Tuesday, August 25, 2009
久しぶり！
It's been a while since I could go outside and just walk around lost in my thoughts, so today, that is exactly what I did. While I walked I thought of a great project to uptake for my last two and a half months in Ota. I am contemplating doing an interview series both filmed and in online zine form about some of the more interesting people I have met here in Japan. Don't know if it will amount to much but it's a good idea I think. On top of that I am gearing up to possibly record my long awaited mix-tape 'Oxygen Destroyer' produced by Double A. At the same time, I'm footing the bill to realease young Dubz A's first 'official' LP but I'll elude more to that after post production. Hope everyone's gravy.-2's
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
久しぶり！！
Long time no type. It has been unusually busy recently as I am trying to deal with a fiasco involving my publisher and the unthinkably terrible sound quality (ie nothing like the master I sent them) that was present on the run I just received. Still kinda fretting that boy, but hoping for the best.
Anyway, updates if you haven't had a chance to check out the new site yet please do. It has some great photography by Mizuaki Wakahara who is the same photographer who photographed Exile's last concert book pics, as well as Hamasaki Ayumi's New Year's concert. It also has updates on shows and is currently featuring an interview with SEO know-it-all and famous blogger Eric Pender. Here's the link: www.sympull.org
It's been a slow go in Tokyo up until late but I am happey to announce the first show going down this saturday in Ota. (Check the events page on sympull.org for details) I'm also locking down tracks to begin work on a new LP, while also recording a mixtape. That should almost guarantee that summer becomes a work-a-holics wet dream! So far I've been working on 3 tracks with producer Martez and am still anxiously waiting to see what Double A (Gambear1er) and Complexx might be cooking up on the beat front. This will actually be the first time I used multiple producers on any project, so I'm nervous to see what it turns out. I always enjoy team ups , but worry about the ol' too many chefs cliche.
Just wanting to keep ya'll in the loop, and I'll see you next update.-2's
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Eric Pender Interview
On March 18 th , 2009, Eric Pender interviewed Sympull about his latest EP release, "Start from Scratch." In his previous work with Genesis Theory on "The Genoa Incident," Sympull's lyrical work had a reflective and dark quality, exhibiting inner conflict and questioning. Now on his second studio release, it is evident that Sympull was grown into a role as a more confident and complex songwriter. Along with musical mastermind Complexx, "Start from Scratch" takes a polished and deliberate leap in lyrical acuity. In the interview, Sympull talks about his progression as a songwriter, his influences, and why he's keeping it clean of words of the four-letter variety.
The title of the new album is "Start from Scratch." I've had the chance to listen to the album, but can you tell us in your own words how you have approached your music in this album, and how this latest album is different from "The Genoa Incident"?
The Genoa Incident was an exercise of maybes. Maybe I could be a lone front man, maybe someone might care about what I say, and maybe hip-hop can be made with a bunch of classically trained musicians. I honestly didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know what I wanted to do. So when I first started the band Genesis Theory with my buddies it was more about us just getting anything done more than making something epic. So what you end up with is a mixed blessing, because you have a lot of good ideas but no one with a clear concept of what the song should be when it's finished. There was actually a show only album that came out a year later called 'Relentless'. On that album I think we (GT) really found our stride and began at least having an inkling of what an album should look like. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens the band broke up before we ever had a chance to release that CD as an actual dubbed album.
Either way what I was aiming for was still a little bit beyond what was coming to fruition in that group. But I was able to learn a wealth of knowledge from the experience and was able (at the end of that chapter) to begin to realize what I think a good album would consist of.
So me and Complexx (Ex-Drummer from GT, producer of 'Scratch'), we knew exactly the kind of project we wanted to do. We knew the kind of time we wanted to put into it, and we knew the level of quality we wanted to breathe into this. The truth is we probably always knew what we were looking for but there were too many people throwing out personal visions in our old situation. Maybe the short answer to your question is that we learned to have less head chef's in the kitchen. It seems to really be working well thus far in the process of making music.
Late last year you packed everything up and moved to Japan. That's certainly a big change in your life. How has that manifested itself in the latest record?
