Silky Vibe Connects With Us to Talk New Release "Mess With Me" and the Story Behind the Music
- STAFF
- 3 days ago
- 11 min read
By: Staff
“Mess With Me” is an unforgettable masterpiece, blending raw emotion with exceptionally beautiful vocals.
When Silky Vibe dropped their latest track "Mess With Me," the music world took notice. With a sound that blends raw vulnerability and seductive soul, this track pulls listeners into a world that feels both personal and hypnotic. From the slow-burning vocals to the dreamlike atmosphere crafted with live guitar and reverb-heavy production, every note in "Mess With Me" feels like an invitation into an emotional space that’s both tender and intense. It’s a song that doesn't just speak, it immerses you.
We spoke with Silky Vibe about the making of this standout track and their vision as an artist. In this conversation, they opened up about what it truly means to transform deep personal longing and raw emotion into music. Silky Vibe reflected on how their process evolved from making music privately to understanding its power as a form of self-expression meant to be shared with the world. It’s a path of growth, filled with moments of both discovery and doubt. From wrestling with the silent emotions behind the track to navigating the solitude of bedroom production, the journey to "Mess With Me" was nothing short of transformative.
In our conversation, Silky Vibe also gave us a glimpse into their creative world, where acoustic and electric elements collide in a sound that feels entirely their own. With a commitment to honesty in their songwriting, they touched on how vulnerability plays such a critical role in their art, and how they stay grounded when creating from such a personal place. Whether speaking about their live performances, future projects, or the influences shaping their perspective, Silky Vibe’s insight into their music is as captivating as the track itself.
Read on to explore the mind behind "Mess With Me" and discover what makes Silky Vibe an artist on the rise.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Silky Vibe, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. We loved “Mess With Me.” It’s honestly one of the most unique performances and vocal deliveries we’ve heard in a long time. Your slow, drawn-out vocal delivery is absolutely hypnotic, the cadence, the gentle tone, and the authentic feeling behind it all feel like a dream. The smooth yet powerful R&B beat you chose is the perfect complement to your voice. After hearing this track, we’re curious, when did you first realize the power of your voice and creative expression? Also, when did you decide to change from music being a personal, intimate expression to a tool for sharing your story with the world?
A. Thanks for having me! It is amazing to have the opportunity to give my fans some extra insight into my music and creative process. I started my singing journey when I was in elementary school when my mom had me join my church choir. It was my first time really experiencing music creation and performing on stage first hand. However, it wasn't until about 2017 when I was going through a tough break up that I really started to view the musings that I would write for myself as more of a creative expression. This was the first time I started producing my own songs and actually putting my stories out on SoundCloud. I figured if I could relate to what I was feeling, there might be other people who would want to hear or could maybe see some of themselves in my songs.
Q. “Mess With Me” pulls the listener into such a personal, almost intimate space. What’s the emotional core of this song for you? How does it encapsulate a moment of vulnerability or a part of yourself that you felt compelled to share?
A. Great question! I wrote this song one day as I was strumming some chords on my guitar that just took me to a place of reflection. Personally, I would say a big love language for me is physical touch and in the moment I felt this rush of craving that feeling but knowing it wasn't meant to be at the moment. Emotionally, there was a sense of longing for something that I just couldn't have and the understanding that this is a piece of my heart I have relinquished but it is unrequited. So essentially the song became this kind of yearning for that physical touch that I knew wouldn't come and me sort of pleading for it. And as I mentioned before, I look at all my songs as if this is something I'm feeling, maybe it's something that someone out there somewhere can relate to as well.
Q. After experiencing this song, it’s clear that your style and presentation are incredibly distinct. You’ve clearly cultivated something unique. Is this genre or sound something you’ve embraced from the very start of your journey, or has it evolved over time as you explored other genres or influences?
A. I have always loved R&B music at heart so this genre has been near and dear to me on my musical journey. My first ever concert was to see Usher perform in Miami when I was like 8 years old and since then I've been hooked on contemporary R&B but also elements of Neo Soul and alternative music as well. I think these elements have really shaped my sound and as a new guitar player within the last year, I tend to write most of my recent songs on the guitar so you will tend to hear those elements in the production.
