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Re6ce's Musical Evolution
Meeting Re6ce felt like stepping into a world of creative energy and raw talent. This 19-year-old artist and producer from the UK has been making waves in the music industry, and I had the pleasure of catching up with him in Los Angeles. Our conversation covered everything from his early days making bedroom pop to the success of his latest single, "brown eyes*," which is taking the internet by storm.
Finding His Sound
Re6ce's journey began in his bedroom, creating music that reflected his unique blend of influences. “I started off with bedroom pop and leaned more indie over the summer,” he shared. This exploration led him to experiment with various genres, inspired by artists like Nimstar, who was making waves in the US with bedroom pop. “Nobody else, I mean, from my experience in the UK, was really my age doing pop or anything,” he explained, reflecting on how this genre allowed him to find his voice.
As Re6ce's music evolved, so did his influences.
“Bakar has always been someone I've been listening to and grown with as a musician,”
he noted. This shift towards more alternative sounds opened up new creative avenues, allowing him to develop a style that is uniquely his own.
Taking the Leap
Re6ce's decision to pursue music full-time was a bold one, especially considering his academic prowess in science. “I was a huge nerd, going into triple science, and my mom had this whole career planned out for me,” he admitted with a laugh. But he knew he had to follow his passion.
“If I put 50 into both, I'm never going to get 100 out of either, so I wanted to put 100% into music.”
This commitment paid off when Re6ce’s song "Teeth" gained traction, marking a turning point in his career. “When that released, I was like, fuck yeah. Like, this is something I can really do,” he said, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
Adventures on Tour
Touring with artists like Ecstasy has been a transformative experience for Re6ce, offering both memorable moments and valuable lessons. “I think it was night one, we didn't really know each other,” he recounted, sharing a funny story about how Ecstasy kept playing the “four fucking seconds” meme backstage. It broke the ice and set the tone for a tour filled with laughter and camaraderie.
One of the highlights of Re6ce's tour was a show in Germany. “It was the first time I was kind of drinking on tour,” he confessed. “I crushed like five cans in an hour. I was too fucked up, but it was awesome; I had fun.” Despite the wild moments, Re6ce was clear about his dedication to delivering great performances: “I feel like I want to give a good show. I can't be fucked up for the set.”
The Rise of "brown eyes*"
Re6ce’s latest single, "brown eyes*," has already garnered nearly 10 million streams on Spotify, marking a significant milestone in his career. The song combines indie and alternative influences with a compelling narrative that resonates with listeners. Re6ce shared how the track came to life almost accidentally: “We started off with the guitar I had that was already on my phone. We took the iPhone recording audio from an eight-month-old video of me playing the guitar and chopped it up. Aldn then put the bass on it. It all just came together so perfectly.”
The song's lyrics touch on themes of nostalgia and change, with Re6ce reflecting on how love can be something you cherish but also something you must let go of. “Brown eyes to me is like something that you love but can't keep loving in the sense of maybe it's nostalgia or old times,” he explained during our conversation. The honesty and relatability of the lyrics have struck a chord with listeners, helping the song gain traction across various platforms.
Re6ce's journey is a testament to the power of following one's passion, embracing change, and staying true to oneself. With a bright future ahead and a commitment to making music that resonates, Re6ce is undoubtedly an artist to watch.
Interview Transcript
Medicine Box: So, can you introduce yourself?
re6ce: What's up, I'm re6ce, I'm an artist producer from the UK, I've been making music for about three years now, and I'm here in LA with Medicine Box.
Medicine Box: Let's just get straight into it. Is there a meaning behind the six in your name?
re6ce: Yeah, at first, it was just an Instagram name. I wanted a new Instagram name in 2020 that was like Reece, but not my whole name. RE4C, RE5C, RE3C were all taken, but six wasn't. As I went on with music, the number six started jumping out at me more, like small things. I'd come back from a session, and the elevator would be on floor six. It kind of grew on me as a name.
Medicine Box: Did you have any other names you thought about besides the one you have now?
re6ce: When I was going into music, I didn't really expect it to take off, so I just used my Instagram name. It was only on SoundCloud at first, so I didn't think it would be a big thing. But as I grew, it gained more significance.
Medicine Box: What was the first song that made you realize you could do this for a living?
re6ce: It was definitely "Teeth." A year prior, I wanted to focus on music instead of school. I was 16 at the time and told my mom I wanted to focus on music. She wasn't super supportive because she had a science career planned for me. I told her if I put 50 into both, I'd never get 100 out of either. So, I wanted to put 100% into music. A year after that deal with my mom, "Teeth" came out, and it all fell into place. It made sense for "Teeth" to come out when it did, and when it was released, I knew I could really do this.
