INTERVIEW

Mad Lung - My musical inspirations have always been my life experiences...

Mad Lung-My musical inspirations have always been my life experiences...
If you don’t mind I would like to start our conversation by asking you about your last album, entitled "Word On Tha Street" which was released on September of 2012. Without a doubt, is a very personal and important project for you. Tell me, how would you describe this CD? How does it differ from your previous productions?

I don’t mind at all. Let me first off express my appreciation to you and the NetFan.pl family for your interest in my music and blessing me with this interview. To answer your question, WOTS is a glimpse into my world, my life, and my journeys. It’s different in the fact that it was entirely self produced.

"Word On Tha Street" is a combination of two music genres - rap and r&b. You're also a producer of all the material contained on this CD. You're definitely a very talented artist. Tell me, where did the idea for the recording of this album come from? What is your message addressed to the potential listeners of your new album?

You know Kamil I like to let things create themselves; Keep it organic. So I didn’t start out recording the album with any one idea in mind. Rather I recorded music when inspiration came to me. At the times these songs were recorded there was some serious life going on for me to draw from, the name of the album itself was snatched from one of my bars off the track “Turn It Up. My message is; what you see is what you get. So I would tell potential listeners and fans to get the CD album or downloadable version on your favorite media device & just press play… I got you!

The first single from this album is the song called "That's Life". As you admit it is a portrait of your home town - California, seen through your eyes. I wonder how much this image is different from the one we see on TV? Well, you were born in Vallejo, the largest city in Solano County in California, ranked in the 6th place of Forbes Most Miserable Cities of 2013. I guess it wasn’t easy to grow up in this place, am I right?

I’ll put it like this; Depends on what you’re watching, not everybody out here living like the Kardashians. That’s that Hollywood ‘ish. What I will say is; come to California if you want ‘a test your hustle or learn to eat. Vallejo, yes that’s true I was born there but after my parents’ divorce I was all over and in between the bay area and the San Joaquin valley. It’s wasn’t easy by no means real talk better than some, worst than others ya know…

How do you remember your childhood? The times when you first became interested in rap music? What were your musical inspirations?

As a child I was surrounded by music of all types, to many artists’ to name. I was about twelve when Rap first grabbed my attention. Artists like Eric B & Rakim, KRS-One, EPMD, Too Short had my ear. My musical inspirations have always been my life experiences.

In 2008, you have founded your own record label called Yesyal Records. Could you tell us more about this project? Why did you decide to invoke it to life?

Invoke it to life… I like that. Kamil; I’ve learn some hard lessons in my music journey, and from these lesson’s it became apparent to me that starting a label was a step in the right direction for my music, I decided to build my own platform from which to jump into the game.

Well, I asked you about your record label because I wonder how do you perceive today's Californian rap scene? In the past you worked with many Californian rappers, like Messy Marv or Luni Coleone. How would you rate rap music in your home town from the perspective of these past years?

I perceive it to be alive and well…I mean from the Bay to LA. Cali got artists that continue to be game changers... and new arrivals, I mean look at the homie Kendrick Lamar, he’s killing it right now. You can always count on Dr. Dre to bring good music and artists to the fore front. Oh and Tyler, The Creator the dude is a beast. The Bay isn’t running short on dope emcees either. I say California will continue to do as it’s has always done and that’s give birth to great artists and their music.

I recall the words of the legendary rapper KRS-One, who once said: "love yourself and your expression, you can’t go wrong". I wonder do you agree with these words? I mean, what is your greatest motivation - the reason for which you have devoted your life to music? It may sound corny, but do you really "love yourself", do you live in harmony with your inner self, or is it the form of therapy, music is a form of cleaning your soul?

No that’s not corny, it’s a good question. I do agree with KRS-One, and to be completely honest there was a long period in my life where I didn’t. It's took a whole a lot living to get me where I ‘am today. I believe that the birth of my first born in 2000 was my starting point; he gave a reason to live and go harder. Therapy yes of course, for me like most artists of any creative form, our outlets are or do become our way to release, cleanse out our souls as you mentioned.

I wonder what would you say to those who have never had the chance to listen to your music? How would you describe your style, describe yourself as an artist? Well, I would use the word "honest" ...

My style, I’d say universal. Who I ‘am as an artist, you used the word “Honest” I’ll second that. I do call it, like I see it. I would say conscious & relatable.

What are your plans for the coming months? Are you working on your new album?

I’m currently in the process of filming the video to my single “That's Life”. Which I look forward to sharing with you here soon. My plans for the months ahead are to continue pushing the album. So start checking for ya folks on internet radio sites like Pandora, Slacker, iHeartRadio.com etc. and make sure to add some Mad Lung to your playlist! Yes; I’m in fact currently working on a new project, which remains name less at this point…like I said; Keeping it organic. But it’s got some bangin joints on it already. I teamed up with the Track Pro’s to produce the first two singles, and their fire! So stay tuned in.

At the end, please tell me, can you imagine life without music? What is its role in your daily life?

Nah, life without music I can’t do it... That would be like losing all of my senses. Music plays a big part in my daily life, I didn’t choose music, it chose me. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t have some type of beat running through my head or idea for a song or a hook. Music’s is my gift, and feel blessed to share it.

Thank you very much for you time. It was a great pleasure for me. I wish you good health and many future successes. Thanks again.

Thank you…I appreciate the opportunity of connecting with you, your readers & fellow avid music loves. Thanks for listening!

Journalist: Kamil Mroziński
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