Pugetsoundmixtape - Vol.3 Interviews - Mae/Cam The Viking/Johnny Solo

[Darxiide]

http://www.pugetsoundmixtape.com

CAM THE VIKING

Q&A's
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What is your name, what do you go by?

Cameron Torvik aka Cam The Viking





Where in the puget sound do you reside?

Tumwater, but I'm everywhere with the mobile studio.




What artists would you say have been your biggest influence on your current music?

KRS ONE, Afrika Bambata, Andre Nickatina, The Temptations, GrandMaster Flash,Tech N9ne, Moody Blues, Lupe Fiasco, Led Zepplin, Abom Kid, Living Legends, Pink Floyd, MGK, UGK, Brotha Lynch Hung, Lost Soul the E-Mo Kat, Macklemore, AR Mastermind, Immortal Technique, Adele, People under the Stairs, Josh Rizeberg, Rage against The Machine, Zion I, Awall aka 2Piece, Goodie Mob, Royce da 5'9, Mae, Bonobo, Wu-Tang........& every terrible song I hear on the radio!!




There's plenty of talent in the NW. What do you think a puget sound artist needs to do in order to gain a record deal?

Thats the Golden Question, If I knew the answer I would have one myself. But my plan at this point is to network through shows and collab tracks here in the NW and build a proper reputaion and friend/fan base here, and try and setup or jump on a tour that travels at least down to cali and have the proper websites and product for that one show that you catch the proper eyes/ears and they see what you got.
The key for that theory to work is too bring everything you got every show and every verse whether there is 5 people or 500 listening. It's really not the goal yet to get signed in my world though, I really enjoy every step of this Hip Hop world, and I jumped in late so I might not ever get signed Im fine with making music with no pressure or deadlines or someone telling me to change my lyrics and beats.




Where is the best places to get people to hear your music? (ex; live, online)

A Live show with the Gonzo Family!!! I promise after seeing our passion and energy in the flesh people will understand how much we love what we do, and with all the music out there I think its very hard to be heard unless you build a friendship with an artist/fan, and my favorite part of a show is after the performance when I get a chance to thank everyone and chop it up. Im the only Cam The Viking so you can google me!!

www.youtube.com/camtheviking & www.soundcloud.com/camtheviking & www.reverbnation.com/camtheviking



Would you ever bring your grandparents, young children to one of your shows? What would be their reaction?

My sisters love seeing me perform and I love it when they can make it. My mom wants to see me perform but I worry about lyric content and also some of the other performances and their content. But my whole family supports me and loves that It makes me very happy. We do the We Out Here Showcase once a month because it is All Ages and we tone down the lyrics for the little Gonzos.



How do you think people would respond to northwest music going nationwide?

With a refreshing sigh of relief that at least some people are still following the basic elements of Hip Hop. I really hope Macklemore can do it honestly, love him or hate him his lyrics are real and he is starting to break through....I just hope he stays true I can see what the evil of fame and money can do to an artist.



Why did you submit this particular track to the Puget Sound Mixtape?

First off it was an honor to have Awall aka 2Piece show interest in my music. And even though its a "Mixtape" I made this beat myself and I get great feedback on it. Plus I made a video for It to give people a chance to see how we work in the studio. http://youtu.be/Pms5sieMlOw



Do you have any shout-outs you want to give out?

Sic Ill for putting on the mixtape, Mae, Abom, Lost Soul, Mastermind, Nuvo, Skrilla, Awall, Rizeberg, Rob Spruill, Greg G, Mike G, Castro, Thunderchief, Shao Sosa, Illizm, B Dub, Enas Nimi, Yak Nasty, Serious Mak, J-Money, NW Royalty, The Krisis, Tak Patron, DJ Iceman, DJ Skrewball, DJ No Mercy, DJ JBones, Alex Rossiter, Bud, BLM, Bonniewood Kings, & My girlfriend Jamie!!



Cam The Viking ft Awall aka 2Piece - "Feel It"
http://www.zshare.net/audio/98371453d9451497/

 

[Darxiide]

MAE
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Q&A's
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What is your name, what do you go by?

My government name is Michael Roberts Jr. I currently go by Mae and/or Maedali




Where in the puget sound do you reside?

I can say I've lived literally everywhere in the Puget Sound, but now Im living on Squaxin Island Reservation in Kamilche




Who is the inspiration for your music?

While inspirations are forever changing with me, currently Salvador Dali, Mae West, Gonzo music, other locals, Sun Ra, Charles Bukowski and Sonic the Hedgehog.....oh yeah,,Hunter Tompson plays a roll too! [ gonzo hint ]




What are the reasons you think so many people in the seattle area are collaborating?

My first thought tells me that the reason is because we have no ''face'' yet, not a specific person but rather a visual impression as a whole. To me, once we have a reputation for being open and friendly with fellow musicians, it then opens a realm where we can "move" together.[the whole power in numbers thing] No real place strives when there is continous conflict as a motive I guess. In the older days of hip hop and even in rock music, the collabs were integeral parts of moving towards the apex of creativities within artists.




Where were you when Apple cofounder Steve Jobs died? How do you think ipods/mp3s have affected the music industry?

I was at work that day, oddly enough with my iPhone [haha] I can't lie, the mp3's have drastically improved music, while in the same breath, they have sprung forward this new trend of excessiveness. There are gems out there but the stuff you have to filter through nowadays is madd obnoxious. Anyone can record to mp3 now and send it off..meanwhile back then it took both money and dedication to press records, cds, whatever




When do you NOT include family/friends in your music, in your opinion?

