Introducing Nightmarexx
“Hey, I’m Nightmarexx, a 17-year-old underground rapper and rockstar from Broward County. My goal is to connect with people through my music in the same impactful way that artists from the past did. My journey started with the sounds of Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti, who heavily influenced both my sound and my approach to self-expression.”
Inspirations
“My current inspirations include Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, Sid Shyne, and others. They’ve been shaping my music and pushing me to explore new sounds and styles.”
Early Beginnings
“I first dipped my toes into music during middle school. At that time, I was just playing around with recording simple tracks on Audacity, without any autotune or fancy effects—just raw vocals. My early experiments included creating sped-up and ‘nightcore’ style music, which I worked on constantly because it was my only outlet at the time.”
Learning the Craft
“Novagang, Prblm, osquinn, and noki have been significant influences in my journey. Noki, from the collective Helix Tears, was particularly instrumental in helping me transition to FL Studio when my previous DAW wasn’t cutting it. Through private calls on Discord, Noki guided me until I was confident using FL Studio on my own. Over time, I moved from using basic plugins in Audacity to more advanced ones, learning through trial and error. Despite some initial challenges with speeding up my tracks, I slowly began to refine my craft, dedicating all my free time to making music.”
Finding Motivation
“2021 was a turning point for me. Attending Playboi Carti’s Narcissist tour and seeing a childhood idol performing live was incredibly inspiring. Shortly after, I saw Ken Car$on perform in Wynwood, which deepened my commitment to music. That year, I started gaining recognition, performing at studios, and connecting with the music community. It became my dream to change lives through performances.”
Building Connections
“That same year, I walked in a fashion show for rei13, which opened doors to meeting influential people like Kid Xeno and Happi. On June 25th, I hosted my first sold-out show at a Miami studio with just 50 attendees, which felt like a huge accomplishment. Since then, I’ve played at venues I once admired and had the chance to open for artists like Chris King and Wifisfuneral. Performing at venues like The Joint of Miami, where rap icons like Destroy Lonely and Slump6s have played, was a highlight.”
Studio Experience
“Recently, I’ve spent more time in the studio, recording tracks like ‘PIGEON,’ which was a new experience for me. Adjusting to studio recording was a game-changer, and Rivas has been key in engineering many of my tracks. The clarity and quality of studio recordings have been a significant step forward.”
Conclusion
“I’ve recently collaborated with my childhood friend t2i on a track with an Xavierso-based beat. My experimental album from 2022, ‘Stage Freight,’ reflects my early struggles with performance anxiety. Even though it only got about eight plays on SoundCloud, it was a meaningful project for me. Embracing rage beats and energy-driven sounds has been pivotal. My advice: stay true to yourself and never let anyone alter who you are. Create your own trends and be patient—you’re going to make your mark.”
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