Driving to downtown Austin to meet up with the Killen, TX native, Vontay Galaxy, I was still contemplating what exactly I was going to ask that would make this interview different form the last couple we had on the Raw Brilliance Podcast. Then I thought about how Tay is always into something or planning something new and I instantly relaxed. The kid is a jack of all trades and a true thinker, so I knew he would drop some gems. It was just up to me to catch them.
I picked the Plaza Saltillo Station to have the interview and photoshoot. I figured, simply, the young man is going places so let's have train tracks, with a city feel. Pretty basic but it workout. The day was sunny and pretty much perfect Texas fall weather. We pulled up to the location at about the same time, we greeted one another like old homies and begin the process.
I first heard of Vontay through a mutual friend who I went to college with, whom happens to be one of Vontays main producers, King IU. If you have seen any of the Raw Brilliance Podcast you definitely know who he is. From my first listen I could tell he was influenced by different artist and styles of music. You may get some funny bars, backpack bars, or a southern flow that texans are use to so I had to ask him about his back ground in music.
Like I assumed, he grew up with music in the house. Some of his earliest memories were his uncle playing pioneers like, Lil Troy, Phat Pat, 8Ball and MJG. He himself was in choir and played piano as a youth. He says southern Hip Hop has always stood out to him because it's ingrained in his DNA. He lights up talking about the freestyle sessions he would have in gym class with his peers.
From gym class to actually doing it to make a profit has not always been fun and games even though he says making sure he is having fun along the journey is very important to him. Coming from Killeen, TX he has had to find a way on his own with the help of his team sense there is not much of a scene in those parts and not much of an OG class to guide the younger generation he falls in.
But that doesn't mean he isn't proud to be from the small city. His last project was proof of that, which is a play on his hometown area code, 2:54. He tells me about how he wants to put on for the city and be the OG that builds facilities that produce the next big band or artist to come from the town. "How am I going to say ain't nobody trying to helped us and I was in position to help people and didn't help people", he tells me. He talks about helping people by putting them in position to be successful, by giving the opportunities and guidance.
He credits Master P as one of his idols because of his business acumen and how he put his people in position .
However, like I mentioned before the young artist is a jack of all trades and music is not his only passion. He alyso is actively trying to make a splash in the comedy world too. He co-founded Half Baked Comedy a little over a year ago, which is a comedy show helping up and coming comics get on stage. The first shows were at Big J's CBD Lounge in San Marcos, Tx, a small town about 20 minutes south of Austin.
Just like he wants to help the next Gap Band, in the same breathe he wants to help the next "Dave Chappell or Wanda Sykes". He tells me he just loves to see people live their dream. As he says hit you can tell that he means every word he is saying.
Half Baked Comedy has been on pause while he's working on his music, but he plans to have is going agin very soon. This time big and better. He wants to eventually get it to be a traveling show with big names so it can touch and help more people.
The music is sill the thing that is going to bring everything together. He tells me he's working on a new project that he's hopes to drop next month with a Texas legend hosting it. I want to say the name, but it wasn't confirmed yet that it is a done deal.
I asked him about what are his plans for the next year and leveling up is what was discussed. More merch and sales, planning another tour, and putting out more music.
Vontay is also in a rap group called OJO Boys, featuring 00Slevib, Nicholas Whipps, Andwan Zonez, and himself. Between his solo projects and the group we should be hearing plenty more from Mr. Galaxy.
No-one can predict the future, but its a safe bet to say the Galaxy is the limit for Vontay.
Go checkout and support Vontay and let us know what you think of his music. Thanks for reading.
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