Myke Terry is a man of many talents. Before he went out on his own to create tasty funk ditties (the likes of which will be out on his debut, Red Handed, on October 9), Terry was the frontman for rock & roll band IVA. Before that, he fronted metalcore band Bury Your Dead. At some point, there was also a stint at culinary school. But a move to Los Angeles in 2013 prompted a change of sound—Terry wanted to make music he’d always wanted to make, combining all his influences from soul, to rock, to '80s pop. (His sound? Just imagine if Billy Idol + ZZ Top + Prince + Michael Jackson had a love child. Yes.) Today, we're excited to premiere his latest single, "Slide." Listen to the track and read about why Terry decided to go solo, his inspirations from living in Los Angeles and whether or not race plays into his creative process below.

Hometown: Richmond, Virginia

Homebase: Los Angeles

Your background is pretty diverse; you were in culinary school and then a heavy metal band. How did you get interested in such disparate creative forms of expression?

I've always loved listening to and performing metal, but before I was able to rely on music to pay the bills, cooking is what held me down. I grew up loving to cook didn't know what to do after high school. That’s how I ended up in culinary school in the first place. I wasn't really trying to sit in one more algebra class ever again, but my parents still wanted me to "do something with my life" so normal school was out. I was super depressed the whole time I was in college, even though I loved learning and was really good at it. I always felt like I wasn't fit to be there and kept writing songs outside of classes about how fucked off everything was to pass the time. When the band I was in at the time started taking off, it made dropping out of school — with few to no friends — to play full time the only choice.

You’ve talked about the challenges of being a black when you fronted a metal band. Does race play into your creative process now?

Maybe? I could see how my experiences as a black artist would come out different from, say, someone who was Asian, but I try not to focus on getting caught up in any of that. I just the play music I wanna feel at the time for whoever wants to listen. It shouldn't ever be about race.

You were in Bury Your Dead and then IVA -- both bands gained considerable success, so why did you decide to go solo?

i think it just sorta happened. I was writing and recording more on my own without band members until it just clicked that I should just be me.

Does living in LA inspire your music?

LA is a crazy place (laughs). I’ve learned, seen, and done things I probably would have never been exposed to. It’s given me a different perspective on life which I feel like has definitely has found its way into my art.

How did you get started on your musical path?

I got grounded for the summer of my 13th year. I couldn’t leave my room for three fucking months ... I had a guitar I borrowed from my aunt and a radio that I would learn to play along to. I think that's what started it. I was already a chorus nerd so I could already sort of sing, but when I found the guitar, I grew obsessed and it never stopped.

Who are your musical heroes?

Kanye, Thom Yorke, Cee-lo Green, Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl.

You've worked with some amazing people. Who is your favorite and why?

Working with D'angelo was my most interesting interaction. A mutual friend introduced us and we instantly clicked. One day he invited me over to his house and we jammed ideas back and forth for stuff I had been working on, and as well as some of the tracks he had been working on which would go on to be his latest album. Hearing the framework of some of those tracks before the bells and whistles will always be special to me.

What was your inspiration for your debut Red Handed? It's a lot different from your metal background.

Life after BYD was a huge inspiration for Red Handed. I went through so much in between back then and writing the record. it was definitely a therapeutic experience overall.

What themes were you working on when making the album?

Everything. Love, being hurt, heartbreak and trust issues. The struggle ... you know, life.

Who is your dream collaborator at the moment?

Oooooh! Kanye for sure! I’d love to work with Pharell and Timbaland also.

How do you describe your music to people who haven't heard it before?

Motown soul with electronica vibes.