NandoSTL’s career has been growing steadily since 2019, appearing at several big events including the music festival SLUM Fest STL and last year’s Music At The Intersection.
He also shared the stage with Grammy-winning multi-platinum songwriter and producer T-Pain. T-Pain recently topped the charts with hits like “I’m N Luv,” “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” and “Bartender.”
The talented duo is now part of the team since Nando signed with T-Pain’s independent record label and entertainment company, Nappy Boy Entertainment.
“When I got there, I felt like I was in the right place,” Nando said.
“I didn’t want to go to a big place. [a major label] Because I knew there were artists on the label that were much bigger than me and I was at the bottom of the roster. Not like Nappyboy. I’m new, so I’m getting the most attention. My next few projects will go much better than if I did it myself. ”
When Nando first walked into T-Pain’s Atlanta studio, he saw many plaques and credits on the walls. Nando says T-Pain told him. [I’m] more interested in putting his artists in a position to grow [me.]”
The T-Pain label has also partnered with a “team” of friends who have worked together throughout Nando’s career.
“I already have a team, so he usually sends an idea and then sends it to my team and I make it happen,” he said.
Nando met T-Pain while participating in T-Pain’s March Madness contest. This contest is a weekly contest held in February 2022 on his Twitch for gaming apps.
Artists from all over the world fought under the watchful eye of T-Pain. Although Nando lost in the final round of the competition, the artists developed business relationships and friendships.
“He said he had already been pitched to me and that I decided to come there. [to Nappy Boy]Nando said. “We stayed in touch after the tournament and shot a video together, but we hadn’t even signed a contract yet.”
Nando has started what is expected to be a big year.
With his new boss, Young Cash, he has a new song, YOTA (Year of the Ape), out on January 27th, and his self-titled debut album is due out in May. He also has a song to drop on 314 Day, saying he and his Nelly are “on to something.”
He also said he has tour and festival dates coming up.
“I used to play drums in church all the time,” he said. “Apart from that, I played in R&B and gospel groups. I already knew a lot of the musicians who played drums in the local scene. ‘ said.
After hearing rap music on the radio, Nando said, “I thought, ‘If they can do this, so can I.'”
At the time, he was enrolled at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, studying mathematics. He planned to work for Wells Fargo as his financial planner.
After hearing artist Smino (both in a band together and a graduate of Hazelwood Central High School) drop the songs “blkjuptr” and “Oxygen,” he began to take rap seriously. became.
“It rekindled that fire. I didn’t know [Smino] I was going to blow it up. It made me want to rap outside of growing up.when you have something [a talent] In you, just have fun. That’s what I did and it turned out like this. “
His song inspiration comes from everything that surrounds him.
“It’s hard to write when nothing’s happening,” he said. “I talk about friends, family, cons and girlfriends. That’s where my music comes from.”
His creative process is interesting. He doesn’t write lyrics and all his songs are improvised.
“Producer PDub Cookin produces a lot of my music,” says Nando. “I usually get a track from him and then go to the studio. I don’t write much. I don’t rap to beats. If I say something cold, they remember me.”
NandoSTL’s music is available on all platforms and you can find his account on most social media networks. NandoSTL’s real name is Fernando Tillman II, but his stage name is NandoSTL.
