Interview with Lyricamente Demente
- Jerica of Futuristic Dreamers
- Feb 22, 2016
- 7 min read
Questions:
1. What made you guys form as a group and want to be a local artist - Anyone inspire you guys to pursue this dream?
Smiley: First of all, thank you for the opportunity! Well, the reason why I wanted to form a group with Zkolar was simple, the music I make with him is completely different than the music I come up with by myself! I loved how our first collaborations came out so I asked the homie one day how he felt about coming up with a group for us and he was just as stoked as I was so, here we are! The ones who inspire me to pursue this dream is pretty much all of the "rappers" out here who are supposedly representing for me, but don't have anything in common with me. We don't live the same, I don't rock Gucci, I don't rock Polo clothes, I don't know and can't relate to anything that they are saying; So why let somebody who doesn't understand MY struggle, represent me? Thats what inspires me to do music, to REALLY connect with somebody out there and not just glorify a lifestyle that no one is actually living!
Zkolar: The duo was really a duo before it was anything official, I had met Smiley years back because my stepdad knew smileys uncle, we didnt really have any communication until years later, we started working together at a pizza joint called Round Table Pizza. I wasn't doing music at the time but had been writing poems for quite a while. Smiley shows me some of his music and I ask to record a track. The opportunity was there, he said if I did ok we cound work on some music. I went ahead and recorded my first track at "The Hut," Smileys home studio, a track called "Still The Same" in both Spanish and English. From there we becan recordind almost weekly, tracks such as Madnez included in "The Good Names Where Taken," Smileys second mixtape. we recorded 10 tracks maybe and then stopped for about a year, I began recording on my own and got to meet Babii Cris. I recorded with her for a while and then came back to where it all began. we spoke about creating a group and basing it all in the 90s with the rap group called S.I.C, Sick Insane Criminals and Totally Insane, after that period, the movement in East Palo Alto, our small city, had ceased, so the Idea of this group was to bring it all back, but this time, bilingual.
2. How did you come across the group name -"Lyricamente Demente"? And to those who don't understand Spanish what does that mean?
Smiley: The name Lyricamente Demente, which is "Lyrically Insane" in Spanish, derives from the late 90s rap groups "Sic Insane Criminals" and "Totally Insane." I want to bring back the East Palo Alto theme and culture from the 90s; that real life music. Where your bars ONLY talked about what your going through, what your life is really like growing up in an environment like East Palo Alto. I know people who have heard of S.I.C and Totally Insane who are from the complete other side of the Bay Area, and relate to them as if they themselves were form E.P.A. , why? because its the TRUTH, and thats what We want to bring to y'all!
Zkolar: The name comes out of ideas that were put on the table at the time of the creation of the group, and simply translating it. Lyricamente Demente translates to Lyrically Insane.
3. What do you expect your audience or current fans to get from listening to your music?
Smiley: I just expect them to connect.. Thats it. If your listening to our music and you don't feel what we're saying or trying to portray, then our music isn't for you. Every time we perform our songs, its not a get up and dance vibe, its a "This is serious," tone, and the real notice that and show us so much love and respect for pushing true Hip Hop. The REAL love we get for doing the music we do is enough for me to continue doing what we are doing!
Zkolar: The two styles of writing are completely different, we grew up on different parts of the world, I, was born and raised until the age of ten in a small town called La Rinconada, in Zamora Michoacan, Mexico, where poverty reigned all aspects of life, so one can conclude why my music is so different, I speak on advice to the people, having been through trials and tribulations, I wish to give vision to those blinded, words of encouragment to those who need it, and a vivid picture of the world surrounding us to those in darkness.
4. Where do you see yourselves in five years from now, still performing? Settling down to raise a family with a special person?
Smiley: I have no idea. Looking back 5 years from where I am now, isn't anything how I'm living now. 5 years ago I was in Chico state in a dorm recording my "The Good Names Were Taken" mixtape, and could never picture myself doing what I'm doing now. All of these shows, networking and reconnecting with some of the artists that I am now, I never could have pictured it back then. I just hope 5 years from now, we have this music thing on lock and my life is finally stress free..
Zkolar: In five years, I wish to have experienced all senses of the journey, for that is what I look forward to. I see myself reminiscing on all the people i will have met, and all that I will have learned. I look forward to bettering my writing for it has alwayss been my passion, if performing for whatever reason was not to work out, i would be content with writing poetry or ay other aspect of the culture, for I am now a part of it.
5. Do you guys have any upcoming shows coming up?
Smiley: I have a slot at the Unrapped 8 Showcase presented by Babii Cris and Espejo Designs this next Saturday and will be performing along some dope underground artists from around the Bay Area. My boy Zkolar however has a crazy amount of shows thanks to Da MaddHouze, coming up that I will be attending and performing a few songs with! We will also be opening up for a good friend of mine for his "Freak Show Tour." I was told to not say much about that so thats all I can say! Im hoping to up our show count this year, and hope you all rock with us at at least two of our shows this year!
Zkolar: March 23, The Showdown in SF for the second to last stop of Da Madd Indie Tour presented by Da Maddhouze
6. Do you remember how we began networking on Instagram?
Smiley: I don't remember exactly how or when we stumbled onto your page but Im so glad we did! I think the first time we actually talked was because of you trying out rotating songs our your website, and you posted up our "New Edition" song and that to me was awesome! I just know you have always showed us love, reposted our music and actually reached out to talk to us and try to understand what our music was really about and I respect the shit out of that!
Zkolar: Of course, I remember sending a DM politely asking you to check me out if you had time, your reply as some feedback of my music and from there we've become like family, cousins!
7. I have been promoting and following you guys for sometime now, but for those not following what are they missing out on?
Smiley: Your just missing out on real music!
The simplest way I can put it, is by using one of my lines from my song Stargazing..
"I really hope you get this and understand the meaning..
Smiling in my sleep, waking up STILL dreaming..
And living in this nightmare, is the black light..
Thats why I write.. Give YOU Insight..
About my life... and Hope you feel better..
About YOUR life..
Zkolar: Good Music always finds it way and good ears are always ready to listen, so just give it time and it will get to you.
8. I ask all of the local artists I interview, but if I were to look at your guy's iPhone's music playlist or computer's library - What kind of genres or songs would I find?
Smiley: Well first of all I have a bootsy phone that doesn't hold that much memory on it, So the only things on my phone are the beats for our sets and one other song by another artist who isn't Lyricamente Demente lol His name is Canserbero (RIP) and the song is called "De La Vida Como Una Pelicula Y su Tragedia Comedia Y Ficcion (From Life, Like A Movie, With Tragedy, Comedy and Fiction.") Its a long ass name for a long ass song (8 Minutes long) but trust me its DEEP. he's a Artist from Venezuela who Zkolar put me up on and I just haven't been able to shake this song from my head! Thats the only thing on my phone lol.
Zkolar: Personally, I love me some james brown, Canserbero, Afaz Natural, the range goes from one end to the other.
9. Where can new followers find your group's music and follow you guys on your social media sites?
Smiley: I'm pretty much only lurking on Instagram under "Smiley650Agony" but you can hear my music on YouTube under the same name, as well as on Soundcloud and Dattpiff. I only upload my music on there and let it sit, so if you want to contact me or just say hi its easiest on Instagram!
Zkolar: IG: @zkolar_official Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/zkolarofficiala
Much love Jerica! I really appreciate you reaching out and trying to give our voice that boost that it needs!
Much love,
Smiley
Million thanks cuzz, thank you! - Zkolar
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