One more from Beyond the Horizon - hip-hop infused jazz from cradle .
Interview-
Tell us about how you got into hip hop. What attracted you to it?
Pat: I started off listening to hip-hop music in the mid-90's. Some of the albums that got me into it were [Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the] 36 chambers,[Nas'] Illmatic and [Notorious B.I.G.'s] Ready to Die. After a while, I got into DJing and buying vinyl and then Iwas hooked.
Melodiq: I became a fan of hip-hop back in the early to mid-80s. I originally started out as a breakdancer. I gradually moved on and started beat boxing. I joined a crew called the Funky Fresh Four Plus 1 More. I didn't start writing rhymes until my high school years. Hip-Hop was me and I was Hip-Hop. Plain and simple.
Tell us about your emcee Melodiq and how you connected with him.
Pat: Melodiq is a very talented emcee. I think he has the ability to do really well. His voice is perfect for the type of music he makes, real smooth and laid back. I had been checking out his tracks for a year or so and was really impressed with his sound and flow. At that time, I was still really new to beat making and didn't really have beats that would work for him. I kept at it and eventually sent him some beats over, we did a few tracks and gradually built up some work and took it from there really. Melodiq has worked with so many good beat makers, I'm really suprised nobody has released his work before. I guess 'this is the time'. Ha ha.
What's you process for producing a new track?
Pat: My process usually starts with finding samples. I buy records quite a lot and have built up a fairly solid collection. Finding a sample usually depends on my frame of mind. I usually search for any music that hits me straight away and if I'm not in the right mood I don't find an awful lot. When something hits me, I'll have a good listen to the track to see what I like about it and see what I can use. After that comes sampling it, for which I use Logic and an MPC. It usually takes me a while to EQ and sequence the sample. After that, I search for sample, EQ, etc., drums, add percussion and anything else I think the track needs.
Where do you get your inspiration from musically?
Pat: Everything around me. Music inspires me a massive amount. I love Jazz, Soul, Funk. I'm a big fan of what is labeled as chill-out music. Music is a big part of my life. I take influence from many aspects of it and find that listening to it, searching it out and sharing it inspires me a great deal.
Melodiq: Life. My experiences growing up. Music has and always will be a big part of my life. And it's not just limited to Hip-Hop. I like Alternative, Classical, Classic Rock, R&B, Jazz, House, Techno, Acid Jazz and many others. I feel that if you limit yourself as to what inspires you musically the music that you put out will suffer and be limited.
Tell us about your new EP, This is The Time.
Pat: This is the time came about from me wanting to put my music out. I'd been working with various emcees and vocalists for a while and was trying to think of what to do with tracks I had done. I was really happy with what I had with Melodiq and didn't really want it sat around doing nothing. I felt it was good enough to be out there, so i told Melodiq my idea and he was good with it. The tracks I picked were my favorite ones we had done and they seemed to fit nicely together. I'm really happy with how it's turned out. I always said I wanted to make it a nice product too, and that was partly the reason for the artwork and it being on vinyl.
Melodiq: This EP was basically a spur of the moment project. Pat emailed me one day and said that he wanted to get an EP done. Of course, I was amped about it and told him that whatever he needed from me would get it done. It just so happens that the tracks were already done but needed mastered. These were tracks done individually and not intended for an EP. Pat in his infinite wisdom chose which tracks he wanted
and they happen to gel naturally. I think this EP speaks for itself. "This Is The Time" to change the hip-hop landscape as we know it and I want to be a big part of it.
Why did you decide to do a vinyl release as opposed to CD?
Pat: Part of the reason was as stated above, vinyl is a nice thing to have. I like the feel and sound that vinyl gives you. Another was that it's only an EP and I always feel it to be a bit of a waste when Isee CD's with only 4 or 5 tracks on. The main reason was however that as a DJ, it's a bit of a dream to have your own work on vinyl, which is maybe slightly selfish. Ha ha But overall I think vinyl is a much nicer format.
Do you plan to do any touring
