JayeL Audio

As promised, below is the 2nd half of the Kyle Lucas interview.  Be sure to check out all of the mixtapes mentioned.  They are all free and worth multiple listens.  Also, pick up Vonnegutt‘s The Vice Nine EP.  Its not exactly new, but it is great (especially “Bright Eyes” and “On My Side”) and should tide you over until the debut album drops.  The soon-to-be released first single, “Here We Go Again” will be ringing in your ears long after your first listen.  I heard it live (amazing!), without Big Boi, so it can’t wait for the final version.

8. You were just featured on the New Classics mixtape, how did that appearance come about?
That’s actually a funny story. I was hoping I got the invite but that never happened, which is understandable, I got a lot to prove and I’m a new cat in the game as far as notoriety. I just entered the contest like every other emcee. I had a conversation with Billy Hume about it the other day. I could have been stubborn and said “shit, I have a record deal, they should have asked me to be on it or I don’t’ want to be a part of it.” But that’s not how I am. I’m hungry, so I kind of had to bully my way on to the tape and enter the contest like every other emcee. I’m just happy to be included in any way, shape or form. There are no rules in this game and no room for being stuck up on any note. You have to be humble and grateful for every chance you get, work hard and take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way. Shouts to Cook Classics, Tunji and Mario over at Vimby.com as well, they have showed me a lot of love! And Cook killed the production on that tape, it’s incredible!

9. What was the process like getting signed to Purple Ribbon? Where did that relationship start?
Getting signed to Purple Ribbon was a dream come true. A lot of people don’t’ know this, but we had the contract on the table before we ever did a show. Even before we had a full band, it was just me and Neil. And just the fact that Big Boi wanted to sign us off the strength alone, no buzz or cd sales or touring or anything, he just really, really believed in the music. That means a lot to us, there are no gimmicks involved here, just good music. The relationship started way before me and Neil had a band, just when Neil was doing studio work up there at Stankonia, Ga (Big Boi’s studio) and working with various producers up there. Then we started demoing out material with the producers Royal Flush (producers of Big Boi’s Grammy nominated single “Royal Flush”) and it just snowballed after that. I’m just happy to be here man. It kinda blows my mind when you think about the amount of bands and rappers in my city alone and Big Boi believed enough in us to give us a deal. It’s an amazing feeling.

10. What is the best advice you’ve been given by Big Boi or anyone you’ve encountered in the industry?
Big Boi told me to never dumb shit down. I have a line on my new mixtape called “They think I’ve gone soft with this pop shit/but Big Boi told me not to dumb it down, still pop shit.” Which is basically me just saying “yea, the band and I make catchy ass music, pop music if you will, but I’ve never dumb shit down.” I’m going to always come hard lyrically or at least to the best of my abilities. I do pride myself in my lyrics and my flow and I’m always going to be progressing that aspect of my music. Which is, when you think about it, is the same genius in Outkast. They make pop music come to them. They do such original, off the wall music and the mainstream shifts to them. Like “Hey Ya” or Bombs Over Bagdad”. Some other good advice I got is from producer Billy Hume who told to do as much as possible. So I’ve have been doing a lot of writing, a lot of guest features, working on Vonnegutt songs and cranking out these mixtapes songs as well. I’m just really trying to do as much as possible and build the biggest buzz I possibly can.

11. Who are 5 artists/producers you’d like to work with?
I would love to do a song with Claudio from Coheed and Cambria. I think his lyrics and melodies are insane. They are one of, if not, my favorite band(s) and I’m always blown away by his song writing. I think that would be very dope to do a song with him. Patrick from Fall Out Boy is an incredible singer and working with him would be ill. The production work he’s done on The Cab’s album, Lupe’s album and Gym Class Heroes albums has been phenomenal. Umm…other then that I want to do a song with Joe Budden. Producer wise I’d like to work with 9th Wonder and Timbaland. I think that would be incredible. Oh, and I want to rap on a remix of one of Panic! At The Disco’s songs. Is that still 5? Ha-ha I think it’s 6. Fuck it! Ha-ha.

