The excitement surrounding Wheelchair Sports Camp’s new album, No Big Deal, is palatable, especially to those who have followed the Denver trio’s career since its inception. The recent Strange Famous Records’ signees have sparked curiosity from fans of both Hip Hop and jazz, as well. With its funky, jazz-infused beats and MC Kalyn Heffernan’s clever wordplay, it’s the best of both worlds. In Part II of the RAPstation interview, Heffernan talks working with the late Ikey Owens, her favorite tracks from the record and how she gets through challenging days.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice) Your new album is wonderful. What was it like working with Ikey Owens?
Kalyn Heffernan: Why thank you! Ikey was a fucking mastermind. Our drummer Gregg had worked with him a lot with his other band Rubedo and josh had played with him before too. I didn't know really what to expect and he came in ready to crank out a record. He scraped apart most of the beats to real minimal samples and then would holler at the bassist Mike Brown like, ‘You’re gonna drive this record, give me something like this here and then get real weird here.’ On the song “Honey Don't Go,” it’s my beat and had this really cool off-snare throughout, which he cut completely.
Then he was like, ‘Gregg don't play a beat, no tempo, go crazy and Josh, here at the end, take em to church.’ The song “Take Stairs in Case of Fire” was kind of inspired by a beat, but Ikey wanted it to be all instruments and a room mic feel. The boys were kinda just improving and messing around in the track room when Ikey yelled at Chad the engineer, ‘Why aren't you recording this!? Hit record damnit!’ So yeah, he really took songs to different places and made this sound like something I've never heard before.
He was able to talk to every musician in their language and engineer, and play with effects and hear key changes and harmonies all at the same time. I'm so humbled to have worked with him, but of course wish we had more time together.
What is your favorite track on the album?
Lyrically, I think” Take Stairs in Case of Fire” is my favorite. Sonically, I really love the way “Honey Don't Go” turned out. It doesn't sound much like the beat I made and the noises, dissonance and then calming outro really fits the songs concept about Denver being squeezed by gentrification. Live, I really love playing “Mary Had A Little Band,” “Hindsight” and “Same shit.” Clearly, I can't answer this question [laughs].
Now that the album is out, what are you focused on now?
Well, we just got back from a tour and just keep pushing our sound together that I really want to take this energy back home and start writing the next. Also, while still trying to tour more and see new places. We just played Tijuana and it was one of the most magic shows ever. Making music and touring on our own can leave us vulnerable, but then magic nights like that happen that snap everything back into perspective like, ‘Oh yeah, this is why we do this. Let’s keep it going and do more!’
How do you get through challenging days?
This is a tough one and something I'm having to do more often. I don't have a set formula. Music sometimes does the trick—writing, punching a punching bag, crying— you know? Anything to take me outta my head.
What’s the next step for Wheelchair Sports Camp?
Touring, writing more, releasing these videos we've been sitting on. Keep grinding and trying to outdo ourselves.
What does the music you make mean to you on a personal level?
I'm a classic fucked up artist that has a hard time enjoying the music I make most days. But it's so deep that the doubt and torture I put myself through still can't keep me from doing it. Like I don't know how else to exist. Also, when we play live is really the time I get to let go and enjoy the music we make.
