Highsnobiety

Being constantly on the move isn’t always the easiest way to live. Sacrificing stability for new surroundings isn’t something for everyone. But, with that sacrifice comes a chance to absorb new perspectives, yielding a fusion of ideas, aesthetics and—in this case—sounds.

Innovation comes at a cost, and sometimes that means shaking things up and reexamining your past to illuminate how to improve your future. In this way the New Balance 990 has thrived; currently on its fourth iteration, it has consistently learned and drawn from its earlier designs to continuously reinvent the best possible version of itself. In the spirit of the 990’s history fusing past and future, we’re uncovering creatives who have learned from their own past experiences to positively influence their art in the present.

Like the well-travelled New Balance 990, when it comes to up-and-coming Irish musician Alex “Rejjie Snow” Anyaegbuna, his uniquely international point of view makes him not just a more intriguing musician, but a representative of a new wave of creatives. A rising musician for those “in the know,” Snow’s music crosses both the Atlantic and elements of his own lineage. The result is music that embodies a blend of sonic elements from around the world, and is still completely genuine to Snow’s story.

“[He is] a citizen of the world—he’s a magnet for all the things he’s experiencing, and in a very natural way, he’s expressing that all at once,” says video director, artist, designer, creative consultant and DJ, Vashtie. For Snow, that blend of experiences begins right from birth. Born to a Nigerian father and an Irish-Jamaican mother in Dublin, even Snow’s skin color was enough to set him apart from those he grew up with. He once told Noisey that, while growing up in Ireland during the ‘90s, he distinctly remembered being “the only colored kid in school.”

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this YouTube video.

But a key component of what sets Snow apart is his ever-present artistic streak. Growing up in Ireland, Snow gravitated to Dublin’s small but robust street art scene. “When I met Rejjie, he was just a little kid, maybe 13 or 14. I met him through graffiti,” recalls street artist Josh6. “Graffiti and music in Dublin are quite strong, and it’s always been quite strong because the Graffiti Shop is also a record label. It’s supported a lot of young musicians.”

After spending time abroad in the US (taking a soccer scholarship at prestigious art school, Savannah College of Art and Design in 2012), he returned back to Dublin knowing music was his passion. “The way my life was going, it was just going in a weird direction, and I felt kind of lost,” Snow confesses. Ultimately working out of London for a brief stint, he’s now in New York City actively advancing his sound and his career.

But that time back-and-forth didn’t hurt Snow’s sound—if anything, it made it more unique. “The music, and the beats—everything he creates is sort of otherworldly,” Vashtie admits. “He identifies with all the facets of who he is.” Those many aspects to combine into something that stands apart in a crowded music scene. Living in multiple countries, working in more than one artistic medium—these many parts help add to Snow’s story, and by extension, his music.

For some, having a multitude of influences can clutter the creative process—especially when it comes to filtering and fusing styles, aesthetics, and sounds. While other rappers are able to convey their history within their records, the fact that Snow has chosen to build around his own unique story has a resulted in a sound that’s as much of an individual as he is.

“Growing up in America, there’s a certain way that things are done in hip-hop,” explains Vashtie. “[Rejjie] sort of encapsulates this other aesthetic. There’s something very different and foreign about it, and it feels international.” When it comes to sonic success, it’s hard to top that.

Since 1982, the New Balance 990 has struck the balance between modern innovation and timeless charm. It’s a dynamic that has helped make the shoe a favorite among athletes and artists in equal measure. As we close out our series, take a look back at how Sang Bleu’s Maxime Büchi and multi-disciplinary artist Brendan Fowler have established the keys to their creative processes—locking up recognition from creatives and critics alike.

We Recommend
  • New Balance's 990 Sneaker Wears Its Blues Very, Very Well
    • Sneakers
  • From PUMA to ASICS, Browse This Week's Best Sneaker Releases
    • Sneakers
  • Snow Peak Winterized New Balance's Hottest Retro Sneaker
    • Sneakers
  • Snow Peak’s Winter New Balances Are Seriously Cold
    • Sneakers
  • Our Favorite New Balance Sneakers to Buy Right Now
    • Sneakers
What To Read Next
  • adidas Originals Is Looking Back For the Future
    • Sneakers
  • Nobu & Caviar with Chef Nobu
    • Culture
  • Why Are Famous People Obsessed With Cowboycore?
    • Style
  • LOEWE's JW Anderson Made 'Challengers' 2024's Best-Dressed Movie
    • Style
  • imma and Youngji Break the Mold for Level 3
    • Style
    • sponsored
  • Oakley's Techy Outdoors Label Is Expanding
    • Style
*If you submitted your e-mail address and placed an order, we may use your e-mail address to inform you regularly about similar products without prior explicit consent. You can object to the use of your e-mail address for this purpose at any time without incurring any costs other than the transmission costs according to the basic tariffs. Each newsletter contains an unsubscribe link. Alternatively, you can object to receiving the newsletter at any time by sending an e-mail to info@highsnobiety.com

Web Accessibility Statement

Titel Media GmbH (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titel Media GmbH strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titel Media GmbH tests, remediates and maintains the Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.