Hailing from Boston Massachusetts, Rizzla is causing havoc these days on the dance-floor. Having released a free EP via Kingdom’s “Fade To Mind” imprint in April, it seems he caught on to the right way of blowing things up and getting some good recognition in an ever-growing industry. If you are yet to hear the release, I urge you to pick it up right here. His bass driven and fun style of music have been heavily played out by the likes of Bok Bok, Nguzunguzu, Dubbel Dutch, Kingdom and countless number of others. With a ton of surprises in-store for us in the coming months, you have to keep a close eye on the blooming producer. A few days ago I had the pleasure of sitting down with the young lad to talk about everything from production to food. Check the situation down below.
You popped up on my radar when I heard a track of yours entitled, “Hollup Hoes Around The World”. since then, I’ve come to be a huge promoter of your work. So I wanted to know, when did you start to pursue a career in DJ-ing? What was “life” before turning to music? Tell us about yourself.
In high school I had the party house, the kinda place you tried acid for the first time in the back yard. So all during high school I played these fucked up parties with two discmen and a mixer – actually pretty much all during college too. Druggy faggy shit, all happy hardcore, tribal and latin house, girl gansta rap, reggaeton and dancehall. After living in Trinidad for a while I got into soca too. Back then I was just a promoter who didnt’ like any of the available dj’s around me. I first started performing in Hartford as Rizzla in 2007 before I moved to Boston for my MFA in art and music theory. During the day I work full time in a gallery, and throw Nu Life, my 2.5 year old party with my friend D’hana at Zuzu in Cambridge. I’ve only really been producing for the last 2 years.
You recently connected with Fade to Mind and gave away an amazing free EP. Can you talk about this and talk about the relationship you have with those guys?
The feedback that I got for the EP was blessed – all the tracks to me are the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse. I’ll let people guess which one is which. As far as Fade to Mind, I’ve known Kingdom for a few years – he’s been the greatest influence on me as a producer ever since he sent my first refix out to his mailing list. I’ve been a fan of Mike’s ever since I heard his first mixtapes forever ago, and have recently gotten to know him personally. Dave Quam is like my little musical big brother (he schools me continually). Ceeda is like this mystic bass kid genius its crazy. Nguzunguzu and Total Freedom’s legendary party Wildness directly inspired my own night Nu Life, and Prince William is the swag that holds everyone together. I’m a huge fan of every release.
I seem to be on your Soundcloud page a lot and seem to see the word “Kunq” quite a fair bit. Can you explain the meaning of that word?
Haha you caught that – KUNQ is the name of our crew and for the aggressive, masculine, but very queer beats that my Boston plp D’hana, blk.adonis, Micah, False Witness and LeahV play/make. It’s a diva with two dicks and a chainsaw, and a sort of code word that we use for our personalized global style and a more butch alternative to the traditional “cunt.” Think voguing in a moshpit.
We’re releasing things simultaneously tagged this way, kind of a way of having a brand without taking away from our time producing and performing.
Who are some of your musical heros?
Every hero fails you eventually – that being said at points in my life I have idolized Tricky, Congo Natty, Bahamdia, La Bouche, Black Chiney and Simon Harris.
How often are you in the studio? And on the topic of studio’s, what do you use?
Since I work all day and tend to travel on the weekends, time is rly valuable to me. The second I get home from work I’m either digging or working on songs in my new home studio. I share my apartment with Micah – he’s an amazing MC and our personal projects inspire each other, and equipment. I only use an older version of Ableton with no extra plugins. Even though I don’t make “hip hop,” the sample-based chop and mix production method is my home territory. I feed off drum packs and online sound libraries mainly, and rarely use software instruments or synths.
Favorite cuisines? Drink of choice?
Portable street food of all varieties, particularly Indo-Caribbean. I’m really into lime seztler with emergen-c and ginseng or taro bubble tea.
3 favorite artists at the moment?
For artists it’s hard, but I’d have to say Dubbel Dutch, Zoelah, and Madd Spider + Taranchyla.
3 favorite tunes at the moment?
For songs, I’m into ALL the mixes of Abel – Girls, and for singles Romantic Call – Blk.adonis, and Wealthy – False Witness (out soon).
Last thing you do before you DJ?
Smoke a blunt
Thank you so much for the time, any last words to the fans out there?
Battyjack
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