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 91裸聊视频� it wasn91裸聊视频檛 long before they were jamming out together for class projects, and hanging out outside of class.

91裸聊视频淒uring school, there were a lot of projects where we were in bands together,91裸聊视频� Smith said. 91裸聊视频淪ome of the time we91裸聊视频檇 be rehearsing for a school project, then we91裸聊视频檇 stray off course and jam some other random stuff.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淔or this project, it came together because I had been writing my own music for a while 91裸聊视频� making some but never focusing on it,91裸聊视频� Friesen said. 91裸聊视频淭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 wasn91裸聊视频檛 quarantine.91裸聊视频�

Some of the tracks on Appearance deal directly with the feelings of being in the COVID-19 lockdown. In the song 91裸聊视频淓nnui91裸聊视频�, Friesen writes about the feelings of being stuck inside his house while finishing his UBC teaching degree online. Others like 91裸聊视频淪ommelier91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淰olition91裸聊视频� are designed to showcase Friesen91裸聊视频檚 lyrical prowess.

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

91裸聊视频淎 lot of people that I don91裸聊视频檛 talk to all the time have reached out to congratulate us,91裸聊视频� Smith said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really cool to know that the project made an impact on people that I91裸聊视频檝e lost touch with. There91裸聊视频檚 been tons of great feedback from friends and family.91裸聊视频�

Both Friesen and Smith have returned to the Okanagan and now live in Kelowna. When Friesen isn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e got a band with three different grades in it where I91裸聊视频檝e got everyone separated by grade in different parts of the room. It91裸聊视频檚 definitely not your average year, but we91裸聊视频檙e making the best of it,91裸聊视频� Friesen said.

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

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a carrot I can wave in front of some of the classes. If they91裸聊视频檙e quiet for a little bit then I91裸聊视频檒l rap for them at the end of class,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淚 have been getting them rapping a little bit, and talking about how we can express ourselves with spoken word as well,91裸聊视频� he said.

Friesen said he91裸聊视频檒l continue expressing himself through spoken word inside and outside of the classroom. He hinted that he91裸聊视频檒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.