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 香蕉视频直播� it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 long before they were jamming out together for class projects, and hanging out outside of class.

香蕉视频直播淒uring school, there were a lot of projects where we were in bands together,香蕉视频直播� Smith said. 香蕉视频直播淪ome of the time we香蕉视频直播檇 be rehearsing for a school project, then we香蕉视频直播檇 stray off course and jam some other random stuff.香蕉视频直播�

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.

READ MORE: Kelowna hip-hop artist makes waves on the West Coast

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

香蕉视频直播淔or this project, it came together because I had been writing my own music for a while 香蕉视频直播� making some but never focusing on it,香蕉视频直播� Friesen said. 香蕉视频直播淭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 wasn香蕉视频直播檛 quarantine.香蕉视频直播�

Some of the tracks on Appearance deal directly with the feelings of being in the COVID-19 lockdown. In the song 香蕉视频直播淓nnui香蕉视频直播�, Friesen writes about the feelings of being stuck inside his house while finishing his UBC teaching degree online. Others like 香蕉视频直播淪ommelier香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淰olition香蕉视频直播� are designed to showcase Friesen香蕉视频直播檚 lyrical prowess.

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

香蕉视频直播淎 lot of people that I don香蕉视频直播檛 talk to all the time have reached out to congratulate us,香蕉视频直播� Smith said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really cool to know that the project made an impact on people that I香蕉视频直播檝e lost touch with. There香蕉视频直播檚 been tons of great feedback from friends and family.香蕉视频直播�

Both Friesen and Smith have returned to the Okanagan and now live in Kelowna. When Friesen isn香蕉视频直播檛 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.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e got a band with three different grades in it where I香蕉视频直播檝e got everyone separated by grade in different parts of the room. It香蕉视频直播檚 definitely not your average year, but we香蕉视频直播檙e making the best of it,香蕉视频直播� Friesen said.

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

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a carrot I can wave in front of some of the classes. If they香蕉视频直播檙e quiet for a little bit then I香蕉视频直播檒l rap for them at the end of class,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淚 have been getting them rapping a little bit, and talking about how we can express ourselves with spoken word as well,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Friesen said he香蕉视频直播檒l continue expressing himself through spoken word inside and outside of the classroom. He hinted that he香蕉视频直播檒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.