| Latté D. Kyd – “So
Begins the New Saga” Written by Andrew Rudder |
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Andrew: Pulp Magazine would like to introduce to you a very multitalented
Hip Hop artist and sultry, jazzy R&B vocalist named Latté D.
Kyd. The ‘Pacific Rim of Fire’ burns perennially bright
in the eyes of this beautiful songbird as she continually creates
her own path of success within the music industry on her own uncompromising
terms. Her sound is a cross of garage band drums mixed with funk
guitar and interesting programming, which constitutes a unique
blend of styles that help set the foundation for Latté’s
quick witticism and whiplash delivery. Her debut album is entitled “So Begins the Saga…,” which is comprised of four songs that not only possess pulsating atypical beats consisting of live instrumentation that take control of your body and make you want to dance, but is also balanced by a sharing of her intimate experiences that provide you with a window into her beautiful effervescent soul. For example, the hot track entitled “Hood” that is getting some serious airplay speaks to the lack of acceptance of interracial relationships. The song is about an intimate interracial relationship with a guy that is further complicated from the fact that they are from the opposite sides of the tracks. The guy wants to bring the woman he loves back to his hood and introduce her to his family and friends and vice versa, but of course they aren’t so quick to give their blessings because its difficult for them to get over the cultural, social and racial differences, “Sho’ do come from different sides of tha’ track, People attack, talk to me like I ain’t see that you black, People attack like I’m on crack, my main mac is whack, Well I’ain’t havin’ that, and you know I go up ta’ bat, For you, shoot, I’d be forever true, If I’m in love, the man could be black, white, red or blue”. “Rollin’ Eyes” is for the women out there who spend less time focusing on improving the lives of the person that stands before them in the mirror, and are so fixated on being envious of other women like Latté who are living out their dreams, accomplishing their goals and ultimately taking their careers higher to the next plateau that all they could do is sit back & roll their eyes back into complacency. Don’t let the title “Rich Bitch” fool you because it is an empowering and uplifting song that is imbued with a serious feminine vibe flavoured by her dark humour. In the second verse, Latté shares her experiences in life with women and lets them know that there is more to life than just money. The song is imbued with Latté’s witty cynicism and very clever analogies, which conveys the message that the journey you take in life is just as important as the destination. Therefore, how one becomes rich and successful in life is as important as ultimately being rich, because the journey defines yourself and manifests your fortitude, willingness not to comprise your values, stand steadfastly by your convictions, and stand up for what you believe in so that you don’t blend into the crowd like a chameleon. If you listen to the lyrics carefully you’re left feeling that if you compromise your values, convictions and beliefs, then even when you reach your destination of being rich you still feel empty inside, or as Latté says, “Take it from a gal who know, Even when ya get tha’ paper, you can still be po’, Even in tha’ fast lane, you can still go slow.” Finally, “Bang On” is a chant of proactive positivity and unyielding progression through the most trying times in life, and a realization that you choose how extrinsic factors affect you. You could wallow in the valley of the shadows of despair or you could “Never lose tha’ struggle even if it goes on and on for too long” and choose to Bang On . . . I certainly know what I’m going to do. On
behalf of the Pulp Magazine team that works extremely hard every
month to bring you the very best in entertaining and informative
content, we are proud to feature Latté D Kyd in this month’s “Hearing
Aid” segment and are privileged to be given a window into
the mind of this multi-talented artist and socially conscious activist.
