Hello Everyone!

Shameless here with one of the many surprises that I’ve been promising at the start of the year (What, what do you mean I’ve been promising stuff since late last year!?!! Lies!!! – You know I haven’t forgot you)! Late last year, Sparkling Magazine got in contact with us at Plug Label about doing an interview with Kero One! If you never caught an interview with Kero One, then this is your lucky day! In this interview, Kero One takes a moment to talk about he got started, his music, touring,  his plans for 2012, and more!

On behalf of Kero One, Plug Label, and myself, we want to send a special thank you to Kero One fan, Andhie To, and Sparkling Magazine for making this happen!!

Enjoy!!!!

“In All The Right Places,“  Interview with Kero One.

(Sparkling Magazine – Winter 2012)

We’re digging the sexy-street sound of pioneer jazz-hop artist Kero One.

By Chinggay Labrador

One of the first independent hip-hop artists to land on the iTunes charts, Kero One is known for spearheading the jazz-hop movement. The San Francisco-based multi hyphenate talks about music, traveling, and how his roots have influenced his unique brand of music.

SM: Your first record came out of do-it-yourself efforts. What sparked the idea of actually coming up with and distributing your own record?

KO: I started as a DJ in the ’90s and back then having your own 12″ record was like dating the most popular girl in school; as a result, people paid more attention to your music. Once I manufactured the records I had to figure out how to get them into people’s hands anyway I could, so I started hustling and reaching out to friends.

SM: Your big break came when your record landed in Japan and was played at a club. What was it like when you got the call from the label exec that was interested in your music?

KO: I couldn’t believe it; I was ecstatic. I knew all the hardcore hip-hop collectors and aficionados were in Japan, so it was a big deal. Ultimately, this break came when I was invited to tour in Japan. At that time I was happy about the music I was making but unsure of how others would react to it, and see the appreciation is always amazing-people waiting for autographs and photos… It was surreal. My second big break came seven years later when will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas sent me a video message telling me he loved my music. It’s moments like those that always remind me it just takes one person out there to believe in you.

SM: Any differences performing for an Asian audience, and U.S based one?

KO: Asians love waiving glow sticks at shows, haha; it’s cool though. Taipei, Manila, Seoul, and Japan have been unforgettable.

SM: Did your Asian-American background inform your style or your creative process?

KO: I talk about my upbringing a lot when I write lyrics. I grew up as an Asian in a primarily white neighborhood; I did a good job blending in but was always the odd man out at the same time. In some instances I felt like the elephant in the room. In fact I even made a song called “Asian Kids” with Tablo of Epik High and MYK, and Dumbfoundead, illustrating some of the struggles

SM: San Francisco is a pretty diverse city. Has the Bay Area influenced your style, outlook, and process?

KO: Yes. I grew up in the Bay Area all my life. It’s a very diverse liberal, and laid-back vibe there, especially in San Francisco. The Bay has a lot of talented musicians, and most of them are humble bedroom artists who aren’t jaded by the music industry such as in other places like L.A. or New York. Those people have inspired me, because at the end of the day it’s all about the music and authenticity.

SM: Your sound blends influences from jazz and hip-hop. Which artists from these genres have inspired you to come up with your own unique sound?

KO: It’s weird, because when I created my first album Windmills of the Soul; I just made what I liked. Hip-hop in the early ’90s sounded this way (jazzy) but a lot of people had forgotten about it; artists like Digable Planets, Souls of Mischief, and Nas used a lot of jazz. When I started getting very deep into ’70s jazz such as Lonnie Liston Smith, or Bob James, I realized there should be more musicianship in hip-hop because jazz music was never stagnant – it was always changing. Thus I started implementing live instruments into my production, and having long piano solos at the end of songs at a time when hip-hop was just about looping the same beat over and over again. I fell in love with hip-hop at an early age then hated what hip-hop had become; that inspired me to make music.

SM: You’re very hands-on when it comes to your music as well as the business side of being a musician. What are the pros of taking care of everything, from art direction to web design and marketing?

KO: I love being involved because I want my vision to be executed the way I see it and not on someone else’s canvas or timeline. However I realized when I’m too involved in the business, I put my hands in too many pots and spread myself too thin. I’ve now decided to focus more on my craft and making music and not be so involved in the grind.

