Interview... El-P

El-P

Interview With El-P

Words: Ashley Marie Sansotta

Photos: Ashley Marie Sansotta

Over fours years after his critically acclaimed debut album, Fantastic Damage, El-P emerges from the empire he’s created with Definitive Jux to bestow his highly anticipated follow-up solo album, I’ll Sleep When Your Dead, to the public. Somehow, he found some time between running his own record label and working on his other projects, where he embodies the roles as producer, A&R guru, and hip-hop mogul.

As an MC, El-P is known for his direct lyrics, dark and complex beats, and use of intricate metaphors through his music. This time around, El-P uses his play on words to document his personal views based on his own experiences with the reality of the changes happening in our society today, while artistically meshing together the domains of underground hip-hop and indie rock. His contributors include Trent Reznor, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, and many others.

On the road to promote his new album, I got up close and personal with the notorious El-P. In the interview, he openly discusses his new record, his inspirations, and his plans for the future.

REAX: It’s been about 4 years since Fantastic Damage, what made you decide that it was finally time for you to put out another solo album?

El-P: Just as soon as I had it ready, to be honest with you.

REAX: But, how long did it take you? Were you working on it gradually this whole time?

El-P: Well, I would stop and start a little bit... I’d have to hardcore have the time to really try and work on my record. The whole record took about, I’d say, 2-2 ½ years total to knock that all out at one time.

REAX: Do you feel like you’ve had to sort-of shift your focus at all from the major projects you do as a producer and with your own label to promoting your solo album?

El-P: Yeah, it’s definitely a different thing... and you know, I think it’s a nice change... Honestly, what I do is a little bit different than the average artist in terms of how much I’m involved in. You know, I’m just constantly trying to figure out where the balance is... And I work on the label, because I’m a musician, and I want the music – period.

That’s really what it’s about for me. The rest of the shit is just the necessary functions of a well oiled machine.

REAX: What does your live set look like for this tour? Do you have beat production and a DJ backing you up?

El-P: Yeah, it’s a different show than I’ve ever done before. I’ve got Mr. Dibbs backing me up... We’re playing my music that I made, and then I have a couple of my friends playing over it. I have my friend, Wilder Zoby, on moog and on the synthesizers. And We’ve got a whole light show projection thing... it’s the most fun show I think I’ve ever had.

REAX: Both Fantastic Damage and I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead are equally as amazing in my eyes, but they differ so much - like with the amount of rage you had before, all the way down to song length. Do you think this is because of how much you’ve progressed as a musician, or because your finding that different things are inspiring you now-a-days?

El-P: I’d say it’s both... I think it’s that my inspirations are now shifted. I’d say I’m looking more into now, and I’m looking more into the relationships and experiences with people who inspire me. And you know, I find the line in the struggles that I encounter with different lands... And Fantastic Damage was much more of me howling at the moon – I think to a degree – with how I was going to get all of these ideas out there as soon as possible and as loud as possible, you know?

REAX: Yes it was. And actually, I read in one of your interviews, where you said that instead of being classified as a “political rapper,” you want to be seen as an “eloquent translation of the human experience.” I just loved that.

El-P: Yeah, I mean hopefully. I certainly don’t see myself as being a “political rapper.” I don’t know anything more than anybody else. I have questions that I am influenced from. You know, that’s the state of the world. And I think that’s the main reason I write with that backdrop. You know, that sort-of dark backdrop – that beat. Of course, it’s not everywhere at all times, but I think it’s more physically that that’s the moral that I have in my mind.

REAX: I was pleasantly surprised to see that on your new album, you’re featuring such a large realm of other indie artists such as Cat Power, The Mars Volta, and Trent Reznor. What made you decide on them in particular?

El-P: I’m friends with all of them, and it was all about, you know, I had that credential with them, and I love their music. I thought it would be fun to bring them into my world. I had already been working on different stuff for them in their world, and it just seemed natural. It wasn’t anything that I thought up ahead of time, but I was in touch with them and it kinda unfolded like that.

REAX: How was it like to work with them?

El-P: It was great. They’re all amazing people and really generous. And they were all cool to get down with me.

REAX: Why did you name the album I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead? I’m assuming it’s obviously a play on words?

El-P: It is a play on words to a degree. It’s sort-of like in New York City, the city never sleeps, you know?

REAX: Of course. So, after all of your touring is said and done, what’s next?

El-P: Ah, I think the next step is that I really want to continue. I want to do another record. I mean, I’ve got a lot of stuff I’ve been working on and a lot of stuff built up over the past few years, and I don’t feel like I want to stop. I just have a lot of ideas that are sitting around, and I’m working on stuff... you know, I never really stop. And I want to jump right back into it. I’d love to follow up... well, the dream is to really follow up with another album next year. I don’t know if that’s necessarily possible, but I’m immediately going to start working as soon as I stop touring.