So without further adieu, let’s get this interview started
. . . Getting to Know You Andrew: Tell us a bit about yourself: like where you born and raised; your paradigm in life; and the support group that you have come to rely on as you continue to pursue your promising musical career. Latté: I was born and raised in Belleville; just west of Kingston; population
50,000 or so. Small town atmosphere, wanted out from an early
age; just not for me. Andrew: When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in music, and that you also had the requisite internal motivation, drive and raw musical talent to succeed in this competitive industry? Latté: As university graduation loomed, I decided that I was going to
give music a real shot rather than going to law school as I previously
thought that I would. Andrew: What experience do you value more and attain more personal satisfaction from as an artist: the creative process of making a song that begins with ideas in your mind and carries over to the collaboration with Flavio Monopoli & Sweet Bitch in the studio OR performing the finished product at one of your live intimate shows and seeing the crowd’s positive reaction to and appreciation for your musical creations? Latté: They’re nearly equal. Both have their unique benefits, but there is just something about performing live. It’s such a rush and not as tedious, although I’ve had good times recording and it’s cool to see how things progress in the studio. It’s great to be able to not have to worry about making a mistake in the studio and I really appreciate the process of creating recorded music; there are just so many options and opportunities to tinker with things. But, there’s that energy in front of an audience that is indescribably awesome! That energy seems to act as a catalyst for a level of vocal prowess I don’t often achieve anywhere else. The live audience reaction and the feeling of being up there are what make it all worth it in the end. I started out with total stage fright and thought “oh no, am I going to be a studio artist?” and I can still be very shy off stage but now performing live is what I live for in some ways; I really look forward to it. I still get little ‘butterflies’ which is good, reminds you to keep your head in the game and it’s a sign that you care but I love performing and feel that much closer to completely comfortable with each show. Andrew: Who are some of the musical legends that greatly influenced you growing up, and who you also admired both for their extraordinary musical abilities and the way they carried themselves in the public throughout their careers? Latté: Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder (I think he can see music), Madonna (ever-changing & ever-engaging), Jimi Hendrix (do I even need to explain?), Ricki Lee Jones (not really a “legend” but such an amazing & under-rated artist), Bob Marley (his music is often so simple but the messages so complex and always evoke emotion). Andrew: Who are some of the contemporary musicians that you admire the most and would love to have the opportunity to collaborate with on a musical composition? Latté: Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Christina Aguilera (although she’d probably just blow me off the stage with that voice!), Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, K-os, Buck 65, Gorillaz, Beastie Boys, Ben Harper, Bif Naked, Andre 3000, India Arie, Danger Mouse. Andrew: I attended your benefit concert at the Rivoli this year for the ‘Toronto Rape Crisis Centre’ and was not only thoroughly impressed by the raw talent exhibited by the impressive line up of wonderful women performers, but also from the underlying purpose of the show. For our readers who aren’t familiar with the history of the “Ladies of Hip Hop Against Rape” founded by you in 2005, tell them how the idea came to fruition, your mission, the success that the benefit concert has attained thus far, and what you have in store for the future. Latté: The idea for the benefit came about in 2004 after I read an article about a young woman raped during pride weekend in Toronto. I had already decided I was going to create an event with an all female line-up for a charity but wasn’t sure which one until then. The story struck me because we are rarely exposed to these incidences in the press relative to how common they are and it was a very teeny article in a big newspaper. The mission is to put on a great show with a group of highly talented and diverse female urban artists not only to raise funds for the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre but also bring about more awareness as regards to sexual assault in general. It’s still a taboo topic to some extent; rape needs to be addressed on a larger scale and the resources are few and far between and can definitely use more support from the community. So far, it has been a challenge getting sponsors on board. Some companies just don’t want to be associated with the word “rape” in any capacity. Last year we came in just shy of $1,000 which considering the capacity of the Rivoli and the fact that the event took place when it was minus 30 degrees outside, we did extremely well. I thought it would be easier this year, but, not the case. It was more difficult in every regard including getting people to attend on a Wednesday night. I am confident that the event will build significantly with time and effort. Everything important takes work, patience and plain ole’ time. I plan to continue to organize the Ladies of Urban Sound Against Rape for years to come and with the aid of good press people like yourself, awareness will rise and I can see us eventually needing a larger venue. Andrew: Talk a bit about the importance of using music, one of the most powerful forms of artistic expression, as a means to reach out to people and raise money for worthwhile causes that you believe in and support. Latté: People want to see live music and are willing to
pay for it, so why not give some of that money to a cause that
you believe in? If you really support something, you should be
actively involved in furthering its success. My motivation to become
successful in this business is obviously to further my own agenda
and comfort but I would feel terrible about myself if I didn’t
give back in some way, even at this point. I hate to sound judgemental,
