It’s no secret that Vancouver has a tremendous independent music scene. What may be a secret to some is the incredible hip-hop scene that is starting to rise to the surface in this rain-filled city of ours. AstroLogical, Panther & The Supafly, Elekwent Folk and Nick Wisdom are a few acts that seem to have their fingers on the pulse, and are constantly in the spotlight for any shows or albums coming up. With new music to listen to nearly every week, you can feel that something is changing and it is very exciting. The hip-hop scene is incredibly alive and it is not hard to see that something special is happening in Vancouver.
I got the chance to speak with Nick Wisdom about the scene, his brand new album “Nightlines” (which is outstanding!), and how he has formed relationships within the scene. Nick is an incredibly hard working individual and one of the forefathers of the entire movement and I thank him for taking the time to speak with me.
First off I want to start by saying that Nightlines is one of my favorite albums this year. I am starting to notice a definitive sound in the Vancouver hip-hop scene. How do you think musicians from the Vancouver area are effected by our surroundings? Is it all the rain?
Thanks to Adoptive Funk for doing this interview with me, and thanks for listening. It means a lot to hear that people are listening and enjoying the music that I’m making.
I think that Vancouver definitely has a certain vibe that is reflected through our music. It’s an earthy refreshed feeling. It’s like that smell in the air after it rains. I see organic, lush blue and green sounds.
Who/what are your main influences?
J Dilla, Moka Only, Luke Vibert… coffee, the weather, jazz fusion, love
Can you accredit your style to any one artist more than another?
Dilla
What was the first song you can remember that really got you into hip-hop?
There wasn’t a specific song that got me in to hip-hop… When I really got in to hip-hop? I guess would be around when I found out about Madlib.
What is your process for titling tracks, and how did the title “Nightlines” come to be?
It’s not easy for me to think of titles for tracks. I name them based on how I feel when I’m listening to the track. The name Nightlines comes from my dad, David Wisdom’s radio show from the 90s. When I was really young I remember he was always working late in to the night and I would fall asleep listening to the music he was playing downstairs. I tried to translate that nighttime vibe into my music.
What are the origins of Potatohead People?
Potatohead People is a jazzy beat-duo consisting of AstroLogical & myself that came to be Summer 2010. I had just started using the Roland MV8800. I was living in Dunbar at the time. Astro would come down to my place almost everyday to play Mario Tennis… and maybe make some beats haha… sometimes I would have drums going, maybe a sample or two… other times we would just start something fresh. We would make the beats in one go, without stopping to think about it. I would make the drums and chop samples. He would lay keys down. I did the arranging. Each song is a reflection of what we were both feeling at that moment. You can’t make beats with just anybody but it was easy to connect with Astro. We made a handful of tracks that summer including City Life, which is one of my personal favourites. In spring 2011 we put out an 8-track EP, ‘Tomatos’ for free download on Jellyfish Recordings.
What is it like working with Moka Only and how did your friendship come to be?
I got to know Moka through a series of record dig flash mobs. We would meet up on main at gene, grab coffee and hit up all the different record spots up the street. Sometimes we would hit the beach. In December 2010 I threw a Vantastic show in Victoria and I got Moka on the bill. My roommate actually drove him to Victoria in his crappy (sorry Charlie) 90 something Cavalier packed alongside HeadSPace, his girlfriend and Sub Antix. I wasn’t sure if they were going to make it.
Watching Moka work is crazy, I went over to his place with two coffees. He loaded the beat up on to his VS and grabbed a pen and pad. I just kicked it in his studio while he wrote his verses front to back. We were just smoking and chilling. It took him about 15 minutes. Then he flipped the mic on, recorded, effected and mixed down. Done. Bounced to WAV and sent it to my email. He said he felt like a lot of rappers don’t get to experience that. He doesn’t write verses over a period of days or weeks. He just does what comes in the moment. No Edit.
Do you prefer to work alone or with collaborators?
I love working with singers and rappers!
Hit me up at nickwisdom.music@gmail.com
What is your typical process for finding samples?
I think it’s important to always be searching for new samples. You need this for inspiration. I try not to dwell on the same samples for too long… Usually I will make drums then put a record on and just listen. Find some chords I like. Record. Chop. Find some more stuff from another record. Chop that up and put it over top. Something like that..
Is there a certain decade or era you tend to focus on?
1970s jazz fusion prog rock stuff mostly. That’s just what I like. The way bands were recordings back then and the instruments and sounds that they used. I love the Rhodes.
What genre makes for the best samples in your mind? A lot of producers would of course say “jazz”.
Jazz/Rock Fusion
If you could work with any artist living or passed on who would it be?
Uh… Moka Only. He is my favourite rapper.
What albums are getting a lot of play time with you?
Rhythm – Luke Vibert
Fantastic Vol. 2 – Slum Village
Airport – Moka Only
F O R M – AFTA-1
Polynesian Dream – AstroLogical
Science Within Reason – B. Lewis
The Mesektet – fLako
Spirit of the Sun – Kyoto Jazz Massive
Three Piece Puzzle – Jniero Jarel
Two albums that I’m really looking forward to listening to are the J Dilla album ‘Rebirth of Detroit’ and the Moka/Chief album ‘Crickets.’
What is your favorite track off of Nightlines?
My favourite track is always changing. Right now? Ghostfloor, a beat I made awhile back and then dug up a couple days before the release.
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Anyone you would like to shout out or recommend?
Yeah sure…some dope Vancouver artists you should know:
AstroLogical, HeadSPace, TightMike, Jolin Ras, Elekwent Folk, Panther & The Supafly, Indigo Kids, Ashleigh Eymann & Claire Mortifee.
