By Derrius Edwards – @rawcommnc
Humble beginnings are two words that begin to depict the journey of rising hip-hop artist Svnday. South Carolina born, Baltimore, Maryland raised, Svnday had to endure countless hardships that help mold him into the man he is today.
His prowess as an artist in conjunction with his passion for storytelling has enabled Svnday to garner the attention of many. A troubled youth, growing up in the harsh streets of Baltimore played an integral role in the level of vulnerability exhibited on tracks 1-10 off Svnday’s most recent release entitled “It Was Fun While It Lasted”.
But when the party stops and the fun is over, what motivates you? For Svnday, the desire for the betterment of his family, the yearning of wanting more for self, empowered this wordsmith on his journey of prosperity as he infiltrates the game of hip-hop as the next big thing.
“You have to put your emotions to the side and understand that you’re in control of your destiny.” — Svnday
In this over-the-phone interview we were able to catch up with the artist to talk about new music, his inspirations and more.
Q: What inspired the name Svnday?
A: Svnday comes from my birth name Kiriakis, which actually means Sunday in Greek. There’s like a female version and a male version, my grandmother added a cool-twist on my name and here we are. My original rap name was Black, but initially when I got to Atlanta there was another artist named Black and he ended up getting the name, from a business perspective. Had a conversation with my mom, who is one of my biggest inspirations, and she said just “use your name”. She asked me, “what does your name mean” and that’s when it really registered.
Q: What was it like growing up in Baltimore, MD?
A: Baltimore is everything that I am. My hopes, morals, values, I had my child there. Baltimore is everything that inspired me to make music in the first place. My struggle was something that I always wanted to get off my chest. My father was actually in the feds for majority of my childhood, so it was like my mom would go through some of her worst days, but she would come home and write. One day, my homeboy put on this Fab (Fabolous) beat, and I haven’t looked back ever since.
Everything that I saw, I’m able to depict musically. I use to sleep at a wash and dry. Like I legit had a MacBook and a sleeping bag. I would walk to my friend’s house once his dad left for work and he would let me record in his crib. I was homeless when I first started rapping.
Q: How did you get started with music?
A: Growing up, before he went to the feds, my dad would never play rap music in the car. He would play Martin Luther King speeches and Malcolm X tapes, and I would listen to them and be so amazed in trying to figure out how these men could command so much attention with their voices.
One day I decided to share my story with people, let them hear my voice from my perspective and just been rocking ever since.
Q: What inspired the transition to Atlanta? 
My kid was born in Baltimore, and realistically speaking I felt like my days were numbered in Baltimore, like it’s just that type of city. Some of my best friends are dead and gone. I needed to figure out how I can provide for my kid and also a way to get out of Baltimore.
Ended up moving to South Carolina to be closer to my family at the time. Got cabin fever and had to find a studio. The only problem is, South Carolina doesn’t have any outlet for rap, so I decided I had to make a way for myself to get on a showcase in Atlanta.
I was on Twitter all day looking for keywords like “Atlanta” and “showcase”. Came across a showcase, I paid $400 to perform. Ended up doing the show, everyone loved it. People were showing mad love, I got a DM from my old manager Malita, crazy thing about it, we actually went to school together in Baltimore.
Fast forward, went back to Atlanta and ended up doing a show with Famous Dex. Everything happened so fast, next thing you know I’m on a video set for the Migos and Quavo is asking me for a lighter. I met P that day and that’s when I got the green light. Then I met Rashad and he was like “yeah, I’m definitely down to work with this kid”. It has been nothing but love ever since.
Q: Talk to me about See You Soon 2, what was it like working with Waka Flocka ?
A: Waka is one of the most genuine people that I’ve ever met in the industry. Waka actually did something that help mold me into the artist that I am today. He made me come to the studio 3 days in a row and not record one thing. On the second to the last day, he didn’t even let me come in the studio, like I sat outside in the lobby until 4AM. The next day, he called me and said pull up to the studio and he’s in there waiting on me. I pull up, and it was just me and him in the studio, I didn’t know what to expect. He sat me down and told me that the past few days were a test to see how bad I really wanted to make it.
“You were hungry, humble, you didn’t complain or say nothing…lets record” — Waka Flocka
Waka is like a big brother to me, for life.
Q: What have you learned so far?
A: You have to have patience in this, as cliché as that may sound. Second, you have to put your emotions to the side and understand that you are in control of your destiny. You have to have a level-headed way of thinking in this game.
Q: Talk to me about “It Was Fun While It Lasted”
A: It’s my baby. That was my first time not writing anything, and I was completely vulnerable. I honestly will probably never pick up a pen and pad again solely because of what transpired with this piece of art. The title was inspired from my last relationship, it was fun while it lasted. I’ve never really been in love and I had the chance to finally learn what being in love was like, but I also got to experience heart break and not having that person no more. It was a maturation process for me as an artist and as a person. Like I was crying in the studio and that has never happened for me before.
Lot of people don’t know this, but that’s a balloon in my hand on the cover of the project. When you let a balloon go, you have no idea where it’s going but you know it’s out there, floating. When you had that balloon in your hand, it was the most joyous time ever, but you had to let that balloon go at some point in time. But it was fun while it lasted, while you had that balloon in your hand.
Q: What does the future hold for Svnday?
A: The future holds everything, because I’m into so many different things. Music will always be the base, at the forefront. Right now, the future holds “Numb” for Svnday, which is the project I’m currently working on that’s dropping next.
We loved this album and we’re sure you will too, go check it out here!
For updates on new music and more, be sure to follow Svnday on social media @svnday7
