Exclusive Interview with Moka Only (Download)

Earlier this month, Muphoric Sounds plugged Moka Only‘s impressive new album, The Lowdown Suite 2: The Box and was able to send him some questions to answer for Muphoric Sounds. The Vancouver-based rapper and producer shares his rhyme and reason to his production, working with Kissey Asplund on “Drip Drop” (great story by the way!), his influences, and the plight of the digital era for artists. Within the interview, you get a true sense of his personality, “quirky” at best, truly an artist, who never stops creating! With great musical collaborations on the horizon and even working under a pseudonym, Moka Only ain’t going nowhere! And for what it’s worth, I’ve planted the seed for a collaboration with L.A. based rapper Blu; we eagerly await.

For the readers of Muphoric Sounds, Moka has provided an exclusive download of “Lemon,” from The Lowdown Suite 2: The Box (hear it below), which can be purchased on iTunes.

“Lemon”

Check out the Muphoric Sounds exclusive interview with Moka Only below!

What are your musical influences?
I have many music influences…people ranging from Frank Zappa to James Brown to Eazy-E. It’s all relative, but I usually lean toward stuff that’s interesting or weird, I guess. Lol.

What did you grow up listening to in the home?
In the home when I was a kid I got into jazz rather early so I would listen to Ornette Coleman, Sphere, Monk, Les McCann, Joe Pass…all kinda great cats. Also rocked Joni Mitchell and Stevie.

For me, and this is based on my experiences of Canada, is that it’s a place of calm, order, idyllic views, fresh air, order, etc. But, clearly there is a strong urban culture there. How would you compare hip-hop culture and rap music in Canada to San Diego?
Hahaha. You have a strange view of Canada if you think it’s all streams and idyllic, pastoral beauty. I mean, that does exist out in the country but the same can be said for America or any country. I’m from Vancouver. I would urge people to Google it and see for themselves. I’m not tryna push for the stereotypical ‘street cred/war stories’ but Vancouver is as grimy as any major North American metropolis. We have big gun problems, gangs, and the same horrors that need to be eliminated as elsewhere. Of course there are many cool places in the city too. Vancouver is a lot like San Diego. We are a bigger city though. I moved there on a whim. Literally. No planning. My life’s been like that. Vagabond stuff. One advantage of going to San Diego way back then is the proximity to Los Angeles and the hip hop movement that was poppin’ there at that time. L.A. cats would visit Diego on the frequent. Met lots of people there in situations that might not have happened at that time in Vancouver.

What prompted your move to San Diego?
As I said, it was not a planned trip really. The only thing was, California is so close and it’s familiar culturally so I just picked San Diego out of a hat. That was that. A good choice.

Who was instrumental in helping you get started in music?
I would say that my mom was unintentionally instrumental in getting me started in music. She had a piano in the house and I was attracted to it from the age of two. Later on, she paid for trumpet lessons.

How would you describe your style?
My style? Hmmmm. I don’t think about it TOO much but umm… I would say that I’m not much of a follower. I like to be free, incorporate humor and absurdity and abstract lyrics and beats just happen by default. I am here to notate the things in life that anyone can relate to but they may overlook.

Selling over 400,000 copies of LP’s, is very significant. With your career beginning before the rise of digitized music for the general public, how would you compare the two eras? Has the digital age helped and/or hindered your career?
Selling that much (it’s actually a higher number now, I need to change those stats..hahaha) was a challenge because those numbers are based on physical copies, CD and wax. It would be great to see those numbers today but through the digital age it has become an unsaid notion that music is essentially “free”; you can just rip it off some torrent site. It’s great for fans but may make them feel as if a lot of music is disposable, like wet tissue. I do my best to make them feel like they are not stealing wet tissue but stealing food… from my mouth. Hahaha. That’s the reality of it. In some ways because the fans don’t realize how many thousands of dollars we put into equipment and recording and man-hours, blood sweat and tears, literally. They’ll never get it cus they don’t do it. They can just steal it and move on. Now I must say that if they come support us in other ways like through merchandise sales and concerts, then we can keep on making more art for them to steal and/or hopefully pay for. Hahaha. I am joking around a bit but you and I both know the reality of it. I hope they enjoy the music regardless.

You’ve got over 30 albums out there. How would you describe your musical journey?
I’ve got over 40 albums out there. I’ve lost exact count. It’s been like a diary of sorts. If someone really wants to know what my journey has been like, they can listen to all the music. I’ve been notating my events over time through the music. It’s been beautiful!

Which albums did you enjoy working on the most and why?
Well, I think the most current album is always the one I enjoy most because I feel I get better at making stuff as time goes on. I learn more about music. So Lowdown Suite 2: The Box is my fave because of the knowledge I’ve acquired since the beginning. I’m still learning new tricks and it feels refreshing.

What is the Lowdown Suite? How do you differentiate the two albums?
The real difference between Lowdown Suite 1 and Lowdown Suite 2 is just time and experience and sonics, of course. Do you hear the difference in them? I think it’s almost night and day but there is some familiar terrain.

Blu. is one of my favorite new rappers at the moment. He has a fun delivery and is willing to take risks, i.e. Her Favorite Colo(u)r. There are some similarities in both of your work. How did your collaboration come about? What do you most enjoy about Blu.?
Blu. is dope. Umm as far as I know we have not done a collab. Soon though! Blu. is effortless with his flow and has a refreshing outlook and style.

Kissey Asplund is certainly making the rounds in music and I see big things happening for her in the underground musical scene. How did that collaboration come about? What was it like working with her?
Working with Kissey was a blessing. She is talented and I can already hear that she has developed a style and sound of her own. I would recognize her sound instantly. That’s a power. We actually did our collab together on a flight from New York to France. Some of the passengers around us were a ‘lil bit mad at us but we tried to keep the vocals quiet. If you listen close you can hear the faint hum of jet engine.

Your bio describes you as a “quirky” producer. What feeds your quirky qualities? What are the things that allow you to tap into doing things less conventionally?
I’m quirky? In what way? Blooop! Bleeep! Mooop! Blort! I guess quirky is a good quality.

Male bands are often considered “gangs” by how the members interact with each other and how loyalty is established. How would you describe your time in the various bands you were with? What the pros and cons to you? Which band did you enjoy the most?
I was only in one band before and we were not a gang. It was just guys that I had grown up around, so the fit was natural. We knew each other and we made some concessions as far as agreeing upon song content and things.

What is your method of working? Live instruments vs. computerization? Samples vs. original compositions?
I’m sample based for the most part and I use live instruments to finish things off. Both ways are good as long as it doesn’t come out sounding too sterile when you use digital instruments with digital recording. I use tape often to add sound saturation. Makes the colors bleed together.

What are you working on now? Any new or notable collaborations?
Here’s what I’m currently working on: an album with Bootie Brown from the Pharcyde; a project is coming out with my homie Psy and its called “The Nope”; I have an album I’m doing with my homie Mr. Brady from San Diego and about 20 albums under the name Ron Contour. It’s gonna be interesting. Lol

What is Moka Only listening to now?
Right now, I’m listening to Andrew Bird and I’m putting peanut butter on toast and it’s a Saturday night and all is well.

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Roseann V. Warren

Founder + Editorial Director at Muphoric Sounds

Roseann V. Warren is a Brooklyn, NY-based freelance writer and developmental book editor who proudly calls herself a member of the Prince army and believes Hersey's chocolate is a crime against humanity. Follow her @webdiva3000

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