but I think it’s shameful how some people live so decadently
when there are so many people starving in this world, so many victims
of abuse and people in need of serious help. I don’t think
anyone has to be a total martyr or give up the wealth they likely
worked very hard to attain, but I really admire someone like Angelina
Jolie who says she is overpaid and gives a third of her total income
to help people in Africa. I’m sure she still lives very,
very well but that’s a good chunk of her change and a lot
more than many other people in her position are willing to sacrifice. The Impact of Your Musical Collaborations and Experiences Andrew: Flavio Monopoli is a very imaginative producer who has worked with the likes of Orbit in Bloom with New Pornographer Todd Fancey, Sing Sing Dead Man and Sugar Candy Mountain just to name a few. How did you hook up with Flavio Monopoli, and talk about the influence that his vast experience as a producer within the music industry (from Montreal, Vancouver to Toronto) has had on your Debut EP and ultimately the creative development of your promising musical talent? Latté: I met Flavio thru my cousin, (punk/metal artist), Ani Kyd. They used to be a duo act in Vancouver with Flavio on percussion and Ani singing and playing guitar. Flav has been instrumental to my success; he’s largely responsible for my signature sound. Without him I might be doing typical boom bap rap, singing R&B, (likely very cheesy R&B), and I don’t think my talent would have shone through in the same way, in a way that really excites me and captures some people. I probably wouldn’t have discovered how much I love and basically need to work with instrumentalists and perform with a live band and that has really brought something amazing out of me. I’ve also learned so much about the industry and even a little necessary music theory. He has continually been a knowledgeable resource for significant contacts and important information regarding music industry practises. Flavio continues to show his dedication to the success of our EP by offering advice on how to glean further success and by actively promoting & supporting my material and artistry. Andrew: A lead vocalist is only as good as her talented band members who collectively produce live pulsating, thunderous instrumentals that work to provide you with the foundation that bolsters your distinct, quick-witted fierce delivery of moving lyrics. So talk about the other two members that complete “Sweet Bitch”; namely Alex on Guitar and Justin on the Bass. Latté: Alex has been the only constant! He’s been on guitar the entire past year that Sweet Bitch has existed. I like the way he plays; Alex is extremely creative and likes to experiment with a lot of different sounds. There are always several peddles on stage with him. Based on some of the solos he’s come up with, I know he’ll be involved in the guitar work on my next album. Justin is actually fairly new to the group. He’s only played the past two shows. Thus far, a great all around bass player. He can play hard funk & rock well, picks up super fast and is good at being part of a unit. They’re stand-up, talented people to work with. Which is so important, you have to like the people in your band and feel that they are enjoying themselves, responsible and have your best interests and the interests of the band at heart. I hope they’re both able to stick around for the long haul. Andrew: Talk about the musical environment that you consciously chose to immerse yourself in that helped foster the development of your fundamental musical skills such as the self-examination of your strengths and individuality, creating improvisational music, and writing/performance techniques; shaping your musical competence and helping you discover your unique voice that your fans are blessed with in “So Begins the Saga”? Latté: I used to attend the “In Divine Style” nights at the Hooch (in Toronto) a great deal before and when the EP was first released. That was a great environment to be immersed in as a new artist. I learned so much by watching other artists perform, interacting with them and participating in the open mic. That’s where I met Belladonna, Shankhini, More or Les and other talents who entertain, inspire and challenge me. Lately though, it’s been a great deal of self-examination and evaluation (including the sometimes gruelling task of watching video tapings of a few of my shows. Keep in mind, I’m a bit of a perfectionist to say the least) that has really fostered my development. I’ve been making a huge effort to evaluate my music and performances to work towards getting across exactly what it is I want to get across. However, for the most part, I’ve just been working on ‘coming out of my shell’ more and letting my whole, true self come out. That seems to be what makes the most significant and mutually gratifying connection with audiences or at least the type of connection I want to make. When “you” really shine through and are honest and sincere with people and are genuinely enjoying yourself on stage while still putting in the effort to make it a stellar performance, I think people can feel that. Andrew: How did the idea of Vanilla Queen Entertainment come to fruition, and what do you hope to accomplish through its creation? Latté: Actually, it was Flavio who said I should have my own company for the purpose of selling albums, publishing and any other business ventures I may pursue. I just thought it was cute and catchy and it does personify a certain element of my image being Caucasian and admittedly having at least a smidge of drama queen/diva. I hope to organize and promote more events and parties under Vanilla Queen Entertainment and to get a street team on board. Vanilla Queen is also a way to keep the business separate from Latté the individual, the citizen when I do anything related to my music as a ‘product’, Vanilla Queen is the “transfer agent”, so to speak. Andrew: With the emergence of Online Independent Music Labels such as Magnatunes that are capable of selling there own music online, and can market/promote music primarily through the internet medium via the assistance of the burgeoning online communication networks such as myspace.com, do you think that the major record labels in the world will eventually cease to be the gatekeepers to musicians seeking lucrative sales and worldwide acclaim? Latté: YES!
