Will Friesen, also known as Tallboyeti, recently released his debut hip-hop EP, Appearance. The EP is a 17 minute listen, jam-packed with witty lyricism and dynamic beats produced by Cole Smith.

Friesen is from Vernon and Smith is from Peachland originally, but the two first met in the jazz program at Capilano University in September 2015. Friesen and Smith became fast friends sa国际传媒� it wasnsa国际传媒檛 long before they were jamming out together for class projects, and hanging out outside of class.

sa国际传媒淒uring school, there were a lot of projects where we were in bands together,sa国际传媒� Smith said. sa国际传媒淪ome of the time wesa国际传媒檇 be rehearsing for a school project, then wesa国际传媒檇 stray off course and jam some other random stuff.sa国际传媒�

While they were in school, Friesen introduced Smith to hip hop. Although he has primarily worked on jazz and electronic music, Smith began producing hip hop instrumentals using the digital audio workstation, Ableton.

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After they graduated, it was time for the two of them to create something of their own.

sa国际传媒淔or this project, it came together because I had been writing my own music for a while sa国际传媒� making some but never focusing on it,sa国际传媒� Friesen said. sa国际传媒淭his year Cole gave me the kick in the pants to make something out of it. It was really great to work on over the summer and stay focused on something that wasnsa国际传媒檛 quarantine.sa国际传媒�

Some of the tracks on Appearance deal directly with the feelings of being in the COVID-19 lockdown. In the song sa国际传媒淓nnuisa国际传媒�, Friesen writes about the feelings of being stuck inside his house while finishing his UBC teaching degree online. Others like sa国际传媒淪ommeliersa国际传媒� and sa国际传媒淰olitionsa国际传媒� are designed to showcase Friesensa国际传媒檚 lyrical prowess.

Smith said that the feedback to Appearance has been overwhelmingly positive.

sa国际传媒淎 lot of people that I donsa国际传媒檛 talk to all the time have reached out to congratulate us,sa国际传媒� Smith said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 really cool to know that the project made an impact on people that Isa国际传媒檝e lost touch with. Theresa国际传媒檚 been tons of great feedback from friends and family.sa国际传媒�

Both Friesen and Smith have returned to the Okanagan and now live in Kelowna. When Friesen isnsa国际传媒檛 behind the mic as Tallboyeti, he teaches music at Kelowna Christian School. Now that Friesen finds him on the other side of the sheet music, he said teaching students is a surreal experience.

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His first year teaching music has taken place in the COVID-19 environment.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e got a band with three different grades in it where Isa国际传媒檝e got everyone separated by grade in different parts of the room. Itsa国际传媒檚 definitely not your average year, but wesa国际传媒檙e making the best of it,sa国际传媒� Friesen said.

If the students are lucky, they may get to hear some rhymes from Mr. Tallboyeti at the end of class.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a carrot I can wave in front of some of the classes. If theysa国际传媒檙e quiet for a little bit then Isa国际传媒檒l rap for them at the end of class,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淚 have been getting them rapping a little bit, and talking about how we can express ourselves with spoken word as well,sa国际传媒� he said.

Friesen said hesa国际传媒檒l continue expressing himself through spoken word inside and outside of the classroom. He hinted that hesa国际传媒檒l be creating future projects with Smith, and Smith is ready with beats for the next project.

Appearance is available on all streaming platforms, and on YouTube.