Meet Daniel Merriweather. This Australian crooner has a lot going on in that soul of his. Driven by his philosophical mind to find meaning in life, he’s put together an impressive first album. Love & War is a classic. It’s the kind of album that Merriweather will still be proud of twenty years from now: that’s not something many artists can do. His old school soulful voice will definitely strike you. I had the chance to chat with him about his latest effort, influences, and what touring with Kanye was like.

So how did you get into music?

I started playing the violin when I was seven years old. I think the first album I ever bought, when I was ten years old, was Cooleyhighharmony by Boys II Men. That was really what taught me to sing. I’d like to be able to say it was Marvin Gaye but it was Boys II Men. They’re a guilty pleasure to be honest.

Really? Interesting! I would have thought Marvin Gaye and the like would have been your influences!

Those influences came later. Discovering Stevie Wonder when I was 14 opened that door to late 60’s early 70’s soul music like Otis Redding, Donny Hathaway, etc.

The 90’s was also a huge influence with D’Angelo and other hip hop artists, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, and other bands. There are just so many different types of music I was and am inspired by. When I get into the studio I sort of take all of those different influences and come up with something new.

Have you found it difficult to break onto the music scene outside of the UK?

It’s been really fun and I’ve loved every minute of it. People already knew me because of the work I did with Mark Ronson in the past. People wanted to see what I had to offer, I wasn’t a fresh face that they’d never heard of before.

What’s the feeling/mood behind your album Love & War?

It’s an album about dialectics and the way human beings react in different circumstances. The idea of love and relationships has always fascinated me. On a political level, a love song can be a metaphor about what’s going on in the world.

Do you have a favourite track on the album?

My favourite is “Cigarettes”. I wrote that with my good friend Jordan Galland. “For Your Money” is one of my favourites to perform live.

Any reasons in particular why they’re your favourites?

“Cigarettes” explains a lot about my teenage years and early twenties. It’s about being in relationships, being young and stupid, going out all night, sitting around, and then listening to a whole lot of negative vibes from your girlfriend. It’s basically about going out too much and screwing up relationships, which I’ve since learnt not to do!

How was it like working with Mark Ronson?

I met Mark seven years ago. He invited me to come to New York and we became good friends. We started working towards putting my album out and then he put out two albums that I worked with him on.

We just finished my album. I think he’s working on his next album and I’ll probably go in and help him write for that.

What was it like touring with Kanye?

It was cool. It was in 2004 in Australia. He’s a super talented guy. He’s such a hard worker, his shows are impressive. It was cool to be involved.

Is he as arrogant in private as he is in public or is it all just a show?

He’s a really nice guy. I was expecting him to be rude an arrogant but he’s so nice and friendly. I think it’s slightly different when he’s in front of the camera.

Is there anyone you’d like to collaborate with in future?

Amy Winehouse and I are friends and we’ve been talking about writing together. But, I’ve done so many collaborations in the past that I’d like to be on my own for awhile.

Who are you favourite artists right now? Who would you recommend that I go listen to?

The new Miike Snow album is incredible; it’s probably one of my favourite releases of 2009. Andrew Wyatt’s new album is also incredible, I wrote “For Your Money” with him.

Well thanks for the interview. It’s been great chatting with you and I look forward to your show if you ever end up playing Vancouver!

Thank-you, I appreciate it!

Awhile back I was asked if I wanted to interview a band called Down With Webster. Not going to lie, I really didn’t know much about them aside from the fact that I wasn’t a big fan of their “Rich Girl$” track (yes, there is a money sign in place of an ’s’). To be fair, I did some research to see what they’re about.  Timbaland is quoted as saying “They are the illest group I’ve ever seen live in person, and you know I’m hard to please. That group is the most amazing and creative, innovative group that’s going to come out in 2010.”  Needless to say, I decided to conduct the interview and I had the pleasure of chatting with Tyler, bassist and one of the band’s many vocals (there’s 7 of ‘em in the band). Check out some of their other tracks on myspace: I recommend “Your Man” and “Whoa Is Me”. You can also read more about them at their website.

So how did DWW get started?

We met in grade eight music class. There was a year end assignment where you had to write a song, form a band, etc. A few of the guys in the class, we were friends and we all played instruments, thought, why not start a band? And we did.

Is everyone in the band today from the original high school band or have there been some changes?

We’ve added a few in the last five years. Everyone who’s joined the band has been in our circle of friends; we have a lot of musical friends.

Is “Down With Webster” a highschool name or is that post-highschool? And what does it mean?

It originated from the TV show Webster and the character Emmanuel Lewis. The name doesn’t mean anything. We had 15 minutes at the end of class to come up with a name and that was it.

How has the band evolved from grade eight to know? And if you don’t mind me asking, how long has it been since then?

It’s been night and day! And ten years! It’s been a pretty wild ride and even recently it’s been crazier. This isn’t something we’ve stumbled upon, we’ve been working really hard. It’s starting to pay off a little bit. We had big ideas at a young age! We’re relentless!

That’s good! That’s what sets you apart from that bands that didn’t make it!

Absolutely! Being from Canada even more so, to have your music heard internationally you really have to kick down every door, even if they don’t fall down very quickly.

Does that mean you guys had a tough time breaking onto the scene?

Yeah, more than ever, it’s very hard to get anyone’s attention these days. Records aren’t selling anymore. I think the reason we got so much attention was because we were able to create a live following that was unique and special. For a band to be able to have 1000 to 1500 kids in a room without having an album just doesn’t happen anymore.

Yeah I read something about Timbaland saying how you guys put on wicked shows.

Yeah it’s a very cool thing to have that said about you!

So what’s it like working in a seven piece band, isn’t it a bit chaotic?

The fact that it’s been an evolution has helped. Everyone knows their responsibilities within the band and as we get older and work together we figure out each other’s strong and weak points, who’s more managerial, who’s more of the song writer, etc, everyone’s does what they’re good at and tries not to have an ego. No ego, that’s the rule!

With so many of you, all having different tastes, what do you guys listen to when you guys are together and where do you guys find inspiration?

There’s stuff we all agree on. We’re always looking into new stuff and bands and seeing concerts together. We draw from everywhere; our influences are all over the place. It’s not just one guy’s point of view, it’s a major collaboration.

You guys have been relentless tour wise. Any favourite cities you’ve played in?

Playing home shows in Toronto are always fun for us. We’re looking forward to playing Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, and Edmonton. We did Warp Tour last summer and went down to the States. It was cool just to get to play music for people who hadn’t heard us and then getting to play in some city’s which had picked up on us. Playing Atlanta for example, even though it was only about 100 hundred kids in the front row, it was super cool seeing that our music has reached them.

Any country you guys are super stoked to play in?

I think we’d love to go to Japan. We’re talking about February, March, April of 2010 heading over to Europe, Japan, and Australia. It’s just really cool that music is giving us a vehicle to travel the world with.

Given the way things have gone, you must have rock star-like experiences you can tell me about?

We had bacon and eggs with Gene Simmons!

That’s pretty sweet. Wasn’t he was interested in signing you guys on his label?

Yeah it just wasn’t where we were headed in terms of the direction we were going at the time.

Timbaland wanted to sign you guys too right?

We recorded with him in Miami for a week and he wanted to sign us but we had already decided to go with Motown. There were no hard feelings because the door’s still open to write and record with him.

In your opinion, can you recommend a song, artist, band, etc. that I should check out?

I like a song called “Genesis” by Justice. If no one’s heard it, they have to check it out. It’s been out for awhile but a lot of my friends haven’t heard it and whenever I put it on in my car everyone goes nuts.

Anyone you guys would like to collaborate with, realistically or not?

I’ve found that a lot of stuff is very realistic, even things you’d often think wouldn’t be. The world gets very small very quickly. I think everything is realistic at this point. I never would’ve thought I’d be having bacon and eggs with Gene Simmons or recording with Timbaland a few years ago. We love Kings of Leon and it’d be cool to do something with them. We’re big fans of Drake. There’s a few right there.

Only problem with collaborating with a big band is that you guys won’t all fit on stage!

It’s doable! We had 24 people on stage at our cd release party in Toronto! We had the whole band, then a ten piece drum-line and an 8 piece horn line.

That must have been crazy!

There’s some videos on Youtube. Look up “Down With Webster Phoenix Release Show”. It was wild! You had to be more concerned with not knocking someone over than the music you were playing!

So on to the DWW albums….why two mini albums instead of just one big one?

Our point of view is that we’re always writing and recording and we didn’t want to be limited to putting out 10 or 11 songs once every year and a half or two like most bands. We wanted to be able to give our fans new music more often.

DWW has had a crazy ride. Any advice you can offer up and coming bands?

Get really good at your instruments because that will always take you the farthest. Whatever your particular craft is, you have to strive to be the best at it. Also, play live shows all the time and get better at being up on stage. It’s becoming uncommon for labels to sign a band just from listening to a demo. At some point they go to see the band live so being on stage for that moment is key. When it’s time to be seen, the band needs to be ready.

Anything you know now that you wish you knew before?

Back when we first started, we always wanted things to happen immediately and we thought we were ready at that moment to have a record out and be on the radio, but we’ve learnt that having patience is key. In hindsight we wouldn’t have been happy with the record we wrote a few years ago. It takes a few years to get your sound together and figure out who your character is. Just keep at it and you’ll know when your band is ready!

Well thanks for the chat! Good luck on your tour…looking forward to your show!

We’ll be in Vancouver in January! Thanks!

I had a lovely chat with Stephen from You Say Party! We Say Die! the other day. We talked about the bands latest effort XXXX, his take on yearend music charts/lists, how the band almost went kaput, and his vintage bicycle hobby. YSP! WSD!, a five piece punk-rock-dance band from British Columbia, Canada, has been around and well known for awhile, but it’s been as of late that they’ve been busy majorly blowing up the Canadian music scene. They’ll will be on tour for most of 2010 so check them out if they’re in your area. I recommend listening to “Dark Days”and “Laura Palmer’s Prom” from the XXXX album….you’ll be hooked when you do.

So where about are you right now?

I’m walking down by the river, going for a walk. I do supportive home care with people who have development disabilities. Today’s activity is going for a walk!

The band isn’t a full-time thing?

I would say on average we clock in between 20 to 30 hours a week at our day jobs and another 20 to 30 hours a week doing band stuff. Life is full! Our jobs our pretty flexible so that we can leave on tour whenever we need so we’re always filling in the gaps it seems.

We’re humanitarians! I’m not joking but I guess I am at the same time. We are slightly humanitarians. Our lead singer Becky and I both do supportive home care. Our drummer works for the Portland Hotel Society on the downtown east side. Our keyboard player works for an NGO that does developmental aid work in developing countries. Our guitar player is a different kind of humanitarian: he’s a graphic designer. He saves us from having to look at ugly things!

So I guess it’s good your jobs are flexible, You Say Party! We Say Die!’s Spring tour is coming up. Looking forward to that?

Absolutely! It’s going to be a really long one. We’ve only announced dates through the States right now through March. After that we’re touring back through Canada, and then Europe; that should take us to June.  Then we’ll be in China and Southeast Asia. Then home for a week or two and then the plan is to head back out for the festival circuit through the summer.

Any countries you’re looking forward to playing in?

I’m always looking forward to playing in China, I always have a really great time there! Touring the States is going to be the biggest excitement since we’ve been a band for over three years.

How come?

We tried to cross into the States of October 2006 without work permits; it’s a common band trick when you can’t afford work permits to go and record and demo in the States. It didn’t work. Unfortunately, misrepresenting the material fact to international border guard, particularly in America, comes with a minimum five year ban. We’re really looking forward to playing in the States.

Well thanks to the Internet, I’m sure you still have a huge fan base down there.

Yeah thanks to the internet we can be known all over the world. We’ve still released our records down there and people still know who we are.

So you guys are promoting your latest effort, XXXX, or four x’s, what’s the story behind it?

The biggest secret is the code that is the album title. XXXX stands for love, which as soon as you hear the first song, you’ll recognize. On every album we’ve put out, from the very first one when Becky designed the artwork, there’s always been four x’s on the covers of all the albums. When she put it on the first record she said, there’s my mark of love.

We had a really bad band fight and we had to decide if we wanted to be a band at all. This album comes out of that healing process and deciding that this is what we want to do with our lives. There’s a lot of love in the lyrics.  When she proposed XXXX as the title we all agreed right away and thought it was a great idea.

Do you have a favourite track off the album?

My favourite track is “Dark Days”. I’m biased because I’m the base player, but the base line is really great. It’s the feeling of light trying to break through darkness which I know doesn’t make sense because nothing can stop light. It’s a dark and heavy song but there’s just something trying to break through and be seen beyond.  They lyrical content is beautiful.

What do you think you’d be doing if the band had been no more after the fight?

That’s a scary thing to contemplate. I love music; I could see myself have starting another band. I think I’ll always play music for the rest of my life. Or, I’d probably be frustrated at having lost such a wonderful thing that we’ve spent so many years working on.

What kind of things do you do outside of the band?

I fix up vintage bicycles. I’ve been collecting different bikes and putting them together, I don’t have a big space or collection but I try to find as many as I can. I like old banana seats and big handle bars. I have a CCM I’m a big fan of.  I like bikes with gears, but not fixed gears!

That’s a cool hobby!

Yeah, it’s a lot of fun!

So back to the music…what’s been the biggest change you’ve noticed since the early days of Hit the Floor! to XXXX?

Well just the other day I discovered from the time to Hit the Floor! until now I’ve learnt to play my instrument! We’ve all become such better musicians through the processing of playing more and touring to the point where we forgot to be that first band we once were.

Three weeks ago in band practice our guitar player told me to play the bass with downstrokes the whole time and I was like, what?!? That is SO rudimentary, so simple! I would never think to do that. So I tired and we wrote this amazing song and it dawned on me that that’s exactly the way we used to play in this band when we wrote songs like “The Gap”. I would never think to go back and play that way ever again. It was great to realize that by getting good you can’t remember that innocence and naivety of being like, I’m just happy to play that instrument! To rediscover that and indirectly be show exactly where you used to be is great. It’s been an awesome experience.

