Tama Gucci calls in from the Chelsea studio he shares with, among others, his partner—stylist and DJ Matthew Mazur. The space is built out in an organized selection of production ephemera, including lofty shelving and bright rolls of background paper, with the artist in the center, ready for a line of questioning about his album Notes to Self.

Tama Gucci, or Kymani Floyd, as he’s known off-stage, was born and raised in Miami, Florida. As his upbringing progressed, he was introduced to the infamous South Florida rave scene—intertwining his Jamaican roots with electronic music’s foundations in dub reggae. Moving to New York catalyzed his entry into the nightlife and artistic communities that had previously been locked behind the alluring screen of social media.

The artist’s current portfolio is quite diverse: projects range from his solo music career to scoring New York and Milan fashion shows for Mirror Palais, Prabal Gurung, and Moschino alongside his partner. He has also modeled for Telfar, and produces his own ready-to-wear line of handmade, delightfully whimsical pieces via Tama’s Corner. This resume makes consuming his music an even more rewarding experience, given the breadth of background that he sources from, including gathered noise from the environment around him.

“With DJing, anything can be a sample at the hands of the turntable. You can press loop and play the sound over and over again, or blend it into something else. There are so many ways to go about it. It’s kind of incredible,” he explained. From the adrenaline-charged track “Stalk Me 151 To 170,” to the sunrise that “Goodmorning Babe” presents, Tama Gucci’s versatility of communication through music is on resplendent display in this project, a follow-up to several strong, multi-song releases including “Out of Order,” “Yours Truly,” “Fantasy,” and “Almost Blue.”

“I’ve downloaded so many sounds on my computer, and I can’t even tell you where I got some of them from,” Floyd laughs. “For ‘Goodmorning Babe,’ I started with the bird sounds. Then, as I was building the song, it all began to paint this picture of morning time.” This attention to detail is an emerging trademark of the artist’s work, where anything-goes references might range from his Miami childhood to Brandy or Ray J, to the latest spat on 90 Day Fiancé.

A strong team is central to any creative’s output, and the musician rallied a close circle of peers to build the world of this album. His creative director and friend Jonathan Qualtere, for instance, introduced him to photographer Emilio Tamez. Tamez clicked into the vision of the album and shot the cover art—a darkly- cinematic shot of the musician absolutely enveloped in a downpour of skin-hugging water, with a single, gem-covered white cross earring (from Tama’s Corner) standing out in the foreground.

“I had an idea in my head, but it’s been fulfilling to have people I respect give input and come up with things that I would have never envisioned,” the musician said.

The video for lead single “Runaway Pup” is meticulous in design, from the upper-crust country home setting and thoughtful costuming to an eerie plotline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats until a darkly twisted ending. This album marks a pivotal moment in the artist’s trajectory, a bold statement of his growth and—if his enviable list of upcoming projects is any indication—boundless potential. Notes to Self contains a track for every personality and setting—for us, we’ll bid you adieu with the album’s “See You Later,” and encourage a full listening experience to jump on the train of Tama Gucci’s creative evolution.

This story appears in the pages of VMAN 53: now available for purchase!

Photography Anna Henderson

Fashion Liv Vitale

Makeup Kevin Cheah (Kramer + Kramer)

Hair Andrew Chen (Kramer + Kramer)

Digital technician Takashi Soehl

Photo assistants Jarod Polakoff, Lamar Kendrick-Dial

Location 16 Beaver Studio