Psykhomantus:
Welcome to the Q&A tip, where I try to pick your brian and drive you
insane, but before I hit you off with ten Question's, just for the
readers. Can you tell us who is who you are and what do you do?
Xolisa:
Who am I? I am a 25 year old, Toronto born, Toronto raised woman- born
to proud Trinidadian parents, writing and producing my own music
full-time, offering my own contribution and approach to Hip Hop- who
happens to be pretty dope at what she does and works hard for. I am an
emcee. I am a producer. I'm a lover of music - period.
Psykhomantus: As Sanaa Lathan would say in the movie "Brown Sugar", When did you fall in love with Hip Hop?
Xolisa: I
fell in love with Hip Hop when I first heard Tribe's, "Electric
Relaxation". Then when I first heard Camp Lo's, "Luchini" and "Coolie
High"...and "Park Joint". It was when I heard Lauryn's, “Lost Ones" and
Tribe's, "Bonita Applebum", “1nce Again” and “Mind Power”; MF Doom's,
"Money Folder", "Bada Bing"...I can't go on with Doom, he's just on a
level of his own… When I heard Scanz', "Travellin", ODB's' "Brooklyn
Zoo", when I heard Kendrick's entire Good Kid album, when I first
absorbed Black Star...It consciously began with A Tribe Called Quest,
but the love was there before and after them. I feel like I fall in love
with Hip Hop over and over again as I hear new music, revisit old music
and create my own music.
Everyone has that one track that
solidified their tie with Hip Hop, that one track that they’ll always
hold close and I've never thought about it till answering this question,
but I guess I've always been searching for new music (whether it's
actually a new song, or an old song that I’m hearing for the first time)
that'll allow me to feel that feeling again- that feeling of falling in
love with Hip Hop. I guess that's what allows me to make the songs I
do, because each of them in ways different from each other, has made me
fall in love with Hip Hop again. Man, that's probably the driving force
of why certain songs of mine don't make it to the public.
This is
very interesting because I was thinking about this the other day. I was
wondering what it was within me that gives that green light to invest
in completing a song. The creation process is just that, a process. I
usually know within the first few minutes of creating a beat, whether
it's something I want to commit to, write to and eventually share, or
not. Thank you for asking this question, I feel like a room of light
bulbs just went off simultaneously.
Like an addict seeking their
next high, I create in order to seek that feeling of falling in love
with Hip Hop- or I guess music period, which is a high in itself and
it's recreated in new ways, every time.
Psykhomantus: What inspires you to write your rhymes?
Xolisa:
The inspiration for the rhymes I write varies. I feel like as I evolve
as an artist, the inspiration will in-turn continue to vary. With this
current EP, "Rhyme Until My Spirit Needs No Words To Fly", what inspired
me was my own personal growth and understanding of my self during the
EP’s creation. As I learnt knew things about me emotionally,
spiritually, physically and mentally- I wanted to write about it. It's a
very self-reflective project, the songs were written about my
observations on myself. I'll probably always write about myself in some
capacity- I’m introspective by nature.
What also inspires my rhymes are situations and interactions with people.
I
like trying to put the situations or emotions that aren't the easiest
to sum up, into words. It's easy to say, "I'm happy" or, "me and my
boyfriend just broke up"- that's simple. You ever feel that feeling of
being on your way to being happy? That in-between grey space of being in
the tunnel where you can see the light, but you aren't quite there yet?
That healing process? Or what about that space when you and your
boyfriend (or girl) are on the way to being over- when nothing’s been
admitted to one another or to yourself even, when outwardly things seem
to be the same but the energy shared between you two is just screaming
that things are off - but no one's saying a word.
That's a part
of our human experience as well, those in-between moments that can't be
neatly folded, fit and compartmentalized into a category. I like the
challenge of trying to capture those moments in words and in sound- I
mean those are transition moments, how can they really be summed up in
words that describe a feeling, or a combination of feelings that leave
you very uncomfortable. It's difficult, but it's real.
Psykhomantus: I see that you also produce your own songs, what are your main tools when your making a beat. What do you use?
Xolisa:
I sure do. My tool of choice is Logic. I produce, record and mix in
there. The very first program I put my hands on was Cubase, it was
during a high school course I was in, appropriately titled, "Music and
Computers". Since then I’ve dabbled a bit in Pro Tools, Reason, FL- but
yeah man, I'm at home with Logic.
Every self-produced track of
mine was made in Logic and it amazes me because there is still so much
to learn with that program. I've seen windows and screens pulled up in
Logic I never even knew existed! Which is why I choose to continue with
it, to understand it further as my music evolves. When coming to making
beats, I usually start off with whatever sound is the inspiration in
that moment, or whatever is "haunting" me as I call it lol. Then, things
build around that.
Psykhomantus: How long did it take to make the EP "Rhyme Until My Spirt Needs No Words To Fly"?
Xolisa:
I begun making "Rhyme Until..." in about March/April of 2014. Although,
at that time I didn't know I was building the foundations of an EP. I
began writing the verse of "Arrivals/Departures" first and left it alone
for quite sometime before a very rough version of what the beat has
turned into, was created. The lyrics and production for "Dig Me"- again,
a very bare bones sounding version of it compared to how it turned out,
came about in May or early June. At the time I started writing "Dig
Me", which wasn't even titled, "Dig Me" at that time (it had no title), I
knew I wanted to begin working on a second project. I didn't exactly
know how it would sound, or if those two songs would even be on it, but I
applied for a grant with CUE Art Projects (
cueartprojects.ca)
(which also happens to be the very first grant I’ve ever applied for
and received) and I got through! This brings us to late June. Once I got
the green light with CUE for partial funding of the project, that's
when I consciously began mapping out the music for the EP.
