Category: Interviews

Dirty D – Dandelion Heart [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Smooth Engaging Different

Tell us a few things about your new work ‘Dandelion Heart’. What is the main idea behind it?

Dandelion Heart was made to see if l could create a musical interpretation of love, fragile, yet perfect, that you can admire while appreciating the delicate yet amazing way its designed, like a dandelion heart. Everything looks perfect in love, but a strong wind of hate can destroy a dandelion heart.

What is the story behind your name?

I was a nightclub sax player for years. They called me Dirty D on stage cause my general attitude of hard drinking and hard parting that our band did. Now its mutated to mean I can make some sax notes so smooth it will make your partner want to do dirty things to you LOL!
The night club scene was crazy, but when Covid hit all our gigs and work dried up so I ended up in the studio making my own stuff.

Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?

Yes, Dubl A is a bass player I work with and just released a new EP Solar Sail with. His musical literacy is amazing and his Music Theory understanding is unmatched. he will be on all my work now.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?

My biggest challenge is getting my music out to people so they can hear it. Like most artists thats the goal. The issue with my work is that its a blend of genres that we use. We do it because it makes great stuff and sounds great to us. Its not made really to satisfy anyone else. So sometimes its hard to get on playlists because the Genre is kind of undefined.

If you were asked to rescore a film, which one would you choose?

Im not much of a movie guy but I think I would do a great score for an action film of some type. I can get my music to get crazy then drop to sadness all in the same song.

What is the most useless talent you have?

I like this question, thanks for asking it. you can quote me on this.
“There is no such thing as a useless talent, only talent that is used less.”

I have a friend that can pull a string into his nose and out his mouth…….He ended up getting his own TV show on discovery channel called guinea pig because of his seemingly useless talent. talent with no hustle is just talent, but its not useless. You need Hustle to make talent work. Its how hard you want to use your particular talent, whatever it is, that decides how useless it is. I have 45 songs out now and 20 or so appearances on other people work internationally. Im always on the hustle to make more great music.

Thank you!

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¡BAS! – Layers Of ¡BAS! [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Groove, psychedelic, timeless

You blend in your music numerous music genres. What is your creative process like?

When I start to develop an idea in the studio, I find the most important thing for me is not to put myself into a box. I just let it flow out of me and since I enjoy many different genres of music, this “blending” effect is born. I try not to let what people expect of me influence my creative process. This was the initial feeling that inspired the whole album. Hence the title of my first track “Own Time”. I like when I have nothing to do; I find this is when I am the most creative. Every song starts with a different instrument, that once laid down, paves the way for the rest of the track.

Do you like the idea of collaborating? Is songwriting a lonely process?

Collaboration can be a very rewarding and inspiring experience! I enjoy collaborating with the right people very much. Shout out to Jonny Sé, my close friend who featured on “Navigate” and is also my visual artist. Sometimes it can be a drag, in my opinion, you can’t collaborate with just anyone. You have to choose artists who you are compatible with and who you believe in. Collaboration should be built from trust, respect, and friendship. When I collaborate with other artists I prefer to give them full artistic control over what they are adding to the project. This way the results are creative and authentic.

Favorite album of the past decade?

This is a very tough question for me to answer. There are a lot of artists out there who make great songs but I would not consider their albums as a whole noteworthy. This being said I believe that a great album delivers an overall theme and has a tracklist that can be listened to without skipping any songs. In my opinion, the best album of the last decade is most likely Mordechai by Khruangbin. Some honorable mentions include 99.9% by Kaytranada, KOD by J. Cole, Swimming by Mac Miller, The Ascent by Charlesthefirst and French Kiwi Juice by FKJ. Shout out to all the amazing albums out there which I may have forgotten to mention.

What would you change in the music industry?

If I could change something about the music industry It would be how accessible it is. One could argue that we live in the best time ever to be a musician. We can instantly share music across the globe giving a stage to anyone who deserves it. Despite this being true I still feel that breaking into the scene and reaching a point where you can get consistent gigs can be difficult. Many times it seems people are given opportunities based on status or connections rather than what they bring to the table. I would like to see the music industry provide a better platform to give up and coming artists a shot. I would also like to see a return to a time when artists put meaning behind their music and released albums rather than singles. Authentic music is timeless, and authentic artists are what is missing from a lot of popular music these days.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

The purpose of my latest album is to speak to all the different aspects of an individual’s personality. We are all a culmination of the different influences we carry. I hope that in this release there is something for everyone. If you want to feel something, if you want to dance or reminisce, come and listen because has there ever been a truly one dimensional human.

