but the sound of today. I want certain harmonies and the way vocals are produced to give the remanence of the 90’s or just a nostalgic feel, I really just want to embody that feeling you get when you hear 90’s and 2000’s R&B. After Gyalis I was experimenting with different sounds and different type of vibes, but I realized that I needed to just stick to formula that made Gyalis successful.“

For critics the term musical genius might be a stretch, that is until you go to the Bronx native’s Instagram page and see just how talented he is. Known by his fans for curating music on his Instagram lives, Capella Grey is no stranger to proving his genius. Whether it’s playing instruments, producing a beat from scratch or recording and editing his own work he is hands-on in every aspect of his career. Organically creating a following through displaying his genius right before our eyes.

“Creating on Instagram lives brought me closer to the fans because they get to see my creative process and that has allowed them to feel like they’re apart of everything I do” says, Grey.

The singer has quickly gained the respect of his peers and created a reputation as a pure talent whose music transcends far beyond the average hit you hear on the radio. Whether it’s hopping on tracks like “Know My Body” with Dream Doll, “Vibe and Tell” with Red Cafe and Fabolous to the latest “Act Like You Know” with Lady London, he has managed to tap into a side of music that has somehow lost its way in the world of mainstream carbon copies.

Bringing you the nostalgia of 90’s and 2000’s R&B while also adding the flavor of today’s music. Although a musician in his purest form, Capella credits his growth to working with other artists who have challenged his creative process.

“I’ve become a better musician by connecting with other artists because I’ve had to adapt to their creative process. Everyone records different so I’ve become better because of the challenges that come with adapting to different situations. Alot of the legends I’ve worked with I’ve learned more about creating with a purpose. Figuring out when to release certain songs and being mindful of the timing of music. Learning about what makes sense so it hits at the right moment.”

While those that haven’t tapped into the singer’s catalogue would feel he has been missing in action, it has been quite the contrary for his fans who have watched him blossom since day one. Despite ups and downs with his former label, Grey has managed to give us a taste of the impact he is going to make musically. Back in July the artist dropped an EP titled “Here, damn.” a seven-track dedication to his fans who have been patiently waiting for his mixtape “Vibe Responsibly Vol 1”.

In addition, many of his fans have already got to hear some of the tracks that could possibly go on “VRV1” just by tuning into his creative process online. Although many of them are growing a tad bit impatient the singer ensures the vibes are coming.

“I knew the fans needed the tape a few years ago, but I feel like listening straight through it, I had to go back and make sure that sonically it’s exactly what I was trying to convey in my head. I wanted to close my eyes and listen to it straight through without having to open my eyes and fix something. The timing has to be right. Even with the features everyone is about to have their moment J.I. the Prince, Dream Doll, Fivio Foreign and Jada Kingdom they all are having they moments and I just want the timing of the album to make sense. Especially with this new independent chapter I’m stepping into.”

More recently Grey caught the ear of super-producer Hit-boy who provided the beat to freestyle “Cohones” that debuted on “From the Block”.

“Cohones was actually made two years ago in Hit-boy’s studio, we were trying to drop it but with the label there was a pause with dropping it because they were trying to figure out the right time to drop it. So now that I’m independent I’m like yeah, the people gotta hear this, that’s a legendary link up. He pulled up on me he had a couple beats lined up none of them hit so he went and made a new one fresh on the spot.”

For many artists who have instant success, they feel the pressure of becoming a one-hit-wonder. A confident Capella Grey doesn’t pay attention to any naysayers. He knows he’s that good. With the release of “Baechester” who in remanence of “Gyalis” has organically created a buzz of its own, Grey has managed to recreate the same wave Gyalis did. With 136k streams on Spotify, 421,461 plays on Apple Music and 273k views on Youtube Capella Grey is once again showing the world how to capitalize off of your talents without having to compromise the integrity of your music to please the masses.

“I want people to hear my music and get a better understanding of who I am, I want every part of the song, from the lyrics to the production to the flow, I just want every part of it to feel like you’re getting to know me. When you hear me, you’re going to hear the influence of the church but then you could hear that I’m lowkey a street n*gga from New York and then in another remanence you could also hear that I’m Jamaican. I just want people to leave my music feeling like they know me better.”

Betting on himself the singer is preparing for a solid 2024 where he plans to take his label “Allepec the Family” to new heights by sticking to the formula that has always worked for him.

“I want to change the culture and bring a certain energy back to New York City. I feel like once I get the city right the whole world gon catch on, Cuz, you know New York City we the blueprint, laughs Grey. I want to be remembered as someone who changed the energy of New York and then thus changed the energy of the world.”