One of the things that has become all but synonymous with Strange Music is helping people through music.

Whether it be Tech N9ne’s “Dysfunctional“, Krizz Kaliko’s “Bipolar“, or any of the many transparent and introspective tracks from Strange Music artists, there’s something that fans can connect with and know that they’re not the only ones having a hard time.

Krizz Kaliko’s new track “Scars” off his upcoming album Son Of Sam is no different, and it’s actually made in response to the many messages and face-to-face times he’s had with fans in which they’ve expressed their thanks to him for writing songs that help get them through hard times.

Recently, we had a minute to sit down and talk to Krizz about what this track in particular means to him and why he chose to address it this way.

Tell us what “Scars” is about.

“Scars”…When people come up to me in these meet and greets and on Twitter and Facebook and they’re like, “Dude, I was gonna commit suicide before I started listening to your music, your music has really helped me”.

I hear this every day. I heard it just last night at the show in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and kids come up and they’re like “I was going to commit suicide. I was going to do something crazy to somebody else” or “I lost my mother” or “I’m going through surgery” or “I’m going through cancer” and I hear this all the time. They say they use my music to help them get through man, and so I just had this idea like “Scars” man, like mental scars.

And the words of the hook “I hope I can find something to say to make you turn away from your scars” just for this moment that you’re listening, if nothing else while you’re listening to this song. So I had to make a song acknowledging the fact that I really do take that to heart when people tell me that.

A lot of us grow up and we all have hopes and dreams of actually making a positive impact in the world and you have the opportunity to do that through your music. How does that makes you feel?

Man, it’s a huge responsibility that I’d have to say I never wanted to have, but I’m so pleased that I could be the guy that people look to at Strange Music to help them get through stuff because everybody goes through stuff, everybody goes through different things. You gotta have those songs to give people that little boost, to let them get through that little hump at least for the three or four minutes that that song is on, and then you can just keep playing it.

When did you realize that you’re not just a musician and a singer and a rapper but someone that can actually touch lives? When in your career did that click?

I’d say Genius. Once I did the song “Bipolar” on Genius, I realized like, “Damn, these people are counting on me.” It’s not just about enjoying the music, it’s about touching people and ministering to people through song.

When you handed it to Tech I’m sure he also related to the subject quite well, did you have to tell him anything?

Nah man, I just had the hook and I sang the hook and played the beat for him, and he was like “Dude, you gotta say the right thing on that man, that’s a real touchy subject man because I hear people saying that to you so you gotta say the right thing.” I was on tour when he did his verse and he sent it to me and I was like “Perfect.” That part at the end is actually me talking over the phone. I had to call and leave that message on the phone because I was already on tour.

When Tech comes in it’s kind of like he’s picking up the baton from you, because he carries over your scheme. Was that little bridge already there?

Yeah, that was my design man. The first tats I saw from fans dedicated to artists were for Tech N9ne, So I wanted to start his verse because now there’s a lot, a lot of kids with tattoos of Krizz Kaliko, you know? And so since we shared that common thing I wanted to start his verse off like that.

The other day I tweeted you that picture of a fan tattoo, do you see those often?

All the time dude, all the time. I feel like every day there’s a new tattoo popping up of either some of my lyrics or my logo, or the Strange logo, or Tech N9ne’s logo. A lot of people have “Created A Monster”. I think I dropped the ball on not having a video for that, a lot of people have that tattoo on them.

So you didn’t rap at all on this song, how does it feel to do that when you’re having more of a singing role? How do you like that?

I do both of them man, so it isn’t necessarily one that I like more than the other, but I think I can translate that better when I’m singing. I think I can actually tell the story – I have a song on there called “Why So Serious” – like, why – because I’m such a fun-loving, lighthearted, funny dude – why do I get so serious sometimes and I can’t let it go. Like, I literally can’t calm down when I get mad, like it takes me a long time to calm down. If I seem calm after I’m mad, I’m just playing it off. I rapped in that song, I sang the whole chorus, but I rapped. I feel like I conveyed that message really well even though I rapped, but there’s something about singing that just translates better the thoughts from my heart.

It’s good to see you do it predominantly because there’s songs where you’re singing two thirds of the time, but it’s cool to hear you do that because you do have a great gift for it. The last question about this song in particular is there anything you want to say to your fans in this interview that are touched by your music?

I want to say that, like I said in “Scars”, I get your messages. I really do. I get your messages and I take them seriously. When somebody puts a tattoo on their body that represents Krizz Kaliko or Strange Music on their body we take that very seriously, we don’t take it lightly. That’s a big honor man, you got something that represents us on your body for the rest of your life. You’re not just an insignificant fan that just purchases our music, you know?

We’re part of your life for the rest of your life, and you’re part of ours. That’s like joining a family for real. I really appreciate that, I really, really, really, really do. When I recorded “Scars”, I literally sat down and cried in the studio after that, like I had to take a minute, just to let you know how serious that is, I want the fans to know, that’s how I take it. I will never let you down, if you buy the album I won’t let you down but I sure won’t in respect to the fact that you got my tattoo on you, that’s something that represents me. I really do love them. I said it at the end and I meant it.

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There you have it, Kalikoholics. If there was ever any doubt in your mind that Krizz Kaliko is a real dude and cares about each and every one of his fans, they’re surely dissolved after hearing that track and reading this interview.

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• What Krizz Kaliko track has helped YOU through tough times?
• How did you feel when you first heard “Scars”?

Let us know in the comments below!