The small, independent label Fake Four, Inc. has been based in Connecticut since its inception, when brothers Ceschi and David Ramos decided to do things on their own. Since then, it's grown to quite the reputable label and boasts a colorful and well-rounded roster including Awol One, Myka 9 of Freestyle Fellowship, Astronautalis, and Busdriver. It's a tight-knit and talented musical family, which seems to only be getting stronger. Factor has been with Fake Four, Inc. for the past few years. Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, he is in the States quite often touring and working on new music. If the independent label truly is the new blueprint for success, Fake Four is off to an impressive start. Factor took a few minutes during his layover to talk to RAPstation about drugs, Myka 9 and his new album, Woke Up Alone. Please visit http://www.fakefourinc.com/ to check out the album now.
Tell me how you met Myka 9.
I met Myka in 2008 while I was working on Chandelier, which was also the first time I worked with Fake Four, Inc. I pretty much had the whole album finished and I mentioned to Ceschi that the only other addition I could think of was to change this interlude beat to a song...but...the only person I could hear on it would be someone like Myka. Weirdly enough Ceschi had just finished a collab with him earlier that year and he called him up and we did the song "Good Ol' Smokey". The song got a lot of love so we decided to do a video for it. With the momentum from that song we did the album 1969 and the rest is history.
I have to ask. I read some piece in LA Weekly about your adventures with Myka 9 written by some girl that says she did drugs with you guys, I believe, and went on to talk about how many drugs Myka does, etc, etc. I thought it was in poor taste, but other people thought her "gonzo" style of journalism was cool. What are your thoughts on that whole thing?
Yeah, I definitely feel like she could have still had a "wild" interview without being so incriminating.
What got you interested in music, and then later on, producing?
I always played basketball and a lot of my friends older brothers listened to hip-hop. I was instantly into it and started DJjing. I would buy garage sale turntables and radio shack mixers and make these weird little mixtapes. We would take our equipment to someone's house and have like 8 turntables rocking and just cut it up. I was almost most interested in the mixing and blending of sounds and samples so I think it was a natural progression to production.
How has growing up in Canada influenced your style, if at all?
It definitely has. I think being from Saskatoon has influenced how my music sounds. It is isolated so I would take inspiration from all over - East, West, whatever caught my ear. I have always been open to all genres and styles of music.
What about Fake Four, Inc. felt like a good home for you?
Right from the start I connected with Ceschi. I think Fake Four is a really good alternative outlet that allows its artist to make the music they want to be making. Fake Four also has a really good grasp on the roster and who/what will work.
DJ Shadow explained to me that when he's looking at collaborating with someone, he makes the track first and then he thinks of someone that might be a good fit for the song. How do you go about selecting a particular artist for a song you've made?
Yes, I think making the track first is important for my solo works. I think having someone in mind while you're making it can't hurt either. When I am doing a collab album or producing for someone else's projects I try and make what will fit best for the project as a whole. But, when it is my own solo project, I tend to focus more on the tracks that will fit first and then who will sound good on them afterwards.
With this new album, what are your plans for getting out there so the world can hear it?
I have been working hard on the concept for a long time so hopefully people will be able to relate to it and check it out. I plan on touring it as much as possible. I have a full Canadian tour coming up Aug/Sept and other tour plans in the works for USA etc.
What does the music you make mean to you on a personal level?
Music seems to influence most everything thing I do. Whenever I am doing anything music is playing and ideas are forming. Making music serves as some form of therapy for me.
Do you prefer making instrumentals more than anything else?
I actually prefer making music with vocalists. I love collaborating when the time is right. I feel that is when I am the strongest. I really enjoy working on full projects rather than song to song.
What's next for you? What are your hopes for the future?
I have a new Factor and the Chandeliers record in the works as well as collabs with Ceschi and def3. Lots of new stuff!
THANK YOU!!
Thanks! Appreciate it. Much love.
