OEB’s 5 SXSW Qs – Buck 65

Hometown: Toronto, Canada

OEB 2013 SXSW Review

Richard Terfry, better known as Buck 65, is heading into his 20^th year as a performer and a producer.  The culmination of these efforts was 2011’s 20 Odd Years, a brilliant record that Terfry talked to OEB about along with his plans for SXSW and past and future collaborations.

Your last album, 20 Odd Years, was a really collaborative effort, what do you look for in artists you want to work with?

It’s really as simple as choosing the instrument the song needs. It has nothing to do with their name or anything else. I hear a voice in my head when I’m conceiving the song and then go out and get that voice. Luckily for me, I usually don’t need to look beyond my circle of friends. However, if you hope to get played on the radio, you’re probably going to have to go after a name, which usually means paying big money. I’ve never done that.

Who are some dream collaborators?

I’ve worked with my friend Jenn Grant a bunch of times and that was like a dream. I think she has one of the most incredible voices in the world right now. I’d love to work with Geoff Barrow, but I’d never ask. I always wanted to work with Trish Keenan, but sadly never had the chance. Raquel Welch? That would be awesome…

What do you think contributes most to your longevity in the music industry?

Just having a vision and a plan to go with it, I suppose. Surprisingly, most musicians don’t seem to have that. I also work harder than everyone else. Being motivated by revenge works too.

Do you have any appearances lined up for SXSW?  What are you’re looking to get out of the festival beyond a normal string of shows?

Playing SXSW is kinda self-indulgent for me at this point, to be honest. I just see it as spring break for music types. I already have a record deal and just about everything else I need. I look forward to the sunshine and food. But I almost always end up making some good connections. 

Have you had a chance to check out the band list for SXSW?  Are there any acts you are looking forward to catching yourself?

I feel like I should check out a band from Caracas called Candy 66. Maybe we should combine forces. I usually don’t get into the stuff I want to see. Maybe this year I won’t even try and will just explore and hope I get lucky. That’s what it should be about anyway.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 6:

The first group of Hip Hop, R&B, and soul artists hail from all corners of the globe. I was again surprised by the amazing diversity these genres have to offer, even the more established artists in the group continue to transform their sound and move their respective genres forward. The group is anchored by two amazing acts from Toronto, BADBADNOTGOOD a talented young jazz group and Buck 65, a personal favorite in hip hop. Highlights:

BADBADNOTGOOD (8) – BBNG is a jazz group for the hip hop generation. The original tracks on their new release, BBNG2, shows the band are more than just a talented band covering other artists tracks.

Bernhoft (7) - is a Norwegian blue-eyed soul singer whose smooth vocals and use of loop pedals and multiple instruments creates a rich sound not usually achieved by a solo performer. 

BNegao & Seletores de Frequencia (5) – Front man Bnegão’s high energy mixture of rap and singing drives the collage of genres the band dips into on their diverse 2012 album Sintoniza Lá. 

Jesse Boykins III (6) – Jesse Boykin III has a dynamic style and seemingly endless vocal range. His stellar voice and progressive sound makes him a great solo singer or collaborator. Check out his newest album with Melo-X, Zulu Guru.

Buck 65 (10) – Buck 65 is well known to the indie hip hop crowd and he gets better with every release. His 2011 album, 20 Odd Years, is rich with interesting collaborations and serves as a near perfect exhibit of Buck’s diverse sound and off kilter lyrics and style.

The Congregation (6) – Chicago’s The Congregation are a throwback eight-piece soul band with a powerhouse singer in Gina Bloom. The group has a style that will appeal to both fans of retro and neo-soul.

John Cooper Clarke (6) – John Cooper Clark is better known in the UK and has been doing his rapid-fire spoken word poetry paired with minimal instrumentation since the late seventies. He’s known as the ‘punk poet’ and his work shares a no-bullshit approach popularized by punk rock.

Dels (5) – The Dels is a UK rapper with a subdued hypnotic flow that works perfectly with the electronic influenced production provided by Big Dada and Ninja Tune label mates.  His new EP, Black Salad, comes out next week and serves as a bridge between his well received 2011 debut and his upcoming sophomore album.

SXSW Spreadsheet 36 - Highlights:

Brett Dennen - a quirky indie folk rock artist from Oakdale, CA.  In relation to many of his peers at SXSW, Brett Dennen is a fairly established artist already, releasing albums since 2004.  Is music is very accessible, but has it’s own sound apart from the slower singer songwriter artists (such as John Mayer and Jason Mraz) currently in the mainstream.  He often employs synchopated rhythms within his vocal melodies and acoustic guitar playing, covering his music in a light reggae undertone.  Playing live, Brett brings a great deal of energy to his simple catalog suiting his dedicated fanbase.  Brett Dennen is releasing his fourth album in 2011, so expect to hear some new material at SXSW.

Buck 65 - a clever Canadian hip hop artist from Canada.  Buck 65 is a unique artist in how he adds elements of blues and alt country to his music.  He has an aggressive style, rapping rhythmically along with with driving guitars and rock beats.  He is well established in the Canadian hip hop scene, releasing records since 1995, but it seems his material has been getting better and better as his sound evolves.  For anyone new to Buck 65, I’d suggest starting with his most recent material (2007’s Situation) and working your way back.

Middlers:

Brooke Fraser - a folk pop singer from New Zealand with a nice voice.

The Brother Kite - upbeat and diverse indie rock from Providence, RI.

Calalack Ron - hip hop battler from Los Angeles with some interesting songs.