What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is Lil Savage of Dirt House Entertainment. I was born in Seattle, Washington, and I’m currently based in Spokane, Washington.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
The “Lil” part is because I’m 5’5″ (just over 165cm). The “Savage” part comes from when I was younger—I was known as a bit of a “Savage.” Being Native American, I also recognize that it’s a term with some derogatory history for us. The name was actually given to me by one of my big homies, “E-Tomic.”
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
My journey has been a long and rocky one, full of ups and downs. I started seriously making music around 18, and although I had a small buzz in my early 20s, life kept knocking me down, and I didn’t do anything for 6 years. Since mid-2023, I’ve been consistently dropping music, performing shows and festivals, and I feel like something massive is on the cusp of happening.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
My latest track, “Never Settle,” is one I knew I had to make as soon as I heard the instrumental and vocal sample—it’s a homage to old-school hip hop. I felt like a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, just going in and spitting hard-hitting bars. Then my label mate NRG hit me back with his verse, and I knew this one needed to be heard!
What message do you want to convey through your music?
Honestly, I like to convey the fun, gritty, and raw side of hip hop. I have a lot of styles and a lot of music on different topics. I do a lot of “Flex Rap,” but I always bring hard lyrics and often use complex, syllable-heavy rhyming, which I think is often lost in today’s music.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
I had to dig into everything I learned in my 13 years of mixing music, especially leaning on what I remembered from my mentor, David Gnozzi. I knew I needed thick, strong vocals that wouldn’t get lost in the beat. I carved out a decibel in the mids to make the vocals fit better, doubled every vocal track, and did a lot more—but I won’t bore you with the details.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Lil Wayne. The man is a legend and a musical genius. I honestly think our styles are somewhat similar, and we would make a very dope collaboration.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
To the top! But in all honesty, I hope to reach a broader audience and get the attention of some key people in the industry. I know I have the skill and dedication to make it big, and with the right backing, I believe I could chart on the billboards and be considered one of the best.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
Headlining shows and doing more tours and festivals. Hopefully signing a record deal—although I love Dirt House Entertainment, a major record deal would change my life.
Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
I just want to be heard.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
Any and all major platforms—just search Lil Savage Dirt House Entertainment.
Here’s the Spotify link for my latest release: Listen Here.
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
Email me at dirthouseentertainment@gmail.com or subscribe at dirthouseent.com and leave a message. You can also reach me on Twitter: @lilsavdabest.
