"Rich Luv 4ever": A Conversation with Nylo Carter

Interview by Imani Dominique Busby

Photography by VISUALDARREL (@visualdarrel)

In this interview, we sit down with the Nylo Carter after his memorable performance at NXNE.

From his introduction to music through his father’s piano playing in church, to his early influences from music icons like J Dilla and PartingNextDoor, Nylo has always had a deep connection to sound. He shares insights into his creative process, the inspiration behind his latest project Rich Luv 4ever, and what it means to bring authenticity and love into his music.

Nylo Carter is not just sharing about his music, but also his personal growth, making his mark as both an artist and a storyteller.

Could you please tell us a bit about yourself and your introduction to making music?

My name is Nylo Carter. I got introduced to music through my dad. I grew up in church and he played piano. He's still an amazing piano player, really amazing at what he does. My earliest memory of music was he was playing for one of our church groups, and he hit – I don't know what cord he hit but it was a strong, strong cord. And the whole congregation, everybody at church just reacted and everyone got up. I never knew music could do that to anybody. So from then, I've just been fascinated with music.

I started learning how to make beats, I started learning how to do photography so I could do my own artwork, and I learned about mixing. All this started in 2017 when I started recording myself seriously.

And then I started putting out music in 2019. I had a couple of singles and they ended up doing pretty well. One of them was called Don't Talk to My Friend, Lexie. Another one was called Fast Lane. Don't Talk to My Friend, Lexie was my first Spotify editorial playlist. I can't remember which one it was. It might have been New Music Daily, but it was good. And then it also made on to Mood Ring.

My second track, Fast Lane, got played on CBC Radio. And I didn't know until one of my aunties from church came to me. She said, “Are you on the radio?” I was like, “I don't know” *laughs*.

I've always loved music. I've always loved beats, especially instrumentals, stuff like that. I got really into J Dilla, Madlib, some of that more groovy, Neo-soul production early on. And then I got influenced by Travis Scott, Future, PartyNextDoor. There’s a guy whose name is Elhae. I don't know if people know who he is, but he's a really good R&B artist based out of LA. You know Xävier Omar? They did a tape together. I don't know, just strong vocals. I just always love strong vocals, so that's what I pride myself in. Tonight (NXNE), I got to show that off.

I just made a project that came out on my birthday, December 13th. It's called Rich Luv 4ever. And it's an album, but I call it a mixtape because it's me just making songs fast. My process is pretty fast. All the sounds took about four hours each – to make the beat, record it, put it together, mix it, all that. So it was just rapid fire.

That project is about love. It's called Rich Luv 4ever and it's symbolic for a Bible verse, “Strong in faith, rich in love”. I just shortened it and put “rich love”, and “forever” to represent me and my girl's current relationship. And just being somebody who is in rap and singing about women, but not just women, like my woman. Making rap feel more inclusive to RnB listeners, where it's like, “Oh, this shit's hard, it’s like a turn up. But wait, okay, he's saying some really loving things, that type of thing”

That's beautiful. How do you feel about playing NXNE?

Honestly, it's been a blessing. I'm coming out of a very weird situation in terms of my past deal. Because after the songs I put out, I signed a deal to try and get a bigger team. It wasn't with a major or anything like that, but it severely hindered my reach.

From what I can see from people's reactions who hear my music, I'm not new to this. I know what I'm doing. I can hear it in my sound and especially my voice. But it's like they had Kobe Bryant on their team, and they're putting him on the bench. That type of thing.

So that deal finished on August 19th, and I've been very happy since. This is actually my first show. First time hearing the music that I just made and played for you guys outside of headphones. Because when I made the whole project I didn't have speakers, so I just had to use my computer, my headphones, and I think use my girl’s iPhone speaker. I usually have a car or something like that, but some stuff happened.

But NXNE has been a blessing for those reasons because it's a full circle moment. Coming out and performing for NXNE and then being sponsored by Billboard. I'm on the bill with some really cool artists like Kalisway, Charmaine and King Cruff, all of us who are going places. It feels bless because we all have different sounds. We all have different vibes. So it's not like we can step in each other's lane. I like that.

