SeeFour is an easy-going 18-year-old with an affinity for music. “My mother plays a lot of music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s,” he says. “I listen to Prince, Bobby Brown, Luther Vandross, El Debarge...I can go all day.”

He took his passion one step further when he decided to pursue music. SeeFour's first song, an unreleased remix of California rapper MC Eiht’s “Streiht Up Menace,” proved to be a challenge. “The process was difficult at the time because I was still trying to find my sound,” he says. “But I’m a big West Coast fan, so it was fun.”

Since then he's found his groove, figuratively and literally. He's shared the stage with rappers Jay Rock and Reason, released his debut album Mature, and he's discovered a versatile sound that is very much his own. “I set myself apart, from the instrumentals I pick, the sounds I like and the different producers I collaborate with,” he says. “And I'm starting to do little producing myself.”

I caught up with the ambitious Massachusetts native to learn about where it all began and where he continues to find inspiration for his developing music career. Excerpts below.

He began performing in elementary school...
I loved music and when my teachers found that out they put my talent to work. My teacher Jamie Levin Orkin had me perform in the gym for MCAS and for my graduation. That’s led to me being Boston Music Award-nominated and putting out meaningful music.

…and started playing out in Boston when he was 15 years old.
With S.M.O.O.V.E. Gang on the Tribe Tour.

Pre-performance rituals begin well before the show...
I may do a couple of things throughout the week or month leading up to the show, like drink tea, listen to motivational speeches, and pray before the show. I switch it up every now and then.

… and he continues to find inspiration in music today.
I listen to Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, Billy Dean, Childish Gambino, Justin Clancy, Smino, Saba, Oompa, WHYTRI, Brandie Blaze, Red Shaydez, Van Burren, Warned Prophecy and more.

Listening to a lot of these talented people led me to do better and evolve with my sound.

Where can Boston see you perform next?
November 23 Maggy’s Lounge for IT Factor Live Music Competition, and December 11 at House Of Blues for the Boston Music Awards.

The Boston Music Awards recently selected SeeFour to be a part of the 617Sessions, a program that recognizes Boston-based artists who are making great contributions to the local scene and rewards them with a day of studio recording.