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  Heralds Of Change Interview
interview 0394 added
26.04.06 words: The Last Skeptik
technical:
QED
For the uninitiated, the uber-entity known as Heralds of Change
consists of two talented producers from Ireland and Scotland respectively.
These two soulful beatsmiths have injected a large portion of funk in to
their first 12” release, adequately laced with rhymes from U.S emcee
Oddisee. Haggis, cider and kilt comments aside, UKHH’s own roving
reporter and mad professor of beats, The Last Skeptik caught up with the
Heralds of Change and Oddisee to see whatagwarn…
For all the heads
who don’t know, introduce yourselves…
 Heralds of Change:
Mike Slott, producer, DJ, full time zealot, herald of change.
Hudson Mohawke aka Ross, representing LuckyME famalam, producer, DJ,
professional swimwear model and all round niceguy.
Oddisee: Amir Abdelmonem Abdelwahob Elkhalifa Mohamed. Known by the
people that don’t know me as, Oddisee. I make beats and rap.
How do you split
production duties between the two of you?
HC: It pretty much boils down to keeping each other on our toes I think,
healthy competition. Giving each other advice, a yes to this no to that
etc. Being honest with one another and saying whether we think a
particular beat is suited to a particular person, or whether it’s even
good enough to be out there.
Representing both
Scotland and Ireland, do you feel hiphop from those areas is slept on in
relation to English hiphop?
HC: I think straight off you have to recognize that there are a lot less
people in both Ireland and Scotland and that’s a fact that lends itself
to just about everything including hip hop. You’re left with the reality
that there isn’t half as many hip hop releases coming out of these
countries for English or international heads to check out or sleep on as
they wish.
Hopefully what were doing will give a wee bit of exposure to Ireland and
Scotland but that’s not the aim. Hip hop is universal. Things are
definitely changing and that’s down to guys like OB and Splyce at All
City who are tryin to put the good stuff out there, they put there money
where their mouth is if its music that they like and hopefully it will
work out well for us all – Ireland, Scotland, England , the US -
wherever.
“...Hopefully what were doing will give a wee bit of exposure to Ireland
and Scotland but that’s not the aim. Hip hop is universal...”
How has the new 12”
been received?
HC: Pretty crazy. It sold out within 2 weeks pretty much.
How did you reach
out to Oddisee to link for this release?
 HC: Through the internet. We had heard some of Oddisee’s stuff through
his label Halfttooth Records and got in touch through myspace.com,
although this record was in the making for a long time….pretty much the
best part of a year for one reason or another- that gave us the time to
get to know one another, well as best you can on the internet… I think
that gives the 12” something that wouldn’t have been there had it just
been a case of “right here’s a beat now whack something over it”.
What’s come out of this collaboration is not just a dope 12” but a solid
friendship between the 3 of us.
Hudson, you got to
the UK DMC finals at the age of 15, are you still competing or plan to
return to competition?
HC: Haven’t entered since 03, the sort of excitement factor that got me
into it at a very young age just doesn’t seem to be there anymore
though, not sure whether that’s just me or the world of battle dj'ing in
general. Plus I also feel that the days of gaining a lot of exposure
from winning a DMC title are pretty much history, nowadays a world champ
cant even expect to get a tour out of it never mind the lifetimes worth
of gigs that some of the former champions have had. Having said that I
don’t regret entering for a second, I’m glad I competed and it has
opened a lot of doors for me which have come in handy when working on
this project. These days I've been focusing more on having a well
rounded club set, still incorporating the turntablist element, but very
much trying to escape the tedium of the traditional hiphop/club dj's
workout.
As messengers of
change, what are you transmitting to the world?
HC: No major message as such, but hopefully we’re another example of
heads that aren’t from traditionally strong hip hop spots or wherever
and that good music and interesting collaborations can take place
regardless of that, that solid interest can be generated with very
little promotion - not only within your own country but also in places
farther a field – I think a lot of people want to further their own
scene and just do that by working within it but I think you can shine
some light on local happenings by getting out there and working with
cats outside of what’s at home. A lot of the websites selling the 12”
had a little blurb about Scotland/Ireland/Celtic ties etc., which was
cool but obviously isn’t the essence of what were about. Its something
you don’t see everyday on hip hop 12”s so maybe that’s a wee bit of a
something for people to check for and were quite happy with that. We
just want to be consistently putting out records that people will
recognize as good music, to be happy with ourselves in what we are
making and to build a strong reputation as solid producers that people
want to work with.
What emcees, from
either side of the Atlantic, are you looking to work with in the future?
HC: We just want to be making quality music with people that were
feeling from anywhere….it doesn’t really matter where. Hit us up!
“...We just want to be consistently putting out records that people will
recognize as good music...”
Are you working on
any new projects right now?
HC: Yeah, this 12” has really opened doors that we hadn’t even thought
were there initially so there’s some really dope things in the pipeline
now…. One of which is the 2nd 12” with Oddisee.
Who has the better
national football team – Scotland or Ireland?
HC: Both.
Haggis or soda
bread?
HC: Meze!
Haloumi cheese
Scotch or cider?
 HC: If your goin back a few years….cider I’m afraid. Nowt now…Hudson
takes care of a Bulmers for me now and again.
Oddisee, You have
worked with some of the most influential cats in the game, who have you
enjoyed recording with the most?
Everybody in my crew – Lowbudget. I’m most comfortable when I’m working
alone or around my brothers, so I enjoy the end result better.
After venturing
across the Atlantic to work with Heralds of Change, have you heard any
other UK or European artists you want to work with?
Yes, I met many artists from many countries that I could see myself
working with in the future. As long as there budget is in place we'll
make some dope music!
What’s next for
Oddisee and the Low Budget crew?
Right now we're really focusing on our own material and establishing our
selves as a crew of artists that listeners and labels can depend on for
good music.
You just toured with
Heralds in the UK, how different was it to performing in the U.S?
Not really different at all other than the fact that the pound is double
the dollar so its twice as fun and funds.
How much does living
in the U.S capital, with so much disparity between rich and poor,
influence your work?
Did I mention disparity between rich and poor? D.C and Maryland's got
ghettos, hoods, and neighbourhoods, just like any other metropolis. In
fact P.G. county is the most wealthy black county in the country. D.C.
is one of the very few cities that blacks can actually move on up to the
east side. If anything, just being from the D.C. metro area lets me know
that minorities can make something of themselves if they want and their
city blocks won't confine them. That fact alone influences my music and
everything else in my life.
Which do you prefer:
Homer's Odyssey or 2001: a Space Odyssey?
Homers, I like old school shit.
-
The Last Skeptik
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