Featured artist: The Abstract Collective - Collective of Souls with a Similar Direction
Below is a short interview with the upcoming underground artist The Abstract Collective.
How did you decide to become an artist?
The Abstract Collective: The Abstract Collective has been a project in the making for years. I don’t think it was ever really a decision… It just happened. It had to happen. The Bassist Andrew Kim, and Drummer Clint Duffins, started jamming in this band called ”Lie” with some other members in 2007. Eventually our Vibraphonist Cody Schlueter got in the mix, and the style turned from Acid jazz to more Hip Hop style beats but with all live instrumentation. Then at the beginning of 2011 came the MC Ari Wechsler, who says ”you gotta manifest through action”, and so it did. By the end of 2011 they were opening up for Hip Hop legends like Binary Star and Chali 2na. I thought they were the realest hip hop to hit denver in ages. Then to my surprise, the crew asked me (Matt Melsen) to hop on Board at the position of Keys/Vocals/MC, at the beginning 2012. I had been doing hip hop and producing Electronic music since 2007 as well, so it just worked. Since then Steve de Loge on Guitar, Leah Concialdi on Sexiphone, and Vocalist Jessica Jones got thrown into the mix, and the sound evolved yet again! So How did we decide to become artists? Music is a phenomenon of spirit, The Abstract Collective is a conglomeration of souls with a similar direction. Everybody just came together, and now we’re all doing our thing. We look at life as a constant struggle, but being that it is such we see that there is always an opportunity to overcome! Just trying to pay some dues and have a good time, while kicking some rhymes and hoping to open your mind.
Best advice we ever got was to never give up, to keep on going no matter what, no matter how small or imperfect of a step we take its going to get us closer to the ultimate goal.
What about concerts? Do you play live?
We play all sorts of shows in Denver, and eventually we will expand to EVERYWHERE, in fact we just played the Larimer Lounge, Last night (March 12)! Check out The Abstract Collective on Facebook, and go to the www.universallanguagehiphop.com to keep up with where we are going to be next.
Best punchline you ever wrote?
We eat an MC who would try to step and battle, Leave you burning on the Grill like a fat fillet of cattle
What are you currently working on? Did you release something in the past?
We are currently working on writing some new tracks for a Mixtape we are going to put out with snowboard/music production company Sognar in the Spring, and getting a website put together. Just Yesterday, (March 12) we put out a Music Video for our Track ’Dues to Pay’, and last November we dropped our first full length Album ’Timing and Content’ Available at: http://abstractcollective.bandcamp.com/
Last but not least: Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
Maybe. there are a lot of factors to take into consideration when you have so many members. It would heavily depend on which label, the terms of the agreement, exclusivity and a hundred other factors (once all 6 of us have sat down to talk about it). The pros would be not having to bust our backs every day trying to promote our music, and having the support behind us to get our music out there. The biggest con would be the possibility of loosing the rights to our own music, and the ability to promote ourselves in the way we want to.
Any last words?
Shoutouts TO:
Our fans
Universal Language
Proximity
Scanhope Sound
Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
Mile high music scene
Denver Hip Hop
And everyone who keeps us motivated to do what we do
Where can we contact you?
The Abstract Collective: https://www.facebook.com/abstractcollective
Thank you for your time. We wish you and your career the success it deserves.
--
This interview was done by Amanda Aselia, a long time blogger and entertainment journalist specialized in the underground hip hop music field.
Want to get featured too? Apply here to get interviewed!