Each of us is going through that, where we’re rediscovering the roots of what we were as a band while still having the talent and ability we’ve been given over the years through refinement.

You said you guys just wrote a song. Does that mean you’re working on the next album?

Yeah, instead of taking a break like usual, we spent Christmas in the rehearsal studio working on new songs. It’s our goal to have a new EP ready within 2010. In amongst all the touring this year, we want to get some more songs out for people to hear. The writing is going really smoothly. We have upwards of 7 or 8 songs that could make a decent EP or album. Not sure of the timeline of when we would put it out but the creative juices are flowing and we’re really exciting to keep working.

Anyone you guys would like to work with?

I think we agree that we want to shake up the traditional way we’ve done it. We’ve always recorded in Vancouver with friends of friends or people we’ve known inadvertently. It would be cool to record in a different city or with a different method.

Any other genres you guys want to dabble in? Or that you guys screw around in while warming up?

YSP! WSD! in the way that our band name has these great juxtapositions of either partying or dying, can’t decide if we’re punk-rock or dance music so we’re always pulled in these two directions. We’ve made punk-rock that you can dance to. Outside of those two genres we haven’t decided which way we’re going and haven’t committed to either one. That, I think we’ll be the internal struggle within our band, in terms of what will we be in the future?

Other people I’d like to work with…there’s a band from Sweden called Love Is All that we’re fans and friends of, we’d like to tour with them. I think it would be awesome if we could do some sort of work with them.

It always depends on the dynamic of the group, how the five of us agree when we’re jamming.

What are you listening to right now? If I had to go buy a cd right now, who would you recommend I buy?

The new self-titled Fever Ray and Primary Colours from The Horrors. They’re probably my favourites right now.

Fever Ray was on a lot of top ten of 2009 lists. Do you have any other favourites from 2009?

I didn’t really listen to any of records that made year end lists. I think listening to current music that most year end lists agree on is a terrible idea for any current musician to take inspiration from. I think it’s better to listen to the bands that current bands are listening to, their influences.

Any old school bands you respect and listen to often?

Mostly for me it’s been a band from England called Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, which has been quite pivotal for me over the last year or two. Also, a new wave band from Montreal called Rational Youth and another new wave band from Toronto called Martha and the Muffins.

I listen to a lot of 80’s new wave, ‘78 to ‘83…’84 is when it all went wrong! That era of music, both British and America, mostly British, are what I enjoy listening to most.

Cool! Well thanks for chatting with me! Best of luck during your long tour. I look forward to your Vancouver show! And enjoy the rest of your walk…hope it doesn’t start raining on you!

Thank-you!

Tour Dates:
15.01.2010 Spirit Bar Nelson, British Columbia
16.01.2010 Canmore Hotel Canmore, Alberta
18.01.2010 MEGATUNES EDMONTON – ALL AGES
19.01.2010 Ottoman Lounge Medicine Hat, Alberta
21.01.2010 The Plaza Kamloops, British Columbia
22.01.2010 The Orpheum supporting PHOENIX Vancouver, British Columbia
09.03.2010 Chop Suey Seattle, Washington
10.03.2010 Doug Fir Portland, Oregon
12.03.2010 Bottom of the Hill San Fransisco, California
13.03.2010 Echoplex Los Angeles, California
15.03.2010 Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona
17.03.2010 SXSW Austin, Texas
18.03.2010 SXSW Austin, Texas
19.03.2010 SXSW Austin, Texas
21.03.2010 Hi Tone Memphis, Tennessee
22.03.2010 The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
23.03.2010 Snug Harbour Charlotte, North Carolina
24.03.2010 Ottobar Baltimore, Maryland
26.03.2010 Knitting Factory New York, New York
27.03.2010 TT The Bears Boston, Massachusetts
29.03.2010 Piano’s New York, New York
30.03.2010 Pike Room Detroit, Michigan
31.03.2010 Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past year, when you hear the name “Classixx”, sounds of some really great fuckin’ tunes enter your mind. When I personally hear a Classixx remix, it automatically transports me back to when the weather was nice and cruising around town on my bike, or dancing my sweaty ass off at a club. Whatever the case may be, the duo, Tyler Blake and Michael David, really turned it up this year and had everyone talking about their remixes. These remixes included the likes of Phoenix, Holy Ghost!, Major Lazer, YACHT and Ladyhawke to name a few, one after another, they just didn’t disappoint.

Killahbeez: Start off with the name, you two were previously called “Young Americans”, why the name change and how’d you two arrive on “Classixx”?

Michael: We were sued by a dancing choir called Young Americans based in Orange County. Tyler came up with the name Classixx, we wanted a name that wasn’t associated with anything in particular.

Killahbeez: How did you two initially meet and then decide to team up together and make music?

Michael: Tyler and I met in 6th grade. After high school we lived on separate sides of the country and kept in touch over the internet. We both ended up in Los Angeles and wanted to start a music project. We’d always been into electronic music, but dance music was pretty foreign to us. Before long we caught onto things like DFA, their records sounded so good to us.

Killahbeez: What are your backgrounds in music, were either of you trained or took lessons on any instruments and such?

Michael: Ya, we both took music lessons as kids. I’ve been playing guitar from childhood, and started programming synths and playing on Reason at 15. The same goes for Tyler, but he started on piano.

Killahbeez: This Summer easily, for me listening wise, was defined as a “Classixx” Summer. First Classixx had the single “I’ll Get You”, followed by remixes for Phoenix, Holy Ghost, Major Lazer, and YACHT. All of these were bangers and easily quintessential jams. Before the summer did you two have an idea that it was going to be as great as it turned out to be?

Michael: That’s nice of you to say. We didn’t know our sound would catch on this summer, but we did work tirelessly at it.

Killahbeez: For a few of the remixes above could you two give a breakdown on what inspired the final product?

Michael: For the Phoenix mix, we wanted to put the song into half-time. It was dragging, but finally I found a jumping synth rhythm that seemed to keep a stone groove. The rest was pretty simple

The Major Lazer one was fun because it has a slide guitar, and we got to use the sound seagulls that we had sampled.

Killahbeez: What about influence on your overall group sound, what bands, past or present, influence you two when you’re in the studio?

Michael: In the studio we’re constantly referencing music. It always depends, this summer we felt a strong Quincy Jones influence.

Killahbeez: You’ve released a few singles and a bunch of remixes now. Are there plans on getting a full album together?

Michael: Our schedule has made a full album difficult, but we are working on a number of original tunes. A full album would be nice to complete.

Killahbeez: What do you guys use when you make your music? Do you use analog or virtual synths? Software?

Michael: Everything. Lately, it has been pretty live and analog. We use Pro Tools specifically, it’s been that way for years.

Killahbeez: So what’s next for Classixx?

Michael: The next few months will be a lot of work in the studio.

Killahbeez: Any advice or words to fans or up-and-coming producers / DJs?

Michael: Just to work as hard as you can. I’d also say to practice a lot before you introduce yourself to the internet.

STV SLV and ABX, better known as The Hood Internet, recently compiled their fourth mixtape.  Given any opportunity, Killahbeez gladly promotes and supports The Hood Internet.  Check out the stream below and download the continual mix here.  Or for those in need of the individual tracks, here is the mediafire link.

On a side note, I commend the duo for collaborating with fellow Chicago artists.  In the past, The Hood Internet have linked up with Chuck Anderson of NO PATTERN. The fourth volume mixtape’s cover art is courtesy of Karen Tisel.

The Mixtape Volume Four:
1. Intro
2. David Banner vs Fujiya & Miyagi - Get Like Pterodactyls
3. The Beastie Boys vs Matt And Kim – Good Ol’ Fashion Rump Shaker
4. Kanye West vs Cage & Aviary – Touch The Television
5. Lil Wayne (feat. Babyface) vs Royksopp – Comfortable Up Here
6. Passion Pit vs Juvenile – Back That Sleepyhead Up
7. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince vs Daft Punk – Summer Circuit
8. Public Enemy vs HEALTH vs Nosaj Thing – Bring The Tabloid Sores
9. AZ (feat. Ghostface) vs The Golden Filter – Solid Gold From New York
10. Modest Mouse vs Kanye West – Floating Paranoia
11. Clipse vs Yuksek – Kinda Like A Big Break
12. Weezer vs Glass Candy – Buddy Holly’s Imagination
13. Bangers & Cash vs Bag Raiders – Bang Raiders
14. Amanda Blank vs VEGA – No Reasons To Like You Better
15. Michael Jackson vs Ratatat – Billie “Wildcat” Jean
16. Kid Sister (feat. Pitbull) vs Phonat – Free Control Ocho
17. Twista (feat. Erika Shevon) vs Boys Noize – Wetter And Jeffer
18. Flo Rida (feat. Ke$ha) vs MSTRKRFT – 1000 Times Right Round
19. R. Kelly (feat. Keri Hilson) vs Sally Shapiro – Number One Christmas
20. Drake vs The Rapture – Best Jealous Lover I Ever Had
21. Bon Iver vs Friendly Fires vs Aeroplane – Lump Sum Of Paris
22. Jeremih vs Handsome Furs – Birthday Furs
23. Yung LA vs Solid Gold – Who Ain’t I Gonna Run To?
24. Major Lazer (feat. Santigold) vs Dirty Projectors – Hold The Stillness
25. Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks Of Hip Hop
26. Soulja Boy vs Joe Jackson – Swaggin’ Out
27. OJ Da Juiceman (feat. Gucci Mane) vs Discovery – Make The Loop Aye
28. Glasses Malone vs Chromatics – A Moment To Remember Haterz
29. Paper Route Gangstaz vs Animal Collective – Animals Collecting Money
30. B-Hamp vs Little Boots – Ricky Bobby Boots
31. Ghostface Killah vs Beirut – Save Me Concubine
32. Keri Hilson vs The Glitch Mob/TVOTR – Red Dress Turnin Me On
33. Dorrough vs Bibio – Fire Ant Paint Job
34. Outro

Source: The Hood Internet

Back in October we had the chance to catch up with BURNS. His plan for the o-nine, releasing four EPs (3 of 4 so far have been released, Disko, Teknique and Turbo) and oh let’s not forget that massive tour he’s currently on with Deadmau5. All in between this, he’s done remixes for Gossip, Passion Pit, Calvin Harris, Empire of the Sun and…well I could go on and on, check the interview and on Tuesday we’re giving away a pair of tickets to the upcoming Deadmau5 / BURNS show on November 23rd in Washington, DC.

Killahbeez: Your going on tour with Deadmau5 that will see you going all over North America, what can fans (new and old) expect to hear from you when you hit the stage with your set?

BURNS: I’ll be DJing so it will just be a mixture of the music I’m in to and my own stuff…

KB: Your sound has a hard electro almost techno feel to it, but at times you can hear disco melodies intertwined on your tracks, how would you describe your sound? And what inspires it?

BURNS: Everything inspires it, I just do whatever I feel like at the time which I think keeps it quite diverse. It depends on what mood I’m in. What is exciting is that people assume that the songs I’ve released this year are going to be on the album and that this is my “sound”, however the album sounds quite different to what’s out at the moment so its going to be really interesting to see what the reaction is when the album singles start coming out next year…

KB: So ya you have the three EPs so far, Disko 12”, Turbo EP and Teknique EP. Will there be a full-length release for this year?

BURNS: Nope, I’m not rushing things at all, there will be one more EP release in the series 1-4 which will be out late this year or maybe early next year then there will be a few singles prior to the album release which I’m planning for summer next year…

KB: Speaking of Teknique, on that EP you had the legendary Fred Falke remix your song ‘First Move’. How did that opportunity come about?

BURNS: Me and Fred had been talking for a while about maybe working on something together so when the EP was finished I just asked him on the off chance whether he’d be interested in doing a mix on ‘First Move’ and he said yes, Hopefully we will get the opportunity to work together properly in the future.

KB: You’ve done a slew of remixes for artists such as Empire of the Sun, Calvin Harris, Gossip etc. When you head into a production, is there a mind frame you try to take on for each song?

BURNS: Not really, I just listen to the original song and try to decide what my favourite part is then I build my own song around it. I guess most of the time I try to see things from a club perspective but if the artist has no preference on what they want then I like to be free and just see where it takes me.

KB: Is there a remix of yours that stands out most? One that gave you felt you got right away?

BURNS: Erm… I dont know!? I’m really my biggest critic so I always feel afterwards that I could have made it better if I’d have changed this or that? I had a good feeling about the Gossip remix when I finished that and also a remix I did for Jack Splash and Missy Elliot which isn’t out yet…

KB: Sticking to remixes, I read on your twitter account that you’re remixing a Ladyhawke track, how’s that coming along and are you able to say what track it is?

BURNS: It is finished now, Its for the track “Magic” I’m really happy with it, although again people will maybe be surprised by the route I went down with it..

KB: Any other collaborations coming up that are planned?

BURNS: I’m working with a few artists and producing for someone’s album, I’m not allowed to name any names yet but I’m very excited about it…

KB: What are your top five tracks that you incorporate into your set most of the time?

BURNS: I never play the same set more than once and I never plan a set, it always depends on the type of crowd I’m playing to. I guess if I had to name five tracks I enjoy playing out it would be:

PUZIQUe “Don’t Go”
Siriusmo “High Together”
Jape “Floating” Dim Remix
Hudson Mohawke “Overnight”
Major Lazer “Pon De Floor”

KB: What’s next for you, asides from this massive upcoming tour?

BURNS: Just getting the album finished, hopefully I can have it done by the end of the year so I can get the live show prepared…

Find BURNS on
MySpace: www.myspace.com/thisisburns
Twitter: twitter.com/thisisburns

For those of you who don’t know him (get out from under your rock), Daniel Wesley is a BC rocker with reggae beats. No, he’s not new to the scene. This DIY type has been around, doing what he loves, pleasing many local crowds, and recently, his latest self-titled effort, has been gracing the list of top selling albums on iTunes Canada.  Listen to some of his latest along with his oh-so-popular “Ooo Ohh” on his myspace page.

