Interview
You’re from Hollywood California, did you grow up there? I grew up in a small town in Connecticut where I spent most of my life.
Los Angeles has always been staple for innovative music of various types. It’s no surprise that Hip-Hop has seen a big year in 2013. But your music seems to cross several “genres” of sorts. If someone had listened to your Soundcloud for the first time, what would you tell them about the sounds of Fifty Grand? I keep it simple and say “experimental hip hop”. Certainly I’ve been influenced by multiple genres but hip hop composition is what “speaks to me” personally. People always mention my music as being post-witch house, and that’s fine —I owe a lot to Salem and White Ring— but all the best witch house was hip hop to begin with.
Did you grow up playing music? I was forced to take piano lessons at a very young age. Looking back, I’m extremely thankful that I was formally trained in music.
What was the first hip hop record that changed things? I wasn’t allowed to listen to hip hop when I was younger so the only way for me to hear it was through purchasing NOW CDs or Grammy compilations. The first song that ever got me into hip hop (in retrospect it was probably just the first thing I was able to latch onto) was Eminem’s “Without Me”. As the years progressed I was really very much into snap music and crunk and hyphy— anything bassy and ignorant. I didn’t listen to hip hop albums in full until I was older and might not have even had a favorite until Q put out “Habits and Contradictions”.
From Jay Z to Evian Christ. The Pazz Cherofoot remix had my head spinning in a coffin of codeine. Not to mention the Majical Cloudz remix touched a very special spot personally. You’ve remixed some heavy hitters but each is so different. What drives you to remix a particular song? Damn, you know that Evian Christ remix? I think that’s fairly well-hidden on the internet. Generally speaking I like to remix songs that, as you mentioned, touch something personally for me. Such was the case for the Majical Cloudz and Jay-Z remix but otherwise it’s just for fun, just to see what I can bring to the track.
2013 saw some phenomenal releases and we love talking favorites. What are some albums or EPs that caught your attention this year? The new David Lynch record is really cool. He calls it a blues album but listen to “I Want You” and tell me that isn’t hip hop. FKA Twigs “EP 2”, Grxgvr’s “ToothTaker EP” and Ferg’s “Trap Lord.” The new Gorgeous Children project is dope too.
The Fifty Grand LP was great, and then you released the Join You (October demos)EP and we were blown away. When was this recorded? I recorded Join You in October of 2012.
On the track Scary All Over, did you sing the vocals? Yes.
Ideally, do you see your music fitting best with or without a vocalist? Because my voice didn’t become part of the equation up until a few months ago I think a lot of people have pinned me for a DJ/Producer. In reality I am not too interested in djing and have been incorporating my vocals as much as possible into my new work so that it’s more performable.
You released an EP with SKELETONKIDS last year. Do you have any other collaborations in store? Yes. They’re secret for now.
What music has had you dancing in your house by yourself lately? My new shit. And maybe some Mr. Carmack.
As we get close to the holidays, what are something’s you are thankful for? I’m thankful for the future and for the people in my day-to-day life I know have my back.
We love to talk up comebacks just for fun. Who would you love to see make a triumphant return to the throne? Blondie.
What can we expect from Fifty Grand in 2014? I’ve got my first official video coming. Everything is about to get much more personal. Oh, and I might’ve created a new genre. You’ll see.
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