Interview: Quick Chat with URTHBOY
Posted on September 7, 2012 by LiteMoteef
OCT 12 will see the release of Urthboy’s 4th studio album, Smokey’s Haunt, which he’d love to put on wax. And come to think of it, so would we.
Yet that shit ain’t easy, it doesn’t come cheap. But you know the cliche – where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Urthboy’s on Pozible.
This is an alternative crowd funding platform to Kickstarter, which I mentioned in an article re. West Coast Hip Hop History in Pictures.
Much in the same way, you offer up incentives to people who donate, and Urthy’s done all right by us.
Currently on tour, Urthboy nonetheless took time out to tell us why this project’s worth supporting.
PRIMO! Magazine: So, what’s Smokey’s Haunt got that previous albums haven’t?
URTHBOY: It’s a record of storytelling like none of my other albums. In spirit it’s a little more Signal than Spitshine in that it has a more personal edge – it really wormed its way under my skin.
D’you try and top yourself each album? Set yourself any challenges this time around?
I try to flip the writing process so that the chances of repeating myself are reduced. Part of me always wants to ‘top’ what I’ve done previously but in truth, my curiosity to dig a little deeper overrides any conscious ego trip about being ‘better’. I just want to do things that inspire me.
Why do you wanna get it on wax?
We used to do vinyl for most releases but as album sales have declined it’s impossible. There’s no doubt in my mind that the vinyl format is the most enjoyable way to take in an album – the sheer physicality of it means that you focus on the music, you’ve got to get up and change the sides over. I love modern technology and shuffling music but vinyl is a beautiful thing object that amplifies the whole experience. In some ways we’ve been forced to resign ourselves to not manufacturing vinyl but by doing a Pozible campaign we’re handing over the decision to music lovers and fans.
Reckon you can track your growth album to album? Biggest difference b/n what you’re doing now to ’04?
My writing was immature, sprawled out and unfocused in 2004. I’m not trying to say that if you liked that album then you’re a sucker – there’s an element of my naivety that produced something uncontained, and that’s very real. But nowadays I think I write with a sharper dart – they’re songs that are better equipped to stand the test of time. I hope.
Any surprises we can look forward to on Smokey’s Haunt?
One of the songs on the record features Alex Burnett and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever done in any records I’ve been involved with. I love it.
Any tips for kids who wanna use platforms such as pozible and kickstarter to raise funds for their own projects? any drawbacks?
Create appealing packages that are genuinely valuable – not necessarily financially valuable – it could be something money can’t buy. It’s worthwhile really brainstorming some cool incentives so people buy into your idea.
So go ahead and do it:
KNEE LENGTH SOCKS
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NAIVE BRAVADO feat Daniel Merriweather
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/47806123" iframe="true" /]
