Fatso Skinny

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Fatso Skinny

21 January 2011

Photo by Malachi Lee

Fatso Skinny sits down with Wheat City for an exclusive interview discussing his journeys through music. “I believe I create mood music & with that come several different messages.” -Fatso Skinny

INTERVIEW

What’s good Mr. Fatso?
This moment right here & right now my good sir, how about it!

Okay, let’s get to the “Skinny” of what your all about…so, in your own words, who is Fatso Skinny?
Well that’s the best part of the movie isn’t it, lol…maybe we’ll both find out in the end.

Walk us through a “day in the life of”…
Lol, I have the most unpredictable days. Some of the common occurrences include checking emails, playing/practicing on my guitar, writing for my own projects or collabs, offering help at a home for the homeless shelter, MORE MUSIC & sometimes I eat in between all of that, lol. But it’s all relative to the day!

Growing up in the 80′s & 90′s era, what were some of the most memorable moments in the hip-hop culture that had an affect on you?
Jodeci boots, lol! I was really drawn to the free spirit of it all. Felt like there was liberty for you to be you & him or her to be them. Honesty appeared to be very prevalent in art as well as music with no burden of limiting it for brand’s sake.

How would you describe the message within the music you create? And elaborate on your freedoms to express your creativity.
I believe I create mood music & with that come several different messages. Although I agree with the belief that there is nothing new under the sun, I conceive I create music that reflects a wide range of experiences via my perspective. At this point I don’t feel any outside pressure to do things any way other than what is natural for me. As an independent artist I am very [DEPENDent] on my listener’s ear rather than the ear of some corporate machine so it is an easy flow and organic practice for me to express my creativity in any way I deem fit.

Would you consider yourself as a poet?
Figuratively so, perhaps, not to take anything away from anyone who “studies” poetry in any form…nor give myself any credit more than what may be due. Meaning, if I so happen to make the grade I do so without intention but with honor.

Through the development of your music, how do you feel it’s progressed?
Well aside from some technical growth such as vocal development & honing my abilities on instruments, I have noticed a shift in the majority of my lyric-content. Feels as if I am gaining more focus and consistency over subject matter throughout my pieces, so my individual songs make more sense from beginning to end. Or so I hope, lol.

Aside from emceeing, singing, and writing lyrics, do you produce any of your own music?
I do. I produce string arrangements with my guitar & can do the same with a piano or a keyboard. I have also produced melodies, rhythm sections; bass lines and in some cases a bit more for others and myself.

Tell us about NasJota Records and are there any other members on the label?
NasJota loosely translates to, “chaotic people” or “people making noise.” My connection with NasJota is an abstract one. It is an internationally themed company with many faces in entertainment & business. I have a personal relationship with the Founder/President of the company, which came about thru the music. Together we have made a great deal of independent-progress from beautiful music visuals to large scaled national shows and much more, including some mild international exposure thru their media resources. We have a wonderful relationship! Yes, there are several other members/artists affiliated with NasJota in varied capacities, from many different corners of this earth!

From your travels throughout New York City, the DMV area & Kansas City, how have each of these places embraced you as a person, along with your style of music?
You know, I can’t say for certain, but I do believe that each of these places harbor the most beautiful people with the most touching stories. And so generally we share common themes in our perspectives. Being that I only write and perform from my personal experience, if they relate & embrace my style of music, little do they know they have embraced me as a person and vice-versa. I live somewhere in between all of my music so if you accept one, you automatically accept the other.

Are there any artist or producers in the works for collaborations on music?
…In the works yes. An artist who is signed internationally to a major label & I have been set up by our business parties for a piece that will be released in Europe. I am not sure if that collaboration will reach the states but we’ll see. The only other artist that I have collaborated with who is signed to a major label, goes by the name of London (@Londonland). He is signed to Motown Universal Records. Aside from him, I have several features with other independent artists from all over the country. Most of those songs are available on the web. I have also worked with a few producers who have-had some major placements with artists such as Tupac, Treysongz, Cassidy, Young Buck & so forth.

Photo by Malachi Lee

From your last major show at the BB King in NY, when can we look forward to the next show?
Well I am actually headed to the UK to work on a full-length album & some smaller performances in addition to a brief excursion to Sudan for a week of similar engagements. Stateside, I don’t have plans for any performances prior to April of this year. However, if that changes my schedule can usually be followed at http://www.reverbnation.com/fatsoworld.

Moving to the UK? Can you discuss what plans you have out there & how did the opportunity present itself to you?
The opportunity pretty much presented itself thru the music. With the web, it’s not too difficult to end up on someone’s console thousands of miles from where you may call home ya know. With that said, and with the resources in place that support me, my music attracted some good folks across the pond in different vocations and other artists, media personalities, fans/supporters, etc… and so a network built itself. Even more interesting is the support I get internationally, through the sites that host my content & music here in the US. So much so that I figured if I get this type of support without even stepping foot into their homes, what may come if I do? Yea, so maybe it’s time for me to return the love!

Okay, who would you say your [Top 5], Emcees are?
Well, five emcees I don’t mind vibing to are; Kanye West, Waka Flocka Flame, Drake, Lil Wayne & Rick Ross…But that is a very conditional list mostly depending on whether or not I am listening to the car radio. 9 times out of 10, if I am listening to standard car radio, it’s on a country music station. Aside from that, my iPod is full of music from every genre of music they can label. I have tons of artists as well as emcees that I appreciate for different reasons but to mark the time period of that question, the names I mentioned previously are among some of the more dominant ones on radio now that I am exposed to.

What can we expect from this next forthcoming album or other future projects?
I have many projects in cue at different levels of production but to keep it simple I’ll share my next musical ones. I’m producing a benefit CD featuring myself & a few of my favorite indie artists set to be released digitally, only. ALL of the proceeds from that CD will go toward the shipping/administration costs of sending condoms to Africa to help combat the aids epidemic being experienced there. The other project is another EP I plan to release while I am abroad before the full-length album. The EP features me mostly singing & playing [guitar].

We thank you for taking the time out with us, anything you want to add or let the people know?
Well, I thank you for giving me the time & actually, I’d like to hear from the people…how about it?!