Meet Flowkey Rises, the Oneonta Rapper Blazing a Trail with His Experimental Sound

In the heart of New York, a unique voice is rising from the city of Oneonta. Meet Matthew Carlson, aka Flowkey Rises, the rapper who's turning heads with his genre-bending style and unapologetic lyrics. With a sound that blends elements of horror, fantasy, and even comedy, Flowkey Rises is a breath of fresh air in the hip-hop scene.

Flowkey Rises' journey into music began at a young age, finding solace in the rhythms and rhymes as an escape from a tumultuous home life. His brother introduced him to the world of music, and he was hooked. He honed his craft playing in bands throughout high school, but it was the tragic loss of his best friend and fellow rapper, Don Mitchell, that spurred him to pursue a career in hip-hop.

"My friend's passing was a huge blow," Flowkey Rises reflects. "Rapping became my way to keep his memory alive and process my grief."

Flowkey Rises' music is a reflection of his eclectic influences and vivid imagination. His lyrics weave together tales from his own life, social commentary, and pop culture references, all delivered with his signature technically proficient wordplay. "I'm not afraid to tackle the tough stuff – mental health, politics, the state of the world," he says. "But I also know how to have fun with it."

Despite the challenges of building a music career from the ground up, Flowkey Rises has made significant strides. He's performed at venues across the Great Lakes region, both as a solo artist and with his bands Kathook and Deiphage. His music videos have garnered attention, landing him interviews and reviews from local media outlets. But the biggest accomplishment, he says, is having his music available on all major platforms.

The road to success hasn't been without its hurdles. Like many indie artists, Flowkey Rises faces the challenges of self-promotion, securing gigs, and the occasional gear malfunction. But the greatest obstacle has been the loss of friends to mental health struggles, substance abuse, and violence. "It's tough to see so many talented people get taken from us too soon," he admits. "But it fuels my desire to create and make a mark."

Looking ahead, Flowkey Rises envisions a future where he can strike a balance between touring, collaborating with like-minded artists, and running his own independent label. "The dream is to be able to live off my art, without sacrificing my creative freedom," he states.

With his latest video "Cosmic Waves" making waves on YouTube, Flowkey Rises is ready to take his career to the next level. He's teasing the upcoming release from his project Kathook, and fans can expect some surprise singles in the coming months. "I just want to put my music out into the universe and connect with others who vibe with my weirdness," he says with a smile.

Flowkey Rises is an artist on the rise, with a sound that defies categorization and a spirit that can't be contained. Get ready to enter his world – it's going to be a wild ride.

Connect with Flowkey Rises:
YouTube
Pokerfish Productions
SoundCloud
Bandcamp
Distrokid
Instagram