So let’s start at the beginning. How did you get in to music?

Music was always a big part of my family’s life. When I was 15 or so a friend’s band was playing and they handed me the video camera and said, “Hey film us playing.” I had so much fun filming but I wanted to be up there doing what they were doing.  A little while later I started my own band.

You’ve been in  a lot of bands: The Dropouts, General  Mayhem, Audiophile, and Replica. What’s it been like from those days until now?

Well, those bands never really amounted too much! We just kicked around and played Langley where I grew up and then came to Vancouver every month to try and get some fans. It was all mainstream rock. I did punk for the first couple of years and then rock became the way I was going. I got so tired of what we were doing. It just seemed like the genre was so limiting. So I just started writing some songs that were slower tempo and had more of the reggae vibe. Eventually I started Daniel Wesley and I’m really happy that I did.

You’ve been the Do-It-Yourself type. What was it like producing your own albums?

It was fun. I don’t know if I’m the best producer of my own stuff. It’s probably better to produce someone else’s stuff.  When we were doing it back them, the guys would come in to do their drum and bass parts, and I would have four days to do everything else.

Now that I’ve worked with a real producer for the first time, it definitely shone a light on me showing me what else is out there and what can come from collaborating. I learnt a lot and grew a lot from the process.

Was it tough letting someone else taking the reins?

It wasn’t so much letting someone else take the reins, I was super involved and me and Dave worked really closely together. I think when you have someone that you trust and who is capable of making the things you do better, enhancing them, once you get to that point, it’s a lot of fun. It’s a lot of trial and error to see what works and what doesn’t work.

You had a lot more time and money to put your last album, how did that affect the sound, your process, and you as an artist in general?

It was a great to have a budget and time. Before I would plug a guitar amp in, pick up a guitar, press record, and start tracking songs. This time it was what guitar goes best with this song and with what amp, and let’s work on the tone.

Having the time to experiment vocally and figure out harmonies also brought different colours to the songs.

If you had the same time and money and other resources available to you to produce the album solo without someone else producing it for you, would you do it solo?

I’m really thankful for what I did with Dave and I want to work with him again. It opened my eyes. I was always stubborn about working with people. I thought, I can do it myself and I don’t need help. Working with Dave made me realize that when you work with people, different things can happen; they can be positive or negative, you don’t know.

I think I’ll probably produce an album myself again in the future but I don’t think in the near future. It’s kind of a new rush, something I’ve just fallen on and I’m going to follow it. I definitely wouldn’t change having a producer on this album.

What did you listen to growing up?

A wide range. Punk was something I really got into. I can list bands but it doesn’t really matter. I think I always went after song writers, bands that had great songs. I like it when you can hear a song on a radio and know it’s that band. Or put an album or mix tape in…I can’t believe I just said mix tape! Those don’t even exist anymore! Anyways… that was the stuff I was attracted to: people that had their own sound and did their own thing.

I’m not the most amazing guitar player or singer but I feel like I’m a really good song writer. So that’s something that I always look up to.

Where does the Caribbean influence come from?

As I got older I got to travel a little bit and the happy vibe kinda of got me. I’ve never really thought about what I’m doing. I’ve never sat down and wrote a song. It’s always been about feeling it.

I think artists take from what their experiences are. I’ve gone to some really beautiful tropical places and written songs in some of them.

What bands are you listening to a lot of these days?

I’ve been listening a lot go Aggrolites. I got the new Pearl Jam album and I think its killer. That’s one man who isn’t afraid to try new things. I love that each album they do is completely different.  I like the last two albums they put out.

Also a guy name Mason Jennings from Minnesota. I think he’s one of the best singer/songwriters around. The guy’s amazing. He’s got a new album About a Man. It’s his first album that he did electrically; all of his albums are acoustic.

Is there a song in particular, aside from any of yours, that you think people should go out and listen to right away because it’s amazing?

“Free Time” or “Lucky Strike” by the Aggrolites.

Any artists you’d like to work with in future?

I don’t think you can ever plan collaboration. There are lots of people I’d love to write with but I think that kind of stuff just happens. Hopefully an opportunity like that will come up in the future. I’d be super happy to do one. I’ve never been into collaborating. After this album working with Dave, it opened my eyes to working with other people.

Specifically, if I could write a song with Mason Jennings, it would be amazing. I think he’s the best song writer around. He’s the Bob Dylan of today.

Of all of the songs you’ve produced, do you have a favourite?

“Ooo Ohh” has obviously been a really helpful song for my career and I love the way it was recorded. There’s a song on my new album called “Time For Leaving” that I connect with really deeply and I think it’s one of my favourite songs that I have ever done.

What is it about that song that you connect so deeply with?

It’s a little more mournful, it’s different. My vibe is usually pretty happy but I always try to have one or two songs that are a little more moody so I can always go down that avenue if I want to. In the last few years I’ve played with a lot of different people and people have come and gone and I think it’s important to remember why you do certain things and learn from them. That song reminds me of all that stuff.

So what inspired the rock remake of Ginuwine’s “My Pony”?

[Laughs] I don’t really like playing that song anymore live, I feel like it’s overdone.  It just happened that I was at sound check and I started jamming and playing the chords and singing and it kind of happened. We ended up recording it 3 weeks later on the album.

Is that the same scenario for “Lonely Life” and how it sounds like Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants”?

That one isn’t a cover song but people have tapped into the Ace of Base song but I never had that song in mind. Lyrically that line shows up in that song too but I wasn’t paralleling that song, it was just a coincidence.

I know you’re last album just came out but do you have any future plans, any ideas for your next album?

Yeah I’ve been writing a lot and I have eight or more songs that I really like that are a little edgier and a little more upbeat and rockin’. I can’t stop writing. The day I stop writing is the day of given up. It’s a part of me; I have to keep doing it.

I don’t see the next one too far on the horizon. This one took awhile coming out hopefully I won’t make everyone wait as long for the next album.

Well thanks a lot for taking the time to chat with me! Take care and I look forward to seeing you live in Vancouver!

You too, thanks for the call!

Visit his website to learn more about him,  his discography, and where he’s playing next.

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

Anami Vice – Take Your Shirt Off

I had the chance to chat with Martina Sorbara from Dragonette about her style, some of the bands memorable moments, and a bit about the band’s new album, Fixin’ To Thrill, and it’s upcoming tour. Fixin’ To Thrill is more of an emotional, real life sentiments album. Now, that doesn’t mean it’ll be full of heartfelt ballads. Dragonette has always produced body moving beats and their shows have been known to be dance-athons. Their single “Pick Up The Phone” and their collaboration “Boys & Girls” with Martin Sloveig have had me head bopping like Steve and Doug Butabi from A Night at the Roxbury. So expect to see a bit of the latter dance moves induced by awesome dance beats along with a kick of electronica and  even some rock ‘n’ roll elements during their upcoming tour.

I was pretty mesmerized by Martina’s addictive voice. Her voice has a certain “je ne sais quoi” spark. Although you won’t get to hear voice, hopefully you can imagine it as you read on to read what’s going on in the world of Dragonette.

Killahbeez: So what’s the road been like from the early days as The Fuzz to early Dragonette to now?

Martina: It went from being something for fun to pushing our own boundaries and now it feels like a really solid thing. I’ve learnt a lot about what we do and what I want to do. There was a huge learning curve. Dragonette, to me, has a much clearer picture of what it is and what we are.

KB: Do you think you’ve evolved musically?

Martina: I think we’ve evolved. I think we’ve discovered our sound a little more. One thing that has been consistent is that we’re sort of open to anything. We don’t have a limit. When we sit down in front of the computer to write a song, we don’t have any ideas of where the song is going to end.

I think that our sound has evolved a little bit in that I think I’ve gone far enough away from where we started musically 15 years ago. I’ve gone far away enough that we’ve been creeping back and taking little bits of the emotional side of what I used to do and bringing it into this pop world.

KB: Since you’re so open to letting your music go anywhere, does that mean your sources of inspiration are endless?

Martina: I think we can get ideas from everything. During this last album, I was listening to a lot of 70’s female artists, not the disco ones, I don’t even know what it’s called, but like Rickie Lee Jones , Joan Armatrading, and Phoebe Snow.  I don’t even know what carried over from them but for some reason during this whole album, the only thing I would want to listen to when I came up from the studio was these 70’s female artists.

KB: What’s your music writing process like?

Martina: Sometimes it starts with me and a sentiment and/or a word or I’ll sing a melody in my head and then I’ll try to relay that to Dan. But mostly it’s Dan being like, do you like the sound of this beat or this synthesis. Then if it works, I’ll see what it inspires for me and then we’ll record something and then hopefully it’ll inspire him to take it to the next step and so on and so forth.

KB: Any musical collaborations that you’d like to make happen?

Martina: I’m always up for collaborations. They’re totally terrifying. I think that I’m more terrified of writing for other people which we get asked to a lot but I don’t think I know how to do that. I don’t think I’m good at writing lyrics that aren’t directly related to my life. If someone sends me a track and asks if I want to sing on it, then I can take some ownership over the lyrics and it’s about me and this persons track and then it’s a collaboration, which is daunting in its own way but there is more liberty there.

KB: So no one in particular you’d love to work with?

Martina: So many people! Realistically?

KB: Anyone!

Martina: Hmmm…. David Bowie and Tom Waits and Frank Zappa if he was still alive. And Bjork. If Bjork was still writing pop songs I would like to work with her. And Prince. And Run DMC.

KB: And this list goes on and on….

Martina: Yeah…

KB: So how’s the tour prep going?

Martina: Well we’re just getting started and it’s going swimmingly!

KB: From all your previous tours, shows, etc., do you have a favourite place or memorable moment?

Martina: Yeah I think when we showed up in Chile and played a show in a country where our album hadn’t been released and having those people be excited and singing along at a totally energetic concert. Surprises like that are always highlights.

KB: Any interesting “rock star” moments or stories?

Martina: Hmm… We played in London once and between sound check and the show we got to go to this mini Paul McCartney concert he was doing for like a 1000 people, which for Paul McCartney, he might as well have been playing in your living room. Then we had to rush back and play our show and then after our show we rushed back to back to this really intimate, 60 people, party with Paul McCartney where we got to speak with him. I was thinking, oh my god what the hell are we doing here?!!

KB: That’s exciting! Spontaneity is fun!

Martina: It makes me feel like you can kind of just pretend like you belong!

KB: So on to some style, what inspired the short hair do?

Martina: I always wear it up. So I thought, well, why don’t I just cut it off? So my friend and I cut my hair in his living room. I think this hairstyle is our own invention. We’ve called it the “Militina”. It’s my Inglourious Basterds look. I’m digging it. It needs a bit of a touch up but it’s a work in progress.

KB: How would you describe your personal style?

Martina: Hmm…Lesbian Chic!

KB: Would you say your style has evolved a lot over the years?

Martina: I’ve always been a real tomboy but I do enjoy glamming it up. So I’ve been constantly searching for the hybrid of that.

KB: Any styles you wish you could pull off but just can’t?

Martina: Hmmm…

KB: Maybe your very versatile and look good in everything!

Martina: No…I always wish I could pull of the slouchy clothing that someone who’s really tall with small boobs can pull off. It’s the kind of look that only a tall, hot, generally blonde girl can pull off.  It’s the “I didn’t bother looking in the mirror this morning but I look incredible” look. When you’re 5”2 you have to work with different parameters.

KB: Do you find that you want or have to reinvent your look a lot given the industry you’re in?

Martina: Not a lot. I don’t generally think about reinvention ever but having a follow up album you kind of have to think about these things, like how do I want the visuals of this album to be different than the last.

KB: Do you think you’ll take a break after your new album and tour or get back to work right away?

Martina: I think if I can get disciplined enough, I would love to start mining my musical creative well for little tidbits. It’s hard to tour forever and then finish and feel like you have to do something right away. The more you have accumulated in the pockets of time that you have the better you’re off. Even if you don’t keep anything that you came up with during that time, at least you’ve had your mind on it and you don’t feel completely out of practice.

KB: It sounds like musicians are always on the go. Do you get a lot of down time or are you looking forward to a big vacation?

Martina: Because Dan and I are always in the same place because of work, it means that vacations can be very spontaneous. Neither of us has to fly to a significant other. We have a bit of time after our Barcelona show and it’s a place we both love to be. So we get to take a breather there. Then we’re going to be in Australia together. I think all it takes is the intensity of the tour to lift a bit and then we can make vacation wherever we decide to have a nice lunch.

KB: Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew when you first started?

Martina: I wish I knew that just because there’s a big label, it doesn’t mean that they know better than you.  I think that there was awhile when I thought, these people know what they’re doing because this is their business. Later I realized that this is my business too and I’m a professional at this as well. There were a lot of little decisions that I would have made if I had stopped to think that I have as good a take on this as this other person. I would have felt more in control.

KB: So to trust your gut a little more and do what feels right?

Martina: Yeah. I think I was excited to work with people who were “professionals” but it’s not like they know better, they have input, but they don’t know better.

KB: Well thanks so much for your time! Good luck on your tour and with your new album! I’m looking forward to your Vancouver show!

Martina: Thanks! We’ll see you out there!

Dragonette “Fixin’ To Thrill”

Dragonette “Pick Up The Phone”

From small town girl to international DJ stardom, DJ B Traits is back on the move. If you’re a dance music fan of any kind I’m certain you’ll hear about DJ B Traits in the coming years; if you haven’t already. In between her sets across the pond in Europe and Asia, the very first Digital Soundgirl took some time to chat with Killahbeez about her start, how she became part of the internationally known Digital Soundboy Recordings Group and her respect for music as a whole.

KB: You’re a small-town girl! When did you know you wanted to be a DJ and when did you make your move to the bright lights and big city?

B Traits: I was born and raised in Nelson, BC. When I was 14 my friend sparked my interest in DJing and electronic music. I started messing around with turntables and officially began to DJ at age 16. As soon as i graduated from high school i moved to Vancouver. I had originally decided to pursue a dance career but as fate would have it I fit right into my local music scene and soon found myself playing gigs all over the city. I started opening for big name international DJs and began to make a name for myself internationally.

KB: You’ve been doing a bit of a global circuit in the past few years (playing shows all over Europe, North America, and Asia) how’s that been for you, and where is your favorite place to perform?

BT: Amazing, really who could ask for more? I love my job, i couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I get to perform for people all over the world, dancing is an international language! There are also so many places I haven’t been to yet, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand are all in my 2009 wish list. The UK is one of my favorite countries to perform in because they are open to hear anything I play. I feel like people there are eager to hear new tunes they have never heard before, which makes me feel confident they will be into whatever I feel like playing. When I’m home in Vancouver I feel like there is too much repetitive TV-Radio stuff, everyone wants to hear familiar tunes they can sing along with.

KB: You played Drum & Bass music for most of your DJing career, why have you jumped into different genres?

BT: I still play Drum & Bass music and I always will! I have always had a love and admiration for all genres of music. I started out DJing playing Speed Garage and Hip Hop and slowly got into Drum & Bass, but all my life I’ve collected different types of dance music. Breaking through in the DnB scene seems to be a sort of an uphill battle for me, although I absolutely love the music, at times, I feel totally discouraged. It seems there are not as many fans of DnB music as there used to be. There is some amazing electronic music being produced these days and I can’t help but get into it! I’m playing a little bit of everything right now from breakbeats, to electro, fidget house, dubstep, funk, hip hop and of course drum & bass. I always play a little DnB at the end of my sets, to kind of educate people who may have never heard the genre before. I feel very fortunate to be on Digital Soundboy where boss Shy FX encourages us to produce/DJ all types of dance music.

KB: How did you become apart of Digital Soundboy Recordings?

BT: The first official time I met Shy FX was when we were both performing in Germany at the NYE 06/07 event “Kings of the Jungle”. I gave him a mix CD and although polite, I could tell he wasn’t at all interested in taking the time to have a listen.  While on tour with the World of Drum & Bass in 2007, Shy joined us for the North America side of the tour. I remember he would come out early to catch my set, I didn’t know it at the time, but he was paying close attention, doing his homework. He commented on my style and stage presence and claimed I was refreshing compared to the boys lookin’ like they didn’t really want to be there. He asked me if I was making any beats, I told him I had been working on a few things but no way did I have the confidence to show him anything. After the tour I went back home to Canada and actually ended up sending Shy a few vibes over Aim. I got a phone call a few days later and he offered me a spot on his label Digital Soundboy! To be the first official Digital Soundgirl!! I was honored, Shy, T Power, Marcus Visionary, Benny Page and Breakage are all people I look up to.

KB: Technology has drastically changed DJing in the past few years. Can you tell us what you are using now and what’s next for the evolving DJ?

BT: Currently, I am using Serato and messing with Ableton. With Serato, the possibilities are endless! I play whatever I want and loop, cut, and sample just about anything! The newest Serato software has a built in sampler which I’m using with the M-Audio Trigger Finger. Video DJing seems to be the next step; visual audio entertainment. Creating videos to correspond with your tunes

KB: What do you have planned for the next year? Where will you be?

I have actually decided to jump the pond to London, UK for 6 months! I plan to finish some things in the studio and really focus on making beats. I’m really excited to hear what my DJ sets will be like when I am ready to return to Canada. The UK is SOO inspiring for me! I’m looking forward to being able to go out every night and hear something brand new!

KB: If you could pick 5 artists who you could make an album with, who would they be?

BT:

1. The Cool Kids
2. Breakage
3. Jack Beats
4. DJ Premier
5. Feist

strange i know, but all of these artists have heavily influenced me in some way.

KB: You mentioned you have some news and wanted to wait for it to drop before doing this interview. So… Spill It!!

BT: The project I just completed with clothing line Hellz Bellz is out and ready for the world to hear! Its a mashed mixtape of all genres from everything including breaks, electro, dubstep, hip hop, funk..the works! Neck breakin’, booty shakin’ dance music.

Hellz Bellz is pleased to present DJ B.Traits’ exclusive eclectic mixtape “Belle of the Brawl”. Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, B.Traits made her mark in Drum & Bass on Shy FX’s Digital Soundboy label, as the first Digital Sound Girl. In an industry that is dominated by male DJ’s/Producers she reflects a woman deeper than the hyper-feminine stereotype, confronting conformity, tearing down boundaries and rewriting all the rules. With a love and admiration for all genres of music B.Traits switches it up in this mix to bring you everything from electro, to breakbeats, dubstep, hiphop, and funk.

B.Traits – Belle of the Brawl by B.Traits

KB: Thanks B Traits. Best of luck in the UK this year.

KB had the chance to chat with eco-friendly designer Jada-Lee Watson about her fashion career and her choice to go green. Going green is a big deal these days and Watson has made a name for herself producing clothing that successfully, and fashionably, meets this growing environmental trend.

We’ve previously featured her simple yet classic Spring 2009 and Fall 2009 collections. Check them out to see what Nixxi’s all about.

Killahbeez: How did you get into fashion?

Jada-Lee Watson: I’m basically self-taught. I started off sewing with a friend, we had a different line. I was sewing from home and doing the local market and shows.

KB: Did you ever want to give up and do something else?

JLW: Yes! There are definitely a lot of challenges. I had a line with a friend and then we spilt ways and I’ve now had Nixxi on my own for three years. Fashion is time consuming but in the last year and a half things have finally smoothed out and there’s no kinks left to work out. I don’t find myself questioning my path anymore.

KB: What do you think you’d be doing if not Fashion?

JLW: I really don’t know because I haven’t thought of doing anything else. I had an interest in music and the film industries and it’s always in the back of my mind as a possibility one day!

KB: Although things have been going smoothly, have you felt the recession at all?

JLW: Not really. A couple of stores closed down, but at the same time I’ve picked up quite a few stores. The growth of Nixxi has been positive so the odd time a store closed down I haven’t felt it too much.

KB: What made you want to create an eco-friendly clothing line? Although being green is the “in thing”, being green can also be expensive, especially during economic hard times where everyone is money conscious.

JLW: Back in 2004 – 2005 we were using valour, velvet, and cotton jerseys. In sourcing fabrics we came across hemp, then hemp blended with cotton, and then organic, and then slowly more and more fabrics came around. After sampling and using some of the organics, we preferred the feel of the organic fabrics and then also knowing that there was a lighter footprint in what we were doing. It didn’t seem like there was a reason to do otherwise. More and more fabrics are coming available and I’m even starting to find stripes and the odd pattern, it’s exciting to see where it’s going. I’ve never thought of turning back and using the alternative.

KB: Do you have a favourite fabric that you find works well for almost anything?

JLW: Definitely organic cotton. It’s in a lot of the fabrics that I use as a blend. And newly I love working with wool.

KB: Where do you find the most inspiration? Through fabric, day-today life, art, etc.?

JLW: For me it’s mostly the textures and colours of the fabric. Also street fashion; being inspired by somebody walking down the street, I could create a whole line from that: personal style. And also from what I like to wear. I don’t tend to be inspired by a theme or a time, just more what’s in the present.

KB: What colours are you drawn towards, what are your favourites?

JLW: Right now I love grays, especially heather gray. I have heather gray in my Fall 2009 collection and in Spring 2010 too. It’s great because it goes with everything.

I’m finding that the direction I’m going with Nixxi is more muted tones and then bringing in one or two colours accents per season. Gray, black, and white are standards and then the accents change each season.

KB: What is your design process like?

JLW: I would say that it all starts when I’m trying to fall asleep!

KB: It’s funny, they say that we get our best ideas when we’re lying horizontally or in the shower!

JLW: Definitely the horizontal one for me! I always have ideas flashing in my mind. They kind of jump around in my thoughts for awhile. There’s about 3 months of inspiration and playing with ideas before I sit down and sketch them out. Then my sketches go to a pattern maker.

KB: So given that you just finished another round of the design process a little white ago, what can people expect from your Spring 2010 collection?

JLW: My Spring line has more fitted bottoms and looser tops. Also the same colour basics and then pinks, reds, and purples as the accents. I would say that the Fall 2009 collection is the first line that I’ve gone on my true independent direction; kind of found the focus of where I want to go with Nixxi. So Spring 2010 is definitely falling in line with the Fall 2009 collection.

There are also a couple of dresses in a woven organic that are a bit different, more flirty and girly. I usually do knit wrap dresses. I’m taking more of an interest in wovens.

KB: What are some of your favourite fashion trends?

JLW: I really like skinny pants. I hadn’t done one until now; I have one coming up in Spring 2010. I never wore them until recently and I realized how versatile they are. They go well with a lot of what I’m doing with Nixxi. I think that trend is turning into a classic standard.

I don’t know if this is a trend, but I like wraps too. I also like the slouchy style.

I never would have said I was inspired by trends, but I’m more aware of them. I am finding that they are starting to inspire a bit of my line. I try to take a little bit what’s present but keep it classic as well so if a trend comes in and out, the clothing that I’m offering can still go with the next trend and the next and so on.

KB: Are there any trends that you dislike?

JLW: I think that it’s what works for certain people. I think they can all work for somebody and it’s more just about finding what works for your own style and body. I wouldn’t say there’s anything out there that shouldn’t be out there.

KB: Are there any celebrities you’d like to use as a muse?

JLW: No I wouldn’t say so. I think there are a lot of celebrities that have great style but no one in particular.

KB: Do you see yourself expanding to accessories or anything else?

JLW: I’ll probably stick to fashion right now. I even used to have a very small men’s line but I choose not to go forward with that because there’s so much to focus on just in the women’s.

I have a girl’s line that I’m launching next Spring: it’s called Pretty Bird. It’s basically Nixxi but sized down for girls ages 4 to 12. I find that in the organics area there isn’t a lot for kids. And being that I have girls, a 5 and 8 year old, they’re always coveting everything I make!

KB: Well, good luck with Pretty Bird! I hope it has the same success as Nixxi! And thanks a lot for the interview! It was great chatting with you!

JLW: Thanks!

]]> http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/09/13/interview-killahbeez-chats-with-green-designer-nixxi/feed/ 1 http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/08/30/interview-killahbeez-chats-with-megan-george-of-monrow/ http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/08/30/interview-killahbeez-chats-with-megan-george-of-monrow/#comments Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:09:57 +0000 Alicia http://www.killahbeez.com/?p=26829

Killahbeez had the chance to chat with the very friendly Megan George of MONROW about her and business partner Michelle Wenke’s MONROW success. We chatted about MONROW’s background, design process, Fall 2009 line, their collaboration with Amber Valletta, and how before making it big, they were in trouble with the one and only, Kate Moss! Enjoy!

Killahbeez: I know Michelle has her own story, but why don’t you start by telling me how you got into fashion.

Megan George: I’ve always liked to draw and have always been really artistic. I could never afford to buy the clothing I liked so I used to vintage clothes shop and alter everything so it would fit me. That’s kind of how it started: altering clothes.

I never thought I was going to go into fashion. When I was about 20 or 21 I got my first job at a clothing store that carried high-end designers and I got my first experience with quality clothing. It was a small boutique in San Francisco and I was really intrigued with the quality, the level of sophistication, and the construction of the clothing. With that and the experience of sewing my own clothes, I really came to appreciate the industry. It happened kind of organically. I would be sitting on the bus and I would just start sketching clothes, I just figured maybe I should try getting into design.

KB: Is that when you decided to go to school?

MG: When I moved to LA, I knew that I definitely wanted to design so I applied to OTIS College of Art and Design and got in on almost a full scholarship.

While at OTIS, I was working at Fred Segal in Los Angeles which was a hot spot to be and I got to experience so many different levels of my industry. After school I started designing my own line, George, which I sold to Fred Segal. It did really well and I kept going from there.

KB: Where did you and Michelle meet?

MG: We met at OTIS. We became really good friends but we never once talked about starting a line while at school. We stayed really good friends after graduation. She was a stylist and was styling for a bunch of celebrity stylists.

KB: I don’t know if you can speak on behalf of Michelle but as for you, if you weren’t in fashion, what do you think you’d be doing?

MG: I don’t know. I love what I do so much I can’t imagine having to do something else. If we didn’t have our own line, I don’t know that I’d want to design for another company. I’d probably be a pattern maker or something like that.

Michelle might be styling or something with film, or costume design. Not sure!

KB: So how did you guys decide to start MONROW?

MG: One day we just started talking and thought about doing a line together. So I stopped George which got too big for me to handle on my own anyways, and we started a line together. We started in her house, on her kitchen table, cutting samples and drawing sketches. We made our first sample collection in 2007. After we made our samples, we put it in our car and went around to a couple of stores in LA trying to get orders.

I took it to Fred Segal but they passed so we started freaking out. Thankfully, a few other stores liked the collection and placed some orders, but it was nothing to keep us in business. We knew we needed to get a showroom so we took our line around to a few show rooms. One show room took our line and then they started selling it for us on the east and west coast.

KB: So after that the flood gates opened?

MG: Yeah, you pretty much have to get into a show room. They really do handle all of your sales. You need the contacts to the buyers and these show rooms have those contacts. Then they show your stuff and sell it for you. You can only go so far by yourself. You really need to be represented by a show rooms sales agent.

The business really started to take off from there but it was actually the “Kate” tee, the Kate Moss tee, that we got a lot of press on.

KB: What happened that got you the press?

MG: Michelle and I are artists at heart, fashion is just our focus. When we started MONROW, which when we first started was called Harlow, we wanted to have an icon series or guest artist that we could collaborate with.

For our first collection we did the top 5 supermodels: Linda Evangelista, Kristy Turlington, Kate Moss, Helena Christensen, and Naomi Campbell. We printed all of their faces with their names but the one that got the most attention was the Kate tee. It was also around the same time Kate started doing Kate Moss for Top Shop. We actually got a cease and desist letter from Kate’s lawyers because she was launching this line with Top Shop and it was a conflict of identity and interest. So we were no longer allowed to produce the Kate tee and we had to pull it from the line but we had already got a lot of press on it. It’s kind of what put us on the map. Before the Kate tee no one really knew who we were. After it, we were in British and American Vogue, Elle, and so many other major magazines. It was really good for us to get all of that attention even though we did get a cease and desist order.

KB: So since then you guys haven’t printed any more celebrity faces?

MG: We were going to do a follow up line with Shalom Harlow, Amber Valletta, and all the younger models that came out after the first five supermodels. Eventually we also wanted to do a musician series and an artist’s series. But we learned through the Kate Moss thing that you need to get the rights to use someone’s image. So we got the rights to do Marilyn Monroe and we’ve had her for about two years and she does really well.

That’s how our Amber Valletta collaboration came about. We were just getting the rights to use her face and it turned into this whole line that’s launching in November.

KB: What’s MONROW’s design process like?

MG: We start with colour. Some people start with fabric or imagery or what not. Every month we do a different colour palette of seven to nine colours. Once we establish our colour palette, it sets the mood and tone. If it’s all pastels then it’s light and airy. If it’s jewel tones, then it’s dark and vampy. If we use metallics, it’s more rock ‘n’ roll. We have an extensive colour library so we just put different colours together until we find those seven to nine colours that just really create something we can jump off of.

Then we start deciding on fabric. Then the prints: what kinds of prints would look good on this colour palette? Depending on the mood of the colours, we decide how we’re going to generate our prints. We do our own prints. It’s a very detail oriented screen printing process. We’re intensely involved in the whole print process and most of it is done by hand. A lot of our prints don’t look like graphics; they look like fabric burn-outs. We devote a lot of time and consideration into making our prints look different and special.

Our fit is also really important to us. If you want to have a good reputation retail-wise and last long in this industry, you need to have a good fit. Because Michelle and I are professionally trained, we do understand patterns and fit. We do all of our own fittings. We know what a good garment feels like.

KB: What can people expect from your collaboration with Amber?

MG: It’s not like MONROW, it’s dressier. Amber is the designer and Michelle and I are producing it. The way we started was in talking with her: what do you like in clothing? What do you feel is missing? What do you love that you already have? She has this really extensive vintage collection that she’s been collecting over the years through her modelling and she brought in a few of her favourites.

Her style is very girly, feminine, classic, and romantic, all with a modern twist, so that’s very much what the collection is. MONROW is a contemporary line of knits and t-shirts but it’s more casual, every day clothing. The Amber line is a specialty line and each piece is very unique. We’re using washed silks, silk frills, gabardines, lace, etc.

KB: Is her collection a onetime thing?

MG: She really loves it and wants to keep going with it. We’re definitely doing another season.

KB: There are a lot of celeb lines out there now and it seems like everyone in Hollywood can be an overnight designer. Are you feeling any of the resentment toward that movement?

MG: We had a press day in New York and we invited all of the editors from Vogue, Elle, Bazaar, etc. where they could all view the collection. Everyone was surprised. They thought it was going to be another pop-up collection. They could tell the line was unique and really thought out. We got really good feedback. Vogue is going to run the exclusive story on the collection for their October issue where Amber’s going to be photographed wearing the line. I think if they weren’t too serious they probably wouldn’t do that.

We really kept the line true to her. We didn’t try to make it MONROW. We didn’t try to make it what we thought she was about. She decided everything. It really looks like her. For example, what Kate Moss does for Top Shop is more what they already have in Top Shop, it’s just her name on certain pieces. She doesn’t wear that type of clothing, she wears all designer clothing. Amber’s line isn’t a cheaper line. Most celebrities have done these cheaper lines which are totally cool but our Amber line is much more detail oriented, it’s much more sophisticated.

KB: What can people expect for MONROW’s Fall 2009 line?

MG: We did a lot of jewel tones. We did this really cool leopard print with vinyl and this cool long tuxedo jacket. The whole boyfriend look is going on right now so we did some things reminiscent of that.

KB: What’s after fall 2009?

MG: Spring 2010. The t-shirt market works a little bit differently. We do ten collections per year and ship almost every month. We ship new colours, styles, and prints; it’s just the way our industry works. Every month people want to see new things. We’re always designing one collection, shipping another, and doing sales on another.

KB: That sounds never ending!

MG: It really is never ending!

KB: What are MONROW’s favourite trends?

MG: We love little blazers. And we love prints. We do prints ten months of the year and in every collection we offer at least five prints. We borrow from all aspects of life when we’re designing prints: human anatomy, nature, other artists, tapestries, drapery, or textiles from all over the world. We love to travel and we love different cultures so we try to infuse that into our aesthetic. We always have a story when we’re doing a collection. Our Fall line is vampy. The tones are dark and we did this black vinyl print.

KB: Were you guys inspired by the whole vampire craze right now (i.e. Twilight, True Blood, etc.)?

MG: We just liked the vamp, dark nail polish, kind of gothic look. We borrow elements of that look but interpret it in our own way.

KB: What trends do you guys loathe and wish would just go away?

MG: I’m really over the pocket tee. I get it. It was cute when it came out but now everyone has one. It’s just too much now. And racer-back tanks. Enough already!

KB: Are there any other celebrities you guys would like to work with in future?

MG: Yeah we want to keep going with our model series. We love models. There’s something about them when you’re designing. The really set the mood for so many designers. I’m always inspired by them and their personal style. They’ve been all around the world and seen everything. There’s a reason why there’s models and then there’s a reason why there’s supermodels. They really are freaks of nature and it’s really surreal to work with one so closely.

KB: Any other collaborations?

MG: We’re always inspired by artists. We know a lot of artists and we love to collaborate with them. Most people don’t know some of our prints but they are collaborations with unknown artists.

Brett Westfall is our guest artist for fall. One of his illustrations is on one of our shirts. He collaborates with Comme Des Garcons as well. We’ve also worked with Melanie Pullen, a famous photographer, author of a book called High Fashion Crime Scenes.

KB: Well thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me. Every time I wear my MONROW pieces, I always get compliments so it’s great to be able to chat with the creator of those gems.

MG: Thank-you!

Stay tuned for photos of MONROW’s Fall 2009 line!

]]> http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/08/30/interview-killahbeez-chats-with-megan-george-of-monrow/feed/ 4 http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/08/22/interview-dace-moore/ http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/08/22/interview-dace-moore/#comments Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:30:00 +0000 Alicia http://www.killahbeez.com/?p=25812

I had the chance to chat with British Columbia native Dace Moore, creator of the wonderful clothing line Dace. From a young age, she’s had an appreciation for fashion and quality clothing. She’s translated that appreciation along with her creativity into a line of clothing that can be found across the globe. Her collections are always feminine and classic, yet modern enough for the every day female. See what she had to say about her Fall 2009 collection, her inspirations, and what people can expect from Dace Spring 2010.

Check out our post on Dace’s Fall 2009 collection.

Killahbeez: How did you get into fashion?

Dace Moore: My mom used to sew clothes for us which I actually hated because back then I liked the name brand clothes. Then I took sewing in school and when I had a daughter I bought my first sewing machine and started sewing at home. I would buy vintage patterns, make things, and then sell them at consignment stores. Before I went to design school I sold pieces at two or three different studios in Gastown and I had also put on fashion shows. When I was about 25 I went to design school.

KB: What made you want to go to design school?

DM: I wanted to learn pattern drafting. I was always into art and drawing so manipulating patterns was fairly easy for me but I wanted to learn how to do it properly. My main goal was just to do pattern drafting. I had taken a tailoring course as well. When I went to go talk to the school, because I had already been doing so much, they gave me a scholarship so I took the whole course instead of doing just pattern drafting.

KB: The fashion world is known for being hard to survive in, have you ever wanted to throw the towel in and doing something else?

DM: Yes. I don’t know what I’d do but there are times, definitely. I find that when it’s harder I usually just work harder. I think to myself, “I have to get through this”.

KB: Yeah you can’t just sit and wait for the storm to pass, you have to adapt yourself to the situation.

DM: Yeah exactly!

KB: What would you say is the hardest part of working in fashion?

DM: A lot of the business side of things. The cash flow and budgeting, that side is the hardest for me. Starting new seasons is always hard to do because you just worked so hard on one season and just the thought of having to start another one is probably one of the hardest parts of designing a collection.

KB: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?

DM: There’s been a lot! In the beginning more of the production stuff and patterns. It was good making mistakes at that level, in the first year or two. We never had investors or a lot of money so we grew very slowly which was good for us because it gave us time to make and learn from those mistakes.

KB: Had you not pursued fashion, what do you think you’d be doing?

DM: Before I got into fashion I wanted to go into social work. I wanted to work with people. I grew up with an alcoholic father so I always felt the need to help people, like counselling. So many people told me not to do it because it was such a hard job on an emotional level.

KB: Do you see yourself sticking to fashion or expanding to other collections, accessories, etc?

DM: Yes! I like making all sorts of things. I’m working on this crazy quilt from all my old fabrics and it’s been almost a two year process because there’s over 7000 pieces.

We also started making duvets and pillow cases with extra fabric and we sell them on our website. They’re sold out right now but we’ll be making another batch and hopefully they’ll be up in the next month or so.

We also make things, out of leftover fabrics as well, for our customers who order online. We make scarves, handkerchiefs, and little bags that hold their orders.

KB: What’s the creative process like for you guys?

DM: The hardest part is starting the new collection. I go into it not knowing what I want to do and I just start ordering fabrics and then it comes together.

KB: So what can people expect from your Fall 2009 line?

DM: It was shot in Southlands. It has a very equestrian feel to it. The collection is much more fitted and has a lot of silks; it’s a little more dressy than the season before. It kind of has the 1930’s equestrian look and feel.

KB: What do you think the biggest trends will be this fall?

DM: I think more separates like blouses tucked into pants or skirts, etc.

KB: Is there a trend that makes you cringe?

DM: Hmmm….I guess still the UGG boot thing. I’m always surprised when I still see people wearing them. That’s all I can think of that irks me right now.

KB: It seems like people either love UGGs or hate them. No one’s indifferent about UGG boots!

DM: I mean I can understand if you’re wearing them up in the snow but with short shorts and a tank top? I don’t get it.

KB: Are you working on Winter 2010 or Spring 2010 right now? And what can people expect?

DM: Spring 2010. The fabrics are probably one of my favourites ever. It’s very light and airy. All of the fabrics have a vintage feel to them. Lots of creams and we even got a special print made in Italy. It’s definitely my favourite collection so far.

KB: Is there anyone, a celebrity or any other famous person, that inspires you or that you’d like to work with or have as a muse?

DM: Our newest photo shoot is a bit of a tribute to the French Francoise Hardy from the 1960’s to 70’s. She was an everyday girl with such great style.

KB: Do you draw inspiration from other eras?

DM: Yeah we did a collection two years ago that was very Victorian. We go through different periods and they definitely have a huge influence.

KB: Do you have any other inspirations?

DM: Mostly fabric and I love people watching when I’m away traveling. I love watching how people wear things differently. It all of a sudden triggers things and you think, wow that looks cool.

KB: Well I look forward to seeing what you come up with for your next few collections! Thanks for the interview, it was great chatting with you!

DM: Thanks!

Juan Zapata, Dimitri Max, and Joe Liehr make up DC’s ELM

In 2004, three DC DJs joined forces to create the production crew Everybody Loves Music (ELM).  In the past five years Joe Liehr, Juan Zapata, and Dmitri Max have continuously provided the Nation’s Capital with parties known for a unique vibe reminiscent of the days when the underground dance music scene was all about the people and the community that kept it thriving.

In August of 2008, ELM wanted to bring Doug Smith from 95 North back to his hometown to play for the people who were there when he was starting his career.  But when ELM lost their venue, they were approached by DJ Chris Burns who offered his contacts with a legal warehouse called the Trinidad and Tobago Society.

This affiliation of ELM and Chris Burns became known as Hometown Heroes, a production crew dedicated to shifting focus back to the city’s local DJs and party goers. And after the huge success of their first party, Hometown Heroes has now thrown 12 more monthly events much to the delight of kids in DC who were looking for something new and refreshing.

I recently sat down with Joe Liehr over Thai food and had a little Q&A session:

What is the most difficult part about throwing parties?
Competing with all the other parties being thrown in the city.  We have to stand out and offer something different to give our parties an edge.

And the most rewarding part?
When I look around the room during one of our parties and the floor is packed and people are having fun.

Do you think the concept of “Hometown Heroes” would work in other cities?
DC has a lot of talent but not many DC DJs are on the map.  We’re not like Chicago or Detroit or San Francisco or New York.  So if the concept works here, it could work anywhere.

What is coming up for ELM?
We have a couple possible big headliners but everything needs to be concerned.  We’ve also just brought in techno pioneers Quentin Harris and Ron Trent.  We’ll also be continuing Hometown Heroes.

What works about the venue (Trinidad and Tobago Society) for ELM?
T&T is a very raw venue.  It sort of takes people back to the days of Red and the venue itself allows focus to be on the music and the people because T&T is not concerned with being the hottest new club in town.  The trend in the past 8-10 years in DC has been focused on the club itself, and less on the music.  T&T offers a breath of fresh air.

Why do you think ELM has been successful?
Because we had one vision and we’ve never really strayed too far from it.

How about the DJs you’ve booked?
Absolutely.  They’ve been gracious and appreciative.  Hometown Heroes is a work in progress and although we haven’t been able to book all the DJs from the area who we respect, we hope to continue to tap into all the talent DC has to offer.

Does one particular party stand out to you as a favorite?
Definitely the party with Doug Smith from 95 North.  He has contributed so much to the scene in DC and he hadn’t been back in the area for a while.  It was a great Homecoming and a great way to promote a local hero.

What is the future for ELM?
T&T is under renovation.  There will be a new dance floor, sound equipment, and a new bar.  But T&T will still have that great underground feel.

DC is big enough to afford a good sized underground music scene but small enough where there is a real sense of community even between different genres.  How is ELM a player in that?
We try to showcase talent from all different scenes.  We’ve incorporated house, drum and bass, electro, dubstep, disco, techno, funk, soul, and we’re going to keep branching out.

DC Hometown Heroes: Matt Nordstrom and Dava Nada of Nadastrom

Anyone who has attended an ELM party knows just how much fun it can be.  And ELM has earned the respect of other promotion crews.

Graham Jackson of 88 shared this sentiment about ELM:

The ELM crew is by far my favorite group of promoters to work with in DC. 88 has thrown numerous events with ELM and each and every time we know that we can expect them to act professionally while still making it fun.
Lord knows you don’t throw underground dance parties in DC with the intention of making money.
The crews that last more than 6 months all share one thing in common – they do it for a sincere love of music.
So often the same cycle of artists are brought through DC because promoters know that is a “safe” move. That is the main reason our crew started throwing parties – we were tired of hearing the same stuff over and over – and we definitely see eye to eye with ELM on this.

These guys get off on seeing the people they care about have a good time. The feeling you get when you see a full dancefloor of heads getting down is hard to put into words – but its that feeling that makes all the hard work pay off. Its not the few bucks that you might make if you are lucky, or making sure everyone knows its you behind a party. More often than not, Joe, Juan & Dimitri aren’t on the bill at their parties. This is another factor that shows me they aren’t doing what they do to get attention or further their dj careers – they just want to try and make sure everyone has a good time…. and I love them for what they do.

Good work, ELM.  Looking forward to seeing you on a dance floor soon.

I had a chance to chat with Nikki Kelly of Hug & Kiss Designs to learn more about her company of saucy, joyful cards. A few years back, she couldn’t find a job (like half of the world right now due to the recession) so she started her own business and is now reaping the benefits of being self-employed after bringing a great idea to light. If only we all had a great idea like hers that we could cash in on!

Killahbeez: How did Hug and Kiss Designs come about?

Nikki Kelly: It officially started in January of 2007. Before then I started designing the cards for fun, just for my own personal artistic release. A few people had seen them and thought that they were really clever and funny and told me that I should do more with them.

I had been searching for a job in design and had gone to a bunch of interviews and it was one of those cases where I had either too much experience or not enough experience.

When I couldn’t find that dream job, I figured why not give my own company a shot. If it fails, no loss. If it works out, great!

KB: What were you hoping to do as a career?

NK: During the last five years I wanted to do something like magazine layout.

Now I can’t picture doing anything else. I’m still sitting here in my pajamas. It’s awesome. I don’t have to answer to anybody. There’s nobody telling me my design is wrong. I do what I want to do.

KB: What’s your process like?

NK: I have three books full of ideas. If there’s something I want to say in a card or if I know exactly what I want the card to look like and say, I’ll put it in the book.

KB: How did you decide on animals?

NK: They’ve just always been my style of drawing. I’ve always drawn cartoon characters, since I was six or something like that.

KB: Were your artistic abilities passed on from someone else in your family?

NK: My grandparents. My grandma paints and does ceramics, knitting, cross-stitching and all those other sort of grandma creative things.

KB: Do you do anything else creative on the side?

NK: It’s really just become this and I do little canvas paintings that are basically the same as my cards just painted onto canvases as opposed to printed on cards.

KB: What do you do outside of H&K?

NK: Not a whole lot! My job takes up most of my day. Otherwise I love going for walks, bike rides, and hanging out with family and friends.

KB: Do you find it hard to balance your time given that having your own company can be so demanding?

NK: No, it’s not a problem. Yesterday I probably worked like 12 hours but I had a nap in the middle of the day and its fun.

KB: Do you ever get hate mail?

NK: No! I get a lot of people praising what I do which is super awesome, I really appreciate that. I’ve never had anyone condemn me for what I do which I’m surprised. I was really worried that people would get really upset at me so I decided to create a huge warning sign saying, “Warning, these cards contain language that some people (with no sense of humour) may find offensive.” So that helps I think, because if I was at an art market and people did hate what I was doing and if they did say something to me they’d be admitting they have no sense of humour and I think that they kind of think about that. Usually there’s quite a few people gathering around laughing at my cards so for one person to say, “I just don’t get it, what are you doing?!” it would be embarrassing for them!

Sometimes I do get these dirty looks or I overhear people say to their friends or family, “I don’t get it!” If you don’t get it, I can’t explain it to you.

KB: How often do you make it out to art markets etc?

NK: Around Christmas time it’s absolutely crazy, I do quite a few different shows. I’ve signed up for Portobello West for the whole year, that’s the last Sunday of every month from March until December.

Next Sunday I’m doing the car-free festival in Vancouver and a lot of others

I keep busy!

KB: You also sell online?

NK: I’m at over 20 retailers. In B.C, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ottawa. I have had international orders from L.A, Utah. How they heard about me in Utah I don’t know but it’s cool. It’s surprising and fun to get international orders.

KB: What are your future plans? You have cards, magnets, small paintings, and now you’re dabbling into the t-shirt market. Anything else?

NK: I’d like to come up with a whole new line of cards. I haven’t decided it’ll be Hug and Kiss Designs or if I’ll come up another company name and do it totally separate. They wouldn’t be animals, they’d be cute little monsters or stickmen or something. I’d like to do that but it’ll take quite awhile to get it up and running.

KB: Along the same sense of humour?

NK: Yeah same sense of humour but in a different way. I haven’t fully figured everything out, it’s just in the thought process stage right now.

KB: You seem really busy. Do you think you’ll have to hire an assistant sometime soon?

NK: Yeah it might come to that soon! I’m running out of room in my apartment to store everything. It’s a small business but when you’re doing a lot of art markets and you’re selling to retailers, you need stock of envelopes, paper bags, boxes, and all that. So I might need to get my own office space soon as well.
Right now my husband helps me out which is amazing because I don’t have to pay him but I might need to hire someone soon!

KB: Aside from cards do you see yourself expanding into different things?

NK: I have thought about other things and people have suggested other things. My husband thinks I should make stuffed animals. I have no experience in sewing so I wouldn’t know what I was doing; I would have to get someone else to do it for me.

The t-shirt thing I was thinking of for a really a long time and I just started them now.

It takes awhile to get the new thing happening.

It’s nice that I’m at that point that I can try these different new things because the cards are maintaining my income.

KB: Do you have any advice for young entrepreneurs? I think a lot of people are at a place where they’re thinking of starting their own business as a result of the poor job market. Anything you wish you had known when you started?

NK: Not necessarily anything I wish I had known from the beginning. I did a lot of research going into this and what it takes to start your own business. I have all these different For Dummies books which are all quite helpful but really, when you start is when you learn everything.

KB: No matter how much advice you get from people, when it comes down to it, you learn through trial and error right?

NK: You have to be prepared to wear many hats. I do my own bookkeeping, marketing, I’m on the phone with the retailers, and I’m the one shipping the orders. I do absolutely everything other than what my husband and sisters help me with. You can’t just start your business and expect it to pick up right away. Some people can hire people right away and that’s awesome but you can’t always afford to do that.

If you’re even considering starting your own business, take the jump! Just try it! Don’t put too many eggs in one basket. I kept my part-time retail job when I started because I knew that this might not work and I didn’t want to burn bridges and not have money at the end of the month.

KB: Okay so one more thing…will you play a game with me? You’ll probably think I’m crazy but I think this could be fun.

NK: Okay let’s try it!

KB: So I’ll give you a word and you say the first thing that the word I say makes you think of.

NK: Okay!

KB: Blue

NK: Ape

KB: Ape?

NK: I have a painting right in front of me and it’s an ape and it’s blue!

KB: Music.

NK: Smashing Pumpkins.

KB: The Recession.

NK: Money.

KB: M&M’s.

NK: Colourful.

KB: Youtube.

NK: Kittens.

KB: Kittens? Do you watch kitten videos?

NK: Yeah I do, I’m guilty of that.

KB: Stephen Harper.

NK: Uhhhh…

KB: Ha! He doesn’t even deserve a word?

NK: Uhhhhh……

KB: Well that’s it. That was fun!

NK: Well I don’t think my answers were necessarily fun, maybe predictable.

KB: Saying “Ape” when someone says “Blue” isn’t predictable! Other people I asked said “sky”!

Thanks a lot for chatting with me and good look with your business!

NK: Thank-you so much!

A-Trak grew up with being labeled a child DJ prodigy by many, but despite that heavy label, he’s been able to deliver above and beyond anybody’s expectations. Constantly coming up dopness to give us eargasms on projects like Sunglasses is a Must, to Dirty South Dance and now Infinity + 1 and his Fabriclive mix. Expanding beyond his own music he co-founded record label Fool’s Gold Records with friend and fellow DJ, Nick Catchdubs and discovering KiD CuDi. He’s currently on his 10,000lb Hamburger Tour which features Fool’s Gold DJ, Treasure Fingers and Theophilus London, which is stopping throughout various cities in North America.

Killahbeez: A-Trak, thanks for taking the time to do this interview.

A-Trak: All good…

KB: Lets’ talk Infinity +1, how does this project differ from Dirty South Dance, which was a personal favorite on repeat for a straight year.

A-Trak: Thanks man. This mix CD is completely different. The whole concept of Dirty South Dance was based on bootlegs that I was making with rap acapellas and electro tracks. That was a new sound in 2007 but I can’t do that anymore. Infinity +1 is much more based on the montage of songs itself, rather than the individual songs. And musically it’s in another vein.

KB: It seems that this new release features more of an electro/disco/house vibe to it. Is that reflective of your personal taste has evolved over the years?

A-Trak: Yeah that’s correct , it’s got a sort of spacey vibe to it. Of course my taste and my selections evolve with time. Up until 5 years ago I was mostly playing hip hop. Around the time that I put out my DVD (Sunglasses Is A Must) and did that tour with The Rub I started playing more party sets. When I made the Dirty South Dance CD I was getting interested in electronic music. I’ve dug deeper into that since then and now I think I pick and choose from all those areas and pick my selections depending on the context.

KB: In an interview that our writer, AJK, did with your brother, Dave 1, they touched on how Chromeos’ sound and your sound are starting to fall in line. Growing up how much of an influence did your older brother play in the music that you listened to? Do you two still bounce material off of one another?

A-Trak: Dave played a huge influence on me when we were growing up, in terms of listening to music. Basically I would listen to whatever he and his friends were listening to. Now we share a lot of music. Yes he’s definitely the first person to hear my demos and give me feedback, and vice versa for Chromeo.

KB: Switching topics to fashion. It’s clear that you have an appreciation for fashion, you’ve modeled for Sixpack’s lookbook, what was that experience like and are you doing more stuff down the road?

A-Trak: Doing the Sixpack lookbook was fun, I’ve collaborated with that brand many times over the years so I’m always happy to do more stuff with them. I’ve been asked by more brands but I turn down a lot of things. I actually wear Sixpack tees so it made sense for me to do that shoot.

KB: Staying on the topic of fashion, you hit up Paris for fashion week. Which shows were you able to take in and were there any pieces that stood out in your mind?

A-Trak: Yeah I went to Paris fashion week with Kanye. It was women’s fashion week though I can’t really recall specific pieces, it was more about taking in all the creativity. I saw Givenchy, YSL, Hussein Chalayan, Viktor & Rolf and Sonia Rykiel.

KB: Going back to music, I’ve heard that you and Solange Knowles are working on some music and a record between yourself and Armand Van Helden. Are there any other collaborations or remixes that you have planned next?

A-Trak: Yes I worked on a track with Solange and I’m sure we’ll do more. She’s a great writer and has a very open mind. Sure there are more collaborations planned but I won’t tell you everything! I will tell you that I just completed an EP with Armand Van Helden which is coming out on Fool’s Gold.

KB: What else is on the agenda for A-Trak?

A-Trak: Wrapping up a few remixes and I’m going to start on an A-Trak record soon.

KB: Any departing words for the readers out there? Thanks again for taking the time.

A-Trak: Support Fool’s Gold! Kid Sister album coming soon. Thanks for the support.

Photo: Matt Barnes

Snoop D-O-Double G. It’s been 17 years since we were introduced to the man with the silky smoove gangster rhymes alongside Dr. Dre on the song “Deep Cover” for the movie of the same name. Well, fast forward 17 years and 9 albums later, the man is preparing to release his 10th studio album in the fourth quarter of 2009, currently called Malice in Wonderland. The project features guests such as Dr. Dre, Lalo Shifrin and The Neptunes to name a few. To celebrate, Snoop has launched a Summer long tour that will see him hit numerous cities across North America and we were lucky enough to take 5 minutes out of the man’s busy schedule and talk all things Snoop.

Killahbeez: Tell us about the upcoming tour, “Blazed and Confused”. What can folks expect to hear from yourself on this latest tour?

Snoop Dogg: Hot music. One big ass party. Alotta fun. It’s tha party of 09′ so be there. It’s gonna be off tha chain ya dig? And more of it to come….

KB: Word. You recently released the single “I Became a Snoop Dogg Millionaire”. Is there a time frame for the album and a title?

Snoop Dogg: Yeah, fourth quarter 2009. Alotta hot ish is on there. Lalo Shifrin and Dre producin’, plus many more. Tha album is called Malice In Wonderland and it is a definite Snoop Dogg classic LP. You gonna start seein’ singles soon, ya dig?

KB: You were nominated for a Grammy this year. Your first Grammy nomination came back in 1995. How have you been able to stay relevant and top of mind when so many folks in music, in general not just hip-hop, come and go?

Snoop Dogg: You gotta make sure that you know what your fans want and are open to see you grow and evolve. I have a loyal fan base and I owe a lot to them…they keep me relevant and let me know what they are feelin and not feelin. You gotta make sure you got a stage show, a brand and keep makin hit music. If you do that, you gonna keep it movin and your fans wantin more, ya dig?

KB: Having been in the industry for so long, how have things changed in your opinion?

