100% Deaton Chris Anthony: the stylish music maestro
The off-beat LA rapper spitting bars about race cars, Tony Hawk and coca cola lovers.
Music
Words: Amy Francombe
With only a few released singles under his belt, Deaton Chris Anthony isn’t exactly a household name. But if his clothes designing skills, Louis Vuitton co-sign and track Racecar featuring good friend Clairo is anything to go by, he soon will be.
A charming LA-based artist with a goofy disposition, his music is a blend of chillwave, R&B and retro synths. He’ll rap about anything – driving around in a race car, his love for Tony Hawk and coca cola lovers. He also channels this zany energy into other creative ventures, from designing velcro sticker hats for Vampire Weekend, to launching an upcoming rug business.
With the rising musician’s debut album BO Y set to drop next week, whet your appetite with his latest single Tony Hawk – featuring a cameo from The Birdman himself.
10%: At what point did you realise you’d be able to do what you love for a living?
So I was new in LA and having a hard time making rent pay. It was two days before rent due and I had nothing. I remember I was stressed and then I looked to my right and I see all of my handmade sweaters that had been online for a while but no one wanted. I woke up that morning and the idea came to me… Post each sweater online for 99% off. And people lost their mind on it and I got so many DMs of people wanting to buy.
So then I posted on my story, “Thank you for your interest, now find the secret code.’ And then I posted clues to a discount code which were lyrics from my new song at the time. Honestly, I did not know what to expect. But then in about an hour, all my sweaters sold online. That’s when I realised, “Oh wow people do want my stuff!”
20%: What’s a piece of advice that changed your life?
Lebron James and I have the same 24 hours in a day.
30%: What kind of emotions and experiences influence your work?
This summer it was hot in my house (no AC, gotta get that fixed). I was frustrated because I was uncomfortable sweaty. But then I had to act fast writing because I couldn’t bare it (loud fan in the room gets into the mic so its turned off) so I act fast and commit on instincts and I made decisions like that. Those are the best.
40%: What can you tell us about your next project?
WUGS debuts 2020. It is handmade rugs made by Angela and I. Watch next year how many people will start to make their own rugs.… We are approaching a revolution.
50%: Break down your typical day at work…
Basically I am on my phone for a couple hours doing emails and stuff. And then I get going on the sweaters, I basically paint them on the floor and cut them and get ready to sew. But then in the middle of it, a thought will come to mind of something in a song, so then I will stop what I am doing and go make it.
Then I’ll think, ‘Finishing up that rugs sounds fun,’ so then I stop music and go to rug. And then after it’s dark and I go back to finishing up what I was doing for the clothes or take a walk. And I eat in between. Usually Taiwanese food.
60%: What can artists do to help save the world?
I think artists save the world when they are having fun plus making art that makes you think, ‘Wow, I never saw that world that way I’m gonna change my life.’ I’ve said that many times to myself.
70%: Love, Like, Hate?
Love kisses on the forehead. Like holding hands. Hate games.
80%: Finish the sentence: Dear Diary, Today I…
Dear Diary, today I met Drake. I never thought he would remember my name but they guy has pretty great memory. Well that’s all I can think about at the moment. Have a great day.
– Deaton
90%: Biggest pet peeve?
People asking, “How do you have long hair and like it?”
100%: No.1 holiday destination?
I would say Valentine’s Day at the Eiffel Tower. Just anything but 4th July in Pennsylvania.