Actually we wrapped up production on 'Start from Scratch' a week before I made said move. I can tell you that the next CD (Which will be a full LP) will be heavily influenced by it though. There's so many inspiring things I can take in here as well as I have had a lot of time to reflect on my life, loves, and personal relationships with people.
Was there something you wanted to work on specifically when you were working on this album? Was there something from the last album where you consciously said "I want to do this differently" or "I want to change this?"
Abso-freaking-lutely! I wanted to make a complete project. An album, big or small, that had a flow to it. Where nothing sounded like it didn't belong, but also where there was no filler and no songs that were 'the same'. There's so many CDs you pick up today and there are like two major songs and the next 15 tracks are like the same eh level song all the way through. They use similar structures, chords, lyrics. You can't tell when the track changed even. But I also didn't want to make something that had no thought or cohesion to it. So from the first day I heard Complexx's beat for the title track to the last day in the studio, I was designing the sound of 'Scratch' in my head.
What I wanted so much to do differently this go around was make something that I knew was pro level and would let people know I'm not kidding around with this ish. People will listen to this CD and say "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOh, you're serious about this junk!'. Y'know?
Who's currently influencing your music now?
There's a wide range of artists who influence my music personally. I'd say Double A (long time friend and fellow rhyme aficionado) is one of my biggest influences. He's sort of the Rival that keeps you in training because you don't want to let him get any ground on you. As far as outside-influences...I'm really big into the Midwest indie-scene. I love just about anything the Rhymesayers camp puts out. Atmosphere, Brother Ali, and MF Doom are some of my favorite rappers. But I also am a big fan of Royce da 5'9" and Aesop Rock as well. You might be very surprised at how many times other music forms inspire me to pick up my pen though. As funny as it sounds Tenacious D is an amazing group to me. They make funny songs, fair enough, but their arrangements and abilities are top-notch. I also listen a lot to Utada Hikaru and other J-pop artists. Because honestly there's days when you just are sitting listening to 'Brian Wilson' by Bare Naked Ladies and you understand that lyrics can really talk about anything that inspires you. It sort of gives you a reset button when you are too deep into the 'Expected' realm of rap.
The last album was driven by strong guitar riffs with a lot of hip-hop influence. This latest album still has the hip-hop influence, but is a little more musically diverse. How did that come to be? Was that something you did on purpose?
Complexx is the mastermind of a lot of the musical exploits on this CD. There were times I beat boxed a couple of notes bouncing around in my head and he worked his magic with it, but for the most part I think a lot of this diversity comes from Complexx growing as a producer and a musician. We were also blessed to have a recording engineer, Shane Burghem, who is also an amazing guitar player who, in postproduction, was able to add his stank to songs, like 'Ghost Recon', and really bring them to life.
The process is naturally occurring. There was certainly a rhyme or reason to our decision making process for 'Scratch, but I can't honestly say Complexx knew what notes he wanted to use in a song as much as when he hit the right notes we knew that they were right. If that makes sense.
I'm pretty sure you haven't dropped an f-bomb in the entire album. Do you have a reason for why to try to stay away from that kind of stuff?
There's no moral reason or anything like that. I definitely feel all the four letter zingers have there place in writing and in Hip-hop and in the world at large. But it is also a basis for a lot of critiques on my community and on my genre of music. I believe hip-hop is the most beautiful and honest music in existence. There aren't more talented songwriters on the planet! But I also would hate for someone to be turned away from this such amazing content by a couple of rough adjectives. On top of that I sound corny on record when I say F*** anything! It doesn't seem to fit me, and you can't play the part of something you're not, or you'll just end up losing what makes you stand out from the million other nameless faces out there.
Do you have favorite song on the album?
I like all of these songs for different reasons. But if I'm choosing one I'll go with 'Start from Scratch' only because it was the first song I wrote and really led into all the other songs falling into place.
In The Genoa Incident, there was clearly a reflective tone, a sense of searching in a way. This latest effort is much more confident. There is still that sense of trying to complete something. It has purpose, but acknowledges there is still more you are after. Can you talk a little about the confidence that you portray in the new album, and how maybe that's changed since your last album?
