TheARTI$t on ‘Who I Am,’ Vulnerability, and the Future of Black Music

She unpacks love, heartbreak, and finding herself with lush production and stripped-down emotion.

Photography by Rowmel Findley

TheARTI$t is someone who carries soul in everything she crafts, and she proves it’s only the start with her latest EP, Who I Am—a raw and open chapter that marks her growth both as a creative and a person.

Before music, TheARTI$t, a Newark-born R&B singer-songwriter, was in between careers, having been a basketball player and a preschool teacher simultaneously, both paths that still bleed into her artistry. Her breakout track, “Sober,” defined the sound she was going for, and since then, she has steadily earned her place as one of the most promising voices to watch, getting co-signs from industry heavyweights like Queen Latifah, Snoop Dogg, and Raphael Saadiq.

Following her 2023 and 2024 projects ARTchives and ARTchives: The Gallery, TheARTI$t’s most recent album, Who I Am, TheARTI$t leans further into that honesty and love for the craft. Across nine tracks, including standouts like “Back and Forth” and “Darling,” she unpacks love, heartbreak, and finding herself with lush production and stripped-down emotion.

In time for her next chapter, TheARTI$t spoke with 1202 MAGAZINE about trusting her growth and reconnecting with her purpose.

What’s been the vibe with you in your world lately, creatively or personally?

I feel like creatively I’ve just been in a space where I want to be my full authentic self and wherever I have to pull from, that is what I’ve been trying to do; and trying to challenge myself musically as well when it comes to the production and working with other writers, and push myself to get to the next level of my artistry.

Being originally from Newark, New Jersey, do you feel like growing up there shaped your artistry?

I definitely feel like the soul is there because of where I’m from. It’s very soulful and family-oriented out there. It feels like a cookout every time. I love where I’m from, so I definitely feel like my soulful aspect comes from my background and the music I grew up on.

You had some exciting careers before music, notably basketball and preschool teaching. Can you talk about that?

Yeah, I love the kids. I feel like I’ve always had a hand in teaching because the youth are the future, and that’s what I would have wanted as a kid. We spend more time in school than at home, and I want to be for them what I would have wanted to be. My nephew studies everything I do and calls himself a baby artist. I’m always looking for ways to show the youth that you can do whatever you put your mind to. I’m not done with that yet.

So how do you go from that phase of life to ‘music is what I’m supposed to do?’

Basketball was something I definitely wanted to do, but I truly feel like music is my calling. Thinking back to being a kid, I was always singing and had videos on YouTube. I used to imagine performing in front of crowds, but I never had aspirations of being an artist. In college, I would freestyle. My friends forced me to go to the studio, and once I had my first session, I never left.

Have any of those experiences influenced how you create music now?

Working with kids helped me stay in tune with my inner child. When I’m creative, I like to keep it fun and exciting. Kids are emotional and honest, which helps me stay in tune with my own emotions, too. It transcended into how I make my music—just staying true to myself because you can lose it as you get older.

‘Sober’ has about 38 million streams right now. What space were you in when creating it? And did you see it becoming big?

I didn’t think anything of the song. I loved it, but I didn’t think it would get the feedback it did. I go based on how the beat makes me feel, and it took me to my biggest heartbreak. I was in a happy relationship at the time, but that’s where the beat took me. ‘Sober’ wasn’t even supposed to come out—we had discrepancies with another song, so it was the next option. When we dropped it, it inspired me to stay vulnerable. You never know who might need it.

Your latest project, Who I Am, what’s it about, and what was the creative process like? 

I’m excited, but it’s scary because you never know what people will think. Ultimately, I can’t care because this heals me, too. Creatively, I wanted to explore more, so I linked up with actual musicians and created from scratch. It opened my mind and created a new standard for how I want to approach every record. Energies are real—working with people who care makes me go harder. There’s a whole world of instruments that can allow me to be even bigger, so it was a great experience.

The album ends with ‘Darling.’ Why that song?

I chose ‘Darling’ because that part of my life isn’t over. Love is a never-ending thing for me, and I’ll continue to go through the motions of what love can bring. ‘Darling’ sets the tone for what's to come, production-wise and story-wise. It was the most vulnerable song on the project. I stripped down every layer, and I made it in like 10 to 15 minutes because I had just felt that the day before.

The project has just two features from Honey Bxby and Kalii. How do you decide who to work with?

It goes based on who I know. With Honey, we’re both from Jersey; I'd known her for years, and when I heard the demo, I knew she'd be perfect. With Kalii, we had sessions next door. I met her, and we hit it off. I wanted a female rapper on the song; she heard it, and she did it the same week. I feel like it's God's timing. Moving forward, it's always about relationships. I never want to get a feature just for the sake of getting it. It's about relationships and the legacy I want to leave, not the fame.

How do your two previous albums differ from Who I Am?

I was in a different space then. I didn’t even know I was working on a project. I was just in the studio trying to get better because I was still new. Back then, I wasn’t thinking about how I wanted my story to be told. Now I’m trying to set it up like an ongoing book. Who I Am is the summary of every chapter I've gone through. I’m working on another project now, and each one moving forward will be like a chapter.

The co-signs from Queen Latifah, Snoop, and Raphael Saadiq must be great, as well as being named among the ‘Future of Black Music’ artists. How do you personally define the future in terms of music for Black people?

The future is beyond bright. We’re taking back ownership of certain sounds and styles. We’re going to flourish in every genre. It’s not just R&B—it’s every genre and the creativity behind it. Artists are staying true to their roots and to themselves. As long as we continue to dig deeper into who we are and where we come from, there's no way it won’t go as grand as we know it can.

You've decided to put the Who I Am tour on pause right now. What can fans expect in the meantime? 

I have more music coming within the next couple of weeks, a new song dropping. I’m back to the drawing board with how I want my story told visually and how I want to be perceived. I plan to do shows still—nothing is stopping. I just want to be better mentally, emotionally, and physically. I have a show in December in Vacaville, California, and my first show early next year.

Photography by Rowmel Findley

How do you hope people feel when they listen to your music—what’s the takeaway?

I want them to know they’re not alone. Love comes in many forms; sometimes it doesn’t work out, but that doesn't mean give up on it. Love is the most important thing in this world. If you don’t have love, what do you have? Life isn’t perfect, but it’s always worth it.

You’re passionate about empowering the next generation of creatives. Anything in the works?

We haven’t gotten into super deep conversations, but it’s on my team’s radar. I hosted an event in my hometown at the Prudential Center for kids, performing for different schools. I’m keeping relationships open with councilmen and councilwomen to do things at schools, give back, hold workshops, and talk to the kids.
I look forward to being a mentor and bringing kids on the journey—to the studio, to videos—though a lot comes with that. It’s on the way.

What is one lesson that you’ve learned about yourself this year?

I’m human. I have to remind myself to be patient and pour into myself in order to give my all to everyone else. I’m excited to show everybody my growth and really step into my purpose.

Lastly, any artists you want to work with in the future?

Kehlani, step into my office! And Summer Walker, too. Truthfully, I want to work with people who inspire me and push me to work harder. Aaron Page from Houston is super fire. Working with him and seeing the effort he puts in motivates me. I want to work with everybody who is serious about their craft.