Q. The song was born from a sense of longing for someone you couldn’t physically have. Can you walk us through that emotional landscape? What were the silent, unspoken feelings you were wrestling with as you brought this track to life?
A. Mess With Me definitely came from a place of longing and wanting that physical assurance from a lover that just wasn't going to happen. It truly stemmed from wanting something and knowing that the one person I wanted it from isn't going to deliver. The song sort of took on a new age version of Marvin Gaye's “Sexual Healing.” I have always loved that song as he really turned the pleading with a lover for that physical connection into an upbeat song that is of course really popular to this day. But Mess With Me felt more like a failed Tinder or Bumble connection where you're left thinking there was something there and it feels like there are more questions than answers to ponder as time moves on.
Q. The raw, bedroom-produced vibe gives “Mess With Me” such an intimate, personal feel. How does being in your own space, away from the outside world, affect the way you connect with your music? Does that solitude allow you to express yourself more freely?
A. Making my songs in my bedroom studio definitely gives me a level of autonomy that I appreciate. Any Silky Vibe song you hear is completely produced, written, and performed by me so it really allows the chance for me to iterate on the idea of a song and make it my own. Mess With Me started off with noodling over a few chords on my guitar one week and then sitting down to write the lyrics the next week. If I had to rely on studio time or sending a beat back and forth with a producer, I think it would ultimately be a bit harder to get the full vision for my music expressed so I am thankful for that. But I wouldn't turn my nose up to work with a producer or audio engineer if the right opportunity presented itself either.
Q. The fusion of acoustic and electric elements in this track creates a really unique atmosphere. What inspired you to blend these sounds, and what kind of emotional texture did it add to the story you wanted to tell?
A. On most of my songs I am playing my Fender Strat and really leaning into the electric guitar sound. But because I wrote this song on the acoustic, it was only right to incorporate that element. I feel like there aren't enough songs with acoustic playing and I really like that sound because it's just so raw and feels like it's straight from the heart. If the song sounds good there, it'll work no matter what you do. So the acoustic was to really capture that raw feeling of longing and from there I blended some electric notes for the riff and played the drums and percussion using a drum kit to round out the song and give it some additional depth in the chorus in particular.
Q. Your songwriting is known for its raw honesty. How do you decide which personal experiences are worth turning into music? Do you ever find yourself second-guessing how much of yourself you’re putting out there?
A. That is always the biggest struggle. Sometimes it's hard to know what from my personal life is worth retelling because it's so easy to feel like it's just some mundane, everyday situation but I've leaned more into just letting the songs free. Of course I would never put people's names in songs or something like that, but if I'm writing a song and the lyrics are pulling at me, I have to tell my story. The biggest thing is that my mom listens to my songs so I always keep them clean though! But aside from that, nothing is really off limits.
Q. Your music is often described as “soul-baring.” Do you feel that music is your most authentic way of communicating your inner world, or are there other creative outlets that you’ve explored or want to explore to share your story?
A. The start of my journey as a songwriter started with journaling and evolved into poetry which is kind of my first love when it comes to expression. For that reason, it does feel like the music is such a powerful creative outlet to really let my soul be at ease since it felt like the next step from poetry. Now that I'm saying this out loud, I'd love to get back into some spoken word as well.
Q. As the sole architect of this track, writing, producing, and recording everything yourself, how does that solitary process affect your creative flow? Do you ever find yourself craving the energy or ideas that come from collaborating with others?
A. Sometimes I do kind of wonder how my songs might evolve if I had the creative input from other artists in the room. I am not opposed to that at all and would be interested in exploring a collab. However, I really enjoy having the opportunity to tell my unadulterated story as I see fit and I'm enjoying that journey right now.
Q. Having complete control over every element of the song must give you a lot of freedom, but are there moments when you hit creative roadblocks? When you face those moments of doubt or limitation, how do you push through and keep going?
