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volume 13 issue 2 february
LOCAL ACT
GEORGE MOSS
Stepping away from all things typical, George Moss is setting the Grand Rapids hip-hop scene on fire, proving that you don’t always need a gimmick and the performance doesn’t have to be about hype. His current single,“Hands Up,” reached Number 28 on the Billboard Chart last month. He is hoping to reach out from a positive, uplifting place. Recoil had the opportunity to ask the lyricist a few questions about his upcoming performance at The Pyramid Scheme Feb. 7, and where Moss’ drive comes from. Recoil: What sets you apart from other hip-hop artists?
RECORDING One of the most fun things about making a record is getting the artwork together and having the thing pressed. Unfortunately, just as in the recording process itself, every idiot with MSPaint thinks they can create interesting packaging. For the rest of us who know better, here are the elements involved. First, you need really sweet artwork. If your by Ryan Cunningham girlfriend is a cool artist type and you really like her work, then by all means use it. If you don’t know anybody, then you should really get out of the house more. Awesome artists are always around, and they don’t tend to advertise. In fact, sometimes
George Moss: Everyone has something about them that makes them unique. Often times what sets me apart from other artists is simply the fact that I don’t try to emulate other people. This isn’t something that happened overnight though – finding out who you are as a person takes time. When I first started out, I looked up to my favorite rappers and tried to do what they did. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that when you’re first starting out. That’s just the natural way of learning. Just like a child learns how to be an
adult by watching and emulating adults, artists also watch and emulate other artists. But as a child grows, he learns how to become his own man. He learns to think his own way and make his own decisions. In the same way, after doing this for over fifteen years now, I’ve come to have an understanding of who I am as an artist, and probably what’s even more important is that I’ve learn who I am not. Just simply understanding who I am, and being who I am automatically sets me apart from other artists, because there is only one me.
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venues in the city right now, so it’s an honor to be able to have that local platform. I’m still pretty new to the local hip-hop scene, so I’m excited to be able to share these songs with a new audience.
R: What has been your favorite place to perform? GM: In 2011 I had the opportunity to perform with KJ52 on a tour called WinterJam. That year it was the most-attended tours in the world according to Pollstar, so it was extremely fun to play to sold out arenas all over the country R: Do you think it’s harder to make it as a including 18,000 at Phillips Arena in Atlanta clean, spiritual-based performer? 22,000 at the American Airlines Center. But GM: ‘Making it’ is pretty my favorite place I’ve subjective. For some “Just simply understanding played was actually the people, ‘making it’ means who I am, and being who I am sold out show at the lucrative financial gains, Van Andel Arena here fame, or power; while for automatically sets me apart in Grand Rapids on other people that may from other artists, because that tour. It wasn’t the mean being able to finish biggest show of the tour, there is only one me.” a CD, or hear their song but there is nothing like on the radio. But whatever definition someone the feeling of being able to perform in front has for success, the route you choose to get of a sold out crowd in your own hometown. there will most always be difficult. The way I personally define ‘making it’ is by making R: How important has your fan base been? an eternal impact on peoples life, and that’s GM: My fans are extremely important in something I’ve been doing since day one... everything I do. I’ve never been signed to a even when at times I’ve felt that impact is only record label, or have had million-dollar budgets for myself. So no, ‘making it’ for me has not been to do any sort of mass media campaign to get that difficult because I don’t base my success exposure for my music. My fanbase has grown on money, fame or accolades. I’ve been blessed almost exclusively through word of mouth. By to experience all of those things to a degree, my fans sharing my music with their friends. but I try not to allow any of that to have an effect And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. on my sense of fulfillment as an artist. I make Because when your fanbase is based on real music for a much larger purpose than that. people sharing songs that are important to them with other people, it feels way more like R: What message are you trying to convey friends than it does fans. I personally answer with your music? every facebook message, e-mail, Twitter GM: Ultimately the message I want to convey comment, etc. I know I may not always be with my music is hope. A hope that there is a able to realistically keep up with that, but for greater purpose in our lives far beyond what right now it’s a priority of mine. My ‘marketing we can see. Not only hope for a better future strategy,’ if you really want to call it that, is to beyond this life, but also hope for the lives we pour out everything I’ve got into the people who live in the here and now. already support me. My goal is to make music that is important to the people that already R: Are you excited to play at The Pyramid embrace who I am and what I do. If I serve them Scheme? well, they will spread the word on their own, GM: Very. It seems to be one of the hottest and I believe that’s how true fans are made.
Recording Your Band Responsibly: Production
isn’t all that difficult for someone who does aesthetic as a band. I’ve also seen people out, not only in level of professionalism but graphic design and layout for a living. Yes, you with horrible recordings really go wild with artistic approach. In addition to a regular run of could do this yourself, but someone who You want your packaging to match the CDs, for example: really understands visual mediums (not just somebody who can draw well!) can make product you put out, not only in level of Rock band = lunch sack with stencil paint the difference between having a “cool’ album band = cassette single with download professionalism but artistic approach. Artsy jacket, and a truly great one which draws code the eye and represents your material which you the packaging, creating the terrible effect of Newbie band = CD-R with sharpie worked so fucking hard on. “our packaging is much more interesting and Bands with day jobs = 1,000 pressed discs, A lot of the actual layout will depend on the professional than our music, and you will be five- page foldout, distribution on iTunes template you get from whatever disc production horribly disappointed, most certainly telling Electro band = flash drives with your logo on it folks you’re using. Maybe you want to put these everyone to avoid our shows.” things in DVD cases. Maybe you just want a little Really what it comes down to is that you want You get the idea. Just don’t put out something sleeve because it’s an EP and it feels silly to go your packaging to match the product you put cheap unless you mean it. whole hog in the production. In any case, your budget and your audience will determine this part of things. Discmakers (or the equivalent) will be great for large-scale production. Can your band sell 1,000 units at $10 a pop? Is this just for the 20 or 30 fans who come to see you in your basement? There are great solutions for each. Kunaki.com is a popular service for short(under 500 – or even just five discs). Just because it’s DIY doesn’t make run The major difference is that short run discs it good, but if you can be inventive are “burned” instead of “replicated,” which that nobody made a glass master with your packaging, then do it. means (like a printing press) and stamped them out. they need you to discover for them that they are This used to mean a lot more than it does now... awesome, because artistic people all think their not only because burned discs are nowadays own art is terrible. When it comes down to it, guaranteed to play in any CD player, but also you should find someone appropriate. Come because people are just going to rip the damn up with a concept for the art, and approach an thing and stick the disc on their shelf. Replicated art student trying to build their portfolio. Or ask discs last two decades instead of one, but who other bands who they have used. Just because gives a fuck – nobody checks the bottom of the someone you don’t really know created the disc to see what color it is except for assholes. artwork on your disc doesn’t mean that it’s any Just because it’s DIY doesn’t make it good, less personal – just more professional. but if you can be inventive with your packaging, Also, you will need a Photoshop and Illustrator then do it. I’ve seen people make disc sheaths jockey to make things look nice. Album layout from paper lunch bags, and it totally fit their