If you’ve ever wondered what it sounds like when persistence shapes poetry, Toronto-hailing artist 6am is your answer. With roots in freestyling and battle rap, and a release schedule that would exhaust most, 6am opens up about what keeps his pen sharp, his melodies evolving, and his truth wrapped in carefully coded lyricism. In this interview, he talks about why freestyling remains crucial to his creative process, how his city fuels his dualistic sound, and what it takes to turn self-doubt into vocal strength. From his recent drop For the Better to his ambition of building beats from the ground up, 6am is an artist who refuses to stall creatively—or emotionally.
You cut your teeth freestyling and in battle rap circles—what do you think that background gave you as an artist that still shows up in your studio work today?
In terms of process, I start most of my songs by freestyling to get a concept and/or melody before actually writing the song. Sometimes I end up freestyling entire verses and hooks, and we just keep them as is because of how raw the energy is – it becomes a useful tool when I’m in writer’s block as well because I don’t have a chance to overthink what I say. In terms of mindset, it’s my relentlessness and ability to prepare for a session – once you have practised and rehearsed something so many times, you can adapt to the feelings you have in the moment while maintaining the vision.
You’ve been releasing music since 2016, but your recent tracks like Blessings and TonyinLA feel like they hit a deeper emotional register—what’s changed for you creatively over the years?
Music is a craft that is impossible to fully master. So I don’t believe in a plateau. As I continue to hone in on my work, I continuously get better at conveying my emotions, whether that be sadness, euphoria, or showcasing the rougher edges of my personality. Nothing has changed in terms of my creativity; I’ve just gotten better at the craft
A lot of your lyrics are drawn straight from personal experience. Is there ever a line you hesitate to cross when it comes to putting your life in your music, or is transparency a rule for you?
I rarely get that feeling because I’ve learnt to be cryptic with my messaging. If I feel like I’m going to say something that may have repercussions, I’ll make sure it’s presented with a bow on it.
You’ve spoken about the rawness of Toronto shaping your sound. Can you tell us a bit about what it means to channel both the beauty and the betrayal of your city into your storytelling?
A major component in what shapes my mantra is balance, and Toronto is something that showcases both sides of the spectrum at the most polarizing degrees – the weather is a great example of that. It’s what shapes the people who live here. And you can see how multifaceted many of the artists that have come out of here are – Drake, The Weeknd, Tory Lanez. I believe the polarity is a reason why we have so many great artists coming out of the city.
It’s rare to see an artist commit to dropping music every two weeks—what pushed you to take on that level of consistency, and how are you keeping it sustainable?
NOT SUSTAINABLE LOL
There’s a strong melodic streak running through your work now that sits right alongside your lyrical sharpness—did singing come naturally, or was it something you had to grow into over time?
I was not a good singer. To the point that I’ll catch myself doubting my abilities now. I only used to rap till I learnt that the vocal cords are like a muscle, and that they can be trained. So I train them and practice night in and out. In order to grow as an artist, things have to be learnt and skills have to be sharpened, and I knew I would have to learn how to sing if I wanted to have longevity and the ability to innovate creatively. I still have so much more work to do, but the improvement from when I first started to now should motivate anybody who’s thought about singing.
You’ve clearly built a sound that doesn’t stick to one lane—how do you decide what a track needs stylistically, and are there any genres you’re itching to experiment with down the line?
I seek a feeling and vibe that I want to convey and connect with people on. I get bored easily, so it’s tough for me to stick to one style, but that’s what makes art so fun. You can do anything you want within the confines of 12 notes. I want to eventually get into my own production. I’ve dabbled before, and with a lot of hand-holding, I’ve contributed on a few beats, but I want to create my own EDM song (particularly some melodic house type sound) eventually, where I do everything myself from top to bottom.
For The Better dropped on May 2nd. What do you hope people take away from it that they might not have picked up from your earlier releases?
That we are where we are exactly meant to be. Don’t doubt the process and smile through the rain – it would have happened with or without you being there.
Stream 6am’s latest single, For the Better, on all major platforms, including Spotify.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast
