You might remember the other week we dropped the Live Footage Presents Jay Dee Mixtape. The feedback from the project has been huge, so we sat down with the guys and picked their brains a bit regarding everything from musical influences to funniest tour stories. Check out the interview below and if you haven’t already make sure to download their mixtape (FOR FREE!) today.
What gave you the idea of coming together and creating such a unique group?
We began by writing the score to a dance piece called “Freedom Happening.” From there we would have sessions in my (Topu) apartment and bring in other musicians: trumpet, sax, bass. We weren’t really an “official” band till about 3 years ago when some of the jam sessions started to mold into actual songs. From there we began playing at small coffee shops and bars, and soon being booked more and more.
After releasing the Dilla Project, it is obvious he has been a big influence on you. Tell us more about that, what particular things regarding Dilla and his music really moved you?
Dilla’s approach to production has really influenced us the most. He always respected the source of what he was sampling and put his own spin or flavor on the track. He wasn’t worried about creating something for the sake of selling tons of records. He just made the music he heard in the moment. Also, in the day of overproduction Dilla’s tracks just sound so refreshing and authentic . They’re not covered in tons of instruments where a wall of sound is coming at you at every second.
How did you choose which Dilla songs to include on the Dilla Project?
We started by listening to as many tracks we could get our hands on. We broke the songs into groups of which ones lent themselves best for our style being cognisant of not doing an exact replication of the tunes. Then we’d build on several key ideas and reinterpret them. For instance the Janet Jackson tune is very different from her original tune but it is using all the same notes of the melody in relatively the same time (relatively speakin)
Who are your biggest artist influences?
Different artists were so impacting at different stages of our lives. collectively i can say we were both highly inspired and moved by the beatles and miles davis. both of those artists would continually grow with each album, never settling and being complacent. for me (topu) i became obsessed with shostakovich’s 8th quartet in high school and then began listening to his symphonies and solo pieces. mike was highly influenced by shuggie otis. of course i have to mention rage against the machine and the entire reason why i began buying pedals..
Favorite album of all time?
mike: Salassie is the Chapel – Bob Marley topu: black angels/kronos quartet
Favorite tour memory?
Its hard to distinguish which are the best because the entire European tour was like a dream. I’ve heard stories if it being amazing but even my friends couldn’t have prepared me. From the moment we arrived in most cities there was someone waiting for us, then they would help load in gear, take us on a short tour of the city (if time permitted), get dinner, soundcheck, perform, eat again and provide us with accommodations.
Worst tour experience?
We were borrowing an old volvo from my friend in sf. when we arrived in la the car would keep breaking down and the breaks would lock up. it happened a few times in some major intersections in LA but luckily we always gradually had time to pull out of the way of traffic.
If you could have anything on your tour rider, what would it be?
Mike: Full on Planetarium Topu: bbq chips
What’s next for Life Footage? Album, single? new video?
We’re working on a new album and scoring a full feature length film. We also are continuing are motto of playing out as much as we can and honing our craft!
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