‘I’ve Been a Damaged and a Misfit. I Want to Be a Symbol of Hope’ — Meet Conscxous

Conscxous, who hails from St. Rest, Louisiana, effortlessly blends Hip Hop, R&B, EDM, and his first love, rock, into tracks that resonate with anyone who listens. He started his music career back in 2016, pouring his soul into songs about losing love, bouncing back, and finding peace.

Outside of the studio, Conscxous is a dad and a military vet who fights for the underdogs and speaks up for those who often go unheard. We got to catch up with him for an engaging discussionin our “10 Minute Chats” series. 

— How did you come up with your artist name?

— Well, I chose the name Conscxous because I felt like I was a very aware person and I’m very empathetic, so I always think of other people before myself. To be empathetic, you have to be conscious of yourself. I’m always trying to reach the highest level of myself so I can be a better person for other people. I originally spelled it as ‘Conscious’, like your mind. It would often get confused with other music names or pulled up like a conspiracy article. After a very unfortunate situation that involved one of my best friends, who I worked closely with in music, being shot during a robbery attempt, I changed the spelling to C-O-N-S-C-X-O-U-S to represent that there’s no “I” in team, meaning I don’t think of myself first.

— You’re all about supporting misfits and helping the damaged. What drew you to this particular image, and why do you choose to speak to and about them?

— I kind of was a pessimist at first before I started changing my mind. I’ve been a damaged and a misfit, like the black sheep of my own family. I still feel like I’m a black sheep. So, I feel like there are so many bullies and so many people in this world that just overlook a person that needs a helping hand. If one person would just have one more ounce of empathy inside themselves, I feel like it could trigger a domino effect to make this world a better place.

— How did you begin writing and making music?

— I got my love for music growing up in southern Louisiana. Music is such a heavy part of Black culture, even stemming back from slavery when hymns were sung for camaraderie. I grew up in a big church family. My dad is a pastor and has been for almost as long as I’ve been alive. In a Black church, services can last two to three hours, with the first hour and a half filled with singing and prayer.

When I went through dark times and felt like I had no one, all I had was music. Music helped me express myself when I didn’t know how to articulate my feelings. I saw how music affected me, and I wanted to be on the other side, creating frequencies that could help others as well.

— “Troubled” seems to be a super personal song, and it’s also one of your most popular on Spotify. Why do you think that is?

— Well, it could be the content and substance of the song. I also put effort into marketing it and invested some money behind it. The music industry is all about business over talent. You can take someone with no talent, but if they conform to how the industry works, they can become an overnight sensation. That’s just how it is. My music doesn’t push the narrative of disrespecting women, gangbanging, or drug dealing—the negative things that create toxic energy—so it doesn’t get pushed as much.

I want my music to have an impact like J. Cole’s or Kendrick Lamar’s, but with better morals. People who rise quickly often burn out fast, and I don’t want that. I want a legacy. “Troubled” did well because I put some marketing money into it, and it talks about a vulnerable topic that many people can relate to—feeling like you’re not good enough for someone or something.

— You mentioned that you have some background in rock music…

— Rock music is seen as predominantly white, but rock and roll originated from blues, which came from Black culture. It’s surprising that many Black people overlook rock music. The world has become so divided, but rock is about expression—whether it’s praise, sadness, or joy. Growing up where I did, I dealt with a lot of pain. When I felt pain, I preferred rage over hurt, and rock helped channel that energy. I understood rock artists more than hip-hop artists talking about flashy cars and material things. After getting into trouble, I moved closer to my dad and was exposed to rock and country music, which started to grow on me.

My first favorite rock song was “BYOB” by System of a Down. I love bands like Breaking Benjamin, Linkin Park, Three Days Grace, and Seether. Slipknot, of course. And 30 Seconds to Mars—Jared Leto is one of my favorite lead singers. Also, believe it or not, I learned a lot of great music in the rock space by watching anime. It’s funny where you can get your music taste from.

— You’ve been through so many things, and you talk about some really heavy stuff, like suicide attempts, heartbreak, and drug abuse. What gives you that strength and courage to go there?

— Well, first and foremost, I would say God. If it wasn’t for God, I don’t know where I would be. And also, walking through so much darkness, it’s only common sense to understand that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Whenever I feel like God isn’t there or I have self-doubt, I just rely on the belief and courage I’ve built within myself through hard work. I’ve become resilient, but I’m still human. Things affect me, just like they affect everyone else. It’s just that I’ve been through a tough walk, so things might not keep me down as long.

I’ve been a victim of all types of abuse—misuse and mistreatment from the government, my own family, relationships, and other areas of my life. So I said, somebody has to be strong enough to fight for the people who don’t have the strength to fight for themselves. This is pretty much my image because I got tired of being bullied and not being stood up for. I wanted to be that symbol of strength that someone could look at and aspire to be better, whether it’s becoming wiser, stronger, or more self-confident. Whatever it is, I wanted to be a symbol of hope.