I hope so anyway. I've actually been thinking about that lately
with regards to my own potential success. It would be the ultimate
situation to avoid a major label and still have a lucrative, international
career. It may just be feasible in the future; but it will obviously
still take money, time and marketing. Metaphysical Questions Andrew: Do you believe that exceptional musical talent (as oppose to musical skills and techniques) is something that some people are born with, or is it something that could be nurtured through education and years of training? Latté: A little of column A, little of column B. I think you absolutely have to have natural born talent. Some people are just born with “that something” that makes them innately good entertainers; it’s genetic like most things. But, obviously an individual’s environment, education, training, development and the nurturance of that raw talent is crucial. I did not really grow up in a situation where I was fostered to think, “I could be an entertainer” or that it could become a huge part of who I am. It happened pretty late for me. Raw talent can be shaped in so many ways; who you encounter is critical as well. As I said earlier, without the chance meeting with Flavio, the music I’ve released and will release may have taken a very different form. At its purest, it’s still my lyrics and melodies but collaborations take things in different directions. Had I not started out working with Flavio, my musical path would be completely different. And, I’m sure others I meet along the way and my own internal evolution will continue to take me down many roads of experience which all shape the way my raw talent is presented. Andrew: Where does your inspiration to write your songs come from? Latté: Life. This will be a short answer (for me, haha). I’ll expound a bit though. My life, the lives of those around me, the lives of people I don’t know and only hear about, lives I can imagine. People inspire me, situations whether they be in my living room or on the other side of the world. Technology, industry, society, politics, human kindness and human suffering…all of it. Andrew: I like all of the songs from your Debut EP “So Begins the Saga” but my favourite song is “Rich Bitch” (in particular the 2nd verse) because as I said in the introduction for you it embodies the idea that the journey that you decide to take in life is just as important as the destination, since the former works to define you and ultimately reveals your willingness not to compromise your values, beliefs and convictions. Latté: Thank you. I’m so glad you “get” that
track; a lot of people think I’m just being silly. Yeah,
that song is really about not losing who you are and about realizing
that who you actually are might be better than who you or anyone
else thinks you should be. Straight up, Andrew, I’m already
a “bitch” in some ways and that can be a very powerful
thing if used in the right way; if you know what I mean when I
use the term. I believe being a rich one wouldn’t change
me or would only do so for the better. Andrew: How would you describe your writing process? Do you write songs for your self first & hope that others can relate & are touched as I was with “Rich Bitch”, or does the personal satisfaction you get from creating music come from creating it for others first? Latté: Sometimes, just one line, one rhyme or a simple
melody comes to me, generates a spark and I end up building an
entire song around it. I generally just write when things “come
to me”. Once in a while, I do sit at a coffee shop or on
my living room floor with a pen and pad and say to myself “ok,
this is your topic, just write” and see what happens but
for the most part it’s that tiny spark and I’m off
and running. I also sometimes write 3 sentences and then leave
it for months before adding to it and then it might just be another
3 sentences. I have a whole plastic container of little pieces
of paper with snippets of writing on them. I just write, I don’t
like to think about who’s going to like it (including myself)
or where it might end up. But there is some basic strategy for
selecting which songs get produced and will end up as tracks on
an album. Andrew: In today’s music industry where so many musicians are seeking the assistance of acclaimed music writers to help them complete a great collection of songs for their albums; tell us why it is important for you to write all of your songs? Latté: I think those artists fall into three categories: 1) great singers, rappers, musicians who can’t write or don’t feel they can write well 2) a label is imposing writers on them (generally for the sake of generating revenue) 3) people who want to be rich and famous and that’s their main goal. They want songs that will generate mass acclaim and high revenue. And, that’s not a negative thing, I’m certainly not judging. However, for me, I feel I have something to say and have developed ways to say it. I don’t create the music, only the melodies, but I do like to have creative input on the sounds that are used because I often have a vision of how the final product should sound. I’m open to suggestion though and really value the creativity of others. Andrew: What do you think of the Indie Music scene in Toronto in 2006? Is it thriving with a great pool of multi-talented musicians that have venues to perform at and adequate support from their fellow musicians, or is it overcrowded with promising talent seeking stardom and filled with a ‘every man for himself’ mentality’, or is it a bit of both? Latté: It’s a bit of both. There are some really great, open-minded venue bookers/club owners out there who appreciate and want to promote local talent and then there’s the flip side. There is a lot of talent in this city and a lot of people who want to entertain. Some of those artists are very supportive, nurturing, and want to be part of a community and an experience. They love creating and performing and want to be heard and hear others. Others are focussed on “making it” and doing whatever is necessary to get there. I’m a combination of the two. I want to be part of, I know others have great things to offer and I’m interested in being part of that but I do have to maintain a degree of self-interest and advancement. I think you can strike a gentle balance. Toronto is tough but there are some good apples at all sides of the music community. Andrew: Do you think that the use of technology within the music industry today is a double-edged sword? (Costing Record Labels billions of dollars via internet piracy from P2P file sharing software, but still empowering indie musicians by providing them with another avenue to sell their music, and market and promote themselves). Latté: Absolutely.
