Interview: Felly

Felly (Christian Robert Felner), an indie artist, singer, songwriter, and record producer grew up in Connecticut and began writing music in high school. Although he grew up in a non-musical household, he was deeply impacted by the death of his father at the age of 7 and discovered music as a way to feed him. He was turned onto a variety of music by his siblings growing up, from Bob Dylan, to Dave Matthews Band, to Counting Crows, to hip hop artists, and forged his own musical path as a result. Felly’s journey as a musician evolved organically, with him starting out as a solo artist, making beats, sampling vinyl records, and arranging and producing his music. He later delved into songwriting, playing guitar, and writing, producing, and collaborating with other artists. The progression of his musical journey has allowed him to evolve as an artist, with both the sound of his music and his embracing a more collaborative and full-band approach to recording and performing. Having made music for 10+ years, he has released several studio albums, mixed tapes, EPs, and singles.

He released his latest studio album, Ambroxyde, in June of this year, with a departure from the rap/hip hop sounds of previous releases to more of an indie-rock sound. The album, produced alongside Grammy-nominated and Mercury Prize-winning producer Gianluca Buccellati (Lana Del Rey, Arlo Parks, The Marias), was recorded in several locations around the world, from Iceland to Greece to Texas, with the different settings helping to shape the sound of the album. On September 23rd, Felly embarked with his band on a 29-date US tour that will see him promote the new album while still playing some older fan favorites! And having caught the first stop on his tour in Louisville, I can honestly say everyone is in for a treat! It was a party on stage and in the crowd! You can follow Felly via the link below to keep up-to-date on all upcoming music, news, and tour dates.

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You grew up in Connecticut and started releasing music in high school. What can you tell me about your childhood and what led you to want to make music? Did you grow up in a musical family?

Connecticut was definitely not a place that felt artistic in many ways.  The goal was always sort of to get out.  I saw early that a future there in music just wouldn’t give back to me too much.  I think I knew one other kid who made music and no one in my family had a musical bone in their body.  I think I was always just following the music and knew it wasn’t there, but had to obviously grow up first.  I think my drive to make music came from my dad dying when I was 7 years old and just having a bunch of time alone - think I had to find something that fed me.  And it was vinyl records at first.  Those felt like a time machine and friends that I could rely on.  I was the youngest of three at the time and my brother and sister had sort of…normalish lives.   Though they did put me on to a ton of really good music like Bob Dylan, Counting Crows, Dave Matthews Band… hip hop stuff came later when my mom remarried and I gained two step brothers who loved Lil Wayne. There’s something in psychology about the youngest assessing what his elders do, and then carving their own route.  So I think I was determined to find my own thing and found it early in music.  It felt untapped and unique to me.   

Could you talk a bit about your evolution as an artist, from your early days to now, and growing confidence in your abilities? What are some of the greatest lessons you learned, as well as mistakes you made and learned from?

Early on I was just working with what I had.  A beat machine, some vinyl records to sample, and a usb microphone.  I would make beats and knew how to arrange things and produce, but it always felt incomplete without words.  Then came writing and lyrics. I think as time progressed and I leaned in more to playing guitar, writing songs with other musicians, producing, collaborating - I started to understand that music didn’t just have to feel like bed room beats.  And the sounds that I would have to get from samples…I could learn to play and create my own way. I think I learned that limitations could be your best friend.

You released albums on major labels before becoming independent. What can you tell me about that transition and your experience of being both on a label and an independent artist?

I’ve been on and off labels for about 8 years.   I think it just works like this:  whatever makes sense for that time in your life, and whoever aligns (whether a major label or a distribution company or completely independent), you just follow that.  Working with anyone has its upsides and its downsides.  With major labels you could be creating music, maybe even subconsciously, for a certain reason.  That loan you get can feel like - well, I gotta make something that makes that back for them.  When you’re doing it independently and funding it yourself, you don’t really have anyone to appease - which is a nice feeling.  I think a blend of both is great.  It’s certainly hard to do everything yourself.  

You now reside in LA. What prompted you to move from the east coast to the west coast? I’ve had other artists talk about the difference between the two parts of the country, that there is a lighter/sunnier and more upbeat vibe on the west coast. Have you found this to be true for you and has it changed your process for songwriting and making music?

