Did a fun interview with Slick Shoota. Found him through Mosca’s “Following” section on Soundcloud, guys got fine taste. We talk about his recently released “Percussion Skank” EP on Mad Decent Jeffree’s (download for free here), his favorite juke phrases and how he dances to these high energy trax. Also, grab his previously released 8 Bit Beauty EP on Loose Squares..
DD Welcome to Disco Droppings Slick Shoota. How are you doing?
SS Thank you, this sure is a lovely place you got here! I’m doing quite well, just sitting in the studio trying to finish some tracks you know!
DD Your track “Rasta” was played recently on BBC Radio 1’s “Diplo & Friends” show. This is a part of your “Percussion Skank” EP released on Mad Decent Jeffrees on 4.26.12. I think it’s rad! How do you feel being a part of this sub label for up and coming talent? Who came up with the artwork?
SS I’m super excited about the Percussion Skank EP. I think Mad Decent are being very clever when pushing their releases as 192kbps free downloads. This means they easily can spread the music to their huge fanbase. They also got a monthly subscription you can sign up to where you’ll get all the Jeffree’s releases upfront in wav/320, as well as other exclusives. For me as an artist this results in great exposure, so I’m really happy with that.
The whole EP came about when Paul Devro messaged me and asked me if I wanted to release some music with them. He does most of the Jeffree’s business, and he also does the artwork. The process was a pretty short but hilarious e-mail exchange, where he had a million ideas. At one point he wanted to put a real picture of me naked, drinking 40 oz beers, but I was like naah, put a dolphin in there instead, haha. I’m pretty happy with it, i like having a cartoonish vibe on my artworks, it’s just fun and nothing too serious, just the way I like it.
DD Juke is so fun for me to listen to. It’s hilarious and infinitely entertaining to hear phrases like “everywhere I go, I see the same ho” and “bitch I ain’t your boyfriend, bitch I ain’t your man, bitch I ain’t your boyfriend cant you understand” (I was just listening to DJ Assault) over and over again. Any phrases you especially love hearing/working with?
SS Yeah man I just love it when you hear a big new tune with some crazy lyrics in them, can’t help but brock out and smile at the same time.
Three outrageous favorites include..
1. “I beat the pussy up” DJ Pillsbury – Can’t Get Enough
2. “Shawty off the chain mane” and “she thick as hell” DJ Spinn & DJ Rashad – Shawty Off The Chain
3. “I love it when you blow me bitch” EQ Why – Suck My Dick
DD In that Scratcha DVA Rinse.fm bit on your soundcloud, I laughed a lot. Really fun guy. He mentions not being sure how to dance to juke. There isn’t a specific way, but do you usually bounce around frantically to the beat, or dance at half tempo?
SS I love that clip as well, I was a regular listener to his Grimey Breakfast show as he really is hilarious. He’s also a great dj and producer, so having him supporting my tracks is flattering.
As to dancing, I’m by no means a great dancer, I just brock out whatever way I feel like there and then. If you are feeling the music, you’ll probably manage to dance to it as well, innit.
DD You collaborated with Cedaa on the “Windbreaker” track. Cedaa has become a local favorite of mine, seeing him jump onto Fade To Mind and receive props on an international level for his progressive style is inspiring. How’d you guys meet, and what did he add to the creative process when you worked together?
SS Cedaa is a badman. He was the very first person to send me a message on Soundcloud actually, and we traded tunes. He was doing some stuff with French label B.YRSLF at the time and he put them on to me, and in march last year i released a free promo through them, which was Pussyclot Funk Dem and the Night Hunter remix. So major props to Cedaa and B.YRSLF for that. When Cedaa was preparing his Jasmin EP for them a while after that, we hooked up for a collab. It was really cool to work with the track. He sent me a project he had going, full of his trademark synths and effects. I went in on it and added drums and some jungle vibes. I really like how the track rolled out. I think the track was kinda slept on, but i still enjoy playing it!
DD I’m having fun listening through your tracks while playing Super Mario World for the SNES. Actually, a juke remix of one of these levels songs could work well, the one with the bongos in it. Have you thought about it?
SS Haha, no I have to say I haven’t thought of that. But I do enjoy some 8-bit every once in a while. My track “8 Bit Beauty” is on that vibe. I also like bongos, so I’ll go as far and say that it’s not unlikely, that someday, it can happen that I make a track with some sounds that might resemble a Super Mario sound and also have bongos in it. Close enough ?
DD I have to take a moment and mention this “Bug A Boo” remix you did entitled “Bug A Stick”. This is genius! What’s your favorite track and/or video from them? Mines “Hey Ladies” and “Say My Name”..
SS Thank you! Bug a Boo is definitely one of my favorite tracks by them. Their a cappella’s are amazing. I happened to have the a cappella of it lying around. I also happen to be a big fan of Martyn, and was listening to his Great Lengths album a lot around the same time I did the remix. I’m surprised no one has mentioned it before, so I might as well let it out myself, check out Martyn’s track “Bridge” for the piano sample i used. I also have to mention their track “Cards Never Lie” that track is a vibe and a half man!
DD What do you hope to showcase with your forthcoming releases?
SS I’m in the middle of a release spree right about now. I released my debut EP on Loose Squares in March, followed up with the Percussion Skank in April and I got a new EP forthcoming on Hyperboloid Records. That EP will include “Draw” that’s been supported on BBC Radio 1 by Martelo and B Traits. I’ve also done several remixes that’s doing the rounds. What I hope to showcase is that I can’t be pinpointed to one type of sound. I like to make mellow vibey stuff, I like to make bleepy hard stuff and everything in between. I’m just gonna keep on doing what I do and hopefully people will enjoy it!
DD Last words?
SS Thanks to Disco Droppings and everyone else showing me support, you really are awesome. Also, look out for my next EP on Hyperboloid Records. I also got a video forthcoming and Slick Shoota tee-shirts are in the making. Watch this space!
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