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  Jase Interview
interview 0530 added 28.09.07 words:
Fraksha
technical:
Spoon
Obese artist Jase has been a stalwart of the Ozzie scene for many years now, supplying beats to a diverse number of acts as well as enjoying worldwide success as part of the break-beat outfit Nu-Breed. He’s been there and seen it and witnessed the growth and change of the scene from what it was to where it is today so you know I had to speak to him for this article.
State your name and occupation?
Jase (obese records/beathedz/nubreed/rock da city crew/ f1c crew)
So Jase, you're a bit of a veteran of this Melbourne scene in terms of music and also graf. Can you give us a run-down of your involvements over the years?
Well I have been producing local and interstate artists since around 1996 for the likes of Prowla, Trem, Bias B, Pegz, Brad Strut, Patto, Spit Syndicate to name a few and have released over 60 record releases. Also I am an active member of RDC crew which this year will be our 20th anniversary. I started painting at the age of 12.
The rock da city shit is kinda legendary over here, how do you feel looking back on it now?
 Its great. It is part of Australian hip-hop history now. Till this day no one has combined a graff magazine (featuring one crew ) with a hip-hop compilation that was made to be the soundtrack to checking out the magazine. A whole RDC / NUFFSAID RECORDS experience.
So you signed to Obese and released your debut album last year? It featured many well known names from the Aus scene. This must have been a mission getting it all together and getting vocals done from so many mc's...was it an absolute nightmare and would you do it again?
I will eventually make a volume 2 but I probably wouldn't do it the same way. The process was unavoidable given my budget but leaving artists to record their own vocals and finding studios was very hard being that there was over 20 artists on the cd. For example on a few of the collabs I would get one verse from one emcee then a month later get the next verse for the same track. By that stage I wanted to redo the whole beat all over again....lol
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Making the music is just half the battle. Having singles, building your profile, promoting and getting the brand out there is another ball game
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How has the reaction been around the country?
It’s been great and the reviews were very kind. It was my first cd under the Jase name so building my profile was like i was coming out as a brand new artist. Making the music is just half the battle. Having singles, building your profile, promoting and getting the brand out there is another ball game.
 Outside of your straight hip hop shit, you've had massive worldwide success as part of the breaks outfit Nu-Breed, playing all over the place from London to Japan and all in-between. Fill the people in on this and what’s the future plans if any for Nu-Breed?
Nubreed is the electronic band I am in which was formed in 1998.We have released records mostly through UK and Australian labels such as Distinctive records, Marine Parade, Supercharged, Mob records, Boombox, Stomp, Vcious records. We are still together but not as active as we are all pursuing solo projects but plan on releasing new music in 2008.You can find a lot of our most recent music and remixes on BEATPORT.
Most recently, you've been involved with up and coming Melbourne MC Patto. How did you two link and how have you found the reception to his recent release?
We met up a few years back after I received a demo via Bias B. Before even hearing his demo I liked the way he carried himself and seemed like an easy going person that I could see myself getting along with in and out of the studio. We have made around 40 tracks together in preparation for his debut album. The mix-tape release has been well received more so within the underground hip-hop community which has led to a few guest-spots on various mix-tapes and forthcoming albums. Breaking a new artist is always difficult so doing more live shows is definitely on the cards.
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I try to stay diverse with my sound to keep the listener guessing of what I’m gonna do next
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How would you describe the beats you produce and what’s the process involved when you're putting something together?
I do think my sound is pretty gritty with an emphasis on the drums, big kicks and snares always. I’m very much into samples but combine my synths to broaden the stereo field of my beats whether it’s with the bass or quirky melodies. I try to stay diverse with my sound to keep the listener guessing of what I’m gonna do next.
So what have we got to look fwd to from Jase? Who should we be looking out for spitting on your beats?
At the moment I have a track on Phrase next album. 6 on Pegz new lp, Patto's whole debut album, 3 on Spit syndicate's debut, 2 on A-loves debut, 2 with Scott Burns, and a few unreleased older tracks on bias b's next project, and hopefully some new Fraksha and Illy !
Any shouts?
Shouts to RDC/F1C/OBESE CREW/BEATHEDZ/BONEZ/FLAGRANT/PHRASE/ILLY/PATTO
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Fraksha
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