While out digging (as we always do) at the Baltimore Record Bazaar a few months ago.. i ran across a table that had a few interesting pieces.. and we talked. It turned out that these sellers were producers. They gave me their stickers and a promo cd.. and i checked their music out... DOPE to say the least! Everybody..... please meet MYSTERY SOUND RECORDINGS.
For those who don’t know you.. give a history of Mystery Sound Recordings…. where are you all from….who are the members of your crew and how long have you been together?
We are Mystery Sound Recordings: DJ cam-one, J-Who? Worldwise, Ryknow, Jamir Muzik, Blackadin and DJ Supastar. We started as friends (some of whom met while in college in the late nineties and early 2000’s and some who we’ve met more recently). At our core we're just cool dudes who like to make music. We’re all from different parts of Maryland; PG County, Damascus, Baltimore.
Looking at your bandcamp page, it says “ We make good music, sometimes it sounds like Hip Hop, sometimes not. Don’t get it confused, we just make good music”. You have a wide variety available on your page…. i hear rhyming.. breaks.. live instrumentation… you are into your own thing i see. How would you describe your sound?
I’d like to think that although we’re all Hiphop heads we all appreciate music no matter what it sounds like or where it comes from as long as it's dope. We’re definitely into different sounding shit; we dig for the unheard i.e. the mystery, but being mysterious also means taking on the quality of the unknown itself; being formless without having to adhere to a certain way of thinking or being. If we can maintain that attitude towards our music then we’ll always be limitless in what we create. I think that broadens our fan base as well because we’ll always have something for somebody. Truth is that the world is a big place and music is a common language.
The compilation lp Mystery Sound Vol. 1 is crazy…. i’m feeling the “Moon Rocks” joint… “Lynch Willie” is fire…. “Megah” is dope….What upcoming projects are you working on?
Thanks for the props. We’re currently working on our second Compilation Album, three mix albums for a local cafe and Volume 2 of Soul Funky. We all are working on new music for independent projects as well.
What equipment are you using now?
We all use different hardware and software: records, turntables, MPC 60ii, MPC 3000, MPC 4000, MPC 2000XL, Akai S950, EMU SP-1200, ASR-X, ASR-10, Ableton, Logic, Maschine, Sound Forge, Nuendo, FL-studio.
So, what are your thoughts on the current state of the game?
I don’t use that term “the game”. That places music strictly in the realm of business and we all know that the industry is fake as fuck, but of course we sell music and don’t have any great intentions of making it big. I do think we make music that’s useful for mainstream artists, commercials, movies etc. and would be open to getting our music to them but we don’t see anyone else in charge of our direction outside of us. We don’t cater to markets or what the industry is doing, we just want to keep making good music and getting it out to the public. For us, music is more about the joy of creation than it is about selling it and at the same time if we are going to sell it it’s going to be on our own terms. CoFlow said independent as fuck. We’re all about that.
Who are your top 5 emcees all time?
Justin: MF DOOM, Myka 9, Posdnous, Pharoahe Monch, Black Thought
Blackadin: MED, Planet Asia, Bahamadia, Ana Tijoux, Talib Kweli
Who are your biggest influences?
Justin: my uncle Mitch Bebbs, DJ Richie Rich, Prince Paul, Native Tongues, Project Blowed, Def Jux, Solsides/Quannum, Stones Throw, Brainfeeder, DJ Krush, Ninja Tune, 75th Ark and Lil Yachty lol
Dj Supastar: My family,Marley Marl (cold chillin’ era), Pete Rock, Dilla, Dj Premier, Madlib, Prince Paul
Cam-One: My Family, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Company Flow/Def Jux, Stones Throw, Creed Taylor, DJ Iran
Blackadin: My uncle Melvin and his soul-discography, My mother's Gospel Accapella Down Home Choir, Mrs. Reaves - my chorus teacher 6 - 8th grade, My father's Jazz habit.
Any advice for someone just starting out rhyming/producing?
Know the rules and then break the rules and never let anyone tell you you’re wrong or feel shameful for breaking them.
Dj Supastar: Listen to music with an open mind, inspiration can come from unexpected places
Cam-One: Be righteous with your journey.
Blackadin: Don’t be like the thing you know.
What advice do you have for people who want to follow in your footsteps?
Find likeminded folks and mentors and ask good questions.
Follow your heart.
Blackadin: Get a day job feed yo-self.
Anything you want to add? Any shout outs?
Blackadin: Shout out to my edgewood/aberdeen clique. Nocturnal Dream 4 Life “band i was in while in high-school”
Here is a link to our newest release. Soul Funky 2. It is a compilation of records we found while digging. We just think they're cool to listen to and wanted to share.
Mystery Sound Recordings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysterysoundrecordings/