For those who don’t know, how long have you been making music and how would you describe your style?
I have been making music for let’s just say a very long time. As long as I can remember. I’d say since the age of maybe 15 or so. I would describe my style these days as ever evolving. I believe the future of music is genreless.
Could you briefly describe your music making process?
So for example on Monday, if I feel like making some shoegaze, I’ll make that. On Tuesday, if I become inspired by something else and feel like making some old school soul music, then I’ll make that. On Wednesday, if I was listening to The Masaai, tribe from Tanzania, the night before, and that so happened to have found it’s way into the inner workings of my spirit? Then guess what, that Wednesday, I’ll make something like that. It’s not forced by any means. I’m a musical chameleon really. I cannot stress that enough, I can’t help it even if I wanted to. I try to continuously upgrade the operating system of my mind in regards to, trying to have a deep understanding of the etymological and musicological history of music.
What can you tell us about your latest release?
My latest release Kings Juga is an homage to Juke Joint Music. Black Americans, during the days of Jim Crow weren’t allowed into eating or music establishments. So they concocted there own out of say a ramshackle shack way out in a field, where no one could hear them. It was here, that the cross sections, of hill country mountain music, doowop, the blues, bluegrass, and slave hollers all cross pollinated.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would you choose?
Sorry I’ve got to go with 2 on this one! I would choose Miles Davis and Stravinsky.
What do you have planned creatively for the upcoming year?
More single and EP releases. And perhaps a full record. I’ve quite the treasure trove of songs I am sitting on. And perhaps a tour if live music returns.
What track would you play for a new listener if they’ve never heard your music before?
Depends on the listener…The Hustle for it’s raw emotion. Ego Politique for it’s shoegaziness. Church Inna Juke Joint for its infectious emotional fun…
Where would be your dream venue to perform at and why?
My dream venue? Leave off the list please ….I dont have an answer really.
Which of your songs means the most to you?
The Hustle.
How has your city influenced your music?
I’d say Detroit and San Francisco influenced me the most…I’ve lived in both for a long time. Detroit is just violently insane, but you grow and learn a lot about yourself from the trauma that inflicts on you, and that kind of desperateness can reflect itself in the music. San Francisco/Oakland is what I would call my spiritual home. I was able to pick up more psychedelic haziness and reflect that in my writing from there.
