Introduce yourself.
I’m Soft Pretzels — Im a DMV-based artist. I make hip-hop music but love to find new interesting sounds involving different genres and styles. On my most recent and debut album, SP2025., I delved into a more traditional hip-hop sound for the most part but plan on diversifying my sound in my upcoming projects.
How would you describe yourself as an artist in your own words?
Soft Pretzels is a character. It puts a wall up from the person behind the music and the audience. When I first started releasing music, it helped me more honestly write about my life, without feeling too tied to my own (legal) name. The name Soft Pretzels came from a “song” I wrote and uploaded to SoundCloud when I was nine years old. Of course it’s silly, and might even stop some people from wanting to get into my music, but I wanted to show that who I am and the life I’ve lived defines my music, and at some point be respected enough in the industry to the point that people won’t bat an eye when they hear the name.
What emotions or messages do you hope your music communicates?
I feel a lot of things. Music is the only way I can share those feelings with the world. I want to express everything. The good, the bad, the ugly. Some days I feel completely hopeless, so I write a song like “AFTER THE RAIN.” Some days I feel trapped in my past, so I write something like “ROARIN’ TWENTIES” — but then other days I can’t help but feel positive, and proud of myself, which is when you get songs like “HIGHEST I’VE BEEN” or “Shaken To My Bones.” The point is we as humans are complex beings and I think to box my music into one emotion or one message would be underselling myself.
How has your background or upbringing influenced your music?
I’d like to think I wear my influences on my sleeve as far as the music and the style goes, while still making it my own. My debut project, SP2025., as well as RAW PRETZELS — a compilation of demos I dropped early last year, both act as love letters to those I’m inspired by. The music is about me and inspired by my life and experiences, but you’ll notice nods and samples and musical themes that are pulled from artists like Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler, The Creator, Joey Bada$$, etc. — all artists who shaped my love for rap and the art of songwriting. Outside of music, the people and experiences in my life make up so much of what I write about. I use songwriting as a way to express emotions that in the past I’ve found hard to put into words. I find myself trying to define something I felt five years ago on a song and it can bring me a sense of closure to those feelings I never truly addressed.
How do you define success?
I want my music to affect someone. I wanna be able to see someone going through similar things to what I’ve gone through or feeling something similar to what I feel, and be able to relate to my music — find solace in the fact that someone has put what they’re feeling into words. That would feel like a full circle moment for me as I’ve found peace in other people’s music and put that feeling into my own music.
What song, album, or artist are you currently obsessed with?
I cannot physically pick one artist because I go through phases of different artists so much. Obviously all the rappers I listed before, in addition to that my favorites are Oasis, Lana Del Rey, underscores, Shauna Dean Cokeland, Ethel Cain, Charli XCX, Will Wood, Cage The Elephant, Nicole Dollanganger, Machine Girl, Jane Remover, Björk, Less Than Jake, Adrianna Lenker, Alanis Morisette, and NOFX.
If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Somewhere near my hometown for sure. I’ve seen so much support from my friends and family in the DMV and I think being able to see all of those people in a crowd for me would be so cathartic.
Which of your songs or projects are you most proud of, and why?
For the past about year, I’ve been working on a concept album called midwestern rebel. I’ve kept most of the project under wraps and it’s only about one third of the way done, but I do intent on spending as much time on it as it needs to be perfect because I really want to tell this story and I need to make sure I do it justice.
How has your music evolved over time?
I like to site “Better Days,” a now unreleased song from August of 2024, when asked this question. Overall, I think that song is awful — awkward sung parts, forced rhythms, corny lyrics. It was the second song I wrote when I started formally releasing music, because I thought it was what people “wanted to hear” after a slightly negative reception on my first single. I look back and compare my newer music to that one and it’s how I truly know that I am improving at what I do. My singing has gotten better, my lyricism has improved by a mile, and I think overall, my music is just more pleasing to listen to now. So to answer the question, I think I’ve learned to have a balance between what I want to make/write about, and what people will enjoy, and am making music that feels much more natural to who I am.
Are there any genres, sounds, or artists, you’d like to explore in the future?
I really want to experiment with a shoegaze or alternative rock sound, but I simply do not have a band. I also have a much harder time writing lyrics for a melody than for a rap verse, so I’ve felt hesitant about it. I feel pretty confident in the fact you will get a fully fleshed project from me in this style at some point.
What projects are you currently working on right now?
As I stated, I’m working on a concept album, midwestern rebel., as well as another shorter album which I’ve yet to announce, but will probably come before mwr. The project is currently shelved but me and my friend and collaborator mixo have been working on a collab album on and off since 2024, and will be finished one day. Possibly something else that I can’t share…
