As autumn rapidly approaches, I believe it’s about time we revisit Sterling Hudson’s debut album, the town without me. Released back in April, this multi-faceted project feels like a breath of fresh air. The album exudes a deep sense of earnestness, opting for originality over riding musical trends. Heartfelt tracks like “Chrysanthemum” and “Sunday Morning (Interlude)” have me wanting to raise a lighter high up to the sky at sunset. Hudson, a twenty-one-year-old hailing from Stone Mountain, Georgia, made the project in his small, studio apartment amidst the chaos of the Covid-19 quarantine. Using music as an outlet, the town without me emerged as an emotionally resonant time capsule. Sterling Hudson and I spoke via Zoom about how he got his start performing covers on TikTok, his favorite Cartoon Network shows growing up, and some Atlanta hidden gems.

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SHEESH: What was it that first got you into making music?

Sterling Hudson: I was enrolled at Georgia State, majoring in music. I took classes for it, like chorus, but I didn’t expect to actually make music. But during quarantine, I was stuck in the house doing hybrid classes. I started posting covers on TikTok way before I ever thought about making my own shit. Somehow, it just phased into me trying it out and creating my own music. Some of the songs that made it to the album were some of the first songs I ever made. All the emotions of quarantine pushed me to find something, and I guess music was just what it was. 

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How do you feel about TikTok as an artist? Do you enjoy it or does it feel more like a chore?

It’s cool, but it’s a struggle when my covers perform better than my own songs. It’s frustrating when I post my own music or that I’ve dropped an album, and it doesn’t hit as well as the covers do. I feel like having established an account with covers that appeal to a niche audience, the algorithm is probably like, “Bro, what the fuck are you trying to do?” when I post my own shit. It’s okay though, we’ll figure it out.

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Yeah, I saw you’ve done some covers of theme songs from animated shows. What were your favorite cartoons growing up? I was a big Cartoon Network kid. 

Sterling Hudson: Oh shit! Adventure Time is my top one. Regular Show, fo sho. Dude, coming home from school and watching Cartoon Network was peak. Me and my brothers would just stare at the TV for hours. What about you? 

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When I was little, Pokémon, Beyblade, and Ben 10. I would be glued to the TV when I came home from elementary school. Overall, I’d say Adventure Time. It’s my comfort show. Guaranteed good, happy vibes. 

No cap! Adventure Time is one of one, man. 

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Okay, so who are some of your musical influences?

In general, I’d say Rex Orange County. He’s a big inspiration. I was listening to him so much around when I first started making music. I wanted to make music that I loved as much as I loved his shit, able to bump it in the same way. Growing up, I listened to a ton of Bruno Mars on my little MP3 player and iPod, singing Doo-Wops & Hooligans and shit. As I got older, I leaned more into Billy Joel and Bob Dylan. This inspiration question is always so tough because I listen to so much music. I take pockets from everything I listen to. 

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So for the album, the town without me, what was the unifying theme with it containing so many different types of sounds?

I think there’s definitely a song for everybody on the album. The songs are all different, but they’re still in the same world—my world. What brought them together was the time period of making it during quarantine. We made hella demos during that time, almost subconsciously making a project. My boy Rowan and I were cooking for months and eventually got nine songs that really complimented each other. I was originally going to name the album after the street where I’m at now, a small ass studio apartment where most of the songs were made. I liked that name, but I really resonate with the message of the town without me. Like looking back on the town you grew up in and imagining what it would be like without you. This project is very emotional for me and represents what I was feeling at the time. It’s real shit. I hope people relate to it and catch the vibe. 

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Alright, what are three Atlanta hidden gems?

Okay, Stone Mountain. It’s a big ass mountain right next to where I live. It’s pretty east, but it’s still Atlanta. A lot of people in the city don’t know about it, but it’s a fire hike. There’s also a breakfast spot called Mamie’s that’s tough. I used to go with my family after church and it would hit every time. Third, damn, I guess Atlanta United games. Lately, I’ve been really into soccer.

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Outside of music, what are some of your favorite hobbies?

I fuck with hiking. I also really like movies. If I’m not cooking up or hanging with the homies, I’m probably watching a movie. 

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What’s a goal or dream to achieve for you?

Making it out of my hood, like Stone Mountain. I want to go everywhere, bro. I want to be able to travel and embrace different communities from all over the world. I also want to be able to perform more and have more people tapped into my music. 

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Listen to Sterling Hudson’s debut album, the town without me, available now on all streaming platforms.