In "The Genoa Incident" and "Relentless" I was in a very low and lost point in my life. I had no idea what I wanted out of life and I had no love for myself. I had a numerous amount of failed half-assed relationships and was struggling with spiritual beliefs as well as my own significance in the world. I wasn't eating right, I wasn't sleeping right, and I was a complete wreck. So these two albums were very much like a scatterbrained diary trying to describe what I felt I was verses what I wished I would become. I also can say it was a lot of candid speech about the evils that women do to a man. So towards the End of Relentless and other unreleased songs at the end of my tenure in Genesis Theory you begin to see the change in my lyrical content as I started my quest to find self.
Start from Scratch is my light in the tunnel. You can feel the hope placed in it. Not to mention it gives you insight into what my life's quests, up till now, have turned up. I am confident in what I do. There's no question that I have the wares to be a musician. I write almost a song a week (Usually more like three now of days). I'm constantly free styling and rapping everywhere I go. If someone asks me what I do I always mention it. This is my life. I don't just listen to this ish, I live it. And it's crazy to look in the mirror and see this bald-headed, bearded, and pale white mug and know as soon as I walk out the door I'm gonna let people know how sexy I think I am. I have that love for myself and as cliché as it can be construed as, it gives me the ability to appreciate the other knuckleheads in the struggles with me.
In addition Scratch is a warning shot. People are going to know Sym got mean and that the Mastodon is hungry. I've got so many songs I can't wait to get down and so much I can't wait to write that people are going to be seeing me for a long minute.
Sympull's latest EP release "Start from Scratch," is currently available at www.sympull.org by clicking on the 'store' link. He'll probably even sign it for you if you want. This interview was conducted by Eric Pender , who lives in Chicago, and has known Sympull since waaaaay before he was living in Japan.
The title of the new album is "Start from Scratch." I've had the chance to listen to the album, but can you tell us in your own words how you have approached your music in this album, and how this latest album is different from "The Genoa Incident"?
The Genoa Incident was an exercise of maybes. Maybe I could be a lone front man, maybe someone might care about what I say, and maybe hip-hop can be made with a bunch of classically trained musicians. I honestly didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know what I wanted to do. So when I first started the band Genesis Theory with my buddies it was more about us just getting anything done more than making something epic. So what you end up with is a mixed blessing, because you have a lot of good ideas but no one with a clear concept of what the song should be when it's finished. There was actually a show only album that came out a year later called 'Relentless'. On that album I think we (GT) really found our stride and began at least having an inkling of what an album should look like. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens the band broke up before we ever had a chance to release that CD as an actual dubbed album.
Either way what I was aiming for was still a little bit beyond what was coming to fruition in that group. But I was able to learn a wealth of knowledge from the experience and was able (at the end of that chapter) to begin to realize what I think a good album would consist of.
So me and Complexx (Ex-Drummer from GT, producer of 'Scratch'), we knew exactly the kind of project we wanted to do. We knew the kind of time we wanted to put into it, and we knew the level of quality we wanted to breathe into this. The truth is we probably always knew what we were looking for but there were too many people throwing out personal visions in our old situation. Maybe the short answer to your question is that we learned to have less head chef's in the kitchen. It seems to really be working well thus far in the process of making music.
Late last year you packed everything up and moved to Japan. That's certainly a big change in your life. How has that manifested itself in the latest record?
Actually we wrapped up production on 'Start from Scratch' a week before I made said move. I can tell you that the next CD (Which will be a full LP) will be heavily influenced by it though. There's so many inspiring things I can take in here as well as I have had a lot of time to reflect on my life, loves, and personal relationships with people.
Was there something you wanted to work on specifically when you were working on this album? Was there something from the last album where you consciously said "I want to do this differently" or "I want to change this?"
Abso-freaking-lutely! I wanted to make a complete project. An album, big or small, that had a flow to it. Where nothing sounded like it didn't belong, but also where there was no filler and no songs that were 'the same'. There's so many CDs you pick up today and there are like two major songs and the next 15 tracks are like the same eh level song all the way through. They use similar structures, chords, lyrics. You can't tell when the track changed even. But I also didn't want to make something that had no thought or cohesion to it. So from the first day I heard Complexx's beat for the title track to the last day in the studio, I was designing the sound of 'Scratch' in my head.
