Can you share with us the story behind your iconic TikTok sound, "Probably because I am CG5," and how it skyrocketed in popularity?
So the beginning goes “Everybody told me that I sound like CG5.” This stemmed from a social media campaign that my friend and fellow artist LeGrand put together for his song, “Give A Little,” of which I featured on. He replaced lyrics from his song with these famous words that we all have engraved into the back of our minds today. I decided I would also try this idea out for myself, by doing my own sound that went like, “Everybody told me that I sound like CG5. Probably because I am CG5.” Out of nowhere, this sound became a huge trend for quite a long time, with the sound being used by huge names such as Jared Leto, Cristina Vee from Miraculous Ladybug, and the great MattyBRaps. Obviously it was nothing short of a pleasant surprise.
Your music often draws inspiration from video games like FNaF, Cuphead, and Among Us. What draws you to these particular games for inspiration, and how do you translate their themes into your music?
The communities that have been brought together by these games, by the power of an obscene amount of internet content around them, are what really pulled me into being a part of it all. I love doing research behind the games, learning about their stories, and figuring out what sort of styles of music fit best. I love telling those stories through my music.
With over 1.2 billion worldwide streams on Spotify alone, you've undoubtedly captured the hearts of many listeners. What do you think sets your music apart and resonates so deeply with your audience?
I think what sets my music apart from the rest of the music industry is certainly the premise behind them. But I also take a lot of theatrical inspiration with where I take my music. I want everyone to experience emotions in a drastically different way than they have ever experienced them before.
Your YouTube channel gained significant traction in 2017, particularly with FNaF tracks like "I Got No Time (Remix)" and "Labyrinth." What was it about the FNaF community that sparked your interest, and how has it influenced your musical journey?
The FNAF community looooooves lore. They go crazy for it. And as aforementioned, I love telling stories through music. And FNAF has such an illustrious story to its games. It greatly influences the style of the music that I choose to go for based around the games.
. "Absolutely Anything" has garnered over 7.2 million video creations and was picked up by Warner Music Group's imprint label Spinnin' Records for redistribution. Could you tell us about the journey of creating this track and how it felt to have it recognized on such a scale?
I made this song based upon the game Bendy and the Ink Machine, an independent horror game created by Joey Drew Studios. It had a very cool story to it, like all the games I’ve written about. I could go on about the background of the game so much more, but needless to say, this song blossomed out of it. At first it was recognized by the Bendy community. But then two years later, the song gets picked up by TikTok. They use the portion where it goes, “I used to be so beautiful, now look at me,” and millions of people used it. Again, unexpected. It was my first exposure to the mainstream music industry, something I’ve always wanted to be a part of.
You've created original compositions, remixes, covers, and even viral memes. How do you balance experimenting with different content formats while staying true to your artistic vision?
It’s honestly pretty easy. I keep the video in mind with every song I make. And my music styles are ever-changing, but I’ve grown up listening to all kinds of music, especially of the 80s variety. Music is all that I am. So staying true to my artistic vision is never a problem. I’m always open to change.
Your music often evokes a sense of nostalgia, especially for those who grew up with video games like FNaF and Cuphead. How do you approach capturing that nostalgia while still making your music feel fresh and relevant? Everyone that I’ve managed to claim as a fan has stuck around for as long as they have, because they have been able to connect better with the games that they have always been fans of by the power of my music. And I keep on making music. And the fans that I’ve gotten are still around for a reason. I’m just doing my thing.
What's your creative process like when composing music for specific video game-inspired tracks? Do you immerse yourself in the game's world, or do you draw inspiration from other sources as well?
I do my research. I love doing research on the topics I’m making songs about. I stay completely in tune with what I’m writing about as if I’m a part of that world. I draw a lot of musical inspiration, however, through the music of the past, preferably the 80s, such as Phil Collins, Hall and Oates, ELO, Elton John, etc. I don’t mean to be dramatic, but music is in my bones, so everything I do is because of that.
As a prominent figure in the YouTube music community, what advice would you give to aspiring creators looking to establish themselves in the digital landscape?
Dare to stand out. Be yourself. Don’t change who you have always been. Work really hard. Spend all the time you can on the thing you want to be the absolute best at. You have to keep going. Don’t stop. I know it’s cheesy to hear that over and over again, but it never loses its truth.
Looking ahead, what can fans expect from CG5 in the future? Are there any exciting projects or collaborations on the horizon that you can share with us?
I’m looking forward to releasing more personal music, about me rather than other franchises. I actually just released a song called “Forbidden Feeling” that’s about the hardships of relationship OCD and anxiety that I’ve experienced in the past. It’s hard to write about my own story, but it’s worth it. I really want to make more of a breakthrough in the mainstream music industry, but I will never alienate the fans that brought me to the point I am today. I hope they enjoy what’s to come next.