They Made Me Do It: Vancouver's Anami Vice On His New Album

Categorized | Killahbeez Interviews, Music

Tags | Anami Vice, Jay-Z, Mos Def, Nas, T-Pain, Take Your Shirt Off, They Made Me Do It

Anami

Local Vancouver hip hop artist Anami Vice is back with another album, They Made Me Do It. The album release party is this friday and I had the chance to chat with him briefly about what the album’s about and how he’s trying something new because well…they made him do it.

So tell me, what’s the new album about?

It’s about me trying to do something a little more mainstream. After the last album I thought I would try to do something that would appeal to more people. I didn’t think I would have as much fun making it but at the end of the day I think I enjoyed making this album more than anything I’ve done. It came out sounding more pop-y.

What was the idea behind They Made Me Do It?

Well really, I made me do it at the end of the day but I made me to it because that’s what [ the fans] wanted. I really had a good time making the album!

Was it easy to get into the pop/mainstream swing of things?

It came super easy and easier than I expected!

How are you going to promote the album?

I think I’m going to do a lot of internet marketing. I don’t want to give anything away but I think I have a pretty original plan. I’m going to be pretty intense about it.

Do you have a lot of shows lined up?

The show I’m doing in Vancouver is for me, friends, and whoever else wants to hear the new album. But I think I decided after the last album that I didn’t want to go the route of grinding it out and doing a lot of shows around town or around anywhere. That’s another reason behind the concept of the new album. I’m trying to do something that can appeal to a lot of people and market it to the internet instead of doing the long slow traditional process.

Was there anything in particular that influenced this album?

My friend and I were listening to the album and he said he could tell where the influence for each one of the songs came from and I think for most of them he was spot one.

For example, there’s a song called “Vodka Soda” and if you listen to it you can see the inspiration is from a Mos Def track called “Miss Fat Booty”.

Do you have a favourite track off the album?

Probably the last track “High Five” and the fourth track called “Hollywood”. Those are my favourite right now.

So how are you dealing with the whole T-Pain thing where you guys released tracks titled the same at the same time?

[Laughs] I would rather it be T-Pain rather than NAS or Jay-Z, or someone I actually respect. My song is what it is and it’ll stand on its own.

Another group released a song in the summer time called “Take Your Shirt Off” too. So the novelty of the song is completely gone now.

Well that happens right, you’re bound to name a song something that’s already been done. Not that you want accidental traffic of people searching for T-Pain but getting you instead, but you never know, maybe they’ll find your version first and like it better!

Yeah absolutely. That’s why I “leaked” my “Take Your Shirt Off” track as soon as I heard that T-Pain released his song, in hopes that people might click on mine! The only problem is that I don’t think that people who listen to T-Pain’s stuff will necessarily like Anami Vice’s stuff.

True, but you never know! People’s tastes are varied.

Again I’m glad it was T-Pain rather than Jay-Z because then I would actually feel bad about it. I’m a huge Jay-Z fan. If he did it, I would be like, ah he did it, now I feel like an idiot!

Cool, well that’s it! Anything else you want to say about the album?

Listen to it! It’s going to be available for free download on my site, anamivice.com.

Sweet, well I’ll see you Friday at the album release party!

That’s rad you’re coming, I’m stoked!

See you then!

You can download his album for free of his website as of this friday. In the mean time, listen to the first two released tracks off of They Made Me Do It:

Anami Vice – Call and Response