Paul Walter Hauserfans, it’s time to meet Signet Ringer.
A longtime fan of hip-hop music, Hauser dabbled in freestyle rap and lyricism for years before trying his hand in a recording studio for the first time in 2018 — but the “rough draft” creation wasn’t up to his standards. It wasn’t until he was stuck inside amid the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak that he met producerAleks Jamesand decided to make and release a project of his own.
Emma McIntyre/WireImage
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In an interview ahead of the EP and video release, Hauser spoke to PEOPLE about the inspiration behind his stage name, drawing inspiration from his own sobriety journey and creating the self-directed “5'10” visual with friends and his 14-month-old son, Harris.
Paul Walter Hauser aka Signet Ringer.Courtesy Signet Ringer
How did you come up with the artist name Signet Ringer?
How do you feel about coming into the rap space as a white guy?
I mean, it definitely breeds insecurity. It’s definitely reticent knowing that there are really only a handful of white rappers that ever did well on a national basis. Audiences are less concerned about it than I am. I build that up in my mind as if it’s an actual problem, but in truth, I think culture has come far enough to not really care about that kind of thing.
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Drugs and alcohol come up a few times throughout the EP and its visuals, and you’re eight months sober. Did you draw from your own experiences?
Yeah. I’m so gratefulto be sober. I dabbled with being sober while shootingBlack Bird, because I was just getting a little out of control while playing that character. Then, I officially jumped into the meetings and got a sponsor in the autumn. I don’t vilify drugs or alcohol at all if you can do things in moderation, but I cannot do things in moderation. I’m an all-or-nothing kind of guy, so I thought, ‘I’d better eliminate this from my life so that I can be a better dad, a better husband, and a better creative.’ What you’re hearing onMurder for Higheris a man recognizing his demons and trying to identify his problems. I plan to put out a full album on October 26th, my one-year sobriety anniversary, and the name of the album isSober. It’s a continuation of the journey and my personal story, and you can expect to hear some lighter tracks.
Have your wife Amy and son Harris been a part of the music-making process or served as inspiration?
They were kind of in the dark regarding it. My closest friends, I would go in their car and say, “Hey, let me play you the rough cut of this song,” but I kept it from my wife. Then, I ended up using one of her close friends, Cade Ellis, on “5'10”, and that triggered her to be like, “OK, you need to play your music for me. My husband and my friend are on the same track. I need to hear this song.” She was into it, and it grew on her over time. I think at first it was pretty jarring. It’s not something she knew she was signing up for, but she knows I’m completely out of my mind, so hopefully it feels like a natural progression for that.
Paul Walter Hauser and Amy Boland.Emma McIntyre/WireImage
Is there a particular song onMurder for Higherthat feels most representative of who you are as an artist?
The title track of the EP is the most exemplary piece of art I’ve put out as far as it pertains to me. “Murder for Higher” begins with a skit that’s a little comedic but very dark about the idea of your demons bullying you and you ask them, “Am I a pinata because I’m celebratory?” And they’re like, “No, you’re a pinata because we like beating on you.” Then it goes into the verse, and it’s me rapping about my spiritual disposition. “Murder for Higher” has my humor, my self-deprecation, my struggles, my point of view.
Can fans expect music to become a part of your acting career at all going forward?
I hope so. I am attached to two different projects. One is a podcast, one is a studio feature, and both are very music related. Whether or not those projects happen or not, I have to wait and see. But as people see my fearlessness and — hopefully — skill as it pertains to music, I hope I get more opportunities in the way of somebody likeJosh Gadgetting to sing inBeauty and the BeastorFrozenorBook of Mormon. I would love to do something like that.
source: people.com
