Radius
Honing creativity is a struggle that every would-be craftsman tries to master. Authors and fans tend to revere the “secrets” to the mastery of any trade (art, music, food, etc.). Like anything these days, people hope to plug one into one to make achieve creative epiphanies manifest. Unfortunately, reality and fantasy aren’t the best of bedfellows. This is where concessions, decisiveness, and delusion create a pitchfork on the road of life. Dedication is only part of the equation. A fair amount of talent is required. For those fortunate few with talent their success is earmarked on patience, precision, and hope. Chicago prodigy Radius is banking on the having all the necessary tools to forge his path in music. Radius released a 45” record to allot some much needed attention to his distinct sound and will follow this up with an additional release with collaborator Leo 123. Recently, I had the pleasure to sit down and talk about where his odyssey began and what he is working towards.
1nceAgain: So where did this journey begin?
Radius: The journey began at an early age, having a step father that was from Nigeria who would play highlife and Afrobeat music, hipping me to Fela at an early age. My grandfather played bass and jazz all the time in the car on family trips. I remember listening to gospel music on Sundays.
Of course having older relatives who would put me onto Wu-Tang, Tribe Called Quest, Pharcyde and at my elementary school I had friends who were into alternative rock. I just remember being exposed to a lot. Soon after 8th grade, I started digging for records slowly getting into turntablism.
1nceAgain: At what age did you begin to delve into DJing and then the transition to production?
Radius: I had been collecting records for about 2 years before I began dabbled into mixing (blends) but I was mostly into scratching, I have always been a scatterbrain so wasn’t super serious in the art was more into collecting and listening. I didn’t start making beats until like 2001.
1nceAgain: Would you say you're more impassioned by the creation of music (production) than DJing?
Radius: I’m passionate about both. I love to rock my tracks live. I learn in the studio and outside the studio...since my sets involve a lot of improvisation. What I do is considered live performance art. I love to create the most, but when rocking live I am also doing a high percentage of creation though the overall track has already been developed. My favorite thing to do is to incorporate records in the set too
1nceAgain: Could you describe what seeing performance art from Radius entails?
Radius: It depends when/where I’m playing. I mainly use an MPC 1000 and other pieces of gear. At certain times I will incorporate records on one turntable or I’ll use Serato to help set the mood or transition between my original tracks.
1nceAgain: Some of your prior work seems to be homage to Chicago. What kind of influence has Chicago had on your sound? [Artist influences to personal influences]
Radius: Definitely growing up all around Chicago, especially around the South Side, Chatam, Avalon Park area. So the utmost love and respect to Chicago, because unlike most places there is so much diversity in sound here. Chicago has influenced the world, especially with electronic and soul music. House music has been a big influence on me and last but not least the weather changes/seasons. The fall and winter ground me and force me to create more and get deep into a bear cave type of zone, its too cold to do anything else except cuddle and make music.
Click here to see Radius live at Rodan.
1nceAgain: Tell me about this new release of yours.
Radius: OK so I have a 45 coming out with the Secret life of Sound. Its 2 tracks, one track is an instrumental and the other track features Advent, which is comprised of Gilead 7 and I.B. Fokuz of the Tomorrow Kings. This 45 releases a part of musical zone that I find to be spiritual, as a listener I like music to take me on a journey and that’s what my focus is about taking the listener somewhere outside the box.
1nceAgain: How important is the collection of music to you?
Radius: Music collection is highly important, as much as it’s a growing art it’s a dying art. With more and more digital formats taking over due to money, it’s always good to have the physical. I highly recommend it and embrace it.
1nceAgain: An artist is only as strong as his network, having said that which artists are you actively collaborating with?
Radius: True indeed from a media perspective yeah, if one is trying to get their name out there. In my opinion the music speaks first though. I know a lot of cats who are super strong artists but don't network at all. I’m working with Leo123 who is most known for his work with Eliot Lipp as Dark Party. The name of our consortium is LAGOS.
http://soundcloud.com/oldtacomarecords/lagos-radius-leo123-your
I frequently work with DJ Moppy who runs Cutz on Cuts. We have a group we recently started called "Beyond Luck" which features some other cats from within our circle were building with including my longtime friend/partner in music Kenny Keys. Also, Tall Black Guy and I have a group called “Tallest Circle”. Lastly, I’m collaborating with Makaya McCraven who is a superb jazz drummer.
1nceAgain: What are your musical aspirations?
Radius: To stay growing, to keep learning and keep a strong family/network. I would really like to see myself and a handful of others get just due in this music game. I want to see Chicago more on the map and headlines and podcasts, blogs, etc. I feel Chicago always been part of something big. I recognize that more now everyday more music is out in various formats to various people all over the globe and to be recognized by more for this art that I love and we love is really important.
I call my brand of music Reality music. It didn’t start with just some beats, it’s rooted in jazz, roots reggae, Afrobeat, house, hip-hop, and it’s all the same to me, all progressive forward thinking music. I just want that to take over.
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