The Inner City's Cliche

peace King, could you enlighten our viewers with a little background knowledge on you? ∂eƒ: I was born at Inglewood hospital, a dreamer in a world trying 2 wake you up 2 their idea of reality. I’m an artist, thee finest form of rebellion.

Where did the name Def Sound originate from & does it have any
correlation to how you feel when making tunes ?
∂eƒ: Thee name is a mission statement 2 thee world. Being that ∂eƒ sound is short for definitive sound. A definitive sound is one that is unique, of itself defined, and undefinable all @ once. Thee music I choose 2 be a vessel for is exactly that.

you’ve given a title to your sound, you call it “trillwave” what’s the
meaning behind that? *if it has one*
∂eƒ: See, wait….. This name “trillwave” was created by a friend of mine Westside Ty thee beeper King… I can’t take credit for his creativity. It’s a genre of people not music. It’s true, its real, its a new wave… You either get your boogie boards out and catch thee wave or be drowned.

How would you describe your sound?
∂eƒ: My sound is a child drawing something he has never seen before, so excited he never finishes it..

What’s the concept behind “oooooH!thee.bitchtape.” ?
∂eƒ: It’s a title that catches thee ear and eye. Thee bitchtape was me letting go, not taking myself too seriously. Thee day you take yourself too seriously you become a joke. It was me releasing myself from expectations. It’s me in my freest form.

What was your creative process for that project like?
∂eƒ: It was me having my “åny†hing.” album held hostage and tired of waiting, writing down everything I felt in a coffee shop, and going to my car and recording it all in a weekend. Hoping it all makes sense 2 someone else out there later. When I’m not creating I’m waiting. I was tired so I freed myself from my own expectations and said look world I got better!! My work ethic has yet 2 meet my product so I thought this would help subtract some distance while thee rest of my believer wait on thee album.

What did you draw inspiration from when you were creating “Something.” ?
∂eƒ: Something was me transitioning from poet 2 instrument. I drew from A LOT @ that time. I was way less focused maybe more ambitious though. Every idea I had at thee time came out on that back in 2007. That album was all recorded and mixed in a USC dorm room. Every album you hear from me is me doing my best @ that moment 2 make a memory. With that being said I hardly remember anything but thinking this is thee best sh*t I have ever made hahaha.

what exactly is pronounced love? we know the basis of it but never
really discovered the whole meaning behind it.
∂eƒ: Pronounced Love or ▲❍▼❏ as it is seen on most social networks is thee creation of a friend no, rather a 22 year old brother of mine Imani Waddy. It is really just a symbol or mantra he put together in order 2 spread this idea 2 thee rest of thee world via visual art, music, fashion, and anything else you can think of. Love is thee most powerful thing given to us on this earth by thee creator.There is no ownership just love. Love is…………

If you couldn’t make music/art what would you be doing?
∂eƒ: Why would that never be a possible possibility?

what is it like working with Nikko Gray on “Everything Goes Our Way” ?
seems like your vibes fit perfectly together, do you guys have
anything planned for 2012 project wise?
∂eƒ: That song is very special to me being that it is a cover song from my favorite band “Metronomy”. That was thee song I had on repeat most on my first tour with J*Davey and Blu. It was so sincere, catchy, short and sweet and RC recreated a more spacey sultry canvas 4 us 2 paint on. I love remixes or recreations that make you forget there was an original song there. That was thee only song we recorded together in thee same room for our already completed project “Λ O V _.Shaped.▲❍▼❏.Sounds.” I would like 2 make that album a UK release sometime this spring or summer. Everything else we did via email, it all happened quite naturally and organically. She is an instrument. ▲❍▼❏.

if you can pick 3 things, whether it be inanimate object, or whatever
to make up your vibe what would it be
∂eƒ: Thee color cerulean, laughter, and a Gondry film.

what keeps you humble ?
∂eƒ:Humble math… Its a concept I created years ago that really is thee idea that as many people that love what I do as hate it, add both those people up multiply that by 10,000 and those are how many people that don’t care about art as a whole but just live their lives, solve for x and carry thee 1 and then multiply that 100,000 and those are thee people that just dont know about me yet but are open and all that tells me is that there is sooooo much work to do. Don’t let thee instant gratification of thee internet fool you.