What I wanted so much to do differently this go around was make something that I knew was pro level and would let people know I'm not kidding around with this ish. People will listen to this CD and say "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOh, you're serious about this junk!'. Y'know?
Who's currently influencing your music now?
There's a wide range of artists who influence my music personally. I'd say Double A (long time friend and fellow rhyme aficionado) is one of my biggest influences. He's sort of the Rival that keeps you in training because you don't want to let him get any ground on you. As far as outside-influences...I'm really big into the Midwest indie-scene. I love just about anything the Rhymesayers camp puts out. Atmosphere, Brother Ali, and MF Doom are some of my favorite rappers. But I also am a big fan of Royce da 5'9" and Aesop Rock as well. You might be very surprised at how many times other music forms inspire me to pick up my pen though. As funny as it sounds Tenacious D is an amazing group to me. They make funny songs, fair enough, but their arrangements and abilities are top-notch. I also listen a lot to Utada Hikaru and other J-pop artists. Because honestly there's days when you just are sitting listening to 'Brian Wilson' by Bare Naked Ladies and you understand that lyrics can really talk about anything that inspires you. It sort of gives you a reset button when you are too deep into the 'Expected' realm of rap.
The last album was driven by strong guitar riffs with a lot of hip-hop influence. This latest album still has the hip-hop influence, but is a little more musically diverse. How did that come to be? Was that something you did on purpose?
Complexx is the mastermind of a lot of the musical exploits on this CD. There were times I beat boxed a couple of notes bouncing around in my head and he worked his magic with it, but for the most part I think a lot of this diversity comes from Complexx growing as a producer and a musician. We were also blessed to have a recording engineer, Shane Burghem, who is also an amazing guitar player who, in postproduction, was able to add his stank to songs, like 'Ghost Recon', and really bring them to life.
The process is naturally occurring. There was certainly a rhyme or reason to our decision making process for 'Scratch, but I can't honestly say Complexx knew what notes he wanted to use in a song as much as when he hit the right notes we knew that they were right. If that makes sense.
I'm pretty sure you haven't dropped an f-bomb in the entire album. Do you have a reason for why to try to stay away from that kind of stuff?
There's no moral reason or anything like that. I definitely feel all the four letter zingers have there place in writing and in Hip-hop and in the world at large. But it is also a basis for a lot of critiques on my community and on my genre of music. I believe hip-hop is the most beautiful and honest music in existence. There aren't more talented songwriters on the planet! But I also would hate for someone to be turned away from this such amazing content by a couple of rough adjectives. On top of that I sound corny on record when I say F*** anything! It doesn't seem to fit me, and you can't play the part of something you're not, or you'll just end up losing what makes you stand out from the million other nameless faces out there.
Do you have favorite song on the album?
I like all of these songs for different reasons. But if I'm choosing one I'll go with 'Start from Scratch' only because it was the first song I wrote and really led into all the other songs falling into place.
In The Genoa Incident, there was clearly a reflective tone, a sense of searching in a way. This latest effort is much more confident. There is still that sense of trying to complete something. It has purpose, but acknowledges there is still more you are after. Can you talk a little about the confidence that you portray in the new album, and how maybe that's changed since your last album?
In "The Genoa Incident" and "Relentless" I was in a very low and lost point in my life. I had no idea what I wanted out of life and I had no love for myself. I had a numerous amount of failed half-assed relationships and was struggling with spiritual beliefs as well as my own significance in the world. I wasn't eating right, I wasn't sleeping right, and I was a complete wreck. So these two albums were very much like a scatterbrained diary trying to describe what I felt I was verses what I wished I would become. I also can say it was a lot of candid speech about the evils that women do to a man. So towards the End of Relentless and other unreleased songs at the end of my tenure in Genesis Theory you begin to see the change in my lyrical content as I started my quest to find self.
