Learn more about Vala Tseguy, rapper hailing from New Orleans, LA!
Where did you grow up and how, if at all, did your environment influence your music and who you are today?
I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up there will definitely shape you in some way. There is a lot of culture. We do things a lil different. Music drives everything there. It’s impossible to be out in the city & not see street performers, people drinking in the streets, and smell flavorful foods. It’s also difficult to grow up there and not get exposed to violence. It’s called the “Big Easy” because it’s easy to get by with the lost cost of living but that also breeds an environment of people who aren’t used to having a lot of things, including myself. That makes it pretty difficult to be successful when you don’t know many successful people. Musically that has always inspired me to think bigger and travel to other places. Artists rarely break from NOLA. The market is pretty small and there’s a lot of crime but a lot of talent. People will try to end your life if you’re good and they view you as competition. I think the city is still searching for its identity in today’s music scene. There hasn’t been an artist to break out of New Orleans since the Hot Boys / Lil Wayne era. Most people leave Nola and find success in other places. So being from that environment and now here in California, I’m able to see all the opportunity and outlets for an artist.