| MUNESHINE:
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
‘He been around the globe, but not enough
to call it a quits, he’s a vagabond, liquor to
an alcohol eclipse, I know him because I is him’,
Muneshine raps on the intro of his latest album ‘Status
Symbol’. He grew up from Saskatchawan (that’s
in Canada), moved to Toronto and has one of the most
universal and extensive networks of all artists representing
the other side of the ocean, from Australia to Holland
to Brazil and, of course, the US…
What’s your top-five of favourite hip-hop
status symbols?
A good turn-out to a show, a marketing budget, a co-sign
from someone respectable, critical acclaim and a South
Pole endorsement deal.
Status symbols also indicate the cultural values
of a society…if you’re looking at your top-five,
would you say hip-hop is doing fine?
Hip-hop is doing just fine, haven’t you seen
South Pole’s fall collection?
Do you have some luxury goods of which you’re
really fond of?
The most luxurious item in my possession is a pair
of Gucci sunglasses. I’m not that fond of them,
but it’s hard for me to find sunglasses that don’t
make me look ridiculous. It meant spending a little
more than I normally would on such a thing, but sometimes
you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.
What’s the story about the distribution
of your new album as it was released in different time
zones in different periods?
I’ve always licensed my music overseas. ‘Status
Symbol’ is no different. The only thing that changed
this time around is that the record is also out in North
America and Europe. The labels I’m with in Australia
and Japan wanted to get a jump on things by releasing
it first. At the time I hadn’t made a decision
as to who I was going to release with here in North
America so I was cool with it. I switched up the playlists
a little to keep things interesting.
So how did the playlists differ from each other?
I kept things a little smoother on the Australian and
Japanese versions, a little more raw for North America
and Europe. There are 6 different tracks on the version
that just dropped with Domination.
Wouldn’t you consider a worldwide on-line
release next time?
I’ve had the most luck licensing my music with
different companies, but it’s definitely proven
to be a lot more work. I’d be down with a worldwide
on-line release if the deal was right. If only South
Pole would expand beyond fashion and break into the
music game, that’s a movement I would attach my
name to.
Could it be possible that you’re more
known in Japan than in Canada?
That’s definitely the case. The only people in
Canada who know about me are people I grew up with,
people I’ve made music with and people who’ve
seen me perform, mostly in Toronto. I’ve sold
a lot of records in Japan, had a lot of marketing dollars
behind my projects and received a lot of correspondence
from fans over there. I still haven’t been out
there though, that’s the crazy thing. It’s
nice to have a release on domestic soil, feels good
to get some love at home.
What’s so funny about South Park?
Everything; that show is fucking genius.
It all started for you with producing the entire
‘Pure Thoughts’ album by Lightheaded…
Ah, the good old days! I met Braille through an old
online hip-hop community called ‘Hip Hop Infinity’.
I’ve met a lot of people I still work with through
there actually. At the time, I was just getting started
with the beats, and Braille had heard a few I had posted
online. He hit me up about doing a single, 2 tracks,
but as I sent more beats, the project snow-balled. Before
we knew it we had an album worth of beats and he had
recruited Ohmega Watts and Othello. That’s how
Lightheaded was born. I flew down to Portland, we knocked
out the entire album in a weekend and that was that.
The rest is history! That was really the beginning for
me. It was a great experience.
Are there any upcoming collabos between you
and Lightheaded?
I haven’t been in touch with Braille for quite
a while, but I know he’s doing his thing. Last
track I did with them all together is called ‘Call
My Name’ which will be appearing on my still-untitled
and slowly-progressing production album. I also just
put together a new track called ‘Reach’
for The Residents album that features Ohmega Watts.
We’ll always be crew.
Speaking of crews; where would you be if you
wouldn’t have been in a collective called Wax
Reform?
Either dead, in jail, or dipped head to toe in South
Pole. Just kidding, I’m too pretty for jail.
You’re a globetrotter, you always try
to connect with people from everywhere, you worked with
people from Holland to Brazil, haven’t you had
any contact with Belgian artists yet?
I love working with cats from different countries!
Only artist from Belgium I’ve been in touch with
is a dude named Krewcial. We spoke briefly, but that
was years ago. Nothing ever came of it. I need to be
schooled on what’s good out there, I’d love
to build!
How different of a musician is Muneshine the
MC compared to Muneshine the producer?
I used to think it was really two separate parts of
my persona, but as I get older I don’t see much
of a difference. I’m just trying to make the best
music I possibly can. I just know it’s a rare
occasion when I feel the urge to write to one of my
own beats. I know so many ill producers it’s just
not as much fun to rap on my own shit.
Have you learned a lot through studying engineering?
It’s helped me to earn some money to pay rent
which in turn allows me to produce music, but that’s
about it. I definitely learned a few things in my studies,
but I believe I’ve developed my ear for music
and sound through experience, not so much through schooling.
“I've known Muneshine forever and yes
he is from Canada . He even says “eh” a
lot.” Any idea who said this?
Probably someone American. I know this because I don’t
actually say ‘eh’. I say ‘hey’.
Don’t stereotype me man, I refuse to be profiled!
Who said it?
How hard is it to update a blog?
Apparently it’s hard for me to update my blog,
it’s mad neglected. It doesn’t really make
sense either, I use the internet all the time. I guess
I just spend more time on Facebook than anything. While
most things have taken a nose-dive compared to how they
used to be in hip hop, one thing I think is better is
the ease of communication between artists and fans.
I love how accessible that connection is now, especially
for bridging long (geographical) distances.
What’s the first rap record you bought?
The first rap tape I ever bought was Public Enemy’s
‘It Takes A Nation of Millions...’, the
first rap CD I ever bought was Ice-T’s ‘Original
Gangster’, and the first rap LP I ever bought
was Jeru the Damaja’s ‘The Sun Rises in
the East’. All great records!
What are some of the latest (rap) releases
you uploaded unto your iPod?
Kenn Starr’s ‘It’s Still Real’
mixtape, Drake’s ‘So Far Gone’ mixtape,
Ghettosocks’ ‘I Can Make Your Dog Famous’
mixtape, DJ Spinna’s ‘The Recall’
mixtape, Pacific Division’s ‘Church League
Champions’ mixtape and D-Sisive’s ‘Let
The Children Die’.
What’s next for Muneshine?
Well after I ink this multi-million dollar deal with
fashion mogul South Pole I will be able to get back
to making music. Until then I’m working on a few
different production jobs, mostly D-Sisive’s next
two projects (Road to Jonestown and Jonestown), my homeboy
Fice’s album ‘Break of Day’, and my
boy Zemek’s album ‘The Red Haskel Story’.
Behind the mic I’m working on a few projects as
well. I just finished up The Residents album ‘Open
House’ with Saint from NY. That’s dropping
in Japan this fall. I’m also doing a collaborative
project with my boy Ghettosocks, an exclusive project
with a number of crazy UK producers, and my next solo
record ‘The Rate Race’.
Tell us some more about ‘The Rat Race’?
Well, it’s my next solo record, still in the
production phase. I’ve already got new joints
finished with Buckwild, Oddisee, Illmind, M-Phazes,
Freddie Joachim, MoSS and more. There’ll be a
few exciting appearances as well. It’s definitely
my best work to date. Stay tuned!
We will. Thanks for the chat!
©pf September 2009.
Useful links:
www.myspace.com/muneshineproduction
www.myspace.com/status_symbol
www.muneshine.blogspot.com
www.dominationrec.com
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