Interview with SMOG |
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SMOG is Perth rapper Kogz, Melbournian Maggot Mouf, and Perth producers Rob Shaker and Mat Rafle. How did this project come about?
Mouf : Kogz and I wrote the first song What’s Real about a year ago on a Rafle beat, but when we hit the studio we ended up doing 2 tracks on the same beat and Shaker remixed What’s Real. After that, tracks came really easy with the 4 of us working together.
What was the process of making the EP? Particularly as there are 2 producers working on the project – how did Shaker and Rafle collaborate?
Rafle: I think it was around the half way mark into making the album that it was suggested that Shaker and I should join forces on a couple of tracks so we did. In saying that, Shaker was adding his flavour on some of the tracks that I had made the beats for along the way anyways. The SMOG sound was taking shape.
Shaker: There was no set in stone production process really. Mat has a really high output of beats and could provide the MC’s with catalogues for them to choose from and I at different stages had some catalogues as well as custom making a few beats for the project. I went to the States in early 2015 for a month and when I came back the number of tracks had doubled because of the guys being really productive whilst I was away. I endeavoured to smash out some for the project and also added some sprinkles to Mat’s beats where ever we saw fit. Mat and I also scheduled a session to collab on some stuff together, which was a lot of fun. In that session we came up with an intro, and outro and a few interludes, which for a producer is far more enjoyable than working within the constraints of what an MC wants.
And rappers Kogz and Mouf, how did the lyrical collaboration work between the two of you?
Kogz: Mouf and myself would brain storm ideas over certain beats via text, call or pigeon messenger, and when we both felt something and agreed on it we’d go our separate ways and pen away, then link up at Shaker’s and knock it out. Of course here and there, we’d see if were both on the same track but yeah for the most part that’s how we operated.
M: We had an idea of who we wanted to get on the album. When Kogz and I would start recording a track we could hear who we wanted on it. Being from Melbourne, I was stoked to do tracks with a bunch of Perth heads that I’ve been listening to for a while.
Got some killer features on the album such as Tomahawk and Ciecmate, how did they come about?
K: The features came about pretty easily, having Mouf with links over east and Shaker, Rafle and I having links here it wasn’t too hard to get people on board. It was great working with them dudes, I consider them kings in this so was an honour to rock the mic along side them.
S: The Ciecmate and Optamus collab was a very important one for the album. As you’d know Opto is the general of SBX and Ciecmate is the don of HG and Broken Tooth Entertainment so having them on a track together was huge. There was some difficulty finding a topic that would suit both, but after I sent some beat options the decision was a party track and it turned out to be one of my favourites on the album.
How long have you all been working on the EP?
S: It’s a 19-track album that we started in June 2014. I would say 80% of the album was completed with the first 6 months and the collabs and last few tracks took a fair while to get done.
K: Feels like a click of the fingers now.
R: Been fun!
You’ve just released the visuals for the first song of the EP, Dippin’, what was the inspirations behind the song and music video?
S: The first single off the album was actually What’s Real which dropped in December 2014 and the second single was Dippin’. The track is not really about a whole lot to be honest. The SMOG comes through and removes wack MC’s from the scene.
M: Dippin’ is just SMOG all over, from verses, hook and the video, it’s a basic sum up of what to expect from the album.
R: Dippin’ is just us to a tee. Just fun SMOG shit over a booming beat. Mouf kicked off the writing to that one and before you know it we had Dippin’. Shaker recorded all the footage for that clip too at a few locations and pieced it all together like a Don.
Album was out Friday 23rd October, can we expect SMOG to be taking it to the stage anytime soon?
K: We definitely will be. Perth and Melbourne are locked in, and other states are TBA but the smog will hit your city at some point! SMOG!
Mouf : Kogz and I wrote the first song What’s Real about a year ago on a Rafle beat, but when we hit the studio we ended up doing 2 tracks on the same beat and Shaker remixed What’s Real. After that, tracks came really easy with the 4 of us working together.
What was the process of making the EP? Particularly as there are 2 producers working on the project – how did Shaker and Rafle collaborate?
Rafle: I think it was around the half way mark into making the album that it was suggested that Shaker and I should join forces on a couple of tracks so we did. In saying that, Shaker was adding his flavour on some of the tracks that I had made the beats for along the way anyways. The SMOG sound was taking shape.
Shaker: There was no set in stone production process really. Mat has a really high output of beats and could provide the MC’s with catalogues for them to choose from and I at different stages had some catalogues as well as custom making a few beats for the project. I went to the States in early 2015 for a month and when I came back the number of tracks had doubled because of the guys being really productive whilst I was away. I endeavoured to smash out some for the project and also added some sprinkles to Mat’s beats where ever we saw fit. Mat and I also scheduled a session to collab on some stuff together, which was a lot of fun. In that session we came up with an intro, and outro and a few interludes, which for a producer is far more enjoyable than working within the constraints of what an MC wants.
And rappers Kogz and Mouf, how did the lyrical collaboration work between the two of you?
Kogz: Mouf and myself would brain storm ideas over certain beats via text, call or pigeon messenger, and when we both felt something and agreed on it we’d go our separate ways and pen away, then link up at Shaker’s and knock it out. Of course here and there, we’d see if were both on the same track but yeah for the most part that’s how we operated.
M: We had an idea of who we wanted to get on the album. When Kogz and I would start recording a track we could hear who we wanted on it. Being from Melbourne, I was stoked to do tracks with a bunch of Perth heads that I’ve been listening to for a while.
Got some killer features on the album such as Tomahawk and Ciecmate, how did they come about?
K: The features came about pretty easily, having Mouf with links over east and Shaker, Rafle and I having links here it wasn’t too hard to get people on board. It was great working with them dudes, I consider them kings in this so was an honour to rock the mic along side them.
S: The Ciecmate and Optamus collab was a very important one for the album. As you’d know Opto is the general of SBX and Ciecmate is the don of HG and Broken Tooth Entertainment so having them on a track together was huge. There was some difficulty finding a topic that would suit both, but after I sent some beat options the decision was a party track and it turned out to be one of my favourites on the album.
How long have you all been working on the EP?
S: It’s a 19-track album that we started in June 2014. I would say 80% of the album was completed with the first 6 months and the collabs and last few tracks took a fair while to get done.
K: Feels like a click of the fingers now.
R: Been fun!
You’ve just released the visuals for the first song of the EP, Dippin’, what was the inspirations behind the song and music video?
S: The first single off the album was actually What’s Real which dropped in December 2014 and the second single was Dippin’. The track is not really about a whole lot to be honest. The SMOG comes through and removes wack MC’s from the scene.
M: Dippin’ is just SMOG all over, from verses, hook and the video, it’s a basic sum up of what to expect from the album.
R: Dippin’ is just us to a tee. Just fun SMOG shit over a booming beat. Mouf kicked off the writing to that one and before you know it we had Dippin’. Shaker recorded all the footage for that clip too at a few locations and pieced it all together like a Don.
Album was out Friday 23rd October, can we expect SMOG to be taking it to the stage anytime soon?
K: We definitely will be. Perth and Melbourne are locked in, and other states are TBA but the smog will hit your city at some point! SMOG!