When was the last time you danced?

I dance everyday. I spend my days listening to music from the moment I wake up till I go to sleep. It is my passion and I could not live without it. I dance alone while I’m jamming to what’s in my ear, I dance when I go out, I dance with my lovely girlfriend Camila, and I dance anytime I hear something that tickles my ear the right way.

Thank you!

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Gxbriel – I Can’t Help My Sagittarius Ways [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

The three words to describe my sound would be energetic, fun, and gay!

How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Tell us a few things about your creative process.

The creative process is a fun part for me. I usually have a sound in mind for a song and then look at a catalog of beats to see which is close to what is in my mind. After I pick the beat, I find beats that fit in the same element. Thus, creating an album/project based on that. My debut album’s track list was changed five times before being satisfied.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

It was very important to me to show vulnerability on my debut album. A lot of artist are straying away from that and it sucks. I love getting to hear an artist’s story and what made them who they are today, so that is why I wrote “IS This What You Wanted?” and put it as the opening track. I also wrote “Memory Lane” and “My Heart Is Looking For Yours” to give more of an insight. These three songs are my most personal and honest lyrics.

Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?

My favorite rapper is Megan Thee Stallion. She is killing the rap game and I hope to do a collaboration on a song with her one day. My favorite lyricist is Doja Cat. Her music is so transformative and she is one of the best. My favorite producer is “bckgrnd,” he produced “Pretty Ricky, Vol. 2” and “Fraudulent.”

Trap music came to rule the world, but at the moment the genre feels stagnant. What does the future hold for hip hop in general?

You never know what is going to dominate the rap world next. Anything can happen, but I feel like something big is going to happen. Something very transformative and groundbreaking. Shout out to Saucy Santana, he might be the one to do it!

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

I have a variety of songs that range in emotions, so it would be hard to tell, but I hope they are having a good time, laid back, and enjoying themselves as I tell my story!

One last thing we should know about you?

One last thing you should know about is I am a people’s person, if you ever see me out in public come by and say hi!

Thank you!

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Enoka – More Than Friends [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words?

Raw, 80ths synth bass

Tell us a few things about your new song ‘More Than Friends’. What is the main idea behind it?

To take you back in time with a more raw material where we take in the sound from the 80’s where you do not overpower the song with effects. Same thing with the production which is oldschool with modern elements. The lyrics speaks for it self haha, I want to be more than just a BFF with my homeboy.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

It’s definitely Im Alive. I wrote this when I really dipped in the music. It is a constant struggle to fight your way forward and you fight because the passion is so big and deep in you heart. I can not bear to continue but without the footbridge I am not alive.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

Whitney Houston, MJ, Mariah Carey, Brandy, Baby Face, Toni Braxton. They frame everything I love with soul and rnb from the past. Voices and styles I look up to today Eva Max, Rita Ora, Rihanna.

What would be your dream performance venue?

A packed Globen, home plan and that everyone sings along to my songs, what a dream. I sang there, it was packed with me singing behind an artist. I want to experience the same but as the main act

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

since I believe that I have circled many different styles, I hope that everyone finds something in me that they can resemble both in style and text. Without being scattered and still getting recognition, I do not want to commit to just one style.

What is the one habit/thing. you cannot live without?

Besides Singing I cannot live without swedish candy.. and then I’m a diabetic haha, and still cant live without it.. very hard this habit of mine.

Thank you!

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Ascidzz – WAR [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Dark, passionate, triumphant

How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Tell us a few things about your creative process.

I’m really a producer first, so usually I’m accustomed to just creating the ideas that come up in my head, which are entire songs. With this project, I really stepped outside of myself to work with other producers. I am very meticulous about how the music sounds — if it doesn’t have real potential , the lyrical ideas I receive I get aren’t going to be very strong, either. There are a lot of instrumentals out there, but there are also a lot of gems. You have to find what works for you.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

“Why should I confine to the norm, I have been scorned before I had a chance to be born, planned to abort — still kicking, I’m meant to move forward — still in it. Honesty, confidence, personality, let them witness it….”

Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?

My favorite rappers/lyricists are Big Pun and Eminem. My father (also known as GSB/Lake Verde, another of my greatest inspirations) gave me an MP3 Player when I was 12 years old with the entire Eminem discography on it with the freestyles, and just no one was on his level. Even to this day, it’s difficult to find lyricists on his level of penmanship. Same with Big Pun, who was incredibly ahead of his time. I place Big Pun ahead of Eminem on my list mostly because of the time period. My favorite producer has changed so frequently (I am a producer first), Alchemist was my first favorite producer growing up. Then it became Skrillex and then Ramzoid… producers have their hots and colds, and I’m extremely picky about soundscapes. I also love ka1, who produced “Goddess” for the I Know I Waited project. Super talented, we’ve known each other for years trying to make it in the electronic music scene.

