Interview: Hypr Clr. Makes Music Across the Spectrum of Color

The Austin-based duo discusses recording an EP during the pandemic, old band names, and the universal desire to party.

Written by C.S. Harper

Photo courtesy of Hypr Clr.

Pronounced “hyper color,” hypr clr. is a musical project born out of the pandemic. Although the Austin band only released its debut single earlier this year, it is already making a mark on the hyperpop world. Composed of rapper-producer Rafi Rosenthal and singer-songwriter Camryn Taylor, the group creates genre-bending songs that blur the line between hyperpop and hip-hop. To learn more about their unique creative vision, Afterglow recently sat down with the band members to have a conversation about their beginnings, recording process, and more.

Afterglow: How did you two meet, and how did hypr clr. start?

Camryn: So basically, I went to a studio and my producer was like, “Hey, I got this guy who's your age, and you guys could work together.” And we just met and made a song. And then we were talking about doing a band, and then we formed a band. It took us a while to actually come up with the correct name. I forget what our actual name was.

Rafi: Really stupid stuff. I have a note in my home studio somewhere.

Camryn: Wasn’t it like turtles or something?

Rafi: Yeah. I think we were gonna settle on Big Dinosaur Felipe.

Camryn: Oh, yes, Big Dinosaur Felipe. But we eventually changed it to hypr clr.

Rafi: The guy who set us up, he taught me how to produce when I was about 12 years old. Yeah, and then we met. We made a song, and then Cam went off to Canada for a year. And it wasn’t until when the pandemic hit that we were like, “Okay, we should walk in and make a full body of work.”

You mentioned you started creating a body of work during the pandemic. What spurred that creativity while possibly being in lockdown?

Rafi: I feel like during the pandemic, I would have nothing to do but to sit inside and I would just expose myself to tons (of) new music every day. And that was probably half of it. I feel like the other half is from not being able to work on any music with anyone or seeing anyone for about a year —  give or take at that point —  and then all of a sudden, I’m working with Cam, and that felt really, really good and I had so many pent-up ideas I wanted to get out.

How have your sound and collaboration process evolved?

Camryn: I think that our sound is becoming more us. We kind of just know what to create, and although sometimes it’s difficult, we have a sound down. And our collaboration has changed, but I’m mostly lyrics and (Rafi) helps me a lot in lyrics. And then he’s mostly producing, but sometimes I throw out ideas, but I don’t know how to produce. So we kind of just make the music with each other.

Listening to your music, there are many hyperpop and hip-hop influences because of the use of rapping. What was your inspiration for incorporating rap?

Rafi: I don’t know. I feel like rap has been something I’ve loved pretty much ever since I started middle school, I’ve just been so into hip-hop. And for a while, I was exclusively doing hip-hop, so I feel like that influence and inspiration comes almost natural to me, just because that’s kind of the world I’m more used to. And then I guess as far as the production process, it can start from anywhere. I can have no ideas, and someone will sing two notes, and I’ll create an entire song off that. It just kind of depends. 

Your debut EP, Fracture, is surprisingly polished for a new band. One standout for me was “Candy Da$h,” because it has a lot of intricate sounds and beats. What was the process of creating that song? Was there any sampling involved?

Rafi: Well, that was an interesting one, because that’s by far the longest (song). Actually, the first section we created of that song was the beat switch at the end, and we were trying to make another song around that, and we could not find any inspiration for —  I mean, speaking on my part, I couldn’t find any inspiration. (Eventually), I was like, “Okay, it’s finally coming together.” But I still couldn’t find like a good arrangement, and I guess what really did it is —  there’s this producer who I met at SXSW from the Netherlands who goes by the name of Bo Damian, and I met with him and we hopped on a call, and he helped me just really arrange and add a bunch of intricate details into it. And that’s when it really started to (come) together.

I was also curious about the song “Sweet” featuring Cha’keeta B. What was it like collaborating with an artist outside of the band?

Rafi: Okay, yeah. So, the process was super simple, super easy. We got set up with Cha’keeta B through a friend of my dad’s, actually. And we got the feature, and she sent the verse stack within like a few weeks. And we loved it. You know, we obviously didn’t get to be in the studio with Cha’keeta because of the pandemic, but it was still super, super awesome to hear it come together, super cool.

Camryn: Yeah, I really think that that song is super awesome, and I love Cha’keeta B. It’s just probably one of my favorite songs (on the album).

Something that also struck me as very polished is your aesthetic. From your album cover for your EP to your pictures on Spotify, you give off a lo-fi but very hyperpop, kind of psychedelic feel. What was it like developing and finding your aesthetic as an artist?

Camryn: So basically for me, I think that —  I know Rafi and I have the same ideas with our aesthetics —  we wanted it to be like how you said. And we would come up with color schemes, and pick out outfits, and honestly just whatever we thought went with the band. You know, we were kind of like, when you’re an artist, you’re a character. And we wanted to be that part of what we thought our music was.

That’s a great way to put it. Tying into this idea of embodying a character with your music, how would you describe that character, especially lyrically? What are some of the themes in your music?

Camryn: I’d say we’re this super awesome duo, and we make great music and we party as characters. As characters, you know, we’re always partying. And you know, I just feel like it’s super pumped up. And there are some more sad songs, but I think that can also tie into that feeling of emptiness. Our entire EP is like a story, basically —  if you listen to it —  of someone who parties all the time and finds someone that they love, and it’s just a different way of thinking to them. And I think that it’s just really powerful. I like telling stories through art. I’m really passionate about that.

Rafi, how do you match this storytelling with your production?

Rafi: I don’t know. I feel like the progression of that story in particular, it was actually quite unique for me to match the vibe of the instrumental with the lyrics. Because I felt like, just with me creating all that stuff during the pandemic, I feel like half the time, you’re cooped up and just want to party, so some of the music was like that. And then half the time, you’re just like sad in your room. 

Now that we’re coming out of the pandemic and you’ve released your debut EP, what’s next for Hypr Clr. in terms of projects and shows?

Rafi: Well, we actually have a full-length album in the works. And we’re about, I want to say, halfway done right now, maybe a little less. So that’s  —  at least for me —  that’s really been my main focus right now.

Camryn: Yeah, I agree. We have music videos coming out, and I think although I’m not in Texas right now, when I am, I know that we’re going to get straight back to working on music and doing probably more music videos and photoshoots, and stuff like that. And we want to eventually do some concerts, you know, when we gain a little more popularity.

Rafi: We also have a remix coming out. I’m not quite sure when, but I know it’s in the very near future for another local Austin band called Vision Arcade.

It sounds like you guys have a lot in store for us, which is very exciting. What do you hope to get out of these new ventures, like doing shows and music videos? What is your vision for that?

Rafi: I mean, for me, I guess my ultimate goal with music in general is to be in a position where I can work with the creators who inspire me on a daily basis. So I feel like anything that can get me closer to that is great.

Camryn: Yeah, I want people to hear our music and be touched by our music. And it doesn’t have to be in a sappy way. If someone enjoys our song and is like, “Hey, that’s a good song,” that would just make me smile so much, because it means that someone is appreciating our work, and art is a big thing in my life. I don’t think I could live without music. So just knowing that other people are out there enjoying what I create, it makes me feel a lot better.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Camryn: If you have a dream, work on it because you never know where it can get you.

You can follow hypr clr. on Instagram @hyprclr and listen to their music, including their latest remix with Vision Arcade, on Spotify.