Snoop Dogg: The game has really switched to the internet so you gotta make sure and step yo internet game up. It’s a blessing and a curse but it definitely gives young ones a shot at doin it big and makin it happen. It’s only gonna get more bigger and relevant and you gotta make sure that you gonna roll with it and make sure to capitalize off of it, ya dig?

KB: It’s no secret that you grew up around gangs and gang violence. You’ve seem to seamlessly transform yourself from that image to the person we all see today. How have you been able to take that situation and turn it into a positive?

Snoop Dogg: You can either choose to make yo life positive or negative. There are alotta distractions to keep it from positive but you gotta make sure that you rise above tha negative and make sure that fans love and respect what you doin – and I’ma make sure that I’m doin it positive. Haters are always gonna hate, but they can’t stop you.

KB: I can definitely agree with you on that.

KB: On to other recent events. Sadly Michael Jackson recently passed away. On the day of his passing you were playing a medley of his songs and tweeting the jams. How did Michael’s style influence Snoop Dogg’s style?

Snoop Dogg: He the King of Pop. A legend. Me and Mike got alotta ish in common and it was sad to see [that] happen. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones. We gonna keep thinkin of him and keep playin his classic music.

KB: What were some of your favorite songs by Michael or the Jackson 5?

Snoop Dogg: “Beat It”, “I’ll Be There”, “Billie Jean”, “Black or White”, it’s tough to say what my favorite ones are….but I definitely got alotta of em, ya dig?

KB: On a lighter note. You’re a known avid video gamer. You recently played against Mike Tyson in Fight Night and you’re going to be on Rock Band…

Snoop Dogg: Definitely. I am a video game fanatic and love playin them. My favorite is College Football and College Basketball, as well as Madden. I had a video game tourney last Super Bowl in Tampa and all tha stars showed up. It’s definitely a luv of my life and alotta games go down in tha man cave. So anyone who wanna step up holla at cha boy.

KB: Musically, are there any collaborations that you can talk about that are coming up on Malice in Wonderland or other projects?

Snoop Dogg: Be on da lookout. I got Dre and Lalo Shifrin on tha new album but got many more surprises for ya…..it ain’t a surprise if I tell ya….

KB: True enough.

KB: Thanks again for taking the time. Any words of wisdom for the kids out there?

Snoop Dogg: Make sure and be at tha “Blazed and Confused Tour” comin to a hood near you. Malice in Wonderland droppin fourth quarter and comin’ to yo local record shop. Snoop Youth Football League is growin and movin – its gonna be a big summer and a bigger year, ya dig?

***For tour dates and ticket information visit Livenation.com.***

Back in April I was sent a preview copy of The Juan MacLean’s latest offering called, The Future Will Come. The album, I’ll be honest, blew me the fuck away. I had gone in with zero listening expectations and came out a huge fan, even going out and picking up his first effort Less Than Human.

For those following The Juan MacLean, you know that for this second album The Juan MacLean has undergone some changes in the band and the over all sound. John MacLean enlisted friend and LCD Sound System band member, Nancy Whang to join The Juan MacLean full-time. She agreed and the rest they say is history. By now you’ve probably read or heard about John MacLean’s past drug use, his former dance-punk band Six Finger Satellite, but what you may not have heard about is the process and makings of this latest album, the current tour, inspirations and who he would “marry, fuck or kill”.

KB:…So let’s talk about how this tour is going so far, You guys started in late March early April.

JM: Ya, we went over to Europe and the UK for a little more than 3 weeks in the end of March to early April. We came home for about 5 days and then left for this tour with The Field. It’s been really good, it’s a good combination, cus those guys are much more ambient. It just makes for a really interesting night where things get, start off sorta slower in rep, but as the night goes on it gets really good.

KB: Have you found that there’s been a difference between the European and North American audience in terms of reception of your songs?

JM: I think in Europe and in the UK they much more respond to the electronic elements of everything and they seem to understand, especially from their radio standpoint, they see what we’re doing as a reference to very poppy kinda synth pop music and they can place the references very easily. Whereas in the United States I think it’s a little…they don’t get it as quickly in that way or if so it’s not perceived as much a mainstream thing which it is over there surprisingly.

KB: Hmm…that’s actually kinda interesting but like you said not too surprising.

KB: Your last album, Less Than Human, came out in 2005, when did you start coming up with ideas for The Future Will Come? Was it at all during Less Than Human or was there a break?

JM: No, the big thing was that after Less Than Human came out I started playing with a live band and when I made that album no idea that I would ever have a live band. It was only after I had made the album that I started thinking I would do it going forward. So it was kinda done retroactively, figuring out a way a live band could play those songs and then we went on tour for like a year and half. Then I immediately got back into DJing again and so I was just gone for like 3 years and was not in the mindset of making music at all.

Eventually it just occurred to me that I had better start thinking about making another album or else it would have been a really long time before a new one came out. So it was a pretty deliberate process, probably a year a half ago I just said alright I’m gonna start writing a new album and just did it.

KB: …not to mention you had done a shit load of remixes as well.

JM: Ya, remixing as well. That was all I was doing, DJing and when I was home I’d be doing remixes and it just soaked up so much of my time that it got my head out of the game of like playing live or making music again.

KB: This latest album definitely has a different feel than the previous album in that it has a lot more vocals and is a bit more pop. Was that something that you had intentionally conceptualized before going in?

JM: Yeah for sure. The biggest difference between the two is there’s so much more live playing on this album and the vocals as well. Both of those things came from my experiences of going on tour with a live band and a singer. Realizing that when you’re playing a live show how important vocals were in the presentation and just wanting to go in that direction much more.

In terms of making the album, it’s just much more interesting to have vocal oriented things as oppose to just instrumentals which can get boring over the course of an entire album, so before I made any of the music I knew two things 1. I would use my live band to record the album, which is why it sounded so much more live and 2. It would be very vocal oriented and that’s when I approached Nancy (Whang) and said “look instead of being a guest vocalist on this why don’t you just be a full-time member and then we just kinda went from there.

KB: So was she (Nancy) someone that you always had in mind?

JM: Yeah. It would always be her. I never considered anyone else.

KB: What about her voice made you realize that she definitely is the one?

JM: Well it’s kinda funny, she started singing with me and LCD Sound System, it wasn’t like she was a singer that had done anything before or like an accomplished singer, it wasn’t her career path or something. She was just a friend of ours and James Murphy and I were like yeah do you just want to sing on this track, my second 12-inch. She came down to the studio and did it and it just worked out really well and from that point in time I just thought she had this really quality. First of all not being a diva-style singer, which there is always (that) dominant female vocals in that genre. Also she just had this real knack for sounding both happy and sad, at the same time like being able to ride that emotional line, which is really a difficult thing to do and she just has this really endearing quality in her voice.

KB: You talked a bit about recording with a live band, what was that whole process like for this album?

JM: Well, generally I had written the songs at my home studio and came up with rough outlines for songs and loops. Then took the band to this pretty remote studio in Woodstock, New York out in the woods. Basically it’s a house with a studio built into it. So we all went out for a couple weeks and then it was basically a process of taking the songs I had written and then playing them live and recording it live in that studio. Then I took all that stuff home to my home studio and edited it all back down, sorta like making your own samples basically, and shaped it back into song formats again. Nancy and I went back to that same studio for a week just she and I recorded vocals. The final stage, I always mix at our DFA studios in New York with James Murphy.

KB: So how was that writing process because the songs do have that call-and-response vibe? Did you write together?

JM: Yeah we would actually make it a point to do this. We would be sitting on the couch next to each other with a notebook and pass it back and forth and write lines back and forth with each other. Even for songs where there was only one of us that sang we would help each other out as well with pieces. We intentionally went away to the studio alone, I actually engineered the session, which is quite difficult to do when you’re recording your own vocals, but yeah it was all done intentionally to set this mood of writing back and forth.

KB: With the success of Less Than Human, did you ever feel that pressure while creating this album?

JM: I think the sophomore album is always the litmus test. It’s where so many people fail, especially being on a label like DFA where there’s a lot of critical attention paid to it, it (DFA) gets written about a lot and there’s a pretty high standard, so there’s a little terrifying to start making a new record. That was part of getting out of the city and going to Woodstock, let’s just go where you don’t have to think about of this stuff and get away to do what we do.

KB: Changing topics, recently heard you guys teamed up with Nooka Watches and you guys created a mascot?

[laughter]

JM: Yeah I actually have one of their watches on right now. With our friend Mike, the graphic designer for all our DFA stuff and Pat Mahoney from LCD Sound System, whom is an old friend of mine going back, but he’s actually a toy designer and so they built this little robot out from scratch. It’s actually really cool.

KB: Does the robot represent anything to the band or is it purely for entertainment?

JM: Not really, it’s just something cool. Visually it makes sense, when you see it you would be like “oh yeah that would be a Juan MacLean type thing” and I really am into the watches.

KB: Yeah it does seem like quite a unique partnership.

JM: Yeah definitely. A lot of us at DFA have this kind of thing with like clothing designers or graphic artists or visual artists. We have a lot of friends in all those different worlds so we’re always looking to do different things.

KB: Will the robot have a role in the live aspect of the show?

JM: None more than sitting out in club. It sits there and lights up and everything.

KB: Talk about the live show aspect, what fans can expect to hear or see when they come to The Juan MacLean show?

JM: It’s pretty live for one thing. It’s definitely a reaction to see electronic shows where it’s just someone on a laptop or a few devices. DFA has a pretty high standard of live acts, like with Hercules and Love Affair, Hot Chip, LCD Sound System. I feel like we’re the most dance of all those things, so it’s attempt to play live dance music basically. The only thing that’s sequenced is the baseline and we all play around that.

KB: In making this album, what were the influences? Everyone knows that there’s the connection with Human League, but for example the first track “The Simple Life” sounds like Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love”.

JM: Yeah that’s actually what it was. It’s kind of funny, whenever I first write up a song I usually give it the name that I was ripping off and that was originally called “I Feel Love”, Georgio Moroder was on the production for that song so he’s a big influence. Others include New Order, Grace Jones, Kraftwerk as they usually are. I had also just gotten back into listening to ‘90s piano house; there are a lot of house elements as well.

KB: What kind of experience or emotions do you want fans to take away from listening the album from start to finish?

JM: Well, we tried to make it so there was a narrative arch to it, on loosely this relationship between the two people and I still sequence albums in terms of vinyl. So we made it so that the other side of side 1 kinda ends on a positive uplifting note with the song “Tonight” and the other side of side 2 ends on a positive note with “Happy House”. Each side is meant to tell a story of a relationship between two people which more often than not is going wrong on this record.

[laughter]

But we definitely wanted to have more transcendent moments especially with those two songs.

KB: Was that intentional? Making things go wrong as you said.

JM: Well what was intentional was that Nancy and I decided that we were going to write very honestly and sincerely about our personal lives basically. Doing duets, it naturally became this thing that we went to instantly which was like this back and forth telling the two sides of relationships gone wrong. I think a lot of it came out of how our lives had been for the past 5 – 6 years and us playing in live bands and touring. That lifestyle doesn’t lend itself to relationships really. It felt like a document of the past 5 years for the both of us.

KB: Okay so one last thing before we end this interview. Not sure if you’ve ever played this game or heard of it. It’s called “Marry, Fuck, Kill”

[laughter]

Basically I’m going to show you three pictures and you have to pick whether you marry, fuck or kill that person. To make things interesting, because this is the first stop in Canada, we’re playing an all Canadian edition.

[laughter]

JM: Jesus I love her (pointing to picture of Elisha Cuthbert), she’s on 24. I’m not sure who she is (pointing to Emmanuelle Chriqui).

KB:…yeah and the final girl is Scarlett Johansson.

JM: JESUS, what is that picture.

[laughter]

JM: Wait do I have to assign one tag to each girl? Oh man.

KB: Base it purely on looks.

JM: hmm…Marry Scarlett Johansson, Fuck Elisha Cuthbert and Kill Emmanuelle Chriqui….but this Scarlett Johansson picture, where is this from do you know?

KB: I actually have no clue. I just downloaded off of the internet before I came here, but you are welcome to keep that picture if you want.

[laughter]

JM: Thanks!

The Juan MacLean “One Day”

Anami Vice is a local Vancouver hip hop, solo artist with a bright future. The Ne Wfut Ure EP is his official debut that came out a few months back. It’s a collection of eight songs that he’s been brewing up for a few years now. He’s also working on his second album, due at the end the summer. I had the chance to chat with him about his days of rapping in his buddy’s basement to recording albums showcasing his beats and lyrics. Be sure to check out some of his tracks on his myspace (http://www.myspace.com/anamivice) page.

Killahbeez: So how did you get started? What’s your background?

Anami Vice: I’ve always liked hip hop. When I was 15 my buddy told me we were going to a friend’s house to rap. I was pretty resistant to the idea because I thought it was silly. I had never tried it before. So we went over to my buddy’s house and I guess he had just bought new turn tables and it had a sampler on it so we could loop tracks. There were five us and we all wrote 16 bars each. It turns out I was alright at it. Then we formed a group and we sporadically recorded and performed for ten years after that but we never did anything serious with it.

KB: Now you’re solo?

AV: Yeah. Over the years we formed different groups with the crew. Two of us would go off and do some songs together. Five of us would do the same. There’s a lot of recorded material but none of it saw the light of day, probably because we never thought it was good enough. There are a couple of guys who started out with us who are pretty serious into it now. A guy name Jeff Spec, he was at that first session and then split off from the group and worked on it seriously and now he has quite a few releases. But I never got there.

KB: Is anyone else in your family musically inclined?

AV: After getting into music I discovered that a couple of my uncles on my mother’s side do a weekly thing in a pub somewhere in Holland where they play cover songs, old Dutch folk tunes. As far as anyone else doing it seriously, that’s the only thing I’ve heard.

KB: What’s your background?

AV: My mother is Dutch and my father is Indian.

KB: Does your background influence any of your music?