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

Hip Hop symbolizes a culture that mostly people who look like me can call a place for expression, whether as a listener or a contributor to the genre. Hip Hop is the culture that was cultivated out of love during a time where we couldn’t seem to get it outside of our closest communities. It represents Deejaying, Emceeing, Graffiti, Breakdancing, street fashion, Beat boxing, street knowledge, street language, street entrepreneurialism, which have provided a means of salvation for a people who have been oppressed and marginalized for generations to the point of desertion. I may not know my cultural heritage, but I do know that I can represent for it through my culture, which is Hip Hop.

When not writing music, how do you spend your time?

I love to play chess, I love to read. I also like to go out to events and vibe and connect with more creative people.

Future plans?

I Know I Waited is one of a few mixtapes. There are videos/content coming soon, I’m performing throughout LA, more mixtapes being released soon; we’re leading up to an album, that will be titled “The Stomach.” Stay tuned!

Thank you!

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Vala – Baddest Bitch [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Alternative Hip-hop/Pop

Tell us a few things about your new song Baddest Bitch. What is the main idea behind it?

“Baddest Bitch” is about self-confidence and standing up for yourself. In today’s world, it often seems that you can’t feel good about yourself or something that you’ve done without someone criticizing you. Sharks, who are people who try to use others for their own advantage, are everywhere. They are at every job that you work, they can be the people you meet, and the song is about how you handle those interactions with them that shape who you are going to be.
 
In this video (which is partially animated), the animation shows Vala vs. the villain – who is an actual shark, personified. At the start of the video, Vala is in a retro TV when a remote reaches to the TV and changes the channel to the animation where it’s Vala vs the shark in a series of scenes ranging from the gladiator arenas in ancient Rome to scenes in which she’s fighting zombies.  All of this is to create one underlying message: be confident in yourself, and don’t let anybody try to change who you are.

For which lyric you are most proud of?

“You’re more like a mean ogre, a creepy club promoter, a mediocre poser at best…” I thought it was funny.

Do you think there is a true underground hip hop sound today?

No and sort of yes. On the yes side — there is a sound of what “underground” hip hop is today but it is more just a sound that was created in the mainstream, so underground hip hop artists today have taken the mainstream and tinkered to make it their own and they all have a similar sound to their music. On the no side – there is no underground sound today that I have heard that was created first in the underground. The old underground sound seems to be only kept afloat by the artists who are still putting music out that were there when there was an underground sound that was created in the underground.

What would be your dream performance venue?

The house of Blues in Boston. While maybe it is not Madison Square Garden, when I was growing up I used to go there to see some of my favorite artists and bands. I have wanted to preform there ever since.

Favorite music related film?

School of Rock (haha might be kind of a strange answer but seriously it is an awesome movie and just makes you want to write or play any and all types of music)

You’d give up making music for…

I wouldn’t

Thank you!

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MoCity Jones – New Ground Collab [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

chill, eclectic, lyricism

Tell us a few things about your new son New Ground Collab. What is the main idea behind it?

New Ground Collab was an independent group of rappers djs producers singers poets all working together to create something different. Me and Oscify were both contributors to NGC and we made this song as a paying homage of sorts. This song really hits home for me cause it felt like it was 20 years in the making. Everyone on NGC really inspired me and I definitely wouldn’t be rapping without them.

For which lyric you are most proud of?

“Versify my penmanship I’m coming with a new sound” versify being one of Oscifys biggest albums. I strive to bring something new to the table every time I step to the mic. Fun fact I actually name drop some of my favorite Oscify projects throughout my verse. Oscify in turn name drops a lot of people in NGC, not everybody there’s too many to name honestly but I know someones going to be salty about not being mentioned.

Your music has an old school vibe. Are you into today’s Hip Hop? Or do you prefer to listen to old classics?

“The old school” feels like home to me. But I ain’t gonna front like there ain’t a ton of talent bubbling right now. The industry is just really over saturated and you have to dig through the crates so to speak. I’m really digging Kota the friend, marlon craft, and elzhi to name a few.

Trap music came to rule the world, but at the moment the genre feels stagnant. What does the future hold for hip hop in general?