Interesting
fact: although "Arrivals/Departures" was the first song I technically
began working on, it was the very last song to be recorded and almost
didn't make it on the project.
Psykhomantus: Can you name one song by another artist you wish you written?
Xolisa:
Hmmm, that's a good one. So many songs flash through my mind…the one
I’m going to go with is a song by the alternative rock group, Incubus
(my favourite band). They have a song called “Dig” which I believe was
written by the bands front man, Brandon Boyd. That song was one of the
sources of inspiration for my song, “Dig Me”- but his lyricism is so
real. He’s explaining to whoever he wrote the song for; his significant
other, best friend- whoever, that when sadness, depression and
negativity overall overtake me- which it will, and I put up my walls and
shut you and the rest of the world out- which I will, please don’t give
up on me. Remember these words, I need you to dig me out of this and
not turn away. Those lyrics hit a major chord for me because I know that
feeling way too well. I practiced it a lot as a teen lol- shutting the
world out, treating those around me coldly and putting up massive guards
around myself, but secretly not wanting the ones closest to me to stop
trying (without me having to tell them of course, I just expected that
they'd know). It wasn’t a test or anything either. I just knew I needed
to be alone to cope and sort through my own pain and was firm about
needing that space, but didn’t want my loved ones to give up on loving
me.
Psykhomantus: Is there been a performance that you've done and said to yourself that you could of done that better?
Xolisa:
Yes, there are many. And I know I can be pretty hard on myself after
performances and this question probably doesn't help matters lol, but
the first one that comes to mind is the "Rhyme Until..." EP release
party show. The thing about it though, when I look back at my
performances, there is always something I can say I learnt from any
given show. I believe they go the way they do for a reason and those
reasons have helped to shape a stronger performer.
That night
sticks out in my mind though. I remember I was sick very early that
morning and was completely, physically out of it. I had basically pulled
an all nighter online with my engineer, finishing up some last minute
details with the EP and I was just hit with a serious stomachache. By
the time the show came around that evening, my energy wasn't at its
highest and I was still shaky from a full morning and afternoon of
nausea and all that follows as a result of nausea. I know it was an
enjoyable show but I have seen how I throw down when I’m at full energy-
so have my listeners. It's still a show I wish was stronger. I want to
be able to give my 100% at live shows so knowing that I didn't give it-
but gave what I could at that moment… it’s a bittersweet kind of show
experience that remains in my mind.
Psykhomantus: If you did a world tour, which other two artists would you bring with you and why?
Xolisa:
If I did a world tour, it would be me along side my DJ, DJ Afroditee
right off the bat- so that doesn't count as one of my choices. I would
bring fellow Toronto emcee’s, Theo Process and Dynesti Williams (who is
also a singer) and I'm going to go ahead and throw in a 3rd- Erik Flow
and a 4th- Progress. Although there are so many artists to choose from, I
would choose these 4 because they each are so incredibly different- yet
live and breathe the same breath of Hip Hop. I respect each of them as
individuals first and foremost as well as their grind for their art and
their music. I've worked with each of them already on some capacity- so
there's already a foundation set and I think we’d contrast and
compliment each other very well.
Psykhomantus: My favourite question (as i am known to be a trouble maker) Is there an Rapper you feel that should just put the mic down?
Xolisa:
You’re definitely a troublemaker. I’ll say this: I hold a lot of
respect and admiration for rappers who’ve started at an early age and
can maintain the essence of their fire, that raw energy, their flow and
most importantly- that hunger that they began their career with. We age,
times change, fads and trends come and go and you sit and watch artists
try to maintain relevancy- it’s hard to watch at times, and I’m sure
it’s hard to do. Some switch up their styles completely so that they are
making music that’s popular today and that’s mainstream. Some stick to
what they’ve always done and been known for. While others try to find
creative ways with their team, to stick to their sound- but also be
relevant to the times as well. I get that the hunger you start off with,
especially if you entered this arena at a young age, it wanes as you
get older and as you gain money and success. The things you use to be
rapping about at 18 or 19, by the age of 30- you’ve probably outgrown,
achieved and overcome- that’s part of what drives that hunger. But there
are rappers who although they may have received a lot of success, and
may not be in the same frame of mind as they were when they begun, I can
listen to their music and still feel that grit, that fire.
Take
Kendrick for example, fast forward 5 or 10 years in the future to the
music he’s making. I may look at him and say “damn…where’s that rapper
who when he’d spit, I could literally feel the saliva spray off of his
syllables? The rapper who I would be so intrigued by the multiple
personalities and freedom he’d allow to enter and be a part of his
tracks?” or, maybe I won’t have to question it. Maybe those elements
that he’s become known for, will still exist in his music but will have
just evolved. Who knows?
Psykhomantus: Last question. What will we be expecting in the future from you?
Xolisa:
In the long run, I have no idea- all I can say is that it will be dope
and it will be made with 100% love behind it. I take my steps following
my gut, or at least trying my best to. Sometimes my choices are
impulsive, other times more calculated. I realize that once I’ve
completed working on one thing, there’s always a creative spark to begin
working on something else and that’s how I’ve been moving thus far,
letting the creativity as well as the drive in what I want to
accomplish, guide me. Looking out on a short-term span, I will be
continuing to create music videos for the “Rhyme Until…” EP. It's a 6
part visual journey the director, Mr. Asante and I are creating. The
first is already out, for the first song on the EP, entitled, "Dig Me".
And the rest will follow. This year I'll also be focusing heavily on
taking my music out on the road, performing in and out of Toronto and
growing my circle of listeners.
Performing live brings an element
that pressing play on a cd, or online cannot deliver and I'm incredibly
excited to see how the music is received as I continue to hit up new
venues, new cities and play around with my live sets.
