His work is inspired by his upbringing. Corey Streets grew up in Rochester, New York and both of his parents passed away when he was young due to addiction.
Photo Credit: Corey Streets – Official
Growing up poor, and at one point homeless and on the streets- which inspired his name Corey Streets – taught him how to be self-reliant and dream big. Being bi-racial: half black, half white, and queer, he struggled to find himself as a kid and endured bullying. Music was his way to cope with feeling like he didn’t belong and now his goal is to share his experiences to alleviate others feeling the same.
EG caught up with Corey Streets to learn more about the drop of his latest single, his incoming ‘Streetsmart’ EP, his upbringing, and more.
EG: Hi Corey! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you based right now?
Corey Streets: Hi! I’m great, thank you. I’m so excited to be meeting with you. I’m based in New York City.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the drop of your new single, ‘Keepin’ It Cool’! What has the initial reception been like?
Corey Streets: Thank you! Wow, it’s been wild. This was the first time that I got SO much feedback and excitement even before the drop. It’s still surreal to me when a random person tells me they’re looking forward to hearing something new that I have been working on. It’s unbelievable to think that people are looking forward to MY music, but I am SO grateful.
EG: So, what’s ‘Keepin’ It Cool’ all about? What can your fans expect to find on this one?
Corey Streets: ‘Keepin’ It Cool’ is all about living in the moment, and not thinking too much into something. More specifically, a romantic moment. There’s so much pressure sometimes to “lock” something down, and put a label on a relationship, this is a fun reminder that sometimes it’s ok to just go with the flow, and have some fun while doing it.
EG: And this comes in the lead-up to the drop of your ‘Streetsmart’ EP, which is set to drop this summer. What’s the statement behind your debut EP? Why did you choose to go with this set of songs for your first record?
Corey Streets: This being my first EP ever, I really wanted to showcase who I am as an artist and also a person. ‘Streetsmart’ was important, being book-smart is important, but not everyone has the ability to be intuitive with their surroundings. I don’t just mean dangerous situations, I mean in general like navigating people, relationships, hardships, etc. ‘Streetsmart’ showcases songs that have reminders to not overthink, but be conscious of what’s going on around you. Fans will find vibey, jams, and even a ballad song on there, which I cannot wait to share.
“It’s still surreal to me when a random person tells me they’re looking forward to hearing something new that I have been working on”
EG: By the way, you have a very rough upbringing…What’s the impact of music on your life? How has music helped?
Corey Streets: Yes, I grew up without a lot of money, and at one point homeless. My mother was an addict, so for most of my life, I was raised by my grandparents. This has impacted my music in so many ways. I think even the term “street smart” resonates so much with me because I needed to be street smart so many times in my life. Nothing was ever handed to me, and being in situations, relationships, and trying to find who I was as a queer, bi-racial person, it was all tough and made me really rely on myself. So a lot of my songs are reminders to trust yourself, and your instincts, and don’t press yourself to overthink too much no matter what it is.
EG: And being a bi-racial queer artist…What are some of the main challenges you have come across? How regularly are you judged because of this? Where must we improve?
Corey Streets: It’s still hard. I find that people still want to segment me into one group or another. “No way, you’re not black” is something I still hear. People are so shocked that I am half black, and continue to assume I am Latino or many other backgrounds, but when I say I’m black it’s like they almost argue with me in disbelief.
I think there’s always that initial reaction when people say something and you are shocked, but people don’t understand the repercussions that has on the person you’re reacting to.
I think we all need to instead of just asking “What’s your background, where are you from?”, we need to think about it a bit more, to ensure we’re not just asking because we want to validate what we’re assuming.
Even with my music, I once met with a producer long ago who asked me to change the word “ain’t” and enunciate more in my songs, and it bothered me because this is how I talk. I shouldn’t have to be more “proper” when many of the people who are listening to my music and who can relate to me might feel better singing along to songs that resonate with how they speak too, VS what’s the “proper” way to talk.
EG: Can you tell us something about yourself that only a few people know about?
Corey Streets: I am really big into manifestation. I feel like if I truly want something I can manifest it, and the energy will play out to get me there. I believe in speaking it out into existence and putting it out there, it will make its way to you.
EG: How do you keep entertained when not in the studio? Have you checked out any good movies, series, books, or albums you’d recommend?
Corey Streets: Living in New York City, there is so much to do. I try to do as much as I can to support other artists in different ways. Whether it’s even just seeing a drag show, supporting the local queens, or going to a musical or play. I love going to queer art exhibits too.
“It’s still hard. I find that people still want to segment me into one group or another. “No way, you’re not black” is something I still hear”
EG: What’s next for Corey Streets? What particular milestones are you looking forward to in 2023? Where can your fans catch you next?
Corey Streets: Getting this EP out will truly be a milestone for the books. I am so excited to have something that is truly authentic and feels like a piece of me. This summer fans can catch me performing at a queer music festival in NYC, and possibly even a few shows during Pride in NY and LA.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Corey! We wish you all the best for the future.
Corey Streets: Thank you so much! I really enjoyed this, and I can’t wait to share more of what Corey Streets has in store for the world.
Corey Streets’ ‘Keepin’ It Cool’ is out now. Find it here.
