Fresh new [e aka Cloudeater for everyone’s ears. This time they link up with DC & MMG’s Wale to release “Faces”.

Released this morning as an exclusive via Jay Z’s Life+Times, hopefully that sorta platform gives [e a bigger profile; they are a band with a bright future.  Further more on this track they were able to get Wale back on his shit, not that MMG Wale is bad, but I feel its content and style hasn’t given him a chance to shine and express why he was so hot a few years ago in the first place.

I’m upset at myself for letting this sit for the past couple days, without letting it out to the masses; though if you know Sound FX you’ve got other outlets to pick up the latest. Titled Medusa, it is the latest mixtape from the Los Angeles duo, and brings a little more experimental sound to their catalogue to hear them tell it:

Medusa is about life situations that leave us immobilized; and women who make it difficult to love. While working on our debut album “The Sunset LP” we often times get side tracked and distracted, as is the nature of creative arts, Medusa is the outcome those random thoughts and unforgettable life experiences.

DOWNLOAD: Sound FX – Medusa Mixtape  Also peep the interview I did with the guys a few weeks back.

To the young up and comers in any genre, Sound FX are doing it right. Be consistent, have vision, explore your sound, and release music; your fans big or small crave it.

This must be historic, I don’t believe Nardwuar has ever interviewed someone more than twice in his career.  So for this to happen a third time and to one of my favorite guys Curren$y is pretty dope.   Must be a run up to his latest release .  One of the running issues in this series has been Nardwuar’s mic handling and Curren$y goes right in on it.

These two are on my list of favorite young guys in hip hop right now.  Not with the fanfare of the other breaking artists byt they should be in line with those that are putting out consistent work with a dedicated fan base that will soon see them getting their just due. Sound FX hail out of Los Angeles, get to know them below.

@BJones21 / @Social8gency: Let’s get the preliminaries out the way, how long have you guys been at it?

@SoundFxMusic: We actually started making music way back in the 10th grade which is about 6 years ago.

@BJones21 / @Social8gency: What is your relationship; how’d you both link up?

@SoundFxMusic: We are really great friends first and for most before anything but we linked up playing basketball.

@BJones21: What was the first song that let you know you were interested in music?

@SoundFxMusic: We don’t really remember but we actually started off producing music and from there rapping came naturally. Now here we are.

@BJones21: What was the first hip hop track that inspired you to pen something down?

McFly: No one song inspired me but the album “Fly or Die” by N.E.R.D. really inspired my love for music and captivated my imagination.
DuPree: Everything about music inspired me from the way it moved people to the lifestyle. It wasn’t just one song in particular.

@BJones21: You have been releasing a steady flow of material in your short time together, what keeps you going? In light of not the instant fan fare and publicity that the Odd Futures & the ASAP Mobs of the world have seemingly garnered?

@SoundFxMusic: The one thing that keeps us going is the fact that people really seem to have an emotional connection with our music and they really listen to some of our songs religiously. Just knowing that our music has the power to help some one out of a bad situation or even get through the day is what keeps us going. We try to present our music in a way that the aesthetics of the visual representation coincide with the music.We also believe in what we do 100 percent and love our music so in essence we are doing what we love and we are doing it from the heart. We try not to let other artist success or failures affect our art or thought process. Of course being that hip hop is a culture built on competition we do watch these artists and learn from their business formulas but creatively we just do us and we feel like that will take us a long way.

@BJones21: What’s the type of success you’re looking for?

@SoundFxMusic: The type of success that gives us the power to control the music we put out and how we put it out. The type of success that allows us to perform at festivals and tour the world on a large or small scale, meeting new people & experiencing new cultures, while motivating and inspiring countless numbers of people with our music. The type of success that allows us to venture and expand our talents beyond the musical realm. The type of success that feels authentic, knowing that we didn’t have to change our selves, our morals, our ethics, our character, or our music, in order to achieve it.

@BJones21: One of the major things I was struck by when I first came across your material was the level of polish your work has. From the vocals to the production itself everything is very concise and thoughout. Speak on that if you can.