A. That is a great question! I definitely hit writer's block or sometimes struggle with what elements a production might need to give the feel I want. The best way I've found to overcome these moments is to do one or two things. The first is to just walk away and live life. Sometimes I put all this pressure to get the song done and then realize that it's my song, my story, and I can take my time to make sure I get it right. Usually the roadblock comes from the fear that I won't finish the song, but once you take a moment to give yourself grace to make mistakes or take a step back to rejuvenate the creative juices, you can overcome any creative block. The second thing I try is to go back to basics. By this, I mostly mean putting down all of the electronic stuff that can overcomplicate the process and just strum the guitar or mess with the keys. What comes out at that moment, that is probably what your heart really wants to say.
Q. You’ve been performing live at open mics recently. How does the experience of sharing your music with a live audience compare to the more solitary, introspective process of recording in your studio? Does performing live alter how you connect with your own music?
A. I really love performing my music live! I feel like it gives a different appreciation for my songs and helps to refine the craft but also gives me the opportunity to see how other people respond to the sound. I performed at an open mic a few months ago and did a small set and the audience was feeling the vibe and requested me to do another song. So at the last minute, I performed an acoustic version of my song South Beach from my debut EP, Paradise. I was so nervous about it because the song is a personal story and one I had never played live before. So I kind of had this moment of ‘are people even going to like this?’ But after the show multiple people asked for the link and had nothing but positive things to say about the song and how relatable the story behind it was. That type of response is really what makes all of this worth it and those interactions with fans keeps me going.
Q. Speaking of live performances, if you had the chance to perform at any venue in the world, what would be your top three dream venues to play?
A. Ooh now that's a tough one, but I'll give you my big three. My first ever concert I attended was at what is now the Kaseya Center in Miami so that is one. I loved living in NYC and still have friends there so Madison Square Garden is up there. Lastly, I'd love the opportunity to play Buddy Guy's Legends club mostly as a fan of the blues but also because if I could play the guitar well enough to hit that stage, that means I've really made it as a guitar player.
Q. “Mess With Me” follows your track “Moody” on the upcoming Moody EP. How does this song fit into the broader narrative you’re telling through the EP? Is it a shift in tone, or does it continue exploring similar emotional themes?
A. The overall Moody EP is a little bit of a shift in tone to a sound driven by longing, introspection, and the search for clarity from lost love. So this song brings the longing, but you'll have to listen to the EP to catch the rest of the tone there. These are songs that are very personal as the ideas followed some tough relationship experiences that I'm thankful I am no longer subjected to and am in a much better place. They are stories I felt I wanted to tell as almost a cautionary tale but also to fully release myself from the past and step into the future.
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or your artistic perspective? Is there something, or someone, that shaped the way you approach your craft?
A. I would say my wife, Chelsea, has been the biggest influence on my personal growth as an artist. She is so inspirational to me as she sets her mind on something and goes out to the fullest to make it happen. When I see her pursuing her dreams, I know that I need to tell my story and really improve my craft as an artist to be the best I can be. It also helps to be in a healthy relationship with someone who makes me happy and supports me working on my music.
Q. After hearing this song and reading this interview, what do you want people to remember most about you as an artist? What’s the lasting impression you hope to leave on your listeners?
A. Hmm I would mostly want listeners to know that I appreciate every listen, every repost, etc. I write, produce, and perform all these songs and it means the world to me to see people enjoying the music because once it leaves the hard drive, you have no clue what's next. I hope that I can brighten up someone's day or allow them to feel seen when they listen to my songs and if that was accomplished, then it was all worth it.
Q. Silky Vibe, we can’t thank you enough for sharing these intimate insights into your music and creative process! So, what’s next? Can you give us a sneak peek into your upcoming projects, and what should your fans be most excited about? We’d love to be the first to share the news!
A. Thank you again for having me, this was such a fun interview with some great questions. Go stream Mess With Me and Moody now if you want to catch the vibe for my upcoming release. The full Moody EP will release on 10/3 so it's pretty much wrapped up and on the way and you can pre-save it on my website now. If you are in the Fort Lauderdale area, I'll be performing at a few open mics this month and would love to see you there
Silky Vibe, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Silky Vibe’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