12. What should fans know about your self-run label, Bayside High? Bayside High is just a mini imprint I’ve started to put out music by people I’ve worked with forever, people that I believe in and music I believe it. We are taking baby steps as of now, with the first step being releasing my boy Syd Vicious ep. I just wanted to plant the seed now, so when I’m in my 30’s or so I can focus fully on running a label. I feel that I would be a very good label rep and I just wanted to start working on that now. Why wait till I’m older? So definitely look out for Syd Vicious, he is, by far, the illest unsigned emcee in Atlanta. It’s amazing how dope he is and I just kind of wanted people to hear him. It’s going to be produced by Simon Illa.

13. You have a great stage presence and bring a lot of energy when performing, what’s the best way to get ready for a show? What are the next tour plans?
Well I’m super stoked you dig the show! And I’m glad you think we are dope live. That is one of the aspects that we have been working really hard at, as far as what we are trying to improve. When I get ready for a show, it usually consists of me pacing around a lot and trying not to throw up. Ha-ha. I’m always super nervous. But every show we’ve done has been ten folds better the last so I think that’s a positive thing. Vonnegutt is really working on our debut album and securing a major label. That’s the immediate goal for 2009. We really want to tour, so we are planning on doing some touring this year as well. We have some things lined up, some big things, but I don’t’ want to say it cause if it doesn’t happen I will look like an asshole. Ha-ha. But definitely plan on seeing us do a promo run with Big Boi for sure when his album drops. But we have some other things in the works right now.

14. The mixtapes have been obvious hits, when can we expect a proper solo debut and/or a Vonnegutt album?
A solo debut will probably come later. Right now the focus is the Vonnegutt debut album and my next mixtape; It’s Always Sunny In Marietta. With Vonnegutt, it’s a lot of collaborating, writing, re-writing, etc. It’s a band so there are more people involved. The mixtapes are normally just me as far as writing goes. I’m very pleased, almost shocked with the amount of exposure/press my last mixtape got. But its dope because it’s another avenue to be able to give the fans free music and at the same time promote Vonnegutt. Mixtapes are also extremely fun to make. There are no rules. And that’s kind of the mindset me and producer Simon illa (who heads up the majority of producing/mixing/recording) go into each one with. It’s Always Sunny in Marietta coming soon!!!

15. Is there anything people who aren’t familiar with your work should know? Why should they be checking for Kyle Lucas?
I would tell them to definitely download my two mixtapes Kyle Lucas is My Favorite and Kyle Lucas is Still My Favorite on my MySpace. They’re Free! Also look out for my band, Vonnegutt. I also, have a new mixtape, It’s Always Sunny in Marietta dropping soon. Ive got production work from Simon Illa, MW, Captain Midnite, and Keeynote. Features consist of Keiry Valdez, Sean Falyon, Donny Goines, Jon Hope, A Hott Mess and more. I’m also going to be going up to Seattle to collaborate with Captain Midnite on a joint EP in early June. That should be fun. Neil from Vonnegutt has a free ep out as well the A Tone Ep, as well as another mixtape/ep dropping very soon. So definitely a lot of free music coming out! Vonnegutt should be dropping our first single “Here We Go Again (Repeat Offender)” ft. Big Boi on iTunes very very very soon!

Kyle Lucas – Doin’ Time 2008

Kyle Lucas – Always Be There ft Ben Grant

Vonnegutt – Shaky Love

Kyle Lucas – The Adventures of Kyle Lucas & Capt. Midnite ft Capt. Midnite

Thanks again Kyle for taking the time.  I certainly appreciate all the new readers who stopped by (and hopefully will come back!).

If you’ve checked out this site over the past 4 months, you’ve noticed I’m a huge Kyle Lucas fan.  His solo work and rhyming in Vonnegutt have made him a creative force to be reckoned with in 2009 and beyond.  After checking out his performance with Vonnegutt last month and some pestering, Kyle was more than gracious in following up with my request: a Q & A.

What Kyle sent back was more than informative.  If you haven’t checked out his music before, now you don’t have any excuses.  I’m very pleased to announce the very first Q & A on this site, with Kyle Lucas!

1. When did you know realize you wanted to make music?
I realized i wanted to make music when I was probably in 3rd or 4th grade. I loved hip hop music, along with other genres of course but i remember seeing the videos for Puffy and Mase in “Can’t Hold Me Down” and Biggie “Hypnotize” and being blown away. I remember hearing “Me & You (Elevators)” by Outkast on the radio driving around with my mom and then started writing rhymes after that. I also loved Boyz II Men, ha-ha, if I could sing I probably would, but i can’t hold a note to save my life!

