Welcome once again friends and family to another fresh new edition of The Underground Spotlight here at Faygoluvers. This time around we get the chance to take a closer look at, recently announced Gathering of the Juggalos performer, Freeze. Tackling multiple projects, his evolving sound and a little insight into what to expect from Freeze’s Gathering performance are just a few of the topics we manage to touch on. So stick around as we kick this thing off, right about…now.
Johnny O: First, can you start us out with a little introduction for everyone here at Faygoluvers that may not be familar with Freeze?
Freeze: Sure bro, I started making hip hop music when I was in my early teens. I remember being in the 8th grade and some time that year is when I really started thinking about pursuing music with my life. At the time, being so young, nobody took me serious. Not even some of my closest friends. My parents didn’t understand what I was doing , so I was pretty much alone in my decision to do this hahaha. I left school the next year when I got to high school and that didn’t make things much better. The point is, I had no support system around me at all in the beginning and just knew, even through all the drama it caused, that this was what I was meant to do with my life. Soon after, I started recording professionally and doing whatever shows I could. I would book my own shows at local Social Clubs or VWF’s that had hall rentals and just invite other local artists to play (This was around 2003-2004). This turned into people booking me at their shows and helped start my reputation as a rapper. Not long after that I had a 3 song demo that I would pass out, and on it was a song I recorded called ” I Got The Crown ” , that song for whatever reason got the attention of this A&R who was was in the business, who my cousin happened to know. It didn’t end up working out in the end, but this really boosted my confidence as a solo artist. After doing a lot of shows (local and out of state) , I started working on my debut album “Red SNow” which was released on Long Range Distribution in 2007 and the Freeze story began.
JO: Of course, I know that no one wants to be put in a box, but if you had to how would you describe your style to perspective fans?
FR: My style has evolved and gone through many transformations over the years, so it’s hard to say in few words. I would say my early releases were very aggressive and what some people may call ” horrorcore”. I was just making the music that I wanted to hear at the time. I was being influenced by a lot of dark hip-hop in that time period,so I really identified with that sort of music. But I always saw myself as an emcee first, before anything in those days. These days in 2015, I consider myself simply a musical artist. I truly believe that music has power and if used correctly can accomplish great things.The music I make with my new band Beyond Top Secret has almost forced me to be more open minded. I think people are going to be very shocked, but also enjoy the musical approach that I have taken with this shit. There’s a lot of strong melodies and harmonies, which people can hear on our new single “Dark Days” which is on youtube now. But, my solo rap albums always walk the line between alternative and hardcore.
JO: You’ve come along way since you dropped your debut album, “Red Snow,” back in 2007, how have things changed for you over the years?
FR: I think still continuing with what we were just talking about, that I have evolved into a comfort zone, where there is more tricks up my sleeve as an artist. I guess that’s a good way to put it lol. There really is no one thing that I am sticking to. Rapping will always be a huge part of what I do obviously, but I like to think that I have crossed rap and rock melodies recently, in the least corny way possible lol. I have definitely matured as an artist but I also have taken way more risks with my approach the past year or so. Everything is a lot more fun when you don’t stick to the same formula all the time. Music needs to progress in order to stand the test of time. Sometimes its hard to live up to that with the same old song and dance. That’s basically where I am at with it right now. I just want to keep it fresh at all times.
JO: In 2014 you dropped your latest full length release, “Mr. Gone Bad,” on your own label, Mercy Counts Records. How would you say it differs from
your previous work? And how has the reception been so far?
FR: I hadn’t dropped an album in almost 5 years in between my second album The Righteous Path, up until the release of Mr Gone Bad. So it was a little scary, not knowing if people were still supporting this shit. There was more thought and preparation that went into that album, than any other release prior to it. It was a big relief when it dropped, cause those same fans from the Red SNoW days were still there and supported it. Then, all these new fans started popping up and really helped kick start this whole movement into gear again. I’m proud of that release, cause in my mind it proved that the fans loving the dark, weird shit that I was doing on the first albums, also appreciated the friendlier, hip-hop orientated things that I was doing on that record. It really just took this whole thing to new heights and lit the fire under my ass to do this %100 with no looking back.
JO: Speaking of Mercy Counts Records, you also signed Connecticut based female rapper Xplizit, how did this come about and how has it been working with her so far?
FR: It’s been great man, that’s my little sister. In the 2 years we have been doing this together we have truly become best friends lol. I believe in her strength and potential as an artist and know she is going to accomplish great things. Whether it’s as one of the dopest female rappers in the game doing it or right along side me with Beyond Top Secret. She can do it all and is definitely one of the few people in this world that can keep up with my thought process and see the bigger picture.
JO: Always staying busy, Xplizit and you both joined up to form Beyond Top Secret. Can you tell us more about this group, how it came about and how it differs from your solo work?
