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Trackademicks - Sound In The Signals Interview

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Your new album State Of The Arts just came out. This is your first official album but for those unfamiliar you've been releasing mixtapes for a while. What made you wait this long for the official album?
When I started out releasing music to the public, The [Re]Mixtape series being first up, I was just trying to get my sound out there. Doing remixes was a great way of showcasing my sound to those who were unfamiliar, bringing popular (and some not so popular) songs into my headspace, my soundscapes. I do so many different things, so the [RE]Mixtape platform was the perfect medium to present it. State Of The Arts is an evolution of that. I decided to drop the album after the [Re]Mixtape series was complete to serve as a main event to the extensive pre-dinner remix appetizers. Dinner has just been served, with more courses on the way. I hope folks got an appetite!
The album sounds great and the production on it is top notch and the vocal delivery is on point. Seeing as you do the production and the lyrics do you start with the beat or the lyrics first? What your work process like?
My process has definitely changed over the years. When I first started, I was doing what I could within my skill set. I’m doing the same now, but the skill set and artistic vision has definitely been broadened. I used to make beats all day, flipping samples adding chords, and then the drums. I’d write the song when the beat was done. The process was definitely more linear back then. Now, nothing is linear. Now I start with a feeling, or a concept, either tangible or intangible, and then translate that into chords and textures. Now I tend to write the lyrics while making the beat. Might lay down the hook and then mix and bounce whatever part of the song is done and sit on it until the next time I go in to finish it. No more order to the process. The Freeway.
Your video for “State Of The Arts” came out not too long ago and it was a great first visual for the album. What was the video shoot like and are you pleased with the reception of the video? Any plans for a follow-up video and if so what track(s) would you like to make videos for?
The video for the title track, “State Of The Arts” was definitely a great way to jump off the experience. The song is the mission statement, proclamation, so I wanted to make sure that the message was clear; this music is for everyone. The video was shot by Dahveed Telles. Working with him was awesome, real easy. We did the whole thing in a one day shoot in Berkeley on Telegraph Ave and the legendary Fantasy Studios. I’m definitely pleased with both the outcome and reception of the video. In a perfect world, I want to do videos for every song on the album; mixed media, high concept, low budget- all types of visual representation. So far, we’re working on videos for “Score” and “International Affairs”. I have a treatment I wrote for “Quit Yo Job”/ ”Get A Job” as well. Just stay tuned. I’ll throw something in front of your eyes.
When you first started rapping a lot of people liked to compare you to Andre 3000 do you agree with the comparison at all? How did it feel to be compared to one of hip hop's greats?
Oh wow. I wasn’t aware of that. Outkast is the BEST hip-hop group ever. No hyperbole in that statement. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik is in my top five albums of all time. So naturally it’s flattering. More than anything, in my eyes, I think the comparison is philosophical, in terms of my approach. As a fan of those dudes, I learned that hip-hop music was not something that had to fit in a perfect little box. When people hold you in the same regard as those you look up to, you know you’re doing something right.
You are from around the Bay area and over the last few years we've seen things like hyphy and more recently based really gain a lot of momentum in the area. Your production is also something new and different. What made you want to be a producer and when did you discover you might have the ability to bring some new things to hip hop music?
My ears have always been open to all types of music. Music is like food. And there are sooooo many different things to eat. When you’ve been raised in a multicultural household/environment, you tend to have a unique perspective on how things are. Rice DOES go with every meal. Cheap eats can be more satisfying than expensive cuisine. And the same goes with music. I decided to “cook” up beats when I wasn’t necessarily getting everything I wanted to FEEL in one place. Music is the manifestation of feelings. I wanted to express my tastes in a cohesive way. Out here on the Fresh Coast we have California Cuisine. I’ve just decided to make music with the same ideals. When no restaurant serves what you want at the moment, open your own. My some of my main ingredients include justice, freedom, responsibility, enjoyment, decency, and LOVE. $h!t is real out here.
You released a single on Fool's Gold a while back and the label and the whole operation is really interesting. What made you decide to go with them for the single and are your thoughts on what A-Trak is doing for underground hip-hop?
Fool’s Gold is one of those situations that get it. They are tastemakers and artists who understand that music is only a part of the bigger picture. They understand that much in the way that visual arts depict movements and burgeoning ideals, music is that for the ears. And when you combine all of it together, it makes something really special. Before Fool’s Gold was born, I met Nick Catchdubs in MIA at an MIA in-store during The Winter Music Conference. Heard me talking about a broken-beat Keak Da Sneak remix I had done and took interest. We became cool and when they decided to launch the label, they wanted to work with me. I love what they do. Ideologically, its pretty much in line with how I tend to enjoy my music culture; put it all together and make something new. A-Trak is definitely a leading forcing in helping underground movements surface today. To be able to help bring a primarily dance music culture into a hip-hop context is an amazing thing. You have kids now listening to Ducksauce next to E-40 in the same party. Fressssssh.
Creativity and originality are hard things to find in music. You have a lot creativity and originality. What do you think is the most important thing in finding something unique and different? Who are some artists you think are doing something creative?
It seems that everyone is searching high and low for that “It” factor. That thing that sets them apart from everyone else. Many people are looking for it in all the wrong places. As a youngster, I listened to music I actually enjoyed on a sonic level, not just because it was marketed to my demographic or had a cool video. The music always stuck. When I started first making music myself, I employed all those tastes and made music that I really enjoyed. That’s the key. Finding out what you like. Once you know what you like, everything you create will be filtered though that. The uniqueness and originality comes from the individual. It’s not what you say, but how you say it. I’ve always been a fan of artists whose personality and ideals stand in the forefront of their art- artists like J*Davey, Little Dragon, Janelle Monae are on that list.

I guess that about wraps it up. Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. Do you have any closing comments you'd like to make?

All good! Make sure you go get that State Of The Arts, out now everywhere digitally… It comes with extensive liner notes on some jazz album back sleeve type hype. Makin’ folks read. #HNRL #StateOfTheArts #FreshCoast

Let’s Go!


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