| Freddy
Fresh Interview by Christopher "Alleyne" Rudder |
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I was finishing up my article for the Rouse brothers when my brother Mark passed by my desk at the PulpMag office with Freddy Fresh’s contact info asking me hit him up for February’s “Journey of an Artist” column. It was a contact I believe Sherene Clark got and asked that we follow up on it. It’s not like I have 3 podcasts, features and reviews in the Hearing Aid Column, the Monthly Rind and PulpTV to worry about but what the hell. Check It!!! Freddy Fresh is among the most active and prolific American underground dance music artists, having released more than a hundred records on dozens of different labels worldwide. Born and bred in St. Paul Minnesota, Fresh's name is more often associated with the London UK scene, to which he relocated in the late '90s after having top 40 chart success with 2 of his songs. Fresh's first record label was formed in late 1992 and was called Analog Recordings. His label empire then grew to include a host of sub labels (Analog UK, Butterbeat, Electric Music Foundation and then Socket and Boriqua labels) In addition to a growing stateside audience, Fresh is also one of the few contemporary non-Detroit techno/electro musicians to have a strong European following, and his records for Experimental, Harthouse, and Martin "Biochip C" Damm's Anodyne label have strengthened his international presence. Although Freddy's release history has included tracks in just about every style from hip-hop and house to techno and trance, his roots and most consistently pursued affectation lay in electro and breaks; his records thrive on buzzing modular analog noises and resolutely dirty production techniques, resulting in a distinct, instantly recognizable brand of funky, minimal, somewhat experimental dance music.
Although Fresh grew up a gothic rock/new wave junkie, a trip to the "boogie down" Bronx in 1984 introduced him to the thriving NYC hip-hop scene. Instantly smitten, Fresh began collecting DJ tapes (Shep Pettibone, The Latin Rascals, Marley Marl, anything he could get his hands on) and, of course, records -- everything from Jonzun Crew and Newcleus to Liquid Liquid and Cerrone, Shannon and Cat Stevens -- and his collection has since grown to thousands of phonograph records(making his side gigs as a DJ a bit easier). Fresh's first work behind the boards came via Bronx legends Boogie Down Productions, with Fred remixing a track for a B-side release and from there, Freddy began piecing together a studio, collecting many of the ancient analog and modular synthesizers that give his records their distinct, almost studio-jam feel (he mixes all his tracks live and sequences with an MPC 2oooXL and an MPC 4000 and uses rare pre-midi analog synths and modular systems). In 1992, after releasing debut singles on Nu Groove and Silvo Tancredis' Experimental imprint, Fresh established his first label, Analog, to release his own tracks. The label and its offshoots have since attracted such weighty names as Thomas Heckman, Tim Taylor, Cari Lekebusch, DJ Slip, the Bassbin Twins, and Biochip C. In 1995, Fresh inked a contract with noted German techno label Harthouse, and his second full-length, Accidentally Classic, was released by the label's U.K. arm in late 1996, with a Harthouse U.S. reissue following close behind. His third album, The Last True Family Man, followed on Harthouse Eye Q and spawned 2 international chart hits along with a song featuring Fat Boy Slim. Several singles and a mix album followed until the release of his next full-length, Music for Swingers in 2001. Additionally, Fresh has released records through Wisconsin-based acid stronghold Drop Bass Network, Labworks, and noted German electro label Electrecord. Fresh also formed a collectors label specializing in 45 RPM singles called Howlin' Record in the year 2000 and has since released over 35 singles and 4 full length CD's on the Howlin' imprint with the following titles.. "Have Records Will Travel", "Outstanding In His Field", "Diggin' Up Ghosts" and "Surrounded By Funk", as well as Howlin’ Greatest Hits. Freddy has also revamped his Electric Music Foundation label for a CD only full length releases debuting with the album called "Textura" these recordings center around electronic synthesized music and electronica while the Howlin' releases are more funky breaks and party style hip hop tracks. In the year 2004 Fresh released a reference book dealing with the history of the early independent old school rap scene that catalogues every conceivable rap label from 1979 to 1989, this book has been featured in The Source, Vibe, The New York Times, Village Voice and has gone on to win journalism awards in the United States and has been recognized as the only reference book on this subject. The book is called Freddy Fresh presents The Rap Records (Nerby Publishing LLC). Currently Fresh is working on a second book dealing with his experiences as an Electronic artist and his time spent with Sony music and his ups and downs in the electronic music industry. In 2007 Fresh will be starting up a new label called Stark Raving Records which will feature conscientious hip hop by St. Paul rapper The Conductor Crucified which will of course feature Fresh's trademarked beats and production styles. Freddy