Will Friesen, also known as Tallboyeti, recently released his debut hip-hop EP, Appearance. The EP is a 17 minute listen, jam-packed with witty lyricism and dynamic beats produced by Cole Smith.

Friesen is from Vernon and Smith is from Peachland originally, but the two first met in the jazz program at Capilano University in September 2015. Friesen and Smith became fast friends 害羞草研究所� it wasn害羞草研究所檛 long before they were jamming out together for class projects, and hanging out outside of class.

害羞草研究所淒uring school, there were a lot of projects where we were in bands together,害羞草研究所� Smith said. 害羞草研究所淪ome of the time we害羞草研究所檇 be rehearsing for a school project, then we害羞草研究所檇 stray off course and jam some other random stuff.害羞草研究所�

While they were in school, Friesen introduced Smith to hip hop. Although he has primarily worked on jazz and electronic music, Smith began producing hip hop instrumentals using the digital audio workstation, Ableton.

READ MORE: Kelowna hip-hop artist makes waves on the West Coast

After they graduated, it was time for the two of them to create something of their own.

害羞草研究所淔or this project, it came together because I had been writing my own music for a while 害羞草研究所� making some but never focusing on it,害羞草研究所� Friesen said. 害羞草研究所淭his year Cole gave me the kick in the pants to make something out of it. It was really great to work on over the summer and stay focused on something that wasn害羞草研究所檛 quarantine.害羞草研究所�

Some of the tracks on Appearance deal directly with the feelings of being in the COVID-19 lockdown. In the song 害羞草研究所淓nnui害羞草研究所�, Friesen writes about the feelings of being stuck inside his house while finishing his UBC teaching degree online. Others like 害羞草研究所淪ommelier害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淰olition害羞草研究所� are designed to showcase Friesen害羞草研究所檚 lyrical prowess.

Smith said that the feedback to Appearance has been overwhelmingly positive.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of people that I don害羞草研究所檛 talk to all the time have reached out to congratulate us,害羞草研究所� Smith said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really cool to know that the project made an impact on people that I害羞草研究所檝e lost touch with. There害羞草研究所檚 been tons of great feedback from friends and family.害羞草研究所�

Both Friesen and Smith have returned to the Okanagan and now live in Kelowna. When Friesen isn害羞草研究所檛 behind the mic as Tallboyeti, he teaches music at Kelowna Christian School. Now that Friesen finds him on the other side of the sheet music, he said teaching students is a surreal experience.

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His first year teaching music has taken place in the COVID-19 environment.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e got a band with three different grades in it where I害羞草研究所檝e got everyone separated by grade in different parts of the room. It害羞草研究所檚 definitely not your average year, but we害羞草研究所檙e making the best of it,害羞草研究所� Friesen said.

If the students are lucky, they may get to hear some rhymes from Mr. Tallboyeti at the end of class.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a carrot I can wave in front of some of the classes. If they害羞草研究所檙e quiet for a little bit then I害羞草研究所檒l rap for them at the end of class,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚 have been getting them rapping a little bit, and talking about how we can express ourselves with spoken word as well,害羞草研究所� he said.

Friesen said he害羞草研究所檒l continue expressing himself through spoken word inside and outside of the classroom. He hinted that he害羞草研究所檒l be creating future projects with Smith, and Smith is ready with beats for the next project.

Appearance is available on all streaming platforms, and on YouTube.