Here's an interview I did with the world famous Alwayz Therro magazine sharing the headline news with mainstream artists like 50 Cent, Eminem, Jay-Z, and Rihanna in one day. Something I thought was impossible for an underground Hiphop artist to accomplish, but still it happened. Read on...
http://www.alwayztherro.com/2010/10/12/the-white-shadow-of-norway/
The White Shadow started as a club DJ in Norway in the late 70′s, won two DMC Norwegian mixing champ titles in 1988, and 1989, moved to New York in the early 90′s, and DJ’ d all the top clubs, and venues there. He was a member of the Boogie Down Productions extended family, which resulted in him doing cuts for, and co-producing Jamalski’s song “Hangin’ Tree” which was used as part of the soundtrack for the Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Last Action Hero.” He was also the opening act for Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Gangstarr, Main Source, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, KRS-One, Funkmaster Flex, and many more at various shows, and clubs in New York. Back in Norway from the mid 90′s and into the 2000′s Shadow continued to DJ clubs, and venues while producing, and doing cuts on records which lead to him working with Craig G, Kool G Rap, Canibus, The Roots, Army Of The Pharaohs, Supastition, Tash (Alkaholiks), Easy Mo Bee, and many more.
He won a best Turntablist Award at the Norwegian Hip Hop Awards in 2004, and is the only DJ to win the award. In Norway, he is labeled as a living legend because of his involvement with Hip-hop for decades worldwide. White Shadow runs his own label Uncut Productions, consisting of releases from Mark Deez, Next Universe, The Pizdamen, and Shadow’s own producer albums featuring various artists mainly from the USA. Shadow has a new album in the works for 2011, and continues to produce, and DJ for other artists as well.
What’s the first thing you would say to someone when they ask you to describe yourself as an artist?
That my music is new school boom bap with a dark but beautiful feel to it. Cinematic Hiphop. My music sounds like an interdimensional combo of heaven and hell.
How long have you been in the industry?
I’ve been a DJ since 1978, a producer since 1988, and don’t really see myself as a part of the music industry. I take care of my business well, and we all gotta eat, but I learned many years ago that music, and the established music industry don’t really mix that well because artists love makin’ music, the industry loves makin’ money off the artists’ music, so it’s better for artists to stay away from the business, and build their own online, through touring, selling CD’s, and merch at shows, websites, etc. The new breed of Hiphop artists do that, and so we’ve built our own industry outside the music industry so to speak, and I’m a part of that. You know, how everyone worked so hard to get a record deal before the internet and all that. Some did, and found out the hard way that they were still broke even though they went gold, and some platinum. The artist was always the last to get paid, if at all. What you see in the musicvideos is all rented cars, bling, girls, etc designed to trick talent into the business to make money for others. To avoid that, and actually make music a good livin’, I advice artists to do for self, but be ready to work hard, network even more, and never give up.
Do you have any projects out now?
Yeah, I released a couple of albums on my label Uncut Productions this year. The Oracle by Mark Deez, and Classic Regulations by Next Universe, plus my producer albums featuring various artists are still available. They are Renegades, Untouchable, and Victory, you can get them on ITunes, and I’m workin’ on the next one right now which will drop in February 2011. I’m also featured on a lot of other records doing production, cuts, or both, like, Mark Deez Featuring Kool G Rap, and Canibus’ Boot Rap, and KHB featuring Akrobatik, Sadat X, Stricklin (EMC), and more’s EP Remember The Name, the forthcoming Snowgoons album Iron Fist, and much more.
What inspires your music?
Music is it’s own reward, but also movies, whatever goes on in my mind, and life in general. What’s happening in the world, and the other dimensions outside this world.
Where are you from?
I’m from a small town in Norway called Geilo. It’s a ski resort town up in the mountains with a population of about 5000 people. Hiphop can be found in the least likely places, and it’s been like that for decades now. Rappers Delight was a no. 2 single on the pop charts in Norway in 1980, and Hiphop’s been around out here ever since.
What artists in the industry inspire you the most today?
Probably more old music than new. I listen to the music I grew up on in the 70′s to 90′s which is anything from Disco to P-Funk to House music to Duran Duran to Grandmaster Flash, Kiss, Norwegian old school Black Metal, Donna Summer, Funk Fusion Band, B-52′s, Brooklyn Express, Sharon Redd, The Clash, Italian soundtracks. Pretty much anything that got the Funk in it one way or another, but most of my music sounds nothing like what inspires me. As for new Hiphop artists, Jedi Mind Tricks, AOTP, La Coka Nostra, Snowgoons, Sick Jacken, Grindhouse Gang, Killah Priest, Creative Juices, and a lot more. People been saying Hiphop is dead but it’s not true. It’s as alive as it was, but you gotta dig a little deeper to find it nowadays, but no deeper than ITunes though. I’m a big fan of new House music as well, especially Deep House, and Electro House.
Why is that?
Nostalgia, for finding samples, and cause that’s the music I like.
What makes you different from other artist today?
I’d have to ask somebody. I don’t make it a mission to be different, I just sit down with a sampler, and a bunch of records or sounds, then whatever comes out of it does. I’m into feelings though, like this beat might make you wanna travel, and that one might make you sad, or another one might take you back in time to another era, or the future. I usually don’t plan anything, whatever happens, does, but I can go for a particular type of sound as well before I start, then I’ll make a beat in that style. As for scratchin’ I’m into doing stuff that hasn’t been done. I try to stay away from the crab, flare, orbit combo’s type stuff, and think of other ways to cut.
What do you want your future fans to know about you?
I want them to know about my music, what I’ve put in for Hiphop, and that’s it. You can search ITunes or Google for my name, and you’ll find it.
For my complete discography, interviews, free downloads, etc go to:
http://uncutproductions.blogspot.com
Thanks to Alwayz Therro magazine for the interview. Good lookin’ out!. Peace.
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