I went to LA in 2014 when I somehow got into USC’s music school.  Luckily they were in their first year of having a music industry program, so even though I didn’t know how to read music or play an instrument, I had a following within the music world and they welcomed me in.  This opened me up to all the other kids who were maybe in the jazz school or pop studies - and I just sort of put together a team and helped to start a record label out of a dorm room where we would bring everyone together.  Everyone was hungry for some sort of mission - and I think I was able to put together a vision for that.

You released your latest album Ambroxyde in June of this year, with it being a more personal and earnest album. Could you talk a bit about the making of the album, which took place all over the world, from Iceland to Greece to Texas? How did each location influence the songs and the making of the album as a whole?

We went all over the world pretty much just to get out of our comfort zone of making music in Los Angeles and being in home studios.  I met a producer early on named Gianluca and he had a similar mindset that it might be time to branch out and see who we are and what we would come up with in different settings. So we went to Iceland, then came back to la to figure out some things, then went to this studio in Greece, and then finished it off with the band in El Paso, Texas at this studio called Sonic Ranch.  I think each place contributed to the sound in some way and in on some tracks you have recordings from each place.  For example, we’d like the drums and guitars from Greece and pair them with the vocals from Texas.  It was a really cool sort of collage way of going about things.

This album has more of an indie and alternative sound, influenced by much of the music that you listened to growing up. You have talked about how previously it has been just you on your computer rapping beats, but now, having spent the time to become a better musician, you have been able to make the album you always wanted to make. Could you talk about that journey for you and the personal significance of this album?

Definitely- I think the process alone for this one helped me to see I could keep growing.  We all want that feeling of progression and evolution in some way. It’s inherent in humans and natural for us.  I think if you do the same thing too long you can stop being impressed by yourself.  I learned a lot about leaning into what may feel uncomfortable - and that can sometimes achieve sounds you never thought you could make. 

This album has been described as “not Felly 2.0, but Felly as he’s always been, removed from all expectations”. Did you feel pressure earlier in your career to be the artist everyone expected you to be or do you feel like this evolution in sound was a more natural and organic process for you?

I never felt like I was making things from a place of “I’m expected to make this”.  I think with this record I more so had to honor the fact that I’m not 19 years old anymore and if I were to try to sound like that it wouldn’t come off authentic.  So I think in some way I just allowed myself to sit deeper into who I am and be ok with it if it wasn’t what people have pinned me to be.  I think this just comes from releasing records for 10 years and being ok with changing things up to align with where you are at the current moment. 

You have said how you are focused on longevity and have seen the game change so many times and move around. What can you tell me about your perspective on the music industry and how it’s changed throughout your career? Do you feel like you have an easier time as an artist in being independent-that it allows you more freedom to adapt and be the kind of artist you want to be?

The music “industry” is so different now.  So much more emphasis on visuals and roll out. How people consume is different today.  I used to just drop on Soundcloud and things would take.  Now there’s just so many more cars on the road that to make your mark you might have to be a bit more intentional.  Just to lead people to the music you know. I’m not sure if in today’s age it really matters if you’re independent or not.  Either way it’s up to the artist to find a way to cut through.  Some of my favorite artists who I think are so talented still can’t find a way to get through the noise. 

Your tour starts on September 23rd in Louisville, KY! Have you performed in Louisville before and what are you most looking forward to with this tour and performing the new album live?

I don’t think I’ve ever performed in Louisville. I think we did Lawrence many years ago.  All I know about Louisville is Jack Harlow - mostly from doing a song with him a few years back.  And Bryson Tiller. I’m excited to see what the people there are like.  The south always has a genuine kind of love for music. 

You have talked about the future of Felly as you see it, with more of a collaborative, full band approach, rather than being a solo artist. Can you talk about the future of Felly in that regard?

I definitely want to keep including my friends and the band.  But I also don’t want to sleep on my own self production.  I think it’s gonna be a blend of the two.  I learned a lot from this past record and feel capable of more now.  it’ll be interesting to see what I go with next. 

Aside from your upcoming tour, what’s next for you? 

I want to build an off grid studio somewhere where artists and friends can come create.  Been thinking about it for a while and dreaming up what that would look like. The studio in Iceland really moved me. Something like that but in the US.