HipHopUG.com interviews Saul Williams in regards to his new installment - Volcanic Sunlight.
Saul Williams is an American poet, writer, actor and musician known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop and for his leading role in the 1998 independent film Slam. Williams is a vegan. He currently resides in Paris, France.
Saul Williams full bio on HHUG
Saul Williams full bio on HHUG
HHUG: Volcanic Sunlight [VS] initially released in France in April, and in November in the United States. Were there any specific reasons for the different release dates in both countries?
SW: Yes. I had to decide on who I wanted to distribute it the states. I also had decided early on that I wanted to focus on Europe for touring and promo first.
HHUG: You described the album's title as the idea that the sun and God is this force outside, a force that shines down on you. Can you elaborate on the concept?
SW: Actually, I describe it as a source of light that comes from deep within as opposed to something that comes from above. I don't believe God is a force that comes from outside.
HHUG: VS incorporates a more danceable approach and vibe in its production than from your previous releases. What caused the production shift?
SW: Life. Growth. Evolution. I was focused more on the music this time around. Why? Because that's how it happened. The process is organic not premeditated.
HHUG: You also showcase your singing abilities on this album. Can you elaborate more on this aspect of the project?
SW: On each album, since my first, I've felt more and more comfortable singing. On most of my songs I write the music first and then determine through the sound where to place my voice and how. "Black Stacey", "List of Demands" are old examples of that and it's the same process I used while writing VS.
HHUG: You stated that working on VS, you had to think about it like a movie. Can you elaborate on how the process on making this album differ from the processes of previous projects?
SW: While writing the music for this album I realized that I was using my synths to create a lot of horn sounds - this worked well for the demos but I knew I wanted real horns, real drums and percussion, etc., on the finished project - so I began trying to figure out how I could find a real horn section and studio to record them in and realized I would need a production budget and thus decided to work with a label - to be able to ensure the quality of sound I wanted.
HHUG: You moved from Paris to record VS. How has the experience of living in Paris influenced you as a poet and recording artist?
SW: Breaking out of my comfort zones and approaching new cultures, new ideas, with an open mind is good for anyone's creative process. It challenges me ti not rest solely on what I know.
HHUG: Living in Paris, how would you describe the hip hop scene over there?
SW: Enormous & it's been that way for 20 years already. Check the film La Heine. These kids live and breathe the culture. They listen to all that comes out of the US while also creating their own hip hop stars & icons.
HHUG: The Stone Bench is a short film shot in the Catacombs of Paris. Tell us more about this project.
SW: We shot it in the catacombs, which is basically the city built beneath Paris. You have to swim through an underground river to get there. The artwork and tags can date back, literally, hundreds of years. I visited it a few times with friends before inviting the film crew from La Blogoteque to go with me.
HHUG: Being recognized as social critic in your lyrics, what are your thoughts on Occupy Wall Street movement?
SW: I think it's time for us to align it with the movements that have been mist crucial to the US i.e. The Civil Rights Movement, which I don't think ends on the discussion of race. As Dr. King said, it's about making America live up to it's promise and we've way too heavily invested in defense than education and healthcare, for example.
HHUG: Who are your top 5 favorite music artists and why?
SW: James Brown
Michael Jackson
Jimi Hendrix
Nina Simone
Public Enemy
I don't think they need explanation.
HHUG: What future projects or plans can fans anticipate from Saul Williams?
SW: I edited an anthology of 100 living poets that will come out 9/4/12 thru MTV BOOKS. I played the main character in a film called Aujourd'hui which I shot in Senegal over the summer and will also come out in 2012.
HHUG: Thank you for taking the time for this interview. Any closing thoughts?
SW: Thank you.
SW: Yes. I had to decide on who I wanted to distribute it the states. I also had decided early on that I wanted to focus on Europe for touring and promo first.
HHUG: You described the album's title as the idea that the sun and God is this force outside, a force that shines down on you. Can you elaborate on the concept?
SW: Actually, I describe it as a source of light that comes from deep within as opposed to something that comes from above. I don't believe God is a force that comes from outside.
HHUG: VS incorporates a more danceable approach and vibe in its production than from your previous releases. What caused the production shift?
SW: Life. Growth. Evolution. I was focused more on the music this time around. Why? Because that's how it happened. The process is organic not premeditated.
HHUG: You also showcase your singing abilities on this album. Can you elaborate more on this aspect of the project?
SW: On each album, since my first, I've felt more and more comfortable singing. On most of my songs I write the music first and then determine through the sound where to place my voice and how. "Black Stacey", "List of Demands" are old examples of that and it's the same process I used while writing VS.
HHUG: You stated that working on VS, you had to think about it like a movie. Can you elaborate on how the process on making this album differ from the processes of previous projects?
SW: While writing the music for this album I realized that I was using my synths to create a lot of horn sounds - this worked well for the demos but I knew I wanted real horns, real drums and percussion, etc., on the finished project - so I began trying to figure out how I could find a real horn section and studio to record them in and realized I would need a production budget and thus decided to work with a label - to be able to ensure the quality of sound I wanted.
HHUG: You moved from Paris to record VS. How has the experience of living in Paris influenced you as a poet and recording artist?
SW: Breaking out of my comfort zones and approaching new cultures, new ideas, with an open mind is good for anyone's creative process. It challenges me ti not rest solely on what I know.
HHUG: Living in Paris, how would you describe the hip hop scene over there?
SW: Enormous & it's been that way for 20 years already. Check the film La Heine. These kids live and breathe the culture. They listen to all that comes out of the US while also creating their own hip hop stars & icons.
HHUG: The Stone Bench is a short film shot in the Catacombs of Paris. Tell us more about this project.
SW: We shot it in the catacombs, which is basically the city built beneath Paris. You have to swim through an underground river to get there. The artwork and tags can date back, literally, hundreds of years. I visited it a few times with friends before inviting the film crew from La Blogoteque to go with me.
HHUG: Being recognized as social critic in your lyrics, what are your thoughts on Occupy Wall Street movement?
SW: I think it's time for us to align it with the movements that have been mist crucial to the US i.e. The Civil Rights Movement, which I don't think ends on the discussion of race. As Dr. King said, it's about making America live up to it's promise and we've way too heavily invested in defense than education and healthcare, for example.
HHUG: Who are your top 5 favorite music artists and why?
SW: James Brown
Michael Jackson
Jimi Hendrix
Nina Simone
Public Enemy
I don't think they need explanation.
HHUG: What future projects or plans can fans anticipate from Saul Williams?
SW: I edited an anthology of 100 living poets that will come out 9/4/12 thru MTV BOOKS. I played the main character in a film called Aujourd'hui which I shot in Senegal over the summer and will also come out in 2012.
HHUG: Thank you for taking the time for this interview. Any closing thoughts?
SW: Thank you.
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