So this week in the Featured Section we are going to serve you nothing but West Coast, thats right the Left Coast all week. Today is the third installment of the weekly saga with my big homie Shwayze. Honestly nobody else sounds like this guy and with the dedication of Cisco Adler behind the majority of his debut I can't see where he goes wrong. Truly his own person...Enter Shwayze.illRoots.com: Whats happening?
Shwayze: Not too much. How you feeling man?
illRoots.com: Oh not too bad I’m chilling.
Shwayze: Good Shit.
illRoots.com: Just got the hoagie with the French fries and the orange soda. First off thank you for the time of the day and for the interview.
Shwayze: Of course, like wise.
illRoots.com: I mean you must excuse my 1:21 in the afternoon casual sub break.How long have you and Cisco been working together?
Shwayze - Buzzin'
Shwayze: Cisco and I have been together for the like the last two years. It was just one these random moments where I had come home from college and I was looking to collaborate with somebody. I would never write my music to hip-hop beats. I would always write to either just guitar or any instrument like that. So I came back and tried to find someone who was making music like that. My boy was like “Yo Cisco does beats” and I was like “Cisco?, he’s a rock and roll type cat”. So I was like “Alright whatever I’ll check it out”. So he always has these crazy after parties at his house always. If there is ever a show in Malibu he always has a crackin’ after party and every knows about. We were always acquaintances so I went to the party and was like lets make some music and was like “Alright”. Then I went to another party and he was like the same thing and finally he said “Stop coming at me when I’m drunk” He was like just come over during the day I’m here anytime and I’m here everyday making music in the studio. So I asked him for his number and he was like you don’t even need it I’m here everyday just stop through. I came over the next day and that’s how it all started. So ever since I tried to stay as close as possible to him because he is so serious about music. I do that with anything when I see someone his extremely motivated and serious I try to get as close as I can to them.
illRoots.com: So how many tracks did you guys make?
Shwayze: After about maybe a year we accumulated about 50 to 60 tracks and we had a meeting with George Sherman who is the head at Suretone Records and is now our manager as well. He showed him a few songs and one was “Buzzin”. Cisco said “That’s Schwayze a kid I’m working with. So the next day Cisco hit me like “I got a meeting set up”. I thought man this better be good because I have concert tickets I’m going to cancel for this. Music’s first so whatever happens and with in 5 minutes George signed us. We walked in and he signed us off of one song. Its funny its all panned out.
illRoots.com: Whats the biggest venue you’ve done?
Shwayze: The one I just did was for Rango Tango. This was us The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Snoop Dogg, Flo Rida, Danity Kane. It was like 20,000 people, it was crazy. That was the biggest one by far.
illRoots.com: As an artist where are you going to be in the next 10 years?
Shwayze: I plan on doing everything like right now Cisco I had him produce the whole record we didn't out source anywhere. The label was like you wanna go get Polow Da Don to do some stuff and I was like "No man we don't want to hop on the bandwagon". Thats the death of hip-hop anyway. Our whole record is like the summertime it has a theme and we did it all ourselves and it just seems organic.
illRoots.com: Its like when you record on 2 inch tape.
Shwayze: Exactly, I mean we did our own thing so in like 10 years we will all over the place. I will be producing and writing all over the place but music is first.
illRoots.com: One song to summarize your life?
Shwayze: Oh man I'm a Gemini so its hard for me ..
illRoots.com: Wait what day?
Shwayze: May 29th
illRoots.com: June 6th
Shwayze: Okay, some Gemini love in there but yeah, thats so hard. Like Rolling Stones "Wild Horses", James Brown "The Big Payback", Sublime "Saneteria".
illRoots.com: Your sound is pretty much not like any other right now.
Shwayze: Thank you I take that as a compliment.
illRoots.com: Whats your song writing process?
Shwayze: Sometimes Cisco will have the beat and the hook done and it will be easy and some times he will be in the lab doing the beat and I'll sit on the couch and start writing. Its really easy to collaborate with Cisco.
Shwayze - Hollywood
illRoots.com: What is the first thing that this should inspire me to do?
Shwayze: Hopefully if you get it one time through you get start it from the beginning and catch something else. You always see something different when you watch the movie the second time. I want them to go out there and be different and don't follow. Do your own thing.
illRoots.com: So the whole the California scene, one hidden gem?
Shwayze: Some bands that are dope are LMFAO, what else is there hmmm...if you come too the beach I can show you some of those secret spots. I'm not going to blow up my spots, because then they won't be my spots..[Laughs].
illRoots.com: I have to say I love interviewing people.
Shwayze: Yeah man, I would recommend illRoots to anybody. You guys are really dope and thats not because your interviewing me but because you aren't afraid to try new things. Man, the music scene is boring because of these followers. The people who are doing different things will stand out and will get to the top. Its the Cali sound that will translate anywhere. But yeah, you guys, keep doing your thing.
illRoots.com: Shouts to Shwayze, Cisco Adler, Mickey Avalon, the whole Cali scene is fucking great right now, so don't be boring. Step out and try something new and check out Shwayze while your at it.