@SoundFxMusic: We are true professionals we always strive for perfection even though there is no such thing. We go out our way to bring the fans the best quality recordings within our indie budgets. The one thing that keeps us going is the fact that people really seem to have an emotional connection with our music It is much more than putting out a song to us it is more about capturing a moment and bringing the listener into our world and allowing them to experience some of our experiences. We meticulously go through every lyric and note in other to put create the best art. The professionalism in our work also lets the world know that we take what we do seriously which is vital in todays music industry where any one can record a song and think of them self as an artist. It also comes in handy when presenting our music to potential endorsers.

@BJones21: Another piece is that you guys have a clear visual style for your album/singles covers; toeing the space where abstraction and concision meet. What can you say about each cover and what you attempt to convey?

@SoundFxMusic: We are really big on art not just music but all the different types of art. We try to present our music in a way that the aesthetics of the visual representation coincide with the music. We really take the word “Art” to heart as we try to be as creative as possible a lot not just through the music but also through the visuals. A lot of other musicians don’t give their art works any thought and that is one thing that really annoy us about the hip hop genre. We try to provoke thought with our art works because even before a person listens to our music the first thing they see is the art.

SOUND FX ONLINE:

Bandcamp / Tumblr / Facebook

I will go on record as saying that cloudeater have been one of my favorite bands of the past year.  The two EPs they’ve released in their time together have been in constant rotation for me since I picked them up.  So of course I was pleasently surprised that a band that makes electronic rock as diverse and skilled as they still are on a largely independent get-down; I believe its only a matter of time til that changes. (A few have already taken notice)

@Social8gency / @BJones21: You guys have cultivated a sound that doesn’t have a sound quite yet it seems; is that intentional or more of just you guys as a young band going through creative growth?

@cloudeatermusic: It’s intentional. As a band, we have a very diverse range of styles and influences. This comes out when we start writing new music. We have ideas about the big picture and where we want the music to go. Each of us have a different way of developing these ideas. As a whole, we are trying to make something interesting. We want cloudeater to be an experience, not just well written songs. -Nolan [synth/fx]

@Social8gency / @BJones21: You guys for a while seemed to keep a rather mysterious image about you, I point to this image in particular; purposeful?

@cloudeatermusic: We are fully aware that the cloudeater sound is something different. Its uncharted territory. The mystery inspires people to dig deeper. -Nolan [synth/fx]

@Social8gency: When I first heard Sun & Sidearm EP, I was very struck by the difference between it and your previous effort, was that an intentional step? Sun & Sidearm had a very ethereal tone to it and felt like a journey of sorts where as Greatest Tragedy came rather straight forward about the conflicts inherent in love (artistic love or romantic).

@cloudeatermusic: Greatest Tragedy was an attempt to address aspects of love usually overlooked in popular music. Anxiety and despair that accompanies the excitement and warmth therein. The second ep was more of an early-release b-side to Sun and Sidearm. We stated in a teaser released earlier this year that the album serves to “document a process of thought with no perceivable end”. It is an attempt to answer the universal personal queries that fill our minds daily. -Sam [vox]

@Social8gency: Was there a point where concept clashed with what you wanted your identity to be as a band?

@cloudeatermusic: Because off the way the band started off, we didn’t have a concept to begin with, just music. Since the beginning we’ve been working towards uniting identity and concept. With the most recent music we’ve been writing its getting closer but it’ll always be a process. -Chris [drums]

@Social8gency: How did you guys come together as I understand it you all are from the south with a Chicago transplant in there for spice?

@cloudeatermusic: I (Nolan) used to DJ and make mixtapes. At the time, I was just getting to into audio engineering. I was looking for more people to collaborate with and decided that djing open mic nights was an easy way to meet new artists in Atlanta. One night a rock band came in without their lead singer. They asked Sam, one of the baristas (this event was at a coffee shop) to sing a cover song with them. His vocal delivery was impressive, so I introduced myself. We ran into each other at a few events around town after that. Sam heard some live remixing that I was doing at a show and asked me to come to one of his band practices. “We wanted it to feel like a man alone with his thoughts, when all else has proven fleeting.”

This band was the 11 piece group that I mentioned previously. I later found out that they needed a new guitar player. Dan, a friend of mine since elementary school, had recently moved back to Atlanta. When we decided to leave the cover band, a drummer was needed. Dan suggested Chris, who he met in his high school jazz band. None of us had ever really worked on music together before. Without these circumstances, most of us wouldn’t have even met each other. -Nolan [synth/fx]

@Social8gency: What does 2012 have in store for Cloudeater? Releases, tour dates, etc?