SM: You’ve collaborated with several artists. Any memorable experiences working with the likes of Epik High, David Choi, Dumbfounded, Far East Movement, Talib Kweli, and the rest?

KO: Performing on tour with Epik High was unforgettable; sold-out shows starting in Japan, Korea, then to the States with Far East movement. I remember fans waiting at the airport, red carpet treatment, press everywhere… It was a huge deal. As for studio collaborations, a lot of them happened over the ‘net. With David Choi, our collaboration started from a message discussing a simple video to something that required hours of editing. He sent me his vocals (which he knocked out very quickly), and I already had the video footage from where I was creating it. We uploaded it not many days later and it reached 300,000 views off his channel. The power of Internet is amazing.

SM: How different is you creative process when working on your own as compared to collaborating?

KO: I started as a solo artist, so collaborating with other artists can sometimes be difficult because there may be a clashing of ideas or visions-in that sense it can sometimes be distracting, I’m so used to doing things my way and compromising is not always good. I will fight for my way if I feel strongly about it. Luckily it’s mostly been smooth collabs so far!

SM: What’s the first song you’ve ever written, and what’s the story behind it? Was it ever released?

KO: I tend to release almost everything that I write. I don’t know what it is; I just think that if I put it down on paper, it’s a waste if I don’t to put it out. The first real rap I wrote was in high school called “Check the Blueprints.” At the time, it was just a nameless rap though. Ultimately, it was a rap I wrote to pass time in some of my boring classes and as years passed it eventually morphed into a real song, a song that took me around the world, if I think about it, its kind of crazy.

SM: Any plans of going on tour soon? How have your previous tour experiences been?

KO: Yes, I’m currently planning a tour with Korean hip-hop groups Dynamic Duo and Supreme Team. We should be on tour in late January. It should be epic.

SM: What challenges do you run into working in the music industry? How different is the scene for Asian Americans now, almost 10 years after you came out with “Check the Blueprints?”

KO: Well, some of the popular U.S. music blogs won’t take you seriously if you’re an Asian hip-hop artist, but I believe that’s gotten a lot better lately. Things have changed so much from 10-years ago- there were only several known Asian hip-hop artists with releases (then), including myself… Now you’ve got tons. You also never had such a thing as an Asian rap group on U.S. commercial radio or TV, and now you’ve got groups like Far East Movement who get played on the radio non-stop. It’s all rather exciting to see.

SM: How did you transition from web design to music?

KO: Working in the IT world, I quickly grew old of the corporate atmosphere. Dressing up to go to work, and oftentimes even falling asleep during meetings. There were even times I’d step out for press interviews on the phone and would think about music and my label for most of the work day; Furthermore, with the success of Windmills of the Soul and after some prayers, I realized pursuing music full-time was calling. I then took that leap of faith, and put in my two weeks’.

SM: What do you do during your spare time?

KO: I like to play golf, bike, drink some scotch whiskey, hang out with friends, and lately I’ve had an absurd addiction to Instagram!

SM: What’s one thing your fans would be surprised to know about you?

KO: My Korean speaking skills are that of a five-year-old, haha. On the other hand I’ve memorized the basic words of over 12 languages, including Tagalog.

SM: What can fans expect from you in 2012?

KO: My new album! I’m very happy about this album; I believe it’s some of my best work.

SM: If you weren’t doing music now, what would you be into?

KO: Maybe a doctor… The human anatomy amazes me.

SM: Which artists would you like you work with in the future?

KO: There are so many. Ever since will.i.am contacted me about working together I was hoping to get something poppin’, but it just hasn’t worked out yet. Otherwise, I’d like to collab with Sade, Outkast, or John Legend.

SM: What are the most played albums/artists/songs/ on your iPod?

KO: Right now its Passion Pit, Jcole, and Tablo’s Fevers End.

SM: How has the rise of social media affected you as an artist?

KO: It’s been an amazing blessing. Back when I started, there was no YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter. When MySpace finally came along I saw the huge opportunity and potential of social media. I was featured on the front page of MySpace years ago and went from 15,000 fans to almost 30,000 fans in one week. Since then, social media has been crucial to my career- I remember many tours came about off my MySpace page.

SM: Any message for your Filipino fans?

KO: Thank You guys for supporting me and reading this interview. I look forward to coming back to the Philippines again soon! You can keep up with me at twitter.com/keroone.