Local MC/ producer Calski released his new EP, ‘Eyes And Ears’, last week, with the five track record a more polished affair than his debut album, ‘Love Drive Commission’.
“I think these [songs] are probably a bit more polished. I spent a bit more time mixing and a bit more money on the production side of things this time around just for these five to see how they would come up,” Calski explains.
“There's a couple of songs on there that are probably a bit more sparse as well. I tried not to fill up the sound spectrum too much on this one; just tried to keep it a little bit more stripped back on a couple of these to really let the MCs take the track and lead the track rather than have the instrumental part of it being really full and thick.
“These five tracks probably date back about a year. Some of them got finished before others and needed less work. The oldest one would be about a year.”
The list of collaborations for this release reads like a who’s who of the local scene: Kryptamistik, One Sixth, DJ Bacon, Mr Hill and 4th of Vegas Aces plus slam poet Luka Lesson. Oh and Hau from Koolism.
“It pretty much makes the song, hey. If I don't have guests on there, it's just an instrumental track. Sometimes it can make it a really quick process, other times it can be a bit slower, going back and forth, sending versions back and forth to each other making tweaks here and there.
“But all in all, the beats part of it is only one half. If we don't have the features on there, we don't really have a song. I'm actually really proud of 'Lost Or Found' with Luka Lesson. We did that over about two days. He flew into Brissie, came straight to the studio with an empty book, no lyrics written and we sat down and listened to a few things. He picked one out and we just started writing and did that track over two days. I really like the content that he's on about on that song as well. I'm just proud to be a part of a song that touches on those issues and speaks for his people. I'm really proud of that song.”
While all of the guests on 'Eyes And Ears' brought something unique to each song, it was Calski's appreciation for the roots of hip hop that really defined the sounds on his new EP.
“I definitely give a nod to the roots of hip hop and the original sounds of sampling and laying beats under the samples, making things work that way. I really like that sound. That's what I grew up with and it's just always stuck with me. At the same time as it being a conscious nod to that, I think it's just inevitable. It's who I am and what I like.
"Not to say I don't like the other shit, it's just that the original sound really speaks to me.”
The entire EP was inspired by the Australian music scene, as well as Calski's personal journey over the past year.
“[The EP title was inspired by] just being around other people. The things that I've seen and the things that I've heard over the last year since the album came out. Lots of touring experience, meeting a lot of other artists and getting a collaboration going with them. I've got a whole bunch of vinyl that sort of reflects my taste and my influences. So to put it down to any one influence is completely impossible.”
To celebrate the release, Calski will be hosting a listening party this Sunday at Kerbside.
“In terms of production, there will be MPCs making live beats. We'll be using Serato and some turntablism. Not that I do much turntablism, but just for dropping tracks and doing a few rubs and cuts here and there. And Rainman and myself on the mic. They're his shows. He's bringing me along. His live performance... if you haven't seen Rainman before you just need to check him out.”
‘Eyes And Ears’ is out now. Calski hosts a listening party at Kerbside this Sunday Oct 20 from 5pm. He also supports Mantra with Rainman at Tempo Oct 17.
