Greedmont Park

Evil Angel: Spree Wilson Interview

Thursday, September 24, 2009 by Simon Duval | 1 Comment; | Category: Downloads

Spree Wilson is a 26-year-old Producer/Rapper/Musician inspired by artist by the strings Jimi Hendrix and harmonic bliss of John Lennon. Like most of us, he felt misunderstood at a young age and he found the only way he could express himself was through music. “I was an only child,” Says Spree Wilson . “So I kind of built this fantasy world around myself. I would just get lost in the music I loved.” Eventually, he matured into the artist we have come to know today, working alongside people like No.I.D, Talib Kweli, Jennifer Hudson and Joel Ortiz; and getting placement on a Motion Picture Soundtrack(21) and even a Wal-Mart Commercial. Last week we had a chance to sit down with him to ask a few questions.

Greedmont Park: So initially you got your buzz in Atlanta, but where are you from originally?
Spree Wilson: Im originally from Nashville, Tennessee.

GP: What brought you to Atlanta from TN?
SW: What brought me to Atlanta originally was school… I hated school with a passion, but my mother said it was either that or the military, and lord knows I wasn’t trying to go anywhere my life would be in danger so I choose school. Ha, it worked out though because the majority of my family is from Southwest Atlanta… Adamsville to be exact, so I was in good hands…..

GP: Tell us about your relationship with No.I.D…
SW: My relationship with No.I.D is very much like a student/teacher relationship. I grew up admiring his past work, so to now be able to work with him is kind of surreal. I’ve learned alot being around him and watching him work…

GP: Yeah, he’s a legend when it comes to hip-hop production. Producing classics for artist like Common, Jay-Z, Kanye West and even Bow Wow. What type of things does he teach you?
SW: Well, NoID has taught me a lot about what it means to stick to what you do, no matter what… He’s been around for a long time, but I think he’s finally getting the recognition and appreciation he deserves… All by sticking to what he does best! He’s also the one that helped me make the transition from producing on hardware to software… He would call my MPC a “dinosaur” and would tell me to update my technology… Ha, so I went out and bought Logic, and he actually sat me down a few times in the studio and gave me lessons on how to use the program.

GP: You can play several instruments. What type of advantage does that give you over other producers?
SW: Not sure if they give me an advantage… It’s all about how you are able to use these tools to coherently get out your ideas. But they are definitely great tools to have in your arsenal when making music. But there are plenty of dope producers who don’t play any instruments, many of whom I look up to. That doesn’t make them any less great than the guy who plays 10 instruments… It’s all about how your able to manipulate the tools that you have to make the kind of music that you want to hear.

GP: What do you dislike about the music industry??
SW: Just the politics of it… It’s very difficult trying to find that fine line where art and commerce meet.

GP: What direction do you see music going in? How are you going to be a part of it?
SW: As far as just the music, it’s much less segregated than what it used to be, as far as what fans of music are listening to. Many people have a very eclectic taste when it comes to their musical choices, so I think you’ll start seeing more artists who blur the line when it comes to music genres. I think the way I’m going to be a part of it, is to keep doing what I’m doing…which is continuing to put out good music.

GP: You definitely blurred the boundaries defined by genre with the Evil Angel EP. How was the reaction been for that project?
SW: It’s been fantastic! Great reactions from folks who have given it a spin. It’s my first official project, so I’m very proud of the work that was displayed on the record. I think it gives you a little insight on my musical vision.

GP: I think my favorite songs are “I Believe She’s Lying” and “Chaos”. What inspired those songs?
SW: Well… They’re all inspired by the need to express myself by any way possible, those songs are actually really close to the sound of the album.

GP:When can we expect that?
SW: It’s called “The Beauty of Chaos” and it’s coming early 2010

GP: You produced “I Wanna Meet her” by Hollyweerd, how was that experience? What inspired it?
SW: It was cool. I had made the beat a month or so before actually giving it to Hollyweerd. I was playing Chris some tracks, and he really liked that one. I gave it to him and they did their thing to it, after A.D.D. Productions added a few layers to the track, and the rest is history… It was definitely inspired by 60′s pop music with a modern edge…

GP: Favorite artist to work with?
SW: My fav. artist to work with is Novel…Not only do we have an insane musical chemistry, but I also consider him like family. He’s not only one of my best friends, but also like an older brother to me..

GP: I remember that track “I Am” you did with him and Talib Kweli, definitely an inspirational joint. Some people believe you out-spit Talib on that one. What do you have to say about that?
SW: Well, as far as “I Am” goes…. As a MC, I always want to do my best no matter who I’m on a track with…The thing about “I Am” is my verse was laid before Talib was on the song. He was the final addition to the track, so whenever I hear people say I did a better job, I’m humbled by the fact that its someone like Talib. One of the best MCs to touch a microphone….

GP: What do you love about music?
SW: I love the ability for one to express themselves through song… Whether it’s melody, lyrics, chord changes… You can usually tell how a person feels by the kind of songs they sing, produce, or come up with… It’s kind of cliché to say this, but it is the universal language.

GP: What do you collect?
SW: I’ve been an avid comic book collector since the age of 12…

GP: Which comics do read? Have you been keeping up with what’s going on in the whole “Marvel Universe”?
SW: Yea… I’m a Marvel head and I’ve been collecting since i was in 6th grade… I have a lot of landmark issues, like when Wolverine got his skeleton removed by Magneto, or the Jean Gray/Cyclops wedding, the first Gambit solo comic… The list goes on… I haven’t been able to keep up with the whole “Marvel Universe” lately. But I need to get back on it…

GP: Sex, drugs or Rock n Roll?
SW: I believe in excess to the fullest… So I would just maximize on all 3! Why not? You only live once!

Download: Spree Wilson – Evil Angel EP