Kero One Interview with P-vine records Japan:

1) Could you give a brief account of your upbringing?

I was born and raised in the bay area of California and lived here all of my life. I grew up in a sort of traditional asian family. So of course, my parents wanted me to get a good education and get a solid job. So I tried those things, I went to a private college and got a bachelor degree in computers and business then worked at a corporation for several years. While I was doing that I was also interested in music, and had been since a very young age. Still, it wasn't always the scholastic life for me. In fact, it rarely was. I was also busy doing graffiti, skateboarding, and listening to music.

2) What kind of music were you listening to while growing up?

Growing up, I remember LL cool J "Radio" was my first hiphop tape. Then I started listening to Gangstarr "Step in the Arena", BDP, and N.W.A. However, even with all this hiphop, I was also listening to other types of music like alternative and classical. I listened to classical only because I was forced to take piano lessons and play those songs. I hated it back then but it's funny how I wish I would have tried harder as I look back in hindsight.

3) When did you first start listening to hip-hop? Could you give details of the situation and how it all came about?

I don't exactly remember how it came about as it was so long ago. It was probably on accident. However, I do remember the feeling when I first heard "Step in the Arena" or "Loves Gonna Getcha" by BDP. The music had such a different sound from other stuff. It was funky, there were meaningful messages and stories, and it was refreshing and new. Even today, its still refreshing to listen to those songs again. To me they are timeless, and that's the most magnetic thing about good hiphop.

4) When did you first start MC-ing and making tracks?

I first started rhyming in high school around 1995. I remember one of the first times I got really isnpired to start rhyming in new ways was when heiroglyphics and hobojunction had a freestyle battle on World Famous Wake up Radio Show. Saffir had the craziest rhyme style. It sounded totally off beat but it was still on beat. It was so sick. I never did rhyme like him but it just made me want to write lyrics. I would also go to lots of hiphop events, kick freestyles with friends, attend open mics, and also dj at hiphop events. Eventually, I started producing tracks of my own because I wanted to rap over certain types of beats that I didn't have access to. So I bought my first sampler, the ensoniq eps. Luckily, I was already getting exposed to beatdigging so I knew a few titles to find some samples on. But it wasn't good enough, so I became a record fiend and went crazy digging for loops. The rest is history.

5) Do you play any instruments? If so, which ones?

Yes, I play instruments such as the bass guitar, keys, and scratching on turntables.

6) What are the equipments you used on this album?

For this album, we used an MPC, ASR 10, Moog, Fender Rhodes 88 Stage, Gibson Bass and guitars, acoustic guitar, and tenor saxaphone just to name a few.

7) The album is really relaxed, gives an impression of a loose session album, but what were the concepts behind "Windmills of The Soul"?

Yeah, I try to reflect sincerity with my lyrics. Musically, I wanted it to be "worry free" ..like a celebration with an organic foundation. I want to take people on a trip through those sort of emotions. That's what Windmills of The Soul is about. It's about the organic energy and passion and how that energy can be represented through music. Lastly, the title was also inspired by that song from afro harpist, Dorothy Ashby.

8) In what situations are you inspired to write your lyrics?

Real life situations. When something significant goes down in my life, I feel like I need to write about it. So these songs are like a personal audio diary. I can look back on it 10 years from now and ponder..and be like "damn" that's what I was talking about back then. Besides that, I get really inspired when I hear dope beats or other emcees that are really pushing the envelope or getting loose in a freestyle circle or something. That's always inspiring.

9) We feel jazz as the base of this album, but what is "jazz" to you?

Great question. I still don't know what jazz is 'till this day. I listened to a lot of different types of music that has been labeled jazz but they don't sound that much alike. For example, I will tell my sax player I like jazz and he's thinking of Miles Davis, while I'm thinking of something more funky like The Catalyst or something. To me, if it's smooth, flows well throughout the song, and evokes feeling..that's my kind of jazz.

10) Can you give names of producers and MCs that you admire, empathize?

So many. I won't list all the obvious ones like Primo and Beatnuts. Instead i'll say Kenny Dope of MAW, 45 king, RZA on 36 chambers, newer producers like Quantic and DJ Mitsu. EMcees are NAS, Lord finesse, Organized Konfusion, MF Doom etc.

11) What are your impressions on Japan?

Wow. How do I start. I went to Japan for the first time in 2004 for my Japan Tour. It was one of the best traveling experiences of my life. By the way, big ups to my man Hiroshi Ohba for organizing the tour. All I know is that Japanese people know music very very well. Many have good taste and are well educated in music history. I also like how there are record stores everywhere. I remember me and my dj were walking around the outskirts of shinjuku looking for food by our hotel. Right next to the hotel there was a small random record store that we stumbled upon. We went in and he had the craziest jazz and soul records in there. He told us he trades records with people like Keb Darge and Dj Shadow. We wondered how many more record stores like that we would find in Japan. We gave him a copy of my single and took pictures together like new friends. I still look at all of our pictures from our trip and get a warm fuzzy feeling inside. haha.

12) During your stay in Japan did you have a chance to experience the Japanese hip-hop scene? If so, what are your thoughts?

Funny, all my answers seem to lead into your next questions. Anyway, yeah I did shows in Tokyo, Morioka, Sendai, and Akita. I had a lot of fun at these shows, meeting all the people, and going to the local record stores. I just remember walking into my shows and seeing the places packed elbow to elbow and people nodding to good beats. It reminded me of hiphop clubs in the States like in the early 90's. People are still very much alive in the Japanese hiphop scene and I respect that. It's inspiring to see.

13) How is the music scene in the Bay area where you reside?

In the bay the music scene kind of sucked for a while but it's starting to get really good now. We have some local promoters like Fresco, bringing out cutting edge soul, hiphop, and broken beat producers /artists. They have a great knowledge in music and are bringing it to people out here in the bay. See, a lot of the people around here don't care too much about music beyond what's on the commercial radio and MTV. So when you go dj, you cannot get people to dance unless it's top 40 stuff. Luckily, there's a few spots in the Bay where you can play the other stuff and people will really enjoy it. We music lovers from the Bay, cherish spots like that.

14) What are your future plans?

In the future, I hope to travel across the globe doing more shows and meeting new people. I will be back to Japan soon. I also plan to release more music with different genres of artists. For example, I plan to release a 12" with Grand Puba, some Latin/Bossa influenced 7 inch records, and I'm also working on a 12" with a female Brazilian singer whose name I won't reveal yet. I plan to continue contributing to the progressive music scene. More importantly, i'd like to thank all yall for listening and enjoying my music. I will cherish that because no one knows what the future may bring.