​From Minneapolis with love

Photo by Dan Monick

The High Plains Reader had an opportunity to catch up with Sean Daley, also known as Slug, the voice of Twin Cities-based hip hop duo Atmosphere and and co-founder of rap label Rhymesayers, before their upcoming gig at The Fargo Civic Memorial Auditorium this coming Wednesday.

High Plains Reader: What keeps you in Minneapolis?

Sean Daley: Family, familiarity--it’s funny how those two words are so similar.. It’s still relatively cheap and convenient--you know? It’s the same reason a lot of people don’t leave the city that they grew up in. They grow up looking at it, so they get used to it and they just get stuck there. I’m cool with it though--I don’t mind being stuck there.

HPR: What is the hip hop scene like in Minneapolis and how have you seen it change?

SD: A lot of people, a lot of advocates, a lot of people really enjoy going out to take part in the culture--in the shows. There’s a lot of culture there--not just for the music but for everything--the arts--the community. It’s kind of a culture of being assertive. There’s a lot of people who want to get things done whether it be music, the arts, or activism.

There’s a strong voice in Minneapolis and it has always kind of been like that. If there was any real change--I would say the change has been that it has grown and there’s even more people who take part in it and try to find their part there.

HPR: You are also known for your connection with your fans--where do you think the connection stems from?

SD: Hypnotism. I took classes in hypnotism--I hypnotize the whole audience while I am on stage. Ummm..I think people look for something to connect with. The music we make--it’s not so much that I do anything special that is made to connect with people as much as people want to connect with you.

Even myself when I listen to old Prince records--or Modest Mouse--or Tom Waits, I’m interpreting it myself. If I put myself into the story they’re telling--I become that much more connected to the song. I think that’s just standard . I think that songs we write just happen to simplify it enough that maybe people can hear glimpses of themselves in it.

HPR: I guess music is the universal language--aren’t we all looking for a way to relate to each other and find a voice to tell our story?

SD: Especially through pain--it’s a universal concept. Everybody understands pain, and so film, music, books...whatever, anything that illustrates pain, that’s not too hard for people to relate to if they want to.

HPR: Is it difficult to release such personal lyrics?

SD: I don’t think so--I don’t think you really think about how personal it is. You just make the song and if the song feels finished you put it in the bag of songs that are to be released. I don’t really spend too much time thinking about what the listener is gonna think. I don’t mean to sound like I don’t care what they think. I just mean, when I’m in creative mode I forget to care about what a listener might think and I’m really only focused on what I think and secondarily what Anthony [Davis, aka Ant] will think.

I can worry about what my wife is going to think later, because if I’m allowing her to permeate my vision, then my vision becomes tainted. If I’m allowing the audience in and projecting what the audience might think it becomes tainted and it’s not as pure as it is if it’s just exclusive to me.

HPR: I saw you perform at Warped Tour in Minneapolis in 2003--were there many hip hop acts prior to Atmosphere playing that tour?

SD: Oh yeah, Warped Tour was always good at having one token rap group every year--just so we could get on that tour and feel isolated and feel separate from everybody. But then everybody would treat us like their pet, and before you knew it all the punk rock groups liked us because we weren’t like them. So it’s kind of a weird thing, we were kind of a novelty and I think that’s kind of how it is for any of the rap groups on that tour that actually hang out and party.

I started to realize that some of these bands were like, “This is Atmosphere--they’re cool they’re like our rap friends.” Especially back then, nowadays I think that the genres and the cultures mixed so much that they kind of became more androgynous musically.

HPR: At that time you were on Epitaph Records--is that correct?

SD: We did a deal with them for the distribution of the “Seven’s Travels” record, we were still signed to Rhymesayers, but we were looking for new and creative ways to get distribution.

HPR: That’s right, you just celebrated 20 years of Rhymesayers--How does that feel?

SD: It makes me feel old.

HPR: Time flies when you’re having fun, right?

SD: Yeah, it also flies when you’re not. Time just flies… it has f*ckin’ huge wings with feathers made of gold...vodka…

IF YOU GO:

Atmosphere: Freshwater Fly Fishermen Tour

Wednesday, October 5, 7pm

Fargo Civic Center, 207 4th Street North, Fargo