"The name Etran de L’Aïr translates to “the Stars of the Aïr,” the mountainous region of Northern Niger."
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ETHEREAL.PRESS
Tell us about The Bobfather?
THE BOBFATHER
Well, I started this project about 3 years ago, but I've had the idea and name for a fat minute. When I was 11 years old, I watched the Rugrats movie and the first scene is just a parody of The Godfather, but instead of God it’s Bob, so I jacked it from them and that’s how I got my name.
Before I started making serious music in 2020, I was making really bad beats in chrome music maker when I was 13. I think something changed late 2020 and I just started making something serious in bandlab out of all places. Ever since those days I haven't really thought what its represented me as but I think the people closest describe it perfectly, my friend Anna one time said it reminds her of "urban surrealism" and I find that to be closest since being from NYC influences me a lot.
ETHEREAL.PRESS
Talk to us about your most recent full-length release titled '6G DEALERS.'
THE BOBFATHER
6G Dealers is kind of just a collection of all my influences from summer of last year all the way up to when it dropped in Janurary. I think I got the name from my fellow colleague and Kawaii Goon$ member Ascend Higher when we were just in a voice chat trying to think of names for my next album last summer and then it just got started from that point.
The influences for that album kinda spreads out from different things I was listening to at the same time the main one being Lone's Galaxy Garden which I find to be one of my favorite albums ever honestly. Other influences I found to be essential were Cities Aviv, Naked Flames, Plugg, Soundcloud, Azealia Banks, Acid House, Negashi Armada, neocities, etc.
I'm glad people enjoy that album a lot, it's really surreal to see. Also to add on I just really wanted my own aesthetic onto it as well, a lot of ppl in the breaks scene just jack the whole "y2k" and "anime" aesthetic and I can’t tell them apart from each other.
No one wants to be unique anymore, but to jack and bite other peoples looks and sounds.
ETHEREAL.PRESS
You stated in the description of the album,
"My mental health throughout last year was full of desolation and melancholy and it's crazy to see how life has changed with such little change in most things I do."
Can you elaborate on this?
THE BOBFATHER
Yeah, last year was just super tough on me both as an artist and as a person, I'm glad you asked that because a lot of people don't read the descriptions to my albums. I didn't have like anybody close to me last year I could rely on except the members of Kawaii Goon$ so I kinda spiraled into my own madness for most that year.
It eventually got better at the end of the year because I had finally got out of my own spiral, but I'm still working on my mental health and trying to get better even thru my struggles.
ETHEREAL.PRESS
Why have you chosen different aliases as an artist?
THE BOBFATHER
I'm not gonna lie, only reason I really made aliases was because of James Ferraro and how many crazy side projects he has so I wanted to replicate that swag that he had goin on.
ETHEREAL.PRESS
What sounds / aesthetics have you been experimenting with recently?
THE BOBFATHER
I've been trying to experiment more with Ableton and creating my own chord patches + starting to use LFO's in my newer music. When it comes to aesthetics it’s a huge thing for me, I kind of used a lot of just like mobile service providers in my song titles (Boost Mobile, T-Mobile, etc.) and also with the "6G" stuff which is inspired by James Wallace.
I'm trying to create this theme in my music with technology and also mentioning brands or companies in my music that seems irrelvant in people's life. Also to add, on a lot of ppl in the breaks scene just jack the whole "y2k" and "anime" aesthetics and I can’t tell them apart from each other.
I'm trying to become the complete opposite of that and seperate myself from that intensely.
ETHEREAL.PRESS
You have several unique track titles - can you elaborate a bit on some of your favorites?
THE BOBFATHER
Lmao hell yea I got some crazy song titles I can go off on which ones are some of my favorite. It's gotta be Gentrify Water, J Train Cyberpolice, Kingdom Hearts In Bisexual Atlanta, Real Life Asenscion for A Digital Age and my favorite one is off my new album called "I Only Go To New Jersey 4 Six Flags".
A lot of people who just get into my music get weirded out by how absurd some of my song titles are and I honestly get it cause I don't even know how the hell my brain thinks of them.
ETHEREAL.PRESS
What do you hope to accomplish as a creative?
THE BOBFATHER
Honestly as of now I just want to do shows with my friends and collab with people who inspire me. I've gotten cool connections but no real songs with them yet but my real vision is like a real like connection with underground rap & Juke.
I already have a song with FiveFingersNoah like that and it’s really good and I hope to try to make that a reality inside the underground.
ETHEREAL.PRESS
What's next for the Bobfather?
THE BOBFATHER
I got a new album in the works and everything is coming together with that piece. I also have been working with the other members of Kawaii Goon$ and we are planning to do a whole collective mixtape. I want to do some shows in NY with a few other of my friends that should hopefully happen in July. Thank you for your time.