FR: This band formed by complete accident. I didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to become a rock star lol. But a lot of people seem to have that misunderstanding, that know of us. So I wanted to clear that up for the curious. How it happened was funny. I was throwing a show last October and in light of Halloween being around the corner and to add some humor to the show, I came up with the idea to dress up as Jim Morrison from The Doors and perform their song “5 to1”. But, I didn’t want to do it Karaoke style, cause that would have cheapened the whole thing and just make it look lame as fuck. So Xplizit suggested these 2 dudes Jeff Kearney (drummer) and Mike Morrisey (Guitar) that she had been friends with growing up. So we met with them one day at their crib and just started jamming it out. We started practicing the song for about 2 weeks leading up to the show and had it down solid. But at this point it was only supposed to be a one time gig lol. Then the night of the show comes, I come out in full Jim Morrison persona, stumbling over garbage pals and yelling non-sense. I was swigging on this bottle of Jack Daniels and just trying to get into character when I noticed from the moment we started playing the song, that I really enjoyed playing with a band ! After the show, I think we all threw the idea around of forming a serious group and it just took off from there man. Faster than anything else I have ever been apart of. We started getting crazy show offers, flying out to Cali to rock The Whiskey A GoGo, where The Doors were the original house band. It was all too coincidental to ignore. All the signs were there from jump street. We started recording our debut album (yet to be named) earlier this winter and it is honestly the best music I have ever made or been a part of. All of us are talented in our own ways, but something about this band as a unit, strikes a serious fucking chord with people that hear it. The shows keep getting better and better and I’m really excited to see what happens. It seems like anything is possible with this band.
JO: Now of course we have a big announcement to discuss, but first is there anything in the works for Freeze, Xplizit or Beyond Top Secret that you could let us in on?
FR: Xplizit just released her debut E.P “Word Vomit” on Mercy Counts Records. It is doing very well and we thank everybody that supported it and continues to support that album. If you didn’t know, I just released my new E.P “If I Ever Die For This” in early March. The response for this was extremely surprising so I want to thank everybody that supported that as well. As far as Beyond Top Secret, we are filming a new music video with the director of my last music video “Sometimes” Shane Mclellan. We are constantly doing shows and on the road performing. All these dates can be found on our social media accounts or the Mercy Counts Records website. I’m also working on a side project called UFO, with my good friend and fellow CT rapper Madecipha. The album is called ” Meet Your Makers” and will feature Xplizit as well as New York emcee Diabolic.
JO: First and foremost I have to say congratulations on the recent announcement that you will be playing at this years Gathering of the Juggalos. How did this come together and would you say fans should expect from a Freeze live set?
FR: Thanks bro, I appreciate that a lot. It really just happened kind of fast. The offer was there and I thank them sincerely for the opportunity. Anybody who follows my career, understands the respect I have for Psychopathic Records and affiliates, so it was an honor to be given the chance to contribute to the madness. As far as my set goes, again, anybody that is familiar with me live as a performer knows that I don’t fuck around. I consider myself a very humble person off stage in regular life. But when it comes to performing, I have always looked at myself as a soldier going to battle. It’s all or nothing. Whether it’s 5 people in the crowd or 5,000 !! I never leave a stage until my blood,sweat and tears were left on that motherfucker. You can expect to be entertained. That I can promise.
JO: If fans want to hear more from Freeze or any of the Mercy Counts Records artists where can they go? (Websites, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, soundcloud, etc)
FR: You can go to our label site mercycountsrecords.com , my official site freezeofficial.com , my Facebook page or Soundcloud. There is so much shit lol.
For Beyond Top Secret our fb is facebook.com/beyondtopsecretofficial.
Xplizit’s soundcloud is soundcloud.com/amanda-iacoviello
JO: Who is Freeze currently listening to? Or what will you be bumping when your Gathering bound?
FR: Depends on the mood. Some days I listen to a lot of classic shit like The Doors, Rolling Stones or some shit from that era. I always listen to what Tech N9ne is doing, I actually like what Tyler The Creator is doing right now a lot. But on my way to the gathering, of course I’m going to be bumping some classic Insane Clown Posse. It’s only right lol.
JO: You’ve worked with several artists over the years, but if you could reach out to anyone who would you love to collaborate with?
FR: I’ve always wanted to work with Tech N9ne to be honest. I respect his style and grind and he would be my first choice as far as living person lol. If I could, I would do a song with Jim Morrison if he was still here. But, I really want to do a song with Dido and I have know idea why lol. But I can’ seem to get the idea out of my head. Usually when shit like this happens, I don’t stop until it becomes real. She’s probably chilling in England right now, not giving a fuck about if she ever makes a hit song again, but I feel the need to make that happen. She has a voice I identify with even to this day lol.
JO: Who would you say have been your inspirations throughout the years?
FR: The birth of my daughter. Just the motivation to take care of my family in general. But, I originally started doing this because I wanted my voice to be heard. I felt I had an opinion worth sharing with the world and I just went with it. What inspires me now is just life as a whole. The good, the bad, the fucked up..all of it. Everything can be made into something beautiful.
JO: I always end these things on a high note, so how about a few shout outs before we go?
Thank you to every fan that stuck by me and supported Mercy Counts Records through the years. None of this could have been done with out them. And my family and friends for always being there for me of course. Even when shit was not looking so good.
Well, unfortunately it looks like that will just about wrap things up here on The Underground Spotlight. I want to thank Freeze and the whole Mercy Counts Records family. Make sure to check out Freeze’s latest EP “If I Ever Die for This” and Xplizit’s Debut on Mercy Count Records, “Word Vomit.” Also, remember that if you have liked what you’ve heard, be sure to stop by and check out Freeze’s performance at this year’s Gathering of the Juggalos.
As always if you would like to be featured right here on the Faygoluvers’ Underground Spotlight just hit me up at [email protected]. Make sure to include a short bio, why you want to/should be featured, a pic or two and a couple tracks. Of course don’t forget to include UGS or something similar in the subject line. So, until next time…
Peace,
Johnny O.
WEBSITES:
Mercy Counts Records Official Site
Beyond Top Secret Official Facebook
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