Start from Scratch is my light in the tunnel. You can feel the hope placed in it. Not to mention it gives you insight into what my life's quests, up till now, have turned up. I am confident in what I do. There's no question that I have the wares to be a musician. I write almost a song a week (Usually more like three now of days). I'm constantly free styling and rapping everywhere I go. If someone asks me what I do I always mention it. This is my life. I don't just listen to this ish, I live it. And it's crazy to look in the mirror and see this bald-headed, bearded, and pale white mug and know as soon as I walk out the door I'm gonna let people know how sexy I think I am. I have that love for myself and as cliché as it can be construed as, it gives me the ability to appreciate the other knuckleheads in the struggles with me.
In addition Scratch is a warning shot. People are going to know Sym got mean and that the Mastodon is hungry. I've got so many songs I can't wait to get down and so much I can't wait to write that people are going to be seeing me for a long minute.
Sympull's latest EP release "Start from Scratch," is currently available at www.sympull.org by clicking on the 'store' link. He'll probably even sign it for you if you want. This interview was conducted by Eric Pender , who lives in Chicago, and has known Sympull since waaaaay before he was living in Japan.
Monday, January 26, 2009
1st Blog from Japan
As I'm writing this, I'm sitting at a Country Kitchen Buffet in Ota Japan. I'm so stuffed that I have abdominal pains, but I made a conscious decision to actually eat something this week, so I'm using the end of my budgeted money and gorging a little bit. But, seeing as it's going to be a minute before I can stand up, I decided to sip on some coffee and updated my long forgotten blog.
I've been here almost three months and I'm only now starting to settle in my two tatami room apartment. I'm going to come clean to those who are my main line of encouragement and the ones riding me hardest and tell you that getting back into music has been a slow go. Finding musicians and places to play have been a hurdle that I can't figure out how to clear, but my heart is still willing, and I've still been on a very strict writing regiment that I started in the states some years back. With perseverance there is always a chance that you can succeed.
The long awaited 'Start From Scratch' mini album is drawing ever closer to it release date. (Which I'm disappointed to say is still TBA.) But I promise that I wouldn't mention it if a date wasn't in sight. On the low, I've already picked a place to have the release party. (Which, even though it is kind of a six thing todo, I''m keeping as my secret.) I'm just working out the finishing touches on the album artwork and design. Please trust that everyday I grow more anxious contemplating how long this process is taking, knowing that I can honestly say to this day I have planned out maybe 5 full LP's and mix tapes for future release. And since I'm always writing it means that number can only grow. My only desire is to let some of the coal hit the fire so that I can keep the movement warm in this age of ice that hip-hop has fallen victim to.
Anyway, in loo of the release of said mini album, I'm also hard at work contemplating a working with web heads to give sympull.org a forever needed face lift. I'm also going to make a T-shirt so that the supporters of the Sym movement can rock some gear that represents their campaign. (Cursed if we ain't all learning a little something from Obama y'know?!) I may not be all that well known, and I certainly not the most experienced, and you better believe I have no idea how the music biz works, but, I do know what hard work is and I try and put all my heart and hope into whatever I decide to do until it gets done. So I also hope that you'll dig what I've been putting up and throw a couple of dollars at the CD when it finally drops so that we can keeping pushing forward on this mission. Much respect and love to all those taking five minutes out of their lives to read the random thoughts of wannabe independent rapper, singer, effit crazy song writer slash, T-shirt Designer. -2's (It's pronounced deuces by the way.)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
New Polar Ice Caps
Double A has been tossing some of his art work up on his blog the last couple of weeks. So I thought I'd do the same. Also, I couldn't think of anything to write.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Saturday Morning Food Poisoning
I broke one of my long time rules yesterday: Never eat Japanese dishes that are made with fish in America. I ordered Grilled Calamari in Ann Arbor and woke up mid-way through the night puking in the ivory potty mouth. Man that sucked! I haven't been sick in a year, I was liking it too.
While blowing chunks, I contemplated all of life's important questions. Like why would anyone who had a mouth, and therefore have a roof of their mouth, ever want to eat regular Captain Crunch or Crunchy Peanut Butter? They're like sugar and glass shards with milk or bread.
Anyway, The myspace is updated with new Sympull Demo 2008 tracks for your enjoyment. Happy Saturday. 2's www.myspace.com/sympull
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