at the very edge of who i think i am, shaking. the discipline and focus needed to activate one's dreams takes, more often than not, if the vision is original, an entire lifetime. i see artists in this time clinging to markets, numbers, dollars, cosigns, alliances, and bright lights. i suppose not much has changed.
when i started rapping, to me, it seemed obvious this art form speaks directly to the animus of the person. it goes beyond the vessel and taps into the deep murk, the darkest umbra of self. and swirling around in the toilet basin of our collective unconscious there is, unsurprisingly, lots of trauma.
but what else?
that feels like my question, my purpose, my sight. what else is there down here? lots of detritus, lots of broken pieces of pablum and nonsense, but i have always loved spare parts. what can i make of these? at first it was nerd-hop, then art rap, then poetry, now simply rappin'.
what is it these artists are grasping for? the academy has no answers. silicon valley has no answers. broadway has no answers. hollywood is vacant. the live stream contaminated.
the chitlin circuit hoppin doe. the dive bar stretches on, infinitely. there's a minivan waiting for me in a lot in toledo.
as a creative it is imperative i do not wait to be saved.
stationed in tennessee now, writing among spirits and goblins, all ghouls have been banished.
my vision is undisturbed and my focus powerful. i want for nothing. i have carved a safe space from lava, i roast marshmallows from my perch and ponder the illustrious.
reader, know in your soul, life is a tremendous and beautiful thing.
find me in nashville, on the eastside, whippin zebedee wit my little lord.
my life is my offering to my craft.
i will never give up.
on the road up north doing a bit of meandering and sauntering, found myself at the renowned art colony above SOULFOLKS RECORDS and was able to secure a brief, stimulating interview with the reclusive, visionary artist known as s.al or alex kollman. he represents 1/1,000th of the ruby yacht crew, 1/2 of the PATTERNS workshop, 1/2 of REDWALL and 1/4th the kollmans in kenosha. the following is excerpted from a conversation held in the artist's studio, this accompanies a new video for "approachable" & "small shop" from s.al's latest solo release, "i steel of radiance, i feel so action" or the "strata" communique.
we'll begin with a viewing.
(((((((((interview)))))))))
SOULFOLKS: so let's begin this interview, i'm going to ask you a couple of questions...
KOLLMAN: the connect became disconnected
SOULFOLKS: ahh. uhm, tell me about alienation even though you've never been connected. KOLLMAN: uhm, SOULFOLKS: took too long. about the song you have coming out, is it true it was ghostwritten? KOLLMAN: by ghost dog SOULFOLKS: phenomenal, we're big fans here. have you heard about the sequel? KOLLMAN: i have, is it out yet? SOULFOLKS: it is, but to a limited audience. are you a beatmaker or a painter? KOLLMAN: definitely a paintmakerbeater SOULFOLKS: what frequency do you rock on? KOLLMAN: 40Hz
SOULFOLKS: remarkable
SOULFOLKS: now you have, how did you learn about sazon? KOLLMAN: from you SOULFOLKS: damn that must be a good friend SOULFOLKS: we'll return real quick SOULFOLKS to SB THE MOOR: what is it like living next to s.al? SB THE MOOR: it is one of those things where you're always inspired by the smells, noises, sights coming out from underneath the cracks in the floorboards. it's a treat. i mentioned this morning, i actually treasure and cherish this art making colony that we've established here. SOULFOLKS: thank you for your time. SOULFOLKS to PINK NAVEL: how do you feel about what it is al makes? PINK NAVEL: what al makes is very, hm, how shall i put this? extremely wise. i hear the music he makes, in the process and i see extreme focus and intent put into every step. SOULFOLKS: thank you. that's plenty. God bless both of you.
SOULFOLKS to KOLLMAN: now what does your mom think of the new track? KOLLMAN: dude it's a new video, not a new track. SOULFOLKS: it is a new track. it's dropped divorced from a body, is it not?
KOLLMAN: no it's from steel of radiance.... SOULFOLKS: but is steel of radiance accompanying it? KOLLMAN: no it is sometime after SOULFOLKS: so it's all alone on it's own. KOLLMAN: you're right SOULFOLKS: so how does mom feel about it? KOLLMAN: she quite likes it. SOULFOLKS: anything we should know about s.al projects coming in the future? KOLLMAN: a collaboration between scallops hotel and myself. SOULFOLKS: that's very interesting. s.al, we thank you for your time as we invade your space and chief your ism, very inspired by your work here. any shout outs? KOLLMAN: big double lung shout out to the ruby yacht SOULFOLKS: we can get with that.