By Kyle Eustice for RAPstation.com
Exclusive: Factor - The RAPstation Interview
The small, independent label Fake Four, Inc. has been based in Connecticut since its inception, when brothers Ceschi and David Ramos decided to do things on their own. Since then, it's grown to quite the reputable label and boasts a colorful and well-rounded roster including Awol One, Myka 9 of Freestyle Fellowship, Astronautalis, and Busdriver. It's a tight-knit and talented musical family, which seems to only be getting stronger. Factor has been with Fake Four, Inc. for the past few years. Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, he is in the States quite often touring and working on new music. If the independent label truly is the new blueprint for success, Fake Four is off to an impressive start. Factor took a few minutes during his layover to talk to RAPstation about drugs, Myka 9 and his new album, Woke Up Alone. Please visit http://www.fakefourinc.com/ to check out the album now.
Tell me how you met Myka 9.
I met Myka in 2008 while I was working on Chandelier, which was also the first time I worked with Fake Four, Inc. I pretty much had the whole album finished and I mentioned to Ceschi that the only other addition I could think of was to change this interlude beat to a song...but...the only person I could hear on it would be someone like Myka. Weirdly enough Ceschi had just finished a collab with him earlier that year and he called him up and we did the song "Good Ol' Smokey". The song got a lot of love so we decided to do a video for it. With the momentum from that song we did the album 1969 and the rest is history.
I have to ask. I read some piece in LA Weekly about your adventures with Myka 9 written by some girl that says she did drugs with you guys, I believe, and went on to talk about how many drugs Myka does, etc, etc. I thought it was in poor taste, but other people thought her "gonzo" style of journalism was cool. What are your thoughts on that whole thing?
Yeah, I definitely feel like she could have still had a "wild" interview without being so incriminating.
What got you interested in music, and then later on, producing?
I always played basketball and a lot of my friends older brothers listened to hip-hop. I was instantly into it and started DJjing. I would buy garage sale turntables and radio shack mixers and make these weird little mixtapes. We would take our equipment to someone's house and have like 8 turntables rocking and just cut it up. I was almost most interested in the mixing and blending of sounds and samples so I think it was a natural progression to production.
How has growing up in Canada influenced your style, if at all?
It definitely has. I think being from Saskatoon has influenced how my music sounds. It is isolated so I would take inspiration from all over - East, West, whatever caught my ear. I have always been open to all genres and styles of music.
What about Fake Four, Inc. felt like a good home for you?
Right from the start I connected with Ceschi. I think Fake Four is a really good alternative outlet that allows its artist to make the music they want to be making. Fake Four also has a really good grasp on the roster and who/what will work.
DJ Shadow explained to me that when he's looking at collaborating with someone, he makes the track first and then he thinks of someone that might be a good fit for the song. How do you go about selecting a particular artist for a song you've made?
Yes, I think making the track first is important for my solo works. I think having someone in mind while you're making it can't hurt either. When I am doing a collab album or producing for someone else's projects I try and make what will fit best for the project as a whole. But, when it is my own solo project, I tend to focus more on the tracks that will fit first and then who will sound good on them afterwards.
With this new album, what are your plans for getting out there so the world can hear it?
I have been working hard on the concept for a long time so hopefully people will be able to relate to it and check it out. I plan on touring it as much as possible. I have a full Canadian tour coming up Aug/Sept and other tour plans in the works for USA etc.
What does the music you make mean to you on a personal level?
Music seems to influence most everything thing I do. Whenever I am doing anything music is playing and ideas are forming. Making music serves as some form of therapy for me.
Do you prefer making instrumentals more than anything else?
I actually prefer making music with vocalists. I love collaborating when the time is right. I feel that is when I am the strongest. I really enjoy working on full projects rather than song to song.
What's next for you? What are your hopes for the future?
I have a new Factor and the Chandeliers record in the works as well as collabs with Ceschi and def3. Lots of new stuff!
THANK YOU!!
Thanks! Appreciate it. Much love.
By Kyle Eustice for RAPstation.com