The sound likes to go in cycles, each one different than the last. From boom BAP to trap to grime, auto tune and mumble rap. But I think we’re done seeing sweeping changes within the game. We won’t see boom BAP again or anything but we might see a sub genre of boom BAP or hip pop. I personally dabble in many sub genres of hip-hop & rap. I have trap, and boom BAP albums, Which is fine it’s all about staying true to yourself.

When not writing music, how do you spend your time?

When I’m not writing or working on music I’m spending time with my daughter she just turned two and it feels like she was just born. it’s amazing being a father, just a wonderful feeling.

Future plans?

I have a sequel for my album “journey to lost” coming out called “Journey II.” Drops April 29th. I’m also working on an anime inspired drum and bass album currently And I’m super excited about it!

Thank you!

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Odelet – The Angels Album [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Hmm… like the sound of my record? My production? Warm.Fat.Old.

Tell us a few things about your new work ‘The Angels Album’. What is the main idea behind it?

Well, it’s sort of the culmination… and the beginning. It’s the culmination of a life obsessed with music, all leading to the moment when you find the truest, highest expression of your art. And then, it’s the beginning, because once you find that, you just want to see how much of it the Muse will give you.

Which song (if any) of the album reflects you the most and why?

When you have children, they each reflect you in different ways. I’d like to just go with the proud parent response, I love all my kids equally. But in this moment… Angels.

Main influences?

Rugs. Tapestries. Birds. Teapots. People who pioneer things… expand things… stay true to something they love… detail oriented people. Flowers.

What would you change in the music industry?

What music industry… ? For me, that’s two things, music and industry. What would I change about industry? Hm. Support small businesses. And music… I like that question a lot, hmm. I could see peoples’ relationship to music being so much more satisfying if they were to practice the way I’ve been told it was… That our parents and their parents used to sit and listen to music and not do anything else… I like the idea of a resurgence of that, of more full focus listening.

Which book should we read while listening to your music?

Ha! Well like I was saying… but if I had to choose something, I’d say pick something heavily illustrated.

What is the one habit/thing you cannot live without?

Water.

Thank you!

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Sam CD – 3 Suites [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

beats for nerds

Your music has an experimental vibe. What is your creative process like?

If I have something in mind I will try to put it on paper, but if not I will try to build off of a transcription of an existing work, usually jazz, sometimes classical, as a starting point. All of these tracks were made while commuting to and from work over the course of a few years.

Do you like the idea of collaborating? Is songwriting a lonely process?

All music is collaboration, at the very least between creator and listener. It shouldn’t be a lonely process I don’t think.

Main influences?

Hip hop (beatmakers especially… Alchemist, Kanye West); eccentric classical (Stravinsky, Debussy); jazz piano (Dave Brubeck); movie scores; randomness

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?

Having to get a job

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

contemplative, cooling out, zoning out

What is the most useless talent you have?

They’re all pretty useless but I was a tour guide in Paris for some time, so I could tell you some cool facts about French history which are likely false.

Thank you!

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Dre Day 100 – Ride With Me [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Innovative, creative, and litty

Tell us a few things about your new song Ride With Me. What is the main idea behind it?

Ride With Me is a track that gives the audience a clear background about me. I had a fan one day tell me that they wanted to hear more about my story and what I am about and they were right because I didn’t have many songs describing my story. So I decided to go head and spread my message and let everyone know about what I had to go through to get to where I am now.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

“Working all them jobs working day and night shifts.” The whole song is honest but if I had to choose the most personal and honest lyric it be that one. I still work two jobs at the moment and that just let’s everyone that I grind for mines.

Your music has an old school vibe. Are you into today’s Hip Hop? Or do you prefer to listen to old classics?

I like the new era of hip hop but yes I do prefer the old school more. It was more genuine and different back then and everyone was original back then. 90s rap just gives you that feeling that you never want to let go for a long time.

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

Hip hop symbolizes struggles, triumphs, and revolutionary messages being spread to the masses.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

If they have the mindset of wanting to be litty and enhance their mood but wanting to actually listen as well instead of just bopping their head, then those are the people I can see tuning in to my music.

What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

Besides the weed charge I got a couple years back, there was a time back in middle school when I was 13 going on 14 and me and a homie of mine decided to go scratch up our teachers car for the sole reason of us not liking her. Well the homie that I was with decided to go tell everyone about it and whoever he told snitched on us and the teacher decided to press charges on us. Long story short we got arrested at school, got sent to an alternative school, had to take a tour of juvie, and luckily all we got was probation.

Thank you!

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