AV: I don’t think so. I think I was heavily influenced by hip hop. I don’t think any of those sounds really found their way into my music. Not to say that they won’t in the future. For awhile Indian classical music and Indian pop was being sampled heavily in hip hop and I attempted that a few times over the years but nothing on my album has anything like that. I haven’t consciously made an effort to do that. Maybe in the future.

KB: How would you describe your music?

AV: I think I try to be as honest as I can with the lyrics. I’m not predisposed to using any particular type of beats. I like stuff that makes you want to nod your head. I’ve noticed that gangster rap sounds really good, but I don’t have anything gangster to say.

KB: Who are your musical inspirations? Who got you into hip hop?

AV: I remember the first two rap tapes I had were Young MC and Tone Loc. I think my major influences now, the people I listen to when I’m feeling uninspired, are Pharoahe Monch, Jay-Z, LP, and I really like Juelz Santana. The latest thing I bought is the new K’NAAN album. I didn’t like the first one but I really like the new one. It’s really cool. I thought it was going to be all one style but it’s really versatile.

KB: Do other music genres inspire you?

AV: Yeah for sure. I think lyrically a lot more than hip hop in terms of content. I grew up listening to my dad’s records like Paul Simon and the Beatles. My lyrics are really cryptic but if you listen carefully you’ll hear homage to Paul Simon here or there or an illusion to a Beatles lyric or something like that. I love listening to Lennon and his silly play on words.

KB: What’s your writing process like?

AV: It’s pretty standard. I sit down at the computer and I have a whole bank of samples like a keyboard line that I’ve been playing and I’ll make a beat and the beat will inspire me in some way to write something and then I go ahead and write to the beat. It’s usually the beat first and then I write the lyrics and then I try to record as quickly as possible, I find a get better result if I do that. I like to get in and put the song down while the beat is still moving me.

I’m trying to think of new stuff all the time, maybe too much. I think that like most artists, I never like the last stuff I did; I’m always looking forward to the new stuff. I put out that last album last December and I’ve already stopped dealing with it and am now actively writing a new album. I’ve already recorded half of the new album.

KB: What’s your cover art about?

AV: My dad’s a painter. I don’t actually know what it looks like on the cover but it’s a really small detail of a charcoal that he did. He did a whole series of charcoals after he came back from a trip to Mexico. It’s a small detail of half of the head of a figure that was on one of those charcoals.

My buddies and I laugh about that album cover because it looks like a world music album cover.

KB: What else do you do on the side?

AV: I enjoy writing. I don’t know if I’m any good at it but I really enjoy doing it. I’ve written some slam poetry that I’ve never actually slammed but the process is enjoyable.

KB: Would you ever consider publishing your writing?

AV: I’ve thought about it many times but I don’t know if I’m any good.

KB: Yeah but that’s a fear that a lot of artists have. You have to be confident but at the same time art is so subjective that no matter how great you think your work is, there will always be someone ready to knock you down.

AV: I think I’m most worried of myself judging me. I think with hip hop I’m pretty sure I’m not bad, but with other stuff, I’m not so sure, I might suck. I worry about that. I don’t worry about other people judging me; I think maybe I can handle that. I worry about giving myself a hard time and discovering that I actually suck.

KB: Well we’re always our worst critics. We might think something sucks but other people love it and what we love other people will think sucks.

AV: That’s funny because my least favourite track on the album I’ve been told, by the majority of people, is the crowd favourite.

KB: Which is your favourite and which is the crowd favourite?

AV: My favourite is track two “Shut Em Down” and track three is everybody else’s favourite, “Red Slippers”.

I think people really enjoy the beat of “Red Slippers”, it’s really up-tempo. The chorus gets in your head, I’m saying something that’s a cliché line so you can sing along with it and you feel like you’ve already heard it before. Actually so is track two, the chorus is an old Public Enemy chorus. I just like track two because it’s a little more evil, less up-tempo and happy.

KB: Why is it evil? What is it about?

AV: At the time I wrote “Shut Em Down”, I was serving, so there’s a lot of allusions about serving people and having them boss me around and having to smile and take it.

It’s also a reference to me closing the restaurant every night. I try not to worry too much about staying on topic but have sort of a general theme that I stick with. I think that’s what I like about the song, I like the lyrics a lot and that the beat is dark and that it’s a simple baseline.

KB: Any collaboration you’d like to make happen?

AV: For hip hop I really like Cadence Weapon, I think he’s doing some really cool stuff. He’s almost not even hip hop anymore; he’s gone electro-pop with mc-ing on it.

For awhile I stopped rapping and picked up a guitar and thought I was a singer/songwriter. I realize that I’m good at the writing thing but I don’t think I was really good at the playing and singing thing. I really enjoy Joel Plaskett and I think that his writing and tunes are right up my alley. I would love to write a song for Joel Plaskett although his strength is writing so I don’t know why he would need me.

I’ve always done my own beats and I would really like to rhyme over a Just Blaze beat or rhyme over an original Neptune beat: that would be really cool. Or have Pharrell sing on a hook!

KB: So what’s the new album like?

AV: I set out to do something a lot more accessible. People would say, I really like track three, so I tried to hone in on what it was they liked about it and what I didn’t like about it. I think it’s that there’s a really accessible chorus and the beat is up-tempo and I thought, well why not make an album that has those elements but that I also really enjoy.

The lyrics are much less aggressive and cryptic. They’re much more accessible and the hooks are the focus of the songs. It’s really about having that sing-a-long feel. I’m happy with them.

KB: Do you have any shows coming up?

AV: I’ve had a few offers lately but I’ve put it all on hiatus because I’m changing focus with my music. I’ve put the shows on hold until I finish my new album.

KB: When can people expect the new album?

AV: I think by the end of the summer!

KB: Well it was good chatting with you! Thanks for the interview and good luck with the new album!

AV: Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

Just before seeing the awesome Vancouver show, I got to sit down and chat with Jason Stollsteimer of The Von Bondies. They have an interesting history to say the least and their excitement for what they do is apparent in everything they do, interviews, live shows, albums, etc. If they’re in your area, check them out. You’ll be impressed with how personable they are.

Killahbeez: How did the Von Bondies come to be? You guys used to be the Baby Killers?

Jason Stollsteimer: I listened to Minor Threat, Weezer, Sloan, random music. I wasn’t a huge music kid, I played sports when I was a kid; I was talked into that by certain members of my family. I played a lot of sports; I was never interested in music.

In 1998 I went to a concert were there were bands I had never heard of. My roommate at the time dragged me to the show and it was packed, 800 people, in Pontiac, an hour north of Detroit. The bands playing were the The Cramps and Guitar Wolf. I was watching this band from Japan that basically didn’t speak any English. During the show, the lead guitar player handed his guitar to some random person in the crowd and said “hit it!” and this guy hit the strings and it sounded just like the band, meaning, I could do that! If that guy can’t play guitar and the guitars are so loud that it doesn’t matter what you play, I could do that!

It looked like so much fun! That night I went back to my apartment and proceeded to get drunk with five of my friends and we started the Baby Killers that day. I had never played guitar, the drummer had never drummed, the singer had never sung, and I had never played bass. We were playing in the basement just making crap noise because none of us knew what we were doing.

Then, one by one each person went upstairs to get a drink but then didn’t come back down. In the end I was by myself which is ironic because I’m the only one left in the band. So I went upstairs and the lights were all off and when I turned them on I saw everyone was having non-sex sex, they were all making out in a big group. That was the first Baby Killers practise. That was the most rock ‘n’ roll thing and it started off that way. Three of those people weren’t in the band the next week.

KB: It was one of those things where being in a band seemed cool until they realized they had to work and actually practise.

JS: Yeah. They were the ones that were more into music than me but I was the only one that lasted. We changed our name to the Von Bondies when our drummer Don joined.

We started playing our first shows at house parties in a room that fit 50 people, but we would fit 100 in the room of this house I had in college.

We were pure energy with no talent. It was great. Now we have a little bit of talent and lots of energy still. We’re very self-deprecating. It’s very mid-west, that’s how it is where we live; everyone picks on themselves.

KB: So just to clarify, you had no interest in music when you were younger or you didn’t have an “interest” because you weren’t supposed to?

JS:All of my friends were musicians, I was the guy who carried their equipment and sold their band t-shirts. My brother was the musician in the family and he still is. He’s ten times the musician that I’ll ever be.

KB: Does he ever help you?

JS: In the ten years of the Von Bondies, he’s come up on stage once and it was great.

KB: What were your inspirations then? If you weren’t into music, you’re inspiration must have grown from somewhere, eventually some musician…

JS:No, I normally buy a cd every four or five years. I never buy music. I listen to talk radio consistently.

There are certain bands that I’ve seen live that inspire me but cd’s not at all. I still don’t own a Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin, Stooges, or MC5 record and those are the five things that people relate to rock’n’ roll. It’s not because I don’t like it. The rest of the band listens to music religiously. When I hear it on the radio, I’ll sing a long, but I’m not a huge music fan which is strange because of what I do.

I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher but somehow I ended up here. I love it, don’t get me wrong, but not for the same reasons your average musician does. Some people want fame, some people want to get laid, some people like partying and being the center of attention. I kind of got talked into doing this and then I liked it for totally different reasons.

KB: What is it about what you do that you love then?

JS:I like traveling and talking to people after the show. I like talking to the audiences which most shows I go to, nobody does that. Touring bands plays their songs and then says one cool line and that’s the show; they play the cd. There just getting through the night because they have 300 other nights to do. It’s a rip-off. I feel ripped-off if there is no connection between the band I’m watching and me in the audience. That might be the only show I go to that month. If I’m having a good show I talk to the audience for like 15 minutes over the course of an hour.

Tonight’s a Monday. Our job is to make people forget they have work tomorrow. That’s my main goal. Friday’s and Saturday’s are different shows because we know they don’t work the next day so we play more songs and talk less. I like to get them involved on the weekdays.

KB: Any musical collaboration you’d be interested in making happen sometime soon?

JS: I don’t think doing something with me would be good for anybody else. I don’t think I work in the normal way a song writer might work because I don’t have any background in music. Even in this band I end up playing all the bass and guitar parts on all the records, sometimes even the backing vocals. I don’t really collaborate that well. I didn’t know that I was supposed to; I didn’t know that’s how it worked. I had never done my homework on how you’re supposed to run a band. This was from day one, now looking back over the course of ten years, a solo project with my friends.

On the new record we don’t list anybody. I’m not even listed as a band member. Either you like the cd or you don’t. It doesn’t matter if Dave Grohl’s on drums (which he’s not); it’s about whether or not you like the music. So if you liked us because of the guest, that’s weird, because they weren’t involved musically.

People already know that I’m in the band so why should I put my name on the album saying Jason Stollsteimer, guitar and vocals.

KB: Are you guys writing while on the road or just touring and having fun?

JS: If I wasn’t doing sound checks, I would be up there by myself writing songs, just little riffs at a time.

I write better when I’m on tour, I don’t write at home at all. If you said, you have one day in the studio and you have to write ten songs, I would be able to do ten songs and one would be really good. I’m really good at being put on the spot. If you said you have six months to put out an album, that’s bad, don’t give me time.

“C’mon C’mon” was written in a day: it was written in less than five minutes, recorded, and edited. Same with the new record; “Pale Bride” took like five minutes to write. The songs that take the least amount of time are everyone’s favourites.

I have six new songs that are basically done.

My other band, Jason and the Hounds Below, is putting out a record this fall so I’ll tour on that for a little bit. It’s more like Roy Orbison meets Velvet Underground. It’s more crooner-esque, it’s not rock. I get to sing huge vibratos, my more natural voice. That’s what I grew up listening to, like Otis Redding.

KB: What’s the tour been like so far?

JS: Canada is hilarious. We had never been to Edmonton, Winnipeg, or Calgary and they were amazing.

In Edmonton, the venue was way over sold out. Everyone was dancing. I hadn’t had that much fun in like two or three years. Vancouver has a lot to live up to!

KB: Uh oh!

JS: No, no…Vancouver is normally really good but it is a Monday after all. Bands usually try to have Mondays off because they’re the least well attended. Tonight should be fun. We played at Richards last time.

KB: Yeah I like Richards. I like smaller venues. They’re more personal, better crowd, you see familiar faces.

JS: We’re noticing that our friends who used to do the 2000 seaters are now doing 500 seaters. All those bands are playing smaller venues because people aren’t going to shows, at all.

It’s good that you like small venues because the bigger venues aren’t going to be selling.

I try not to go to big stadium shows; festivals are different. There was a time when we were doing 2000 seaters in Europe and that was a low point for me personally on stage because it didn’t matter how sold out every show was, I couldn’t see anybody. There was forty feet between me and the first person in the audience.

KB: After this tour do you have a bit of a break before heading onto your other bands tour? Any other future plans?

JS: We’re doing Virgin Festival in Toronto. We’re doing a bunch of festivals after this tour and until October and then we’ll have two weeks off and that’s when I’ll record my other band.

I know that we’re going to try and get on Lollapalooza, Coachella, and some others.

This will be our six month straight touring. The reason why I did this big Canadian tour is because every tour could be our last. I’m having fun but who knows. Plus, we had a five year break between albums and we had no idea if anyone would remember us, especially in cities we’d never been to. It’s been reassuring!

KB: Enjoy it while you’re up there because you never know! Something could come up and you’ll kick yourself for not making the most of your last tour!

JS: Yeah, I am enjoying myself! I had a day off in Vancouver. I’ve never had a day off on purpose to go see a city.

KB: Well thanks for the chat. I had a great time and I look forward to seeing the show tonight! I’ll be up at the front taking as many photos as I can during the first three song limit!

JS: Oh yeah! We want photographers to take photos after the first three songs. We want to be sweaty. We hate it when the label only allows the first three songs. No one needs a photo pass. We feel lucky to have out photo taken. Flashes are fine, everything is fine. It takes us three songs to warm up. I don’t want us looking like Hollywood crap. The last song is the best to photograph because that’s when we’re jumping around! You want photos of the chaos!

KB: Wow amazing! Thanks so much. See you later!

JS: Enjoy the show!