2. Its easy for fans to forget that you’re in college, is it tough balancing the demands of crafting music and taking classes?
Yea it definitely is difficult doing both, I’d be lying if I said it was easy. But it’s very important for me to have my college degree. I don’t have that long left, but I’m also not going full time, I’m just slowly chipping away at my degree. I might have to take a short hiatus after this semester; it really is just getting to very hectic. And we haven’t started touring, which has made it easier for me to attend classes, once we start touring I’m assuming I’ll have to stop going. Although, when we did warped tour in Atlanta this summer I had a conversation with Matt from Gym Class Heroes who is taking online classes. So I might have to give that some thought. I’m almost there; I need to just knock this degree out though!

3. Whether you’re freestyling over punk/rap tracks or creating your own hip-hop or rock tracks with Vonnegutt, your style is very versatile. Is there a genre you prefer making music in? Has your taste changed over the years?
Umm, yea i would definitely say my taste has evolved over the years. But to give myself credit, i have always been a versatile music fan. I grew up in Marietta just being a skateboard kid who bumped Outkast, Dr. Dre and Jay-z as well as Sublime, Blink-182 and Weezer. So I’ve always been all over the map as far as music. I definitely prefer making hip-hop records, and I pride myself in the art of emceeing and rhyming. But if I could sing I’m sure I would be singing as well. I’ve dabbled in a little auto-tune stuff for the new mixtape, I know it’s really really played out but sometimes i want to sing. So you know, I might give it a shot. Ha-ha. That’s probably the only music fad that I’ve dug and really kind of wanted to dabble in.

4. You are very accessible to fans by using Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and selling concert tickets personally. How important is building those fan relationships to you?
That’s very, very important to me. I try to answer all the messages, emails, aim’s and even text’s people send me. My music is so personal and when people connect to it for whatever reason, it means the world to me and I just have to let them know that the support is everything to me. I also want to be the artist that is approachable. I always want to be that.

5. Many of your songs deal with past relationships, drug experimentation and general anxiety that is engaging and seems earnest. Are these experiences you’ve had personally? Is music your way of coping and getting through those situations?
Yea my songs are definitely therapy for me. Their how I cope with everything I go through. I have my problems, like any human, and I just deal with them through writing. I definitely pride myself in being honest. I feel that the consumer can see through an artist, so I just try to be myself as much as possible and be as honest as possible. And From what i hear from the fans, i feel they appreciate it as well. I show vulnerability in my music. I’m not some super hero rapper who is invincible. That’s not me. I have my problems and i just want people to appreciate the art form I use to express it.

6. What artists/albums have you been enjoying lately?
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Coheed & Cambria and Fall Out Boy. For some reason I’ve been stuck on Fall Out Boy’s latest record and their first one. I’ve been bumping Drake’s new mixtape hard! I’m glad he’s finally getting the support he deserves, I’ve been a fan for a minute and I’m glad he’s finally getting the recognition. Joe Budden is always on rotation. Of course, I always have a lot of Outkast playing as well as most of Dungeon Family projects as well. Kanye West is a genius to me, so I’m bumping 808′s a lot. P.O.S.’s new record is incredible. Umm…

7. There seems to be a new movement in hip-hop recently. Artists are stretching the boundaries of what is classically “hip-hop”. From Kanye (808′s & Heartbreak) & Lil’ Wayne’s (Rebrith) albums to new artists like Wale, B.o.B., Asher Roth and KiD CuDi. How do you stand out among the new generation of hip-hop artists?

Hopefully I’m considered to be one of these new emcees who is pushing the boundaries. When I do a mixtape, I rarely just jack an industry beat or a beat that’s a hit on the radio and rap on it. When I do a mixtape I almost want it to be like an album, I think I set the bar with my last one as far as experimentation on what kind of songs to rap over and the art of sampling and rapping over “non-rap” songs. That’s kind of been my calling card as far as mixtapes; I really do want to make them like albums.
Kyle Lucas – Breathing In A Smoggy City (produced by Cookin’ Classics)

Vonnegutt – Ex Girlfriends Are Stupid

Kyle Lucas – Silence

Go to Kyle Lucas’ myspace for more info and free mixtapes.

Check back for Part 2 later this week!

Thanks to Laura, Andrew & Jenny for all the help!