Music Michael Mind

You recently released an extremely diverse album called the #1 Skanka EP. How would you compare its sounds and styles to those of your previous material?

I have always had some of the dub, reggae, and ragga vibes in my music, so in that sense it wasn’t so different in this time in that these elements are the thread between the tunes on the EP.

What were your main sources of inspiration while crafting #1 Skanka?

Of course with #1 Skanka there is a heavy trap music vibe as well as the dub and reggae influence. I love hip-hop and I love reggae and dub, but modern hip-hop’s obsession with violence, anger, and hate doesn’t do anything for me, so I worked with Spoonface to create something with that hype vibe but more about having a good time and positive vibes than shooting someone or selling crack.

How did your collaborations with Spoonface and Seraphim come about? What was the process of working with each artist like?

Spoonface I have known for years  - we used to do a lot of shows together in the UK and Europe when I lived in London. He’s a supremely talented dude, and an awesome human being - the kind of people I love working with. Seraphim I met thru Santigold in New York around the time we were working on the Creator single Switch and I made with her. He has a really unique flow and really wide set of influences  - and [is] also an incredible person - again someone who I love working with. Both of them are people who refuse to be stereotyped or to fit in boxes and I love that about anyone who works to open up who they are and what people’s expectations are thru their art and their life.  

How have the new tracks been translating to your live sets?

Very well actually  -  “#1 Skanka” and “High Horses” are two of the biggest tunes in my set right now and “Echo Out” is a great tune to get deep on the dance floor with. While I’m always reaching for new levels and spaces with my music, I’m really stoked on how the EP came out.

Speaking of live sets, are there any genres you find yourself mixing more tunes from currently than you have in previous years?

Yeah more 150-180 BPM beats that aren’t jungle - from weird dancehall type stuff, non-regular drumstep that is about funk rather than aggro sounds, and some of the left field juke stuff amongst others. Also, I find some breaks slipping back into my sets lately. :)

When you started creating electronic music, did you see yourself still being a part of the scene in 2013?

Well, you hope you’ll have some longevity, but to be honest, I wasn’t thinking too far into the future when I started. :)

What are your major plans for the rest of the year now that #1 Skanka is out?

Get another EP or two singles out. I finished something which I’ll stick a clip [of] up on my SoundCloud by the time this is out probably.

On a broader scale, where do you see not only your music, but bass music as a whole going next?

As with all genres, after the boom must come bust, and many new and exciting things happen when people are doing it for the love and not for the fame and money promised by big stages and massive crowds. Look forward to lots of creativity and diversity of sounds.

Anything else you’d like to add?

1. Big Chocolate - "We are huge fans and he just did a remix for our song "Vive Le Roi" that kills!"

  2. Bangups - "Cause we like their photo."

  3. The Chariot -  "Who doesn't wanna be able to scream like that?"

  4. Gin Wigmore - "She's Hot. Enough said."

5. Itch - "Our label mate is dropping sick new stuff. Looking forward to seeing him live!"

For those unfamiliar with Hello Monster, could you tell me about how the band came together?

Sid Slater: That's a long, complicated answer involving Craigslist, alien conspiracy theories, and a drunken night in Carson City.

  Paul Gimenez: I pretty much set up a Hunger Games-style survival competition, and these guys were the survivors.

  Bill Bergstrom: I was just walking down the street one day, and I blacked out. Next thing I know, I’m in our rehearsal studio, holding a bass, shackled to a speaker cabinet. They finally let me loose once I could play the whole album in a single take.

  Joey McKane: One day a van pulled up to my house, these three guys jumped out, pulled me in, fed me pizza, and next thing I knew, I was the new drummer in the band.

  You released two songs off of P.S. I’m Home prior to its release. What about these tracks made you feel they were the right choices as singles leading up to the record’s release?

  Paul: It was written in the stars. Or, you know, they were the only ones we all agreed on, and we figured that had to mean something.

  Sid: We picked songs we thought would give a good feel for the record as a whole, but would also hit you in the face.

How did you approach the writing process for P.S. I’m Home?

  Paul: Kind of like you approach a cute girl in a bar. You don't want to be too aggressive and force anything, you can't be too patient as you may miss the moment, and you also need to make your intentions clear. The next morning when you awaken and the first thought in your head is "Last night, you nailed it," you know you did something right.

  Bill: “Nailed” both literally and figuratively, or so it would seem. But we did take our time, edit like hell, and let inspiration strike when it could. Some songs guys brought in in fully completed, others were totally spontaneous. For one song we just said “We don’t have a song in D flat. Let’s write a song in D flat.” That actually worked shockingly well.

  What did you take away from working alongside Erik Ron (Panic! at the Disco, I the Mighty) while he produced the new record?

  Bill: He definitely kept us on our toes. He works fast. It’s like he’s almost tricking you into performing better, because you have to immediately react to some suggestions before your brain can even process them. I don’t know exactly what he did, but it totally worked. It was like a Jedi mind trick.

  Paul: Yeah, his process was pretty incredible. I walked away sort of realizing how much room we have to grow as a band. We make bigger steps all the time, but working with Erik was like taking a leap forward. He’s a great guy to work with.

  If you had to describe P.S. I’m Home in five words or less, what would they be?

  Joey: Kind of a big deal.

  Paul: Better luck next time, Bill. Sid: It’ll get ya. Bill: This should impress the ladies.

  What are your major plans for the rest of 2013 after the album drops?

  Paul: Ideally, Tour and keep things growing.

Bill: Hit the road, meet new friends, play with more great bands.

Sid: I secretly have some designs on getting it pressed to vinyl, but definitely can’t make any promises about that at this point.

Joey: Play a ton of shows and start working on the next album.

Anything else you’d like to add?

  Sid: The album is available right now – you’ve heard us talk about it, but we want to know what all of you think.

  Joey: Nothing shows appreciation for a band like buying them a drink at the show.

  Paul: Brushing and flossing regularly can help promote healthy teeth and gums, and fight the dreaded gum disease gingivitis.