Interviews
Interview | Questions & Answers With Modern Geaisha
Modern Geaisha speaks openly about her new Rap single “Hey Hey Hey”, which is related to the recent sexual abuse scandals embroiling actor Bill Cosby. She’s talented, smart and feels empowered artistically to express without fear her thoughts. Take a cup of coffee and read this interview with such a brave woman as herself!
1 — Were your friends and family supportive when you started your music career?
My career started in my head at about 5 years old and professionally when I was 7. With my parents’ permission and support, I began taking lessons in acting, singing, and dancing and soon after signed with a manager in New York City. I would say my acting career truly started with a series regular role on the TV series « Shining Time Station » with Ringo Starr when I was 8 years old while my music career has taken different twists and turns throughout my life, recording and performing songs for different shows and groups until finally last year I found the right producers for my own sound with my own message. This message is based on my own experiences, what I have witnessed around me, and what matters most to me in life and even with some controversial headlines, my friends and family are very supportive of my music and activism!
2 — What are your struggles as a female rapper?
I consider myself a female singer and artist who happens to rap sometimes in order to get her message out. There are many struggles in general as an artist in a saturated field and especially as a woman in the industry. It seems the main struggle is getting your voice heard and not selling your soul in the process.
3 — Which old and new artists do you admire in the Hip-Hop/Rap scene?
The artists I admire include Lil’ Kim, Salt N Peppa, M.I.A., Princess Nokia, Junglepussy… and to go out of genre a bit: Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, Whitney Houston, Aretha, Bijork, Dolores O’Riordan, Sugarpie Desanto… I gravitate towards strong women with different vocal and emotional ranges as my own vocal training began with musical theatre, Jazz, and lyrical soprano styles.
4 — What’s the message you want to convey with the lyrics of “Hey Hey Hey”?
The lyrics of “Hey Hey Hey” certainly reference a specific situation but were written to denounce rape culture and victim blaming in general and to send the overall message that women and all victims everywhere are DONE being targeted and silenced. The message of the song is essentially to take back these words “Hey Hey Hey” used by a predator to disarm us and to use them instead to say to all predators:« “Hey Hey Hey”! You do NOT have the right to abuse us and justice will be served! »
5 — How do you think Bill Cosby would react when listening to this single?
I would prefer not to think of him at all, but if I must, I imagine that he would listen to my words and continue to be in denial of his despicable ways as he was for all of those 50 plus years that he spends victimizing women all the while simultaneously silencing and shaming his victims. To put it simply, he would react cowardly because he is a coward. And by coward, I mean that he is clearly not ready to face himself, much less his maker.
6 — Do you consider yourself a feminist?
By now there are many different definitions of the word « feminist » so I would say that one must be careful of identifying with the wrong one. For example, I personally do not agree with the extreme visions of feminism that hate and exclude men or blame all men for all things. However, by the very original and basic definition of feminism that states women deserve equality, I am definitely a feminist and always have been even before I identified as one. I believe in equality for all people regardless of color or gender, etc. and I don’t see how any woman could not believe in equality for herself and thus, identify as a feminist.
7 — Are you planning to release more protest songs in the future? What other subjects would you like to cover through your music?
I am planning to release songs about things that move me and that I feel need to be said, or rather sung. Sometimes these subjects are more fun and inspire dance tracks and sometimes they are more serious and thought-provoking, which could inspire anything from spoken word to rap to dance as well. Some of these subjects include cyberbullying, colorism, self-love and the language of self, among other things.
8 — Why was the music video filmed in a club? How many people participated in this clip?
The music video was filmed in a club because I really wanted to emphasize how horrible things can exist and happen often right next to very happy events like a party. I wanted to show that in this world where laughter and happiness exist, so can abuse exist at the same time and even in the same place and in fact, right under our noses. There were about 30 friends of mine that came to participate in this video in order to help get this important message out there.
9 — We know you like the TV media as you have been part of it on many occasions. That said, what TV show would you love to perform your music? Why?
I have definitely enjoyed acting all of my life and have even continued to do some acting in French here in Europe, including several few roles where I sang as well as played a guest starring role. I would love to perform on Empire, Dear White People, Blackish, any show that would get my message out there!
10 — What advice would you give to other artists that are just starting their careers and are on a limited budget for their projects?
I really believe that anything is possible and all paths are different in this industry so I find it hard to give advice. With social media, everything is constantly changing and it seems that one can take more control over their career even with a small budget these days. My father always said : « You might as well ask for what you want because the worst someone can say is: No. » so I would just say GO FOR IT! because if you don’t try you will never know and the effort and the journey are the real wins, not success in the technical sense of the word.
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In a candid interview, Notaker talks about the most important details behind his debut independent album, ‘Echoes In Eternity.‘ He offers his fans a glimpse into the inspiration and emotions that fueled its creation. Happy reading!
1 — In your words, how would you describe the sonic atmosphere of this new album, ‘Echoes In Eternity’?
I would describe it as otherworldly, outrun retro, or dimensional. Those are the kinds of ideas I really aimed at for this project.
