Artist Spotlight #12: DEF.SOUND
DEF.SOUND is a Hip Hop musician and producer who wisely declares: "Sustainability doesn't mean there isn't a struggle involved in the creation of something, it means longevity and the ability to continue at an honest frequency. It means I don't have to question how I put out my music once it's made. It's infrastructure that allows me to be of service for as long as I choose to create."
photo by Emari Traffie
def! Tell us a little about your creative practice. What do you do in the world?
In this world I am just providing a perspective through vibrations, words and sound. I write and create music that reflects our complexity through our most contemporary medium, Hip Hop.
How does collaboration manifest in your creative process?
About 94.34% of my music is collaboration. Every collaboration is different, but they all stem from friendship and mutual admiration of each others craft. I only work w/ pp I am fans of and draw inspiration from. I believe everyone is a language and the more fluently you can speak the other person the more trust and connection is formed. The producer has to trust that my words are as valuable are their production and vice versa/versa vice.
What would a sustainable career look like for you?
A sustainable career looks like no favors, being paid my worth and being able to give back to the community that supported me to reaching that level of sustainability. Sustainability doesn't mean there isn't a struggle involved in the creation of something, it means longevity and the ability to continue at an honest frequency. It means I don't have to question how I put out my music once it's made. It's infrastructure that allows me to be of service for as long as I choose to create.
How do you see your field changing over the next 10 years?
I see music becoming less of a full time career, but rather I see my field shaping into a launch pad for other ideas to take place. More specifically I see Hip Hop as a pendulum only swinging in the direction the ppl are going. I see more ppl starting to understand that they have options and they have a voice. They don't have to consume what's being served to them as music or truth. I want to see more Hip Hop being studied for it's cultural and historical importance. I want to see ppl value music again. I am contributing the best way I know how, doing the self work that leads me to understanding I am valuable and have the ability to contribute to this culture. Also by making what I create a response to the critiques I have for the medium. If I want to see a change I have to be it right? Every song I try to instill my current beliefs into every line, maybe not in a absolute way but more of a "All I know is I don't know" kind of certainty which I think is more human. I'm not here to debunk ppl's idea of what Hip Hop or even what ppl think black music is, I am here to say there is more and it doesn't end w/ me. I don't expect anyone else to tell my story so this the medium that has chosen me. All of this while making sure the music actually jams.
What's next for you?
My life is an endless calendar of creation, I'm still learning how to respond as "Going" to my own life lol. What's next projectwise is a collection of songs called "COLORED" it will be done when I finish it (i'm very against release dates before projects are finished, but what is finished right?). The first single from that project is called "BLACK MIRROR(S)" and it's on Spotify or Apple Music or whatever you like to use to find sounds, it's also available for purchase on bandcamp and all proceeds are going to the ACLU (https://defsound.bandcamp.com/track/black-mirror-s-prod-by-zack-sekoff). As for shows I am playing at High Desert Test Sites in Joshua Tree 6.17.17. Every month I am dropping a new DJ Mix series called "The Vibe Knows" keep up with those on my soundcloud (Soundcloud.com/deffery also vol.1 is available now https://soundcloud.com/glossrags/the-vibe-knows-vol-i-mental-health-mix ) I have a monthly residency as a DJ and sound provider every third Friday of the month at The Virgil called "YOU" Until then I'll see you at "YOU" soon.
photo by Nai Vasha