Fresh: I speak fluent Spanish and lived in Colombia with my wife who is Colombian (we married in 2005) Freddy Fresh: My wife, my father and various musical producers worldwide Alleyne: At what point in your life did you know you wanted to pursue a musical career? Freddy Fresh: At age 19 when I fisrt arrived to the South Bronx from St. Paul Minnesota Alleyne: What experience do you value more and in turn get more personal satisfaction from as an artist: The creative process of making a track from the thoughts, inspirations and feelings to the writing, producing and/or recording of that song OR performing the finished track at one of your live shows and feeling/seeing the crowds positive reaction and love for your musical genius. Alleyne: Who are the musical legends that influenced you growing up, and/or affected your musical career and who are the unsigned artists you respect and love Freddy Fresh: Inspirations: Marvin gaye to The Guess Who, Pink Floyd to David Bowie and The Beatles to Yes you name it .. Unsigned artists, well maybe indy artists is a better word, Ictus, Myagi, Lord 69, The Conductor Crucified (My MC), theres a few Alleyne: Aside from me hahaha, who are some contemporary musicians you would love to have the opportunity to collaborate and work with. Freddy Fresh: I'm such a loner that I really cannot imagine working with many people. Not that I wouldn't want to its just I cannot think of anyone off the top of my head. Alleyne: 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 your musical creations. Alleyne: 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. Freddy Fresh: I sure as hell hope so. I have a love/hate relationship with major labels and have been on a major (Sony). I think the internet is the best thing for indy artists like myself. Alleyne: Nurture VS Nature...Do you think music talent, song writing, music producing, playing instruments, performing etc...is something that is learned or something that comes naturally? Freddy Fresh: For people who play keyboards it is a talent that comes easier to some than others. I cannot write songs (by traditional standards as in knowing notes and scales). Yet I seem to know my way around MPC's (Hardware sequencers) and analog and modular synthesizers. (Plus I play a bit of piano which helps a lot) Alleyne: Where do you get your inspiration to write your tracks? Freddy Fresh: From my moods. Or if I'm diggin thru old vinyl records and I find a tremendous snippet of music that I feel could be made into something magical. Alleyne: What inspired you to compile the book on Hip Hop? What was your process in putting it together Alleyne: P2P File Sharing. Do you think that with modern technology enabling us to share music is a heaven sent for indie artists or total hell for big record labels that lose millions due to illegal downloading of files? Freddy Fresh: Believe it or not Im not really that computer literate. Honestly I have never in my life downloaded a song, I have many times plugged an analog line in and taken music from Myspace artists, but I only listen to chill out music when I'm listening for myself. I think the major labels have screwed over so many artists that its time they get screwed back. The ones that are NOT screwing people are the ones hip enough to morph with the changes of modern times. And those are the labels that often time encourage downloads and free sharing of music by their artists. Alleyne: How do you define musical success? Is it a personal feeling of achievement based on goals you set out for your self? or is it “money in the bank” international stardom, fame & glory Freddy Fresh: Sucess to me is the ability to be able to pay your bills by the money made from making the music you love. Everything is relevant. I'm not a millionaire, but my payments to live out my existence does not call for millions of dollars. So I feel blessed that since 1995 I have only existed from my music. (as a full time DJ/Producer) Alleyne: For all of our readers who will hear some of your tracks, read the interview, and become instant fans; tell them where they can learn more about you, your music and your production. Tell everyone your website addresses? Freddy Fresh: www.freddyfresh.com www.myspace.com/fredfresh www.myspace.com/theconductorcrucified Alleyne: Do you have any upcoming projects, events or albums coming up that you wanna give the readers and your fans the “heads up” about Freddy Fresh: My new rap project with my son-in law The Conductor Crucified www.myspace.com/theconductorcrucified also the recent Howlin Hits Album and a new Howlin album called Surrounded By Funk scheduled for early summer this year, also a new Electric Music Foundation album called Textura out soon. Please also note that I will be performing for the Make It Funky Crew in Toronto Feb. 24th!! Fresh's music has also enjoyed commercial success with releases featured in films like Austin Powers Goldmember, Jackie Chan's Tuxedo and commercials by Adidas, Budweiser and Coors Lite etc.. Fresh also tours regularly and has DJ'd in over 34 countries and has performed for televised programs MTV Canada, Club TV, S2, House Viva TV, Club Spain etc.. and over 300 radio programs throughout the world including 2 sessions for the legendary late John Peel of famed Radio One BBC England.
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