What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is Capital Ferg, and I’m from Atlanta.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
I answered it above, but my last name is Ferguson and that was one of the suggestions the generator gave me on RapChat. I just went with it. I didn’t want to overthink it, and honestly, when I started on RapChat, I had no idea my musical pursuits would evolve into becoming this big of a thing.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
A middle-aged dad of three suffers heartbreaking trauma with his soon-to-be ex-wife. He turned to poetry as an outlet and found great solace in the creative process, defeating old demons, such as the “fear of rejection.” By luck (or fate), he found untapped musical abilities while trying to figure out what to do with his poems and unlocked a dam of musical and creative talents.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
My latest track, Staying with Me, was an interesting creation because I discovered I can actually sing in falsetto, which I had no idea about! My 12-year-old daughter wanted to sing background vocals, so she’s singing part of the chorus with me.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
I want to showcase joy, hope, and possibilities by expressing my authentic feelings through music. By being bold, casting fear aside, and owning the newfound confidence I’ve found at 43 years old, I want others to feel the same way, even if it’s not through music or art. Just try something new and see where it takes you.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
As with everything on this journey, I’ve sort of figured things out as I go. When I first finished songs, I was using BandLab’s preset mixing and mastering options. It sounded better than just the raw recordings, but I knew it wasn’t up to the standard I wanted. Luckily, a sound engineer found me on RapChat, heard my potential through the rough production, and helped me tremendously.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Ludacris! I’m from Atlanta, and he’s one artist I try to emulate. I love his delivery and unique way of putting lyrics together. Even though my style is different and includes more R&B and singing, I think we’d make some fun club bangers. My song Atlanta is actually a part two of his track with Jermaine Dupri, Welcome to Atlanta.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
Your guess is as good as mine! I hope to keep improving and release a collection of songs, instead of just singles. I’d love to perform, which wasn’t on my radar a few months ago, but now feels possible.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
Probably performing a showcase or releasing a collection of songs.
We occasionally feature artists on our Bird of Paradise Podcast for in-depth discussions. Would this be something you’re interested in exploring?
Yes, for sure! My story is pretty unique and inspiring, so I’d be happy to chat more about it.
Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
Just finding ways to connect potential listeners with my music. I know there’s an audience hungry for clean, authentic, and relatable hip-hop/pop music.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
Spotify, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube. I’ve also recorded a couple of podcasts that have yet to be released, so I’ll keep you posted on those.
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
Instagram or TikTok. I check my message requests regularly in case there’s a hidden gem of a DM stuck in purgatory.
