Meet Anickan: Recording Artist & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anickan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anickan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I believe it’s just how I’m wired. When I look around I see that there’s art in everything, and growing up in my developmental stages it seemed to be the only thing my eyes and ears fixated on. I was a terrible student in school, anything too structured or guided just went completely against my nature, I was a draw outside the lines kid. I constantly rebelled, I was seemingly spaced out and bored all the time and you could tell it worried my m om a lot but it also forced her to start trying alternatives to better grasp what was going on with me. I did everything, art & crafts, karate, sports, dance classes, band classes, acting classes, media classes you name it, I did it! and it was clear those were the things that held my attention and put some life in my eyes. I was simply born to create, its like my oxygen and I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always just wanted to create things that I like. I’ve also always wanted to create things that have a purpose. I don’t know if its something that sets me apart per se, but I guess the noteworthy piece of anything that I create is that it is rigorously honest. And I think that’s the part I’m most proud of, being able to be self sufficient and self aware enough to articulate the pieces of me in everything I create. Knowing that what I want is on the other side of fear, understanding that there is no destination just journey, and taking every possible risk to explore the outcomes is how I would describe my arrival at this point in my career. I can’t recall the last time something was easy. I overcome the difficulty in everything by just choosing to take a stab at it everyday and if I get cut, so be it…because I’m going to die trying. If I wanted the world to know anything about me, I guess it would just be that I’m a mixed kid from Phoenix, Arizona, I’m a full time artist, I’m a lover not a fighter but I fight for what I love, I’m a Star Wars nerd, and I want to help everything and everyone in any way I can. I haven’t worked a regular 9-5 since I was about 19, I now am a full time artist. I’m a professional/competitive street dancer that has traveled the world and represented the United States in countless international competitions, I worked a competitive circuit directly for RedBull for 2 years and co-owned 2 urban arts schools. I’m a recording artist – Rapper/singer if you will I’ve been doing music for about 7 years now professionally, I write all of my own music, I compose/produce bout 50% of it as well. I just released my debut album entitled “SPRPWR” which reached over 150k Streams the first week! I’ve worked with artists such as (Futuristic, Crooked I of Slaughterhouse, Capadonna of Wu-tang Clan, Chris Rivers, Oswin Benjamin, Dylan Reese, Sincerely Collins, Saint Claire, Bingx, Jonny Koch, & More) I’m also a Cinematographer I’m currently the creative director of Futuristic’s independent brand, I specialize in the visual creations and all music videos that come out of the label. I direct and film all my own music videos with the help of my production company NextGen Digital, and have had the privilege of winning (Best Director, Best Editor, Best Picture, & Best Sound Design) at the Phoenix Film Festival 2 Years in a Row!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d probably go to a dine in theater such a Flix Brewhouse or Alamo Drafthouse because what’s better than going to the movies. I’d probably take them to Flagstaff and Sedona so we can hike through the vortex and take ridiculous photos. We’d have dinner at Breadfruit and Rum Bar because it’s my favorite place and Caribbean food is my favorite food. Or have a night in Downtown Phoenix, shooting videos and losing all control on the rooftop at Bar Smith.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I’d like to shoutout my bestfriend/manager George Odeh. We started this stuff together and he has been the driving force and why I continue to keep going. We’ve been broke together, we’ve made money together, and we’ve laughed and cried together. We’re going to get to where we want to be together. I can’t thank my mom. Without her I wouldn’t be here and she’s the voice inside my head that helps me do literally everything. Shout out to my crew ‘Furious Styles, my loved ones and close friends, and to everybody that is still here and to everyone who isn’t, you all got me exactly to where I needed to be! Zach “Futuristic” Beck, what a guy! He has single handedly helped me changed my life and make all the necessary transitions into the next stages of my artistry. Lastly, I want to give the biggest shoutout to all of my heroes and mentors that showed me how to see the art in everything.

Website: www.anickan.com
Instagram: @Anickan_
Twitter: @AnickanMusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnickanMusic
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv9slYnHlmDspV1O65e8Yxw

Image Credits
Gilbert “TRIP” Landey & Anickan