The Bleubird Interview
By Kyle Eustice
In honor of Fake Four, Inc. founder Ceschi Ramos's new album, Broken Bone Ballads (due April 7), we're digging into Fake Four’s roster to uncover what everyone else has been up to. Indie rapper Bleubird, real name Jacques Bruna, hails from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where he currently resides today. But his journey is ongoing and he is certainly not tethered to one state - or country, for that matter. From Montreal to Berlin, he's made himself a home in plenty of unfamiliar places, only for them to become familiar and aid in his evolutionary process. His last Fake Four release, 2012's Cannonball, showcases Bleubird's penchant for descriptive words he so carefully crafts around soulful production by label mates Radical Face (Electric President) and Astronautalis, As Bleubird prepares to unveil two new albums this year, he took some time to talk about Fake Four, growing up in Florida and why Ceschi is the Robin Hood of indie rap. Check out http://www.fakefourinc.com/ for more information.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice) It's been a long time! What are you up to these days?
Bleubird: Yes it has! Probably since I was running around in the Freeebird. I took a little break and settled back in Florida and started managing a rad craft beer bar called "Laser Wolf." By break I mean I only went to Japan once last year with my group Triune Gods, made a bunch of videos and played some shows with this super fun Miami Bass project called Death Jam. I organized a slew of warehouse parties, pop-up shops and interesting events in Ft. Lauderdale, as well as started a clothing company with my lady called TwoTitties or "2TT$."
What makes Fake Four such a perfect home for you?
Fake Four is the shit because they have my back 100% and it's great to be a part of a label with so many diverse and amazing artists who are spread out all over the place. In an age where "indie" labels are dying and/or non-existent it's nice to be a part of something that is still going strong. Fake Four's catalog is just too strong for it to go anywhere.
What did you think of Ceschi being locked up?
It was the most fucked! I mean Ceschi is basically the Robin Hood of indie rap. He did what he did for such selfless reasons. Dude put his life on the line to take care of so many people, and that will never be forgotten...he went down but now he's out, he wrote two amazing albums and now he's on fire!
What was the music scene like when you were growing up in Florida?
It was crazy in the early days, I used to sneak into dance parties with my older brother and practice synchronized routines to Poison Clan. When I was 15, he brought me to see 2 Live Crew and Jodeci at the Miami arena. For some reason, Lords of the Underground were the opener and I was the only one in the arena standing up singing "Chief Rocka." My brother replaced the backseat of his VW Bug with a speaker box packing two 15" subwoofers. I used to have to ride in back plugging my ears so the bass didn't kill me, but I loved it! As I got a little older, I became hungry for everything that was happening elsewhere. I was scouring Video Jukebox and MTV Raps for anything and everything I could get my hands on.
How did living in that area shape your style?
It's funny because I feel like I spent my entire musical "career" trying to run away from the sound I came from. I always wanted to make shit that was "weird" and "different," but no matter how far I got there was always elements of southern rap in my style. As everything eventually comes full circle, I recently embraced this part of me and my sound is now definitely more reflective of where I come from.
Cannonball!!! was your last full length. Are you working on anything new?
Hell yeah I'm currently working on three albums. One project with my homie Numonics called "FTLiENS" that is super Florida. I just finished the recording now. It's being mixed and mastered to be released soon. I'm currently in the studio working on a new record for Fake Four produced by another Florida homie called Mister Belvedere. I don't wanna say too much about it yet, but it's going to be very different from any other album I've ever made and I'm super excited. I'm also working on an EP with the website fiverr.com. NON-STOP!
I imagine being an artist is tough. What keep you going every day?
I always said that if I got too comfortable then my music would suck. The struggle is real. The struggle is beautiful.
What are your top five albums you currently have in rotation? Any genre.
In no particular order:
GOAT - World Music
Isaiah Rashad - Cilvia Demo
Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late (THIS IS A NEW THING FOR ME! HA!)
Homeboy Sandman - Hallways
Vince Staples - Hell Can Wait
What do you have on the docket for the rest of 2015?
Oh man—dropping these two albums, some touring, a bunch of exciting collaborations. I just plan on making a lot of noise this year and seeing where the effects take me.
