Sunday, July 06, 2008
A+E, Music, Q&A
Reeling in the beats with Mr. Fish
A Quick Q&A
Courtesy of Mr. Fish
Mr. Fish, a member of Atlanta’s rapidly growing underground hip-hop scene, works with a group of like-minded DJs at Zone 7 Music, making beats, recording music and performing. The Sunday Paper recently spoke to him about the scene, Atlanta’s music community and the best spots for late-night grub.—Gray Chapman
Q What got you started with DJing?
A For me, it all started about five years ago, at Apache [Café], downtown over by the Varsity. They used to do beat battles and MC battles, and I’d watch that, and I started messing around with it. I tried it one month just to see what it was like, and ever since then, I’ve kept going back, trying to get my beats out.
How would you describe your music?
I like a lot of old music, like funk and older rock ’n’ roll. I don’t listen to the radio because I just feel like a lot of it’s really repetitive. Old jazz artists inspire me, like people from [the prestigious record label] Blue Note.
How’s the Atlanta DJ scene doing?
It seems like the support for hip-hop here is not where it should be. It’s more in the party scene, instead of people going to an event because the music is right. It’s really commercial right now. But we have a good community in the underground hip-hop movement. The people working on the actual music right now are really strong. It’s quiet, but it’s brewing.
What are your thoughts on Atlanta?
I like it in the Dirty South. The one thing I don’t like here is the direction that music is taking right now. People are just wanting to get paid instead of really trying to do something. It’s easier to get paid than it is to learn how to play some real music, and sing without using pitch correction and voice boxes. The whole indie-rock thing in Atlanta’s gotten really big, so it’s sort of taken over. I don’t understand why people are so caught up with all this commercial, dancing music—you can’t dance every day.
What are you working on now?
I’m working with my friend Steve to eventually come out with an album that’s more like old rock ’n’ roll with a little twist to it. I’m also doing projects with Lee Harvey Oswald, Mighty Erfling, King Robot and a bunch of Zone 7 productions. The Zone 7/Lee Harvey Oswald album will be out soon, probably in the next five months.
Any favorite spots to eat after a late night of DJing?
Fellini’s Pizza—they stay open late, and we’re always working late. Plus, it’s good food. That, and Wendy’s—anything that’s open late and is convenient. SP
Mr. Fish performs with Lee Harvey Oswald at the Drunken Unicorn at MJQ Concourse on July 11. For more information, visit www.thedrunkenunicorn.net.