Damien Galindo, aka Sicksense, is a 23-year-old producer and rapper who just released his debut EP “2050: A Space Opera.” Born in California, he moved to the Bronx when he was a 1-year-old and has been living in New York State ever since.

He spent the bulk of his childhood in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, a cross of city and suburbs sprawled across the Hudson Valley. It was during this time in his life when his mother bought him “The Black Album” by Jay-Z, one of his biggest influences and what he said sparked his life-long interest in making music.

Back in his hometown, Galindo does a lot of work with the label JF Recordings, searching for talent and doing audio engineering. He hopes to apply what he has learned so far in college to the up-and-coming label and to keep gaining momentum.

“I used to perform a lot in Poughkeepsie,” Galindo said. “The first time I performed it was in front of my whole school for the talent show. I’m trying to do more shows now.”

Galindo began his college education at Dutchess Community College, majoring in communications and media arts. While there, he focused mainly on audio engineering and sound design. After taking a break from school, working in radio stations here and there, he arrived at Oswego State to major in marketing. 

“It is good to have a balance,” Galindo said. “I would not say to sell out, but it is nice to have the cross between marketing and creativity.”

Stylistically, Galindo said he tries to inhabit both sides of the spectrum.

“Sometimes I can be very conscious and write consciously,” Galindo said. “But like I said, it is nice to have that balance.”

The EP was released on multiple social-media outlets, such as Spotify, SoundCloud and Bandcamp.

“The big part is just getting people to listen,” Galindo said. “It’s all about involvement – getting yourself out there. I’ve been sitting on beats for years. Now I am finally at that point where I’m like, ‘Let’s quit wasting time.’”

“2050: A Space Opera” is a dark, moody project, consisting of five tracks, two produced by Galindo himself. Working alongside his friend Keshane Campbell, aka Bello, the songs cover topics such as dealing with success, aspirations and personal issues. 

“Experiences and life in general,” Galindo said. “I would say that is what drives me to make music, you know? They say the best art comes from pain. If I am going through anything, that is when I produce my best work.” 

Galindo personally knows most of the producers who collaborated on his EP from his youth. Over the course of the album, Galindo utilized the production skills of Lowkey, Mitch Shaffer, Isaac Newton and Smitty Beats. Righteous, the producer of the track “Goodbye,” creates his instrumentals by sampling classic vinyls. This is something that he and Galindo did when they were in high-school together.     

Each song on “2050: A Space Opera” is filled with loads of reverb and delay, as Galindo’s hooks get bounced back and forth through the listener’s headphones. In its description, the duo write that they want to “take you to another dimension with futuristic sounds and relatable tragedies.” If there is one comparison to make, it would be to the older work of Kid Cudi, like 2009’s “Man on the Moon: The End of Day.” The EP gives off a lot of emotion and shows that Galindo is more than ready to stand out from the rest of the pack and move into uncharted territory.

After college, Galindo plans on moving down South, which he claimed is the “best place” for music and a great spot to start making moves. His producer and friend Righteous is making the move there and Galindo wants to follow suit.

“You have got to build your community of musicians,” he said. “Back then it was New York, but times are changing.”

When asked what his dream collaboration would be, Galindo said he would love to work with the producer Timbaland or rapper Kendrick Lamar.

“I would have to write my best s*** ever,” Galindo said. “I would have to be in my room for two days straight writing to ever approach something like that.”   

So, what does Sicksense have planned for the year 2050?

“I’m trying to be one of the biggest,” he said. “I’m trying to have a label, have some talent – stuff like that. In all honesty, I don’t even know if I’ll be here.” 

Until then, Galindo intends to keep creating and releasing music as much as he can. He is graduating this year, and will hopefully be seeing bigger and better things in his future.