I don't include them unless I absolutely know that I need them, My family and associates are my ever efficient tool belt.




Why do you feel radio stations don't embrace the locals in the area more, (especially daytime playlists) being that they have the most power to break an artist.

Because people that are in higher places then we are have already bought that air time.It would be so hard to walk in there and convince those guys otherwise.




What do you feel about the Youtube? Facebook? Twitter?

I am both entertained and disgusted. Im living in a digital world with analog veins




If you could headline/open in any major venue in the puget sound area, where would it be?

It would totally have to be the Tacoma Dome, and any art museum if they'd let me.




Why did you submit this particular track to the puget sound mixtape?

I wanted to make an early statement of myself for you guys, more importantly the folks who don't know me.The song is truthfull and sarcastic as well. Its the best way to justify things that Ive done and will do. Look at that song as a testament to being comfortable, not ''shy'' to break creative barriers, and being a creative lab rat for washington music haha.




Do you have any shout-outs?

I shout out every human that Ive built with this last yr. more importantly I shout myself out, simply because of how much Ive grown and matured in life, it feels unreal to be doing things that I never thought I'd do. Then again I told myself that I deserve it too [ good times] - I love people that I dont even know, so it makes compassion double hard.-



Listen/Download - Mae - "Relate-Ability issues"
Mp3 link - http://www.zshare.net/audio/9837238910cba600/

 

[Darxiide]

JOHNNY SOLO



Q&A's
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What is your name, what do you go by?

My legal name is Morinola Atinsola Moronto and I go by Johnny solo. I got my nick name from my peers in the military , I was a member of a crew named Johnny Family. Our most notable member was Super Sam who is a disc jockey with Kube93.



Where in the puget sound do you reside.

Eastside ..............excuse me ...East Tacoma




Who are your favorite producers in todays music?

I still love the main producers from the eighties...Dr. Dre,Timberland,Jermaine Dupri,Eric Sermon, RZA.... etc....These guys know how to put albums together ....its an art , and it is not for everyone but this era of producers were grand....if you know what I mean...




How would you describe your music?

Raggahop....is what I call it ....rap/hiphop/melodic raggae a sound acquired from the 80's but developed and transfused for the present as well as the future......my music is timeless and as we continue to progress ....I dont fret too much over how rapid hiphop changes because any way you slice and dice it....Solo is always in the mix.




What do you think breaks an artist the best? Long Grindin, Money, Quality of music, Quanity of fans?

Money.....most artist are hustlers, and money really isn't an issue if you grind on the street but most of these artist also get caught up due to the street whisperers ....you know what i mean.....so as they continue to rack up records ...it becomes more difficult for them to focus on the music they are working so hard to finance.




Where is Sir Mix at, do you think? I'd love to pay for a show?

Yeah,...thats my G...its been a while since ive heard of him in our area here in the Puget Sound but his handy work is everywhere...his proteges are doing Big things most notably...E-Dawg. WE the streets pay attention and we follow everyone and stay in tuned with the current affairs in the region Shout out to E-Dawg and his camp. Westcoast stone, Don-p, Sonny Bonoho, Sunny Red, Lebowski...and Team Loyalty.....Ya digg!




What do you think about the effect todays music has on the youth?

How did music effect you growing up? When I was growing up the artist out then were Gods, I was in Africa in the late 80's Early 90's and artist like Snoop Dog and craig mack, 2pac , Biggie,naughty by nature were Super Heroes to us....Djs' were running the African music scene because we looked up to them as our saviors for providing current music,Radio stations had to wait 6months to start playing the latest music, but the Djs with American connections got the latest music in 2 weeks....so you see how we had to grind and stay close to the djs with overseas connections to get the latest music....that was before the internet era....




Do you ever check out any local music? What is your opinion?

Are you Kidding me? I stay on top of the local music scene!!!... I am an underground artist, i have been in the northwest underground scene for 15years...I paid my dues.....but we are still pushing you digg!!! The puget sound area has the best crop of underground artist in the game right now,its so ridiculous how many talented artist are out here and this is a hint to all reps looking for artist to develop or throw money on or even work indie deals with You would find a host of diamonds in the roughs out here.... no joke.





Why did you submit this particular track to the puget sound mixtape?

"Getcha Getcha" is a battle track or diss track if you want to call it that...and this is just a track I felt shows the true essence of hip hop and an indication that hip hop still lives out here and we here doing it....shout out to the alliance battle league and all the battle leagues out there you digg!





Do you have any shout-outs?

Shout out to Sho-me Records, E-Dawg and his camp. Westcoast Stone, Don-p, Sonny Bonoho, Sunny Red, Lebowski...and Team Loyalty..Tommy Boi, Kid kuci,.Big Treal, Money Maintanin camp, Jail Bird, J-wen and the BirdBoyz, Blesssyde records, The general Wojack and Criminal Nation, Big Serg, Caution, Nu empire, Big SIN, Johnny family,Jacky Jack, Supa Sam....Johnyy Walk, Platinum Reign crew, Sci-fi, Big Heath, Jay Highway, Uptown ,Young Native and his whole camp, Motamouth Jones and the list goes on and on .....Ya digg!


Listen/Download - Johnny Solo - "Getcha Getcha"
zshare.net - http://www.zshare.net/audio/98371069df9aba5a/