@cloudeatermusic: 2012 is going to be a big year for [e. Were planning shows outside of Atlanta. Since recording Sun and Sidearm we have been stockpiling demos for new material. We hope to start releasing some of these before the end of the year. -Nolan [synth/fx]

@Social8gency: Tracks like Hardly Wait, Love Don’t Live Here, Vampire, Decade, & The Dive feel very commercially viable and perfect for media consumption via tv/movie/ commercial, is that sort of recognition something you shy away form or are looking to embrace?

@cloudeatermusic: We’re certainly interested in these kinds of opportunities. It couldn’t be for just anything though. It would have to be for something we’re comfortable with. I don’t know if we’d want our music associated with dog food for example. -Dan [gtr]

@Social8gency: Do those considerations come into play during your writing process?

@cloudeatermusic: No, never. -Dan [gtr]

@Social8gency: Have you been approached in that capacity up until this point?

@cloudeatermusic: We have, but nothing I can mention at this time. -Dan [gtr]

@Social8gency: Has there been label interest in your music?

@cloudeatermusic: There has been, but again nothing I can mention at this time. -Dan [gtr]

@Social8gency: My favorite track has to be a Sun & Sidearm which I always characterized as the inner monologue of some lone gunman or samurai? What was the song about for you guys?

@cloudeatermusic: For us there is no literal gunman. There is no samurai or sidearm. We used them as tools to give these thoughts voice. This was the first song written on the album and contained the strongest imagery of what we chose to release. We wanted it to feel like a man alone with his thoughts, when all else has proven fleeting. -Sam [vox]

Scion’s “Music-less Music Conference” drops in on LA & electro funk luminary Dam Funk at his studio in Ladera Heights. Two things to notice; how damn chill is Dam and he keeps a pretty straight forward process and setup while showing off and dropping a few gems on how he makes his tracks standout. Enjoy.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend is at it again in SXSW. In this edition Nardwuar the human serviette, links up with Pretty Flacco aka A$AP Rocky and the A$AP Mob for another classic Nardwuar interview. He is a “Fucking Psychic Genius”. Enjoy.

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: A midget, The Outlaw, and Grieves walk into a club . . . Actually I’ll let Grieves tell it.

I caught up with Grieves via T-Mobile signal while he was out in Portland, a few days before the Rhymesayers Soundset Festival. We got into Together/Apart(released yesterday so pick it up, HERE), the process for the new album, and definitely a lot more. . . Oh yeah and that thing about the midget & The Outlaw.

@bjones21: I’m here chiming in for the phoner today.
@Grievesmusic: Yeah I’m into it. I was supposed to do another one before you guys, but they’re not as punctual as you are. You’re at 12:20pm on the dot.

BJ: HAHA yeah I just noticed that myself. Ya know we try to keep it together; make sure you guys get your shit done & same here.
G: I appreciate it more than you can possibly know.

BJ: Where you at right now?
G: I am in the basement of some college, in Portland.

BJ: You have a performance there then, headed to Soundset?
G: Nah I got a lady friend out here, and she goes to college and wanted me to sit in on her ideology class; and I told her I didn’t want to. So I went to Seattle’s Best and got a Chai Tea while she’s in class, and now I’m in some weird basement, while she has a meeting with her study group and i do my rap interviews.

BJ: Alright not bad, is she just a lady friend? Just handshakes and that’s all?
G: Yeah just a lady friend.

BJ: Let’s jump into the new album.
G: Yeah.

Nardwuar catches Curren$y again, this time on his turf in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada! Oh man I’m posting this without even watching it yet, that’s how much I know Nardwuar and Curren$y are can’t miss material.

Check out Nard’s interview with Tech N9ne, here.
How much do you love the Nard? Let me know @bjones21

More of me @LP33

Other than looking drunk in the thumbnail preview this was a solid interview with the guys.

PREVIOUSLY -
Things To Do In LA When You’re Brock Jones: New Boyz – “Backseat ft. Dev & The Cataracs” Behind The Scenes

My home girl in the field Lyric Jones, who I caught up with at @A3C this past fall (interview), put this together of her time in SXSW 2011 in Austin, TX. If you need a primer on a few of the young thundercats getting into hip hop Lyric is giving it to you.