Sodacide's work will take you places. Whether it's your imagination to dream to about the future or back in time reminising when things were more simple. He truly captures the early underground comix scene of the 60s, blending Hip Hop culture, and traditional hand lettering. We sat down with the Artist/Illustrator to talk art, growing up in Philadelphia, the creative process, and some of his latest drops.

How did you get your Artist name?

Online handle I derived from my intense passion for carbonated beverages regardless of their impact on my physical health.

How did you get into creating?

My Mom has always been creative, Literally all of my life she's taken on her own varied creative endeavors (professionally and for passion) and supported all of mine. I'm very grateful for her influence on my life and on me, I have to credit her here, no question.

How has creating changed your life?

Probably easiest to say creating has come to define my life, which I'm grateful for. I didn't set out to accomplish anything specific, just didn't wanna have to stop creating. So far, so good.

Where are you from?

Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

How did growing up in your neighborhood/city affect you?

Deeply. There's so much life and history and culture here, I don't know how one could live here and not be inspired somehow, positive or negative.

What did you do to advance your skills/knowledge?

YouTube, Wikipedia, and the internet at large have changed the game as far as specific knowledge and skills, and keeping up with trends in art and design is easier than ever through social media. The real trick to having all that at your disposal is putting it to use. Practice and Time are the greatest teachers. If you're not practicing as an artist you're giving up. It ain't like ridin' a bike.

What does your current setup look like?

iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, box of Sharpies, crooked fingers, crossed eyes.

Who inspires you? Why do they inspire you?

Good people, to put it broadly. The most inspiring thing you can do is surround yourself with people who may or may not be creative, but more importantly who care about you. Inspiration for me is like falling in love with an idea, all in my head, and that love is much easier to find when you feel loved in real life.

What is your goal when you create?

I think I'm looking for a reaction, typically a laugh or a smile. Even when creating personal work I like to dig for the ideas that make me laugh at myself. I think there's an honesty in that reaction (from myself or others) that's priceless.

Why do you create?

Deep-seated fears about death and impermanence have left me with an insatiable need to create anything that could even potentially outlast my body. Tough Question.

What's your go-to song right now and why is it important to you?

Right now, that new Soul Glo record is on heavy rotation. Gold Chain Punk (Whogonbeatmyass?) is the opening track and it'll make you feel like you could fist fight the whole world at once, and win. Its awesome.

What is your dream as an artist and what steps are you taking to reach your dream?

I think my dream as an artist would be to just not have to work anymore, at all, ever. To have funded the rest of my ride here on earth, drawing and painting for pleasure until my hands fail, and riding it out till the sun sets. I'm actually not doing much to reach that dream though, as I think it's better served as a sort of carrot-on-a-stick. I'll hopefully get much more done this way.

What is the best advice you would give someone with a dream?

The only way to ensure failure is to not try in earnest. Believe in your idea, invest the time and resources that you can in it, share it with those who support you. Consider it both romantically and pragmatically. It is in a sense like your child, your future. You must protect it and provide for it, so that it may provide for you.

Tell us about your most recent release

I recently had the honor of designing a shirt and flyer for the legendary Jersey Fresh Hip-Hop Jam coming up this summer, you can grab a shirt at the link below, all sales help make the jam as dope as possible and get artists paid. Do it for the culture!

I also just recently dropped a few pages over on my socials of a new Comic series that I'm starting. Aiming to get these into print eventually so drop a follow over there if you wanna stay up to date!

Check it out here https://www.jerseygraf.com/product/jersey-fresh-2022/

Connect with Sodacide

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sodacide

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sodacide1

Facebook.com: http://nope

Website: http://randyvale.com

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