Bleubird: The RAPstation Interview
The Bleubird Interview
By Kyle Eustice
In honor of Fake Four, Inc. founder Ceschi Ramos's new album, Broken Bone Ballads (due April 7), we're digging into Fake Four’s roster to uncover what everyone else has been up to. Indie rapper Bleubird, real name Jacques Bruna, hails from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where he currently resides today. But his journey is ongoing and he is certainly not tethered to one state - or country, for that matter. From Montreal to Berlin, he's made himself a home in plenty of unfamiliar places, only for them to become familiar and aid in his evolutionary process. His last Fake Four release, 2012's Cannonball, showcases Bleubird's penchant for descriptive words he so carefully crafts around soulful production by label mates Radical Face (Electric President) and Astronautalis, As Bleubird prepares to unveil two new albums this year, he took some time to talk about Fake Four, growing up in Florida and why Ceschi is the Robin Hood of indie rap. Check out http://www.fakefourinc.com/ for more information.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice) It's been a long time! What are you up to these days?
Bleubird: Yes it has! Probably since I was running around in the Freeebird. I took a little break and settled back in Florida and started managing a rad craft beer bar called "Laser Wolf." By break I mean I only went to Japan once last year with my group Triune Gods, made a bunch of videos and played some shows with this super fun Miami Bass project called Death Jam. I organized a slew of warehouse parties, pop-up shops and interesting events in Ft. Lauderdale, as well as started a clothing company with my lady called TwoTitties or "2TT$."
What makes Fake Four such a perfect home for you?
Fake Four is the shit because they have my back 100% and it's great to be a part of a label with so many diverse and amazing artists who are spread out all over the place. In an age where "indie" labels are dying and/or non-existent it's nice to be a part of something that is still going strong. Fake Four's catalog is just too strong for it to go anywhere.
What did you think of Ceschi being locked up?
It was the most fucked! I mean Ceschi is basically the Robin Hood of indie rap. He did what he did for such selfless reasons. Dude put his life on the line to take care of so many people, and that will never be forgotten...he went down but now he's out, he wrote two amazing albums and now he's on fire!
What was the music scene like when you were growing up in Florida?
It was crazy in the early days, I used to sneak into dance parties with my older brother and practice synchronized routines to Poison Clan. When I was 15, he brought me to see 2 Live Crew and Jodeci at the Miami arena. For some reason, Lords of the Underground were the opener and I was the only one in the arena standing up singing "Chief Rocka." My brother replaced the backseat of his VW Bug with a speaker box packing two 15" subwoofers. I used to have to ride in back plugging my ears so the bass didn't kill me, but I loved it! As I got a little older, I became hungry for everything that was happening elsewhere. I was scouring Video Jukebox and MTV Raps for anything and everything I could get my hands on.
How did living in that area shape your style?
It's funny because I feel like I spent my entire musical "career" trying to run away from the sound I came from. I always wanted to make shit that was "weird" and "different," but no matter how far I got there was always elements of southern rap in my style. As everything eventually comes full circle, I recently embraced this part of me and my sound is now definitely more reflective of where I come from.
Cannonball!!! was your last full length. Are you working on anything new?
Hell yeah I'm currently working on three albums. One project with my homie Numonics called "FTLiENS" that is super Florida. I just finished the recording now. It's being mixed and mastered to be released soon. I'm currently in the studio working on a new record for Fake Four produced by another Florida homie called Mister Belvedere. I don't wanna say too much about it yet, but it's going to be very different from any other album I've ever made and I'm super excited. I'm also working on an EP with the website fiverr.com. NON-STOP!
I imagine being an artist is tough. What keep you going every day?
I always said that if I got too comfortable then my music would suck. The struggle is real. The struggle is beautiful.
What are your top five albums you currently have in rotation? Any genre.
In no particular order:
GOAT - World Music
Isaiah Rashad - Cilvia Demo
Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late (THIS IS A NEW THING FOR ME! HA!)
Homeboy Sandman - Hallways
Vince Staples - Hell Can Wait
What do you have on the docket for the rest of 2015?
Oh man—dropping these two albums, some touring, a bunch of exciting collaborations. I just plan on making a lot of noise this year and seeing where the effects take me.
