 It was a hot Albuquerque day and Pigeon John just flew in from Atlanta. He didnt get any sleep the night before and was a bit exhausted. This was a one off for him before he met up with his band in Nashville to rock 3rd and Lindsey. I just flew in from San Diego and was excited knowing we were playing a show together in the 505. I first heard John when I was a sophomore in high school hurrying home to make beats on my mpc 2000. His style was so fresh to me. Three years later I got a chance to meet him when I was performing with a hip-hop group called 3np at TOM Fest up in Oregon. His live show had me rolling. Needless to say Ive been a fan of Johns for awhile. I will be doing these short interviews with different musicians that I run into and ask them about their own journey and philosophy on God, life, music and culture. Heres how our conversation went down that night:
Paul Wright: What got you into making music?
Pigeon John: I was skating in Inglewood listening to a small AM radio station in LA called KDAY that plays 80s hip-hop. It inspired me to write a rap about skateboarding. It was called I.S.D. (inglewood skaters dream)
PW: How old were you?
John: I was 12.
PW: What was the first songs you recorded?
John: Brainwash Projects demos in 93. The first song was called Issues of Life. Then in 95 I recorded Judge Not on LPGs CD. And my first national debut was in 95 on Sanktifunktafied - a song called Muchas Muchachas.
PW: What keeps you making music? What drives you?
John: When I hear better musicians than myself it challenges and inspires me. And I want to perfect what I do.
PW: What has been your worst show?
John: One time in New York City I was playing these Anti-Violence Christian Concerts. We went to the public high schools promoting the show like, come on out its gonna be a slammin concert. Well before I went on a preacher went up and the kids were like, what is this? The way it was promoted was a bit misleading. Well I went on right after this dude got done and people were throwing batteries, nickels and dimes at me. That hurts. Have you ever got hit by a dime?
PW: No, someone threw a penny at me once though but it hit my guitar. It was a public high school outreach similar to yours.
PW: Whats been your best show?
John: Actually back in NYC on this last Blackalicious tour. Going to NYC as an emcee is a bit intimidating because its the birthplace of hip-hop. Its like if youre a country artist and you go to Nashville to play a show you know its going to be a tough audience there. You got to bring your A game. Well it turned out to be the best show because not only did I get respect but there were fans there that knew my lyrics.
PW: What is making it to you?
John: First its creating your own sound. Those that I am inspired by have all learned from their influences but shed them like Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest and Kanye West. Those artists stand out because I think no one sounds like them. I think every musician is brilliantly original but it takes years to shut off our influences and become ourselves. Secondly its about having an audience that demands your music. Creating and developing your fan base. And that goes not only for your CDs but also your live show. The way you create your live show experience is very important for a fan.
PW: What is Christian music to you?
John: Well I think theres a christian market. But if we are talking music then I like to take it back to the Jesus Movement days when the music was community driven. There were people having relationships and lives were changing. It was like your neighbor wrote a song about how his life changed when he had a personal faith experience and you knew him. Every market has pros and cons. I guess a pro in the Christian market is that you have a freedom and are supported to express spiritual issues.
PW: Where are you going?
John: I want to infiltrate the indie hip-hop culture. I am on a label that puts out artists like Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, DJ Shadow and so I want to develop those relationships with other musicians and my audience. I want share honest songs similar to the way that the Jesus Movement did within my culture. Whether its songs about Jesus or a lamborghini. I like to develop a relationship and build some trust first with an audience before I start sharing songs about God and my spiritual beliefs.
PW: Are you a rock star?
John: Nah Im an emcee.
 |
By