2 — ‘Echoes In Eternity’ is an interesting album title. Can you share the story or concept behind choosing this name?
I’ve always liked the famous quote from Marcus Aurelius “What we do now echoes in eternity”. It parallels what I wanted to do with this album which was to make something timeless that I could look back on many years from now and feel proud to have created.
3 — How do you think this album engages listeners on an emotional level?
As it hasn’t been released yet I’m not quite sure. It certainly holds a lot of myself in the music and hopefully, those emotions that I felt creating the music will shine through to listeners when they hear the album.
4 — What steps did you take to connect and work with Danyka Nadeau and Eric Lumiere?
I knew Eric from a collaboration we created previously so it was very easy to reach back out to him and work again. Danyka and I met through her manager Daniel who thought we could create something awesome together, and he was very right. It was a true treat to work with both, they are amazing artists.
5 — How does this material differ from your previous work with mau5trap and Anjuna?
It’s much less confined to any parameter a label might impose upon my work. This is truly a raw and unfiltered look at my music. The most “me” thing I feel I’ve ever created.
6 — Is there any particular track in the album that holds a special meaning to you?
In a way they all are, it’s tough to choose. I think the “Illusion of Time” is very special as I got to make that with one of my friends Kyu who played the hand pan which I sampled for that song. Always great to create things with friends.
7 — How would you describe the evolution of your artistic style and sound as reflected in this album?
In a way it’s cyclical. Finding new things that sound nostalgic to me and then creating them in a new and interesting way. Hopefully, people can hear that in my sound, something new but also familiar.
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Closing out the festival season with a bang, Brazilian talents Öwnboss and Selva team up on anthemic dance hit “RIOT” for their debut on the respected label Monstercat. Not only a mainstage monster, “RIOT” gears up to take on the virtual world as the official anthem in the latest Brazilian-themed season of the sports-based video game Rocket League.
We caught up with Öwnboss and Selva to go behind the scenes on the making of “RIOT.”
1 — First of all, how do you maintain a balance between staying true to your own unique style while collaborating and complementing each other’s musical style?
Selva: I think the fun part about collaborating is to mix things up and see what happens. That being said, presenting ideas with context, staying true to yourself, and respecting the collaborator’s input is the formula to create something interesting that you wouldn’t come up with yourself. For example, Öwnboss has his famous lead synth, but we never forced it in. The progression choices and the energy that builds up until the drop made that synth not only essential but also brought the power we needed for the drop!
Öwnboss: I would say that I don’t have much of that balance because I’d say I don’t follow only a single style, you know? My sound is what I like to play, what makes sense at the moment, and what makes me happy. Of course, “Move Your Body” is a track that defines me in a way and I’m very proud of it, but I always try to evolve and improve my productions, as happened here with Selva. “RIOT” had more than 10 versions that went through various musical styles, which speaks a lot to my trajectory as a producer as well. The final version was our favourite, and it brings a lot of who we are as musicians.
2 — “RIOT” is set to debut in Rocket League’s battle arenas. Is this the first time you have produced music for video games?
Öwnboss: That’s a good question because we didn’t really produce the song thinking about having it in a video game, but that’s exactly what happened in the end. I had the pleasure of having “Move Your Body” on the Formula 1 2022 soundtrack, I believe for the size the track has taken by playing on the stages worldwide. With “RIOT,” I think we were able to produce such an exciting, rebellious song…. almost like a generational anthem, that seeing it as a soundtrack for such an important and young game like Rocket League turns out to be a perfect fit. “RIOT” really has a feel of action and adrenaline.
Selva: Yes, for me it’s the first time. I still am getting used to hearing my kids across the house turning on Rocket League and hearing my song!
3 — What qualities do you like the most about the vocals on ‘RIOT’?
Selva: I think the vocals are the soul of this song. We built the song around it, and we worked really hard for the production to play the role of enhancing the power of those lyrics.
Öwnboss: I agree. I really like the contrast between the vocals of the children singing in a very high-pitched tone and Brian’s voice, more serious. I think it’s a very good balance since the sonorities complement each other. Another thing that catches me is this “battle anthem” vibe of hers, it feels half revolutionary, like… Pink Floyd. It had been a while since I’d received a vocal with this strength, and I believe that’s why this track became so important to us.
4 — Imagine you could incite a riot for change. What goal would you inspire people to stand up for?
Öwnboss: That’s a tough question to answer because the world needs a lot of change, so how do you choose the most important one? Or the most urgent. What comes first in my mind is a riot for people to be themselves, without being ashamed and without worrying about what others will think. Be yourself. I think it is a path of no return to freedom and happiness. Probably the world would be better and lighter if everyone could follow that.
Selva: Interesting question! I think once you create a song and put it out into the world, the meaning of it is no longer yours to choose. Everyone has a different life experience and people digest ideas and messages in a very singular way. At first, this song didn’t have a political angle, but it can absolutely have. I’d say: start a riot in your heart, soul, and mind.
5 — Öwnboss, your busy 2023 World Tour is currently underway. How does the release of “RIOT” fit into your tour’s momentum?