Shout out to Hennie. Shout out to Hennie for curating the list for tonight for NXNE because it was a really strong, varied list. If you didn't come today, you're missing it. Because it's just everybody's so strong and so supportive. So, yeah, a shout out to him.

That's awesome. You had a moment in your set where you were going a cappella. Can you tell us a bit about that and why you chose to do so? Just the whole behind the scenes leading up to that moment.

Okay. So I chose to go a cappella because I'm working on this song. I finished it. I'll show you it when we're done the interview. But it's called Part of Me. Because before this, I used to make heartbreak music. So I know about really writing from a deep place in regards to like, heartfelt moments. So I decided to go a cappella with it. I'm not even going to lie, it wasn't even on my set.

I decided to do it because I said, “No, this is my moment”. And I have this song, it’s about to come out later this year. I don't know how to explain it. It's almost like my crying in the rain song, like R&B in the rain, that type of thing.

And I just wanted to take a minute to dedicate it to my girl and our relationship. Because there's a lot of guys, and I might be guilty for this, but some guys just don't know how to treat women right. And in part, it's okay because if you're trying, you're going to learn. But I want to be that person who's like… If a girl is listening to my music and her mom wants her to find a suitable person, her mom would be like, “You know what? Yeah, listen to Nylo Carter because you need to hear that. You need to listen to someone who exudes love. Shows he’s not afraid to be emotionally intelligent. Get into his feelings a little bit and sing with passion.”

So yeah, I just decided to take a minute. I didn't tell anyone to put out their phones. Maybe I should’ve. But I haven't gone a cappella like that in a while. It felt good to just be out of a deal, free. I don't have to have an autotune on my voice. You know what? Let me just raw dog the vocals, and just sing from my heart.

I'm excited for that to drop because it's going to be really nice. I think I'm going to get my dad to probably play piano. Yeah, because it's like a piano ballad type of thing.

*Sings* "Pardon me, I've been asking too much questions. When I'm trying to get you down, was trying to figure out what's really going on with you. With you. Kind of give me moments, but it's all in the blessing. I know it's hard to say.”

You know what I'm saying? That type of shit.

What's a message or theme that you want your listeners to take away from your work?

Love is everything. That's it. Love is everything. That's why I called it “Rich Love 4ever,” because if you don't have love, you don't have anything. It sounds weird, but even with bad things, right? If you're doing bad things, you're going to do it because you love it. Or if you love doing good things, crazy things, whatever. It's because you love it. Don't do it just because you feel like you're supposed to, or it's an obligation. You know what I mean?

Me growing up in a Seventh-Day Adventist church was being like-

gasps Wait you grew up Seventh-Day Adventist? I grew up Seventh-Day Adventist!

Really?! That's crazy.

Wait, which church did you go to?

Toronto West.

I went to Mississauga.

That’s crazy!

Our churches were like rivals. What the heck? Wait, hold on, hold on, hold on.

*[Redacted hilarious chit chat about growing up in the SDA church]*

laughs Wow. What are the odds? That's so crazy.

That's what I'm saying.

Okay, outside of yourself, who's your favourite Toronto artist?

Oh, shit. That's actually a really good question. Outside myself, PartyNextDoor doesn't count because it's not from… he’s from Saga.

That counts.

Okay, so number one is… No, definitely number one is Party. say the next one is – I have three. I have three. PartyNextDoor, Tory, and then… You know who Che Ecru is? Do you know the song, No Guidance? The beginning part of the song. That sample, that's Che.

I’m trying to think if there’s one more. No. What am I saying? My boy iBXRHM and then my boy Gordon. Those guys are crazy. We're like the next ones.

Do you have any last thoughts or things you wanted to share?

Oh, yeah. If you haven't listened to Rich Luv 4ever, check it out. It's out now on Spotify, Apple Music everywhere. Again, my name is Nylo Carter. Appreciate NXNE for having me, and it's been a vibe.

Wonderful. Thank you.

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