Brett Deadly 
1. Thanks for taking some time to be interviewed. Can you please introduce your self and tell us just a bit about what you do? *
Hey I’m Vex! I am a trap metal artist based in the greater Charlotte NC area but I live in SC. My first release was in April, 2020 and I have been enjoying this project ever since. Like many artists in the same vein as me, I mostly listened to rock and metal music growing up. I rarely listened to rap. But as I got immersed in this amazing genre back in 2017, I knew this was what I wanted to do with my music skills. One thing that makes me stand out from other artists is that I often use a ‘true metal’ style scream. Unlike many who shout and yell in more of a hardcore/punk style.
2. When, where, and why did your journey in music begin? And did you have another project before this one? *
I began practicing music back when I was 10 years old. I played bass clarinet in a school band for 6 years. It was honestly a good foundation because it taught me how to read sheet music and I learned a bit of music theory around the way. Around grade 9 I got a bass guitar and learned to play it by myself using a book. This was actually motivated by Paul Gray’s death (Slipknot) in 2010. I was watching these videos of people playing Slipknot songs on bass in tribute to him and it just made me want to learn bass. I got a guitar soon after that and then a drum kit when I was in college. I had two bands well before Vex Cadaver. A metal band I was invited to do vocals in and a metal band I started myself that I played bass for. Neither one went anywhere. A big part of why I found trap metal so attractive is the fact you can do it by yourself.
3. Who gets bragging rights for helping you get to where you are now? *
Bragging rights to my progress so far mainly fall in the hands of Vibes Forever. Specifically the Rage Vibes Forever channel which you can find on YouTube. They have done many great AMVs to give my sound sick visuals and more exposure to the worldwide Trap Metal community. Vibes Forever does excellent work for underground rap and hip-hop artists. They have multiple sub-categories to fit whatever it is that you make. I also have to shout out my best friend Zach Outen for designing all of my cover art. That boy is talented.
4. What can we expect from you in the future? New albums, releases, music videos? *
I’m definitely not one of those guys that has a vivid master plan for everything that I’m doing. I take notes. I write down a song/album idea as soon as it comes to mind before it fades away. I’m looking to put out a single “Yandere Wonderland 2” along with a few more singles this year. There will definitely be another album/EP by sometime in 2022. Hopefully I don’t take that long. As for music videos, I’ll shoot one or two later this year. I’ve been dying to make some.
5. Who is your favorite artist within the Trapmetal subgenre? *
I have to go with Scarlxrd. His sound pushed me to get established and recorded. When I heard his albums Lxrdszn and Cabin Fever I was just like: “Yeah, this is the kind of music I want to make and be known for.”
6. If you could go on tour with anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would be on the bill with you? What is your dream tour? *
It would be a dream come true to tour with my collective TMRC Assault. But let’s make this interesting. I would probably co-headline with Despised Masses, because he’s amazing and also the first member I got when I started the group. Olibaby, KEENiE, XVVOID, Asmodeus, Ravencloud, Gravenoises, Anti-Light and Tablefourteen would be getting the place wild. But if I could stack that with bigger artists… After I played we would have: Mugxtsu, Jake Hill, Prxjek, Bvdlvd and then Scarlxrd and City Morgue co-headline for that half. If someone wants to turn this into a festival tour please hit me up.
7. What are the pros and cons of your local scene? Where do you see room for improvement? And what are your music scene’s strengths? *
My local scene definitely needs to establish itself better. I know there are plenty of Trap-Metal heads in the Charlotte area. More events and shows need to happen. I think that’s all we really need. Part of that falls on me of course. I look to play some shows at some point in the next year or two.
8. Where do you see your self in 5 years? What about 10? *
In five years I should have a fairly decent catalog of music that people can pick from. In 10 years I would want this to be my full time career. I believe that it’s possible if I can maintain steady growth. But even if that didn’t happen, I would still make songs for me and the people who love it.
9. What is a favorite song or video of yours that our readers should check out? And where is the best place to check you out online? *
Real Girl has always been a fan favorite as well as a favorite piece of mine. It was also my first AMV video on the Rage Vibes Forever YouTube channel so check that out if you haven’t seen it!
10. As we wrap this up, what else do you want our readers to know? And thank you for your time! *
This is an amazing genre. Regardless of what any elitist or gatekeeper says. We took Nu-Metal and reversed the roles of the vocals and the instrumental. I want to see more artists continue to emerge so that we can keep the torch lit. This kind of music is too good to die out in a few years. But I do worry about that sometimes. As long as we keep making music and pushing the envelope of what styles we can add to develop and evolve the genre further then we should be ok.