Öwnboss: The release of “RIOT” in the middle of my tour was very important because I was able to play the track on various stages around the world without it being released. People don’t know it, but the music captivates almost instantly, which makes it an important reinforcement for my sets. I see the audience eager to learn the lyrics. I can say “RIOT” certainly arrived at a good time.
6 — Selva, as a platinum-certified songwriter and producer, you have worked with prominent names in the EDM scene. What new things did you learn from this collaboration?
Selva: I think of myself as a songwriter above anything, and I’m blessed enough to work with so many different accomplished and talented artists, including Öwnboss whom I have written a number of songs. “RIOT” is a special one for me, and it just felt right to represent this one by his side. I personally learned to trust my gut more than ever.
7 — Can you capture the essence of “RIOT” in just one sentence?
Öwnboss: RIOT is energetic, revolutionary, and catchy.
Selva: All revolutions start in the soul.
8 — Were there any specific elements that made the creation of this track particularly challenging?
Selva: The chorus. We knew the chorus was potent and strong, but it was challenging to “dose” it through the song. We did a bunch of versions in order to land one that we felt delivered the chorus without being repetitive and enhanced it.
Öwnboss: Yeah, the vocals, for sure. And the collaboration with a children’s choir, which is the “extra touch” and makes it different from anything that I’ve ever produced before.
9 — What specific role did you play while working on “RIOT”?
Öwnboss: The lyrics were written by Brian, so my main role was to help set the musicality of the track, creating a climax on the chorus and the revolutionary footprint we wanted for it. Then, another challenge of ours was to integrate the high-pitched voice of the children’s choir with the other elements of the track, so that it would be dense, dynamic and keep the rebellious tone.
Selva: As mentioned I was on the songwriting. I dove in on the production as well later on, but I’d say I mainly focused on melody and lyrics and let my main man Öwnboss do his thing and create the whole context and drop.
10 — If a future collaboration opportunity arises, what new things would you be interested in exploring?
Selva: I’d like to have another go at exploring a RIOT-like anthemic chorus again, maybe in a higher BPM.
Öwnboss: Each collaboration is the reflection of the moment that I’m living. After that everything changes, so I think it’s hard to answer this question. I will always explore what is true and meaningful to me in that moment, so my music can speak to others.
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Paul Mayson‘s first-ever album, ‘One Life,’ is like a special mix of his love for House music, blended with different kinds of sounds and cool collaborations from artists all over the world. You definitely don’t want to miss this interview!
1 — With the release of your debut album ‘One Life,’ what are your expectations for how listeners will connect with the music?
My goal was to showcase my story and my sound. And for it to be an uplifting, positive, and summery album. Hopefully, it feels like that! It’s a collection of songs made at the moment, to make you feel happy and free. It’s about embracing life, the good things and the bad. And about doing what makes you happy.
2 — You’ve teamed up with a diverse range of international artists on this material. Please let us know how these collaborations came to be.
It was really exciting taking elements from different genres, working with a group of great artists who come from very different backgrounds, and bringing all of these sounds and flavors together on one project. A lot of artists I meet myself, reach out to the people I’m interested in. I often travel abroad to work on music together and do sessions in London or LA. Sometimes collabs can also happen through the label or the publisher, but ultimately it’s great to have an artist-to-artist relationship.
3 – What compelled you to emphasize the themes of life, freedom, and diversity in this album?
I’m very passionate about House music culture and the way it started. Which was all about positivity and celebrating life together. I love that message and think the soulful, feel-good element of House music is what always really attracted me to the genre. And to music in general, including other genres like Soul and RnB.
4 – Can you share more details about the process of integrating experimental elements into the music production of your album?
A few of the songs (like “Tell Me How” and “I Want You”) were basically made during one big jam session. It’s me just trying out completely different sounds, textures, and rhythms and experimenting with live drums, guitars, and whatever I feel like. Letting go of any rules connected to dance music allows for a really fresh approach to the album songs.
6 – How does the artwork complement the album’s concept?
It emphasizes the feel-good element and the overall message of the album. Life is in front of you, it’s there for the taking. You’re in the hallway, step into the light and embrace life.
7 – Will there be another amazing music video like “Have It All,” dropping in the near future?
We released a really cool art piece and visualizer for the album which I’m very excited about!
8 – Given your ambition to push boundaries within the Dance genre, do you think the bunch of producers already out there could make it tough for you to really stand out?
I think individuality is key. Doing something you’re passionate about. Telling your own story. If you go into that process, the outcome will be unique. Not following trends and doing my own thing is what helps me stand out and allows me to be ahead and I try to keep pushing myself.
9 – Among your studio essentials, what’s the item that you consider the cornerstone of your setup?
Quite a lot of my work is digital. I carry my laptop around and can produce and write anywhere with it, whether it’s my home studio, the studio in Amsterdam, a hotel, or even an airport. That’s what makes it flexible and international! Just being able to work anywhere and get the creative process going. At home I also love my Adam A77x monitors and I also use a Prophet synth.