On a personal level, without the technology and sites like myspace,
many people would not know who I am or have heard my music at
this point. I would lose out on a great deal of exposure and
a massive, wide-spread potential fan base as well the ability
to Latté: Combo
of all three for sure, for me anyway. But each has a different
degree of importance. The attainment of musical success is a
personal thing which varies by individual. I don’t
like that others try to impose their personal definitions of success
on artists. Especially people who have little idea how difficult
it is and how slowly things move. It would be nice to have international
acclaim and be wealthy, although I think we underestimate how difficult
it can be to be a “celebrity” at times. Most people
at those levels of commercial success in the entertainment industry
are under a high level of scrutiny and pressure and privacy is
scarce. Sure, some of them have lots of money to do whatever they
want with but there are some major sacrifices I’m not sure
I want to make. The other two, reaching my own benchmarks and making
music that touches others in some way, are much more important
to me. I’ve come a long way as an artist and a person and
if I continue to challenge myself and rise to those occasions to
inspire others, I will see myself as successful regardless of how
many albums I’ve sold. What Ever Comes to Mind Andrew: I’m
going to say a few words and tell me what immediately Feminism Latté: Don’t be scared Andrew: Change Latté: Evolution Andrew: Hood Latté: Take me back Andrew: The Journey Latté: Enjoy Andrew: Rich Bitch Latté: Nicole Ritchie Andrew: The Destination Latté: Mattering less & less Andrew: Bang On Latté: And on, and on, and on Andrew: What is your favourite word? Latté: Right Andrew: What is your least favourite word? Latté: Fees! Andrew: What is your favourite word to curse with? Latté: Phuck Andrew: What is your favourite part of the human anatomy? Latté: Ears Andrew: For all of our readers who will hear some of your songs, read the interview, and become instant fans; tell them where they can learn more about you, your band, your benefit concert and where they can purchase your past and upcoming albums. Tell everyone your website address? Latté: www.lattedkyd.com or check me out on the magical myspace machine at www.myspace.com/lattedkyd Andrew: Do you have any upcoming live performances that you want to tell our readers about? Latté: I’m playing on August 2nd (with Sweet Bitch)
at Lee’s Palace for a funk/groove night. There will likely
be a birthday show at the end of August and a date at Revival in
September. Check the sites, everything is always up-to-date! Concluding Remarks Andrew: Thank you very much Latté D Kyd for doing this interview with Pulp Magazine, and to you and Sweet Bitch for blessing the world with your truly unique, innovative and powerful music! It was truly a pleasure for us and our readers to learn more about you! We are loving all of the music from your Debut EP “So Begins the Saga” and look forward to the release of your latest album and in seeing your promising musical career reach new and exciting horizons. We wish you all of the best in your future endeavours and would love to have you back anytime. Latte: Thank you so much, Andrew. Your questions have lead to
positive introspection for me and I appreciate the support. Click below to listen to ''Hood''' by Latté
D. Kyd. Click Here to listen to the song ''Hood'' by Latté D. Kyd on the PulpFiktion Podcast) Get
more info about Latté D. Kyd. |
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