Red Velvet Papi has always been a master at crafting his own world in music, blending vulnerability with a touch of cheekiness in everything he does. His latest single, Outer Space, is a prime example of this unique alchemy—a mesmerizing, self-produced track that lifts listeners into the stars and beyond. But don’t let the playful name fool you—Red Velvet Papi is all about intentionality in his music, and Outer Space is no exception.
This Alt-R&B gem feels like floating in zero gravity, and that’s exactly the feeling Red Velvet Papi wanted to capture. “The girl I wrote it about, the first time we kissed it literally felt like I was floating after,” he says. “The goal was to not only capture that feeling lyrically, but also atmospherically with the production. And I feel like I did that pretty well.” The result? A lush, cosmic soundscape built on reverb-heavy harmonics and futuristic synths, perfectly complementing his earnest, heart-on-sleeve lyrics. It’s a track that pulses with romantic energy, leaving the listener suspended in the magic of love.
Outer Space isn’t just a song; it’s a moment frozen in time, capturing the awe of a first kiss and the overwhelming sensation that love can make the world feel like it’s spinning differently. Unsurprisingly, this track is a pseudo-sister to his 2019 hit Lava Girl from the I Love Girls - EP, both songs inspired by the same person.
In the song, there’s a palpable sense of wonder as Red Velvet Papi takes you on a journey through the infinite expanse of his emotions. It’s clear from the first note that he’s not just an artist—he’s a storyteller, a producer, and an engineer weaving his experiences into something tangible for his fans.
As he puts it, “I hope people take away how breathtaking and enchanting the feeling of love can be. I truly don’t think there’s a more magical feeling than love, and hopefully when people listen to this song, they feel similarly. Also, I want people to take away that I’m a really good producer!”
This is the third single off Red Velvet Papi’s forthcoming solo project, set to drop in 2025, and if Outer Space is any indication, his fans have a lot to look forward to. It’s a track that showcases his growth as an artist, blending his signature bedroom R&B style with the expansive, boundary-pushing production that has made him a standout figure in the Alt-R&B/hip-hop scene.
In the world of Red Velvet Papi, love is both an intimate, personal experience and a universal, cosmic force. Outer Space is proof that he’s not just here to make great music—he’s here to make you feel. So if you’ve ever wanted to float through space, tethered only by the pull of someone’s gravity, Outer Space is your soundtrack. And with two more projects lined up for 2025, you’ll want to keep an eye on this rising star—because the journey’s just getting started.
Outer Space feels like it captures the feeling of love in a truly unique way. What was it about this particular moment in your life that inspired this song, and how did you work to translate that feeling into the production?
I think I'm just a yearner at heart and crave that feeling of love constantly. It's an addicting feeling, and to give myself that fix more often, I try to make the moments I've experienced that feeling, tangible through the music. Any time I produce I'm thinking of my life like it's a movie; If my life is the script to my movie, my production is essentially me scoring these moments. The girl I wrote this about gave me that feeling of floating on air anytime I was with her. I remember the first time we kissed, it felt like I had wings. But there was always some distance or timing that threw things off, keeping us from being anything serious; still it never shook my feelings for her, even now. So in terms of production, I wanted to create a spacious soundscape to represent that metaphorical or literal space between us, but also litter it with soft, warm, and airy elements that represent the way I feel about her, and the way she knocks me off my feet every time I see her.
As someone who started as a producer and then transitioned into performing and songwriting, how has that experience shaped the way you approach creating music today?
I pretty much always start with the beat, and let it tell me what to write to it. If you think about it, the actual music does the heavy lifting for conveying the feeling of a song, it sets the scene and the lyrics simply accent it. Interestingly, I don't think my process has changed at all from when I was solely a producer. Even when I was just producing for my friends, I'd have ideas for how I think the song should go on my beat, but never really felt confident in doing it myself or presenting it to my friends for them to execute. Now, since I've obtained that confidence, it's just about belief in myself and my ability to execute, but the process itself remains the same. Like I said before, I view my life like a movie, so I'm essentially scoring these life experiences I've had, and bringing them to life in the sonic realm. And it's easier to write something when the beat is already dictating the emotion and vibe. It wasn't until the writing of the album I'm currently working on that I started writing first and then filling in the music around that idea. This has been an extremely challenging process for me, but it is making me grow as an artist. It's also fun being a performer now, because I can see what resonates with people at shows and what doesn't, and then try to work more of those elements into future productions.
Your sound blends so many elements—Alt-R&B, hip-hop, and a bit of lo-fi charm. How would you describe your musical style, and what’s been the most exciting part of finding that voice for yourself?
I would describe my style as "Bedroom Hip-Hop/R&B." It's kind of like Bedroom Pop, with how earnest my lyrics are and some of my choices in sound selection, as far as cute, softer sounds and like you said, having a bit of a lo-fi feel to it, but it is still very much Hip-Hop and R&B from a style or genre standpoint. The most exciting part about finding my voice is creating the music I want to hear in the world. My music isn't void of influence or references by any means, but I think that I bring a style and sound that is unique in the sense you can't really say it sounds exactly like X artist, or that I'm a clone or lesser version of some artist everyone likes. You can definitely hear elements of other people here and there, but I'm blending so many different influences from different artists, genres and time periods, that in the end I only sound like myself. That might make me a bit niche, but I take pride in having a unique sound! I also take pride in knowing anyone who likes my music, really enjoys me and what I specifically bring to the table.
You’ve mentioned how love plays such a key role in your music. Is there a specific relationship or experience that has influenced your lyrics, or do you find inspiration in the overall feeling of love itself?
Well, all my songs are inspired by specific people and relationships I've had in my life at one point or another, but it's definitely the overall feeling of love itself that I draw inspiration from. "Outer Space" specifically is about a girl I met in college; I've written songs about her before, and probably will again, because I still think she's that amazing. Right now I'm single, so currently, I'm either drawing from the feeling of those past experiences, or my yearning for new experiences that will give me a similar feeling. Love is never ending, at least that's what I believe, so it's an infinite well to draw inspiration from. It's also a very complex emotion. We, as a society, have been writing songs, movies, and books about it for centuries, but still don't have a firm understanding of what it is. Which is fascinating to me, and probably why I want to add my two cents. In fact, the album this will be on is largely about tackling what is love? Is it the ignorance of a crush? The rush of getting to know someone? The comfort that comes with the familiarity of someone? Or is it just the feeling you get when you look into someone's eyes? Every song on the album is touching on a different stage or kind of love; it's sort of a concept album in that sense.
With Outer Space being the third single off your upcoming solo project, what can fans expect from the rest of the album, and how do you think this release shows your evolution as an artist? What’s next for you after this?
Fans can expect a few more singles from the album while I put the finishing touches on it. It's going to show my growth as a producer for sure, but also as a jack of all trades. My songwriting is as sharp as ever, I'm leaning into my singing ability way more and with confidence; it's also the first project I've engineered entirely by myself, and not to toot my own horn, but it sounds pretty clean. Then on the production side of things, although it's Hip-Hop and R&B focused, I've still got a wide variety of sounds across the album. I'm mixing elements of Jazz, Electronic, DnB, and Ambient. It's going to be crazy! And beyond that, I'm also dropping a collab album with Atlanta based rapper, M3rce, this year. That one will also be produced and engineered entirely by me. That one might be out sooner than my solo project to be honest. But all that is to say, in 2025, there will be no shortage of new Red Velvet Papi to listen to!