Austin Sound Check

The hip-hop lineup at SXSW 2009 is an impressive one. MCs and DJs from across the globe will be trekking to Austin next week, bringing with them a style that U.S. hip-hop fans aren’t as familiar with as we should be.

Arts the Beatdoctor and other European turntablists like him have a sound that is distinctly different from a lot of the beats coming out of the U.S. these days. Mainstream U.S. hip-hop has become a parody of itself, but outside the borders that spawned the genre, hip-hop is thriving.

Surprising as it may seem, Arts the Beatdoctor’s label (Beats Broke) is based in Austin. Beats Broke has recognized the talent in Arts and his Dutch brethren. Read on after the jump for an interview with Arts the Beatdoctor, where he discusses U.S. versus European hip-hop as well as other Dutch hip-hop artists we should be on the lookout for.

Keep up to date with Arts’ SXSW schedule on the Beats Broke website. His official SXSW showcase is at Karma Lounge on Thursday, March 19th. Arts the Beatdoctor takes the stage at 11:30pm. Visit his official SXSW profile to download a copy of the single The Anthem featuring Philly Pete.

Ana Wolken : How does Dutch hip-hop compare to American hip-hop?

Arts the Beatdoctor : It seems like there’s a difference both on the creation side and the listening side between Dutch or European, and American Hip-Hop.

The vibe I get from a lot of American acts coming over to perform here, is that the European public stays more loyal to acts that had their big successes some time ago. It seems (to them, I can’t tell because i haven’t been in the US yet) that Hip-Hop listeners in the US move to the next new thing a lot quicker, forgetting about the acts that paved their way, which is why a lot of acts coming over to perform here, especially those who had the most success in the 90’s and early 21th century, are amazed by the positive fan base that still exists for them here.

On the creative side of it, the artists – In Europe, things seem to be less rigid, variety and crossing over, trying new things, are generally more applauded here. There are exceptions, but most of the stuff that has blown me away in the last years was all made in Europe, all with a strong base in Hip-Hop, but reaching out to other genres. It just seems that in the US, acts try to stick more to their roots, which can be positive in its own right, but for me personally, I like the new forms that are arising here.

AW : Who are your biggest musical influences?

Arts : I have to say DJ Shadow, because he was the direct way that I discovered sampling, and how it worked. This moment came about 2 years after I discovered the Endtroducing album, so learning that he made that all from other records just blew me away, and put me on the track of checking out records and re-using them.

Musically, I try to be influenced at the same time by as much and as diverse music as possible, and at the same time by sources outside of music. I think that too direct an inspiration leads to recycling (in the bad sense of the word). Reworking your different sources of inspiration (other music, life experiences, other forms of art) into a new piece of music is more valuable to me.

AW : If you could produce for any musician currently active, who would it be and why?

Arts : If it needs to be an MC, I’d pick Blueprint. I just like his delivery, and the state of mind he is portraying in his lyrics. Roots Manuva is also high on my list.

If it can be any musician…. i’d pick Stete Reich. I’d like to remix Music For 18 Musicians…. I know a remix album already came out, but I didn’t like it too much.

AW : What does it mean to you to be selected for SXSW?

Arts : It means an unexpected support from the country that spawned my art form, hehe. At this moment I’m known, but not very huge in Holland, and same goes for Japan. I was surprised to be booked on this famous festival, and also that I was put on a very nice spot on a very nice showcase night (just before U-N-I and Camp Lo). It only confirms my feeling that we (me as an artist, we as a band, as a scene, as a musical country) are doing something that is interesting also for people outside of the borders.

AW : What other SXSW artists are you looking forward to?

Arts : Im definitely going to check out Camp Lo and U-N-I, I’ve never had the chance to see them live before, so I’m looking forward to that, right after blowing off steam at my own showcase. I’m also going to check out DJ Shadow the day after, and trying to catch Pete Philly & Perquisite the day after that. I will be missing out on Pete Rock and Reflection Eternal becuase they play at the same time as I am. Luckily I had the chance to see Talib in Amsterdam last year.

AW : Are there any other artists from the Netherlands that American audiences should be listening to?

Arts : You should definitely check out Pete Philly & Perquisite, they play SXSW on Saturday. Pete featured on my album, and Perquisite released it on his label, they are linked to my style a lot. Also check out Pax & Pry (Pax is the regular vocalist of my band, download their 2 albums for free on www.paxandpry.com), Skiggy Rapz (I will be bringing this guy over because Pax isn’t able to join me), Kyteman (this trumpet player founded the first ever Hip-Hop Orchestra – and is also the reason Pax said no to the US tour – (It’s all love though, this guy is blowing up here at the moment). There’s a very healthy beat-scene here (for example check out: Sir OJ, FS Green, Killing Skills, Koen of Blocnotes, and Inf). Also, dont forget my side project with producers Sense and STW: The Q4.

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