What was the first song you ever wrote like?
∂eƒ: Hmmmmm I dont ever remember to be honest with you I wish I did. Good question. I have written over 200 songs just in 2011. I would say ummmmm one of thee first songs I remember was a song called “L.O.V.E.” (Live Once Value Everything.) great idea. BAD song.

how do you pick the perfect beat for your songs? is the process hard?
if so explain to us how.
∂eƒ: Every beat is a feeling. It has to speak to me. Literally. I try to say everything thee beat has told me 2. I usually like to be present and have a hand in thee creating of each track I perform on. It is like cooking, my mom is a vegan chef btw, but in order to eat this grand dish I would like to know thee ingredients so I can really help thee listener digest all of it properly.

who produces most of your tunes?
∂eƒ: Most of my music is produced by one of my best friends RC. He was thee first to take a chance on my sound and give me beats, we have a lot of chemistry (he produced (A)Gain, and ooooH! thee.intro.) He has thee most styles of production from any producer I have EVER heard. His nickname used to be “Mr. Ten beats a day….He can’t keep it to himself” . I just try 2 keep up with that dude. I also work quite often with Brook D’Leau of J*Davey, he is thee most experimental and overwhelmingly awesome producer I have worked with. Our first session was me @ my most nervous because his beats were such monsters! Thee newest producer I have been working with is a kid by thee name of Zack Sekoff he is one of thee most passionate artists I have ever met with potential to exceed the sky.

How would you say you have improved or grown as an artist mentally?
∂eƒ: I stopped trying to be better than thee beat. Instead I am just meeting thee beat half way and becoming more of an instrument. Less filter more awesome.

what is it like working with J*DaVeY ?
∂eƒ: Man, you lose track of time. It’s inspiring to be in a room with Jack and Brook and no one is afraid of anything. They are open 2 try anything as long as thee track is dope. Most times Brook is sketching and we are just trying 2 capture what thee beat is tapping on our shoulder whispering to say. There is something special about that addic.

Your style is ART, how do you go about picking your outfits for the
day?
∂eƒ: Thank you.. On the humble I get dressed to music and try to match that. My favorite pattern is plaid.

The video for (A)gain is amazing! what was your thought process like
when shooting for that video?
∂eƒ:Well thee idea for thee video came from an insanely dope director and friend Adam Tillman-Young and it wasn’t much of a thought process while shooting it was just focusing for about 15 hours on getting every movement on thee marker right. I’m just glad thee idea came out beyond anything I thought it would.

when did you come up with “ex.Ternal.sin.Shine.”? in the studio, your
room, kitchen?
∂eƒ: I was in Chicago writing music with a friend Aja Monet staying in Saul Williams old home. That place was pure magic. It was a night after thee studio and I knew I needed to vent. I watched the sun rise and recorded it in a bathroom. That was thee first time I really was able 2 tap into speaking on my last break up. It had been about a year and my pen couldn’t address it till that day. That is a song I wish my ex could hear maybe she would better understand me.

Whats the process your mind goes through when envisioning how you want
your video, tunes and or photo to be taken, recorded , or edited ?
∂eƒ: I always have a vision for every song. I am inspired visually so I try to bring that into thee music then reproject that idea into thee video. I try to surround myself with people I believe in and believe in me so I trust their vision as well. What you are witnessing is me without a budget right now. Remember that.

You are a true inspiration to a lot of folk, including the whole
rauttenculture team, what do you have to say to upcoming artist &
musicians who lack motivation?
∂eƒ: Thee secret ingredient is passion. Find that and you’ll find you.

any last words King?
∂eƒ: Build your ∆.
▲❍▼❏.

-∂eƒ