Medicine Box: You started with more bedroom pop, correct? How did your sound evolve from that initial song to what you're using now?
re6ce: Yeah, bedroom pop definitely opened the door for pop. I saw Nimstarr, a kid from the US, doing bedroom pop, and it was so sick. In the UK, not many my age were doing pop; it was mostly rap or grime. To be in that world without being corny was sick, and people online resonated with it too... I started with bedroom pop and leaned more indie, then tried hyperpop and pop adjacents. Eventually, I listened to more alternative music and went in that direction as I developed my sound.
Medicine Box: What are some artists that have influenced your music?
re6ce: Bakar, for sure. I've been listening to him since before I was making music. Dominic Fike, definitely. Recently, a bunch of Ekkstacy. After touring with him, I really dove into his discography and discovered many smaller songs I liked. He also introduced me to other bands on tour, especially from the 2000s.
Medicine Box: You toured with Ecstasy. Can you share a highlight or a funny moment from that tour?
re6ce: Oh, definitely. On night one in Glasgow, we hadn't spoken much, so vibes were still new. Before going on stage, Ecstasy kept shouting the meme, "four fucking seconds," which was funny for a first interaction and opened up a light-hearted side. Another moment was during a show in Germany, either Hamburg or Cologne. I drank a lot for the first time on tour, crushed five cans in an hour, and threw up six times in one night. It was a mess, but I had fun after and never drank before a show again.
Medicine Box: Can you tell us more about how "Brown Eyes" came together?
Re6ce: Yeah, so I was sitting at the back of the room with Gabe and said, "Yo, Gabe, we should put a two-step bass on this." And then as soon as he played it, everything just came together, you know? The writing behind that song—I wanted to write from a different perspective.
Medicine Box: What was the inspiration behind "Brown Eyes"?
Re6ce: The inspiration mostly came from listening to a ton of MGMT, & Aldn. "Brown Eyes" has always been something I resonated with. The combination of dark synths and bright guitar is something I love, and I want to make a thousand more songs like that. People seem to resonate with it too, which is great.
Medicine Box: Can you give us an insight into what that lyric means to you?
Re6ce: Sometimes when you feel strongly about something, you don't want to believe the truth. The cool thing about music is its open-endedness, and people can connect that to many different things, even polar opposites. When I wrote that, I felt like sometimes when you're so committed to something, you kind of don't want to face the reality.
Medicine Box: Can you share an overall perspective on what the song means to you?
Re6ce: "Brown Eyes" is something you love but can't keep loving in the same way—maybe it's nostalgia or old times. Something's changed, and you can't keep making excuses. Change is inevitable, and it's not always bad.
Medicine Box: How did you come up with the name "Brown Eyes"?
Re6ce: Originally, I just wanted to call a song "Brown Eyes." After "Teeth," I wrote down certain words and phrases as potential song titles. "Eye Bags" and "Teeth" were among them, and "Brown Eyes" was another. I remember tweeting the night we made it, saying, "Made a cool song last night. I think it's called 'Eyes,' maybe 'Brown Eyes.'" It was going to be called "Eyes," but "Brown Eyes" just fit better.
Medicine Box: How do you feel the music you listened to as a kid influences your music now?
re6ce: For sure. As a kid, I was into pop like Bruno Mars and Katy Perry. As I grew up, I found Tyler, the Creator on YouTube around age 10, then discovered Kanye and Kid Cudi. That opened up to 2016 rap. When I was 15, I started listening to more indie and alternative music, like Bakar. My sound evolved with the music I explored.
Medicine Box: Has your approach to music changed since then?
re6ce: Definitely. Before, I'd grab a beat from YouTube and put vocals over it, but now I come at it from a producer's standpoint. I started learning guitar in January 2023, which helped with synths and building everything. My approach to songwriting changed too. I write lyrics to parts of the song, not just to the beat, which allows for more expression.
Medicine Box: Does this give you more freedom to express yourself in your music?
re6ce: Yeah, it does. Changing my outlook on music has made my songs better. You can find more melodies and layers to put together.
Medicine Box: What's next for re6ce?
re6ce: A lot of music, for sure. I want to drop a song every month and two more projects this year. Hopefully more headline tours and shows. The future is bright, and the music only gets better.
Medicine Box: Is there anything you want to say to Medicine Box or your fans?
re6ce: The music only gets better, and the future is brighter.
