The Nanashi Article
Nanashi: Redefining Rap with a Grunge Edge from Kalamazoo
Nanashi, who hails from Kalamazoo, Michigan, is making a name for himself in the music industry. His work is at the intersection of indie rock and melodic rap, fusing the two styles to produce a sound that is both inventive and reflective. Inspired by the likes of XXXTentacion, Lil Peep, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Juice WRLD, Nanashi’s music delves into themes of addiction, drugs, and anxiety, offering listeners raw and relatable storytelling.
Nanashi's adventure started modestly in 2019 when he started using Audacity to record music with a Blue Yeti microphone. He set out to use music as a means of expressing his own hardships and experiences after being moved by the emotional depth he perceived in XXXTentacion's work. His sound has changed over time along with his creative process.
Nanashi is also greatly influenced by rock and grunge icons such as Kurt Cobain and Shiloh Dynasty, in addition to rap. He picked up an acoustic guitar and began infusing its soulful tones into his music as a result of his growing enthusiasm for these genres. He says, "I try to incorporate some of the elements I use in my indie rock into how I rap." "It's a way to advance and redefine my rap."
The end effect is a blend of grunge's raw emotion and melodic rap that is both sincere and eerie. Nanashi's music has a distinct edge because of this duality; it is equally about exploration and sensitivity.
In addition to being a creative outlet, Nanashi views his music as a mirror of his world and a means of communication with people who may share similar emotions. He provides a voice to people going through comparable difficulties by incorporating personal topics into his songs, demonstrating that there is power in honesty and beauty in flaws.
Despite Kalamazoo's small size, Nanashi's sound is anything but. He is progressively creating a legacy that is as diverse as the forces that influenced him thanks to his genre-bending style and emotionally stirring narratives. Watch out for Nanashi, who is reinventing what it means to be a musician in the contemporary world.
