Sup juggalos and juggalettes? Once again it’s your boy BeZerk and I am back from my slumber, and boy, do I have one hell of an interview for you. This time juggalos, I brought you some real flavor that I know you all will love like a fat kid loves cake or a retard likes cats.
Coming out of Michigan, AJAX and his band The Midwest Connoisseurs have been rocking stages for juggalos for quite a few years now. Even before being hit up for this interview, I had heard about AJAX opening for several shows; so it was much an honor to be able to bring the loyal followers of Faygoluvers.net such a delightful new interview.
AJAX and the Midwest Connoisseurs have rocked show with the likes of ABK, Potluck, The Gathering of the Juggalos, and way too many too name. They are also opening to for Tech N9ne at the legendary Filmore Theatre in Detroit, MI for Tech’s Hostile Takeover Tour 2012. They have also been able to work with ABK, Daddy X, Paradime, Peter Jackson, Mike Troost and many more.
AJAX and the Midwest Connoisseurs also dropped a new FREE (that’s right juggalos, FREE!!!) mixtape called Treble Candy which is linked up in here repeatedly, so feel free to grab that.
Well juggalos, it looks like I’m off to bounce and go write an apology before a busy weekend at work. Hope all you are doing well, and if not, well… Enjoy
Artist: AJAX & The Midwest Connoisseurs
From: Livonia, MI
Rolls with: Purple Hash Productions
BeZerk: Why did you choose the name AJAX & the Midwest Connoisseurs?
AJAX: I was given the name AJAX as a nickname when I was 12 or 13. Eventually I took on the band name The Midwest Connoisseurs, which is fairly self explanatory. A connoisseur is someone who is highly knowledegable about a certain subject and I’ve been told I have good taste, lol. I’d like to consider myself one on a few subjects.
AJAX Flyer. Click to go to PurpleHash.com
BeZerk: Who are some of your inspirations?
AJAX: Green Day, The Doors, AC/DC, Bone Thugs N’ Harmony,ICP, Twiztid, Timbaland, Daft Punk, Kottonmouth Kings, House of Pain, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, HalfBreed, and T.I. to name a few good ones.
BeZerk: What’s your favorite Faygo flavor?
AJAX: Moon Mist or Fruit Punch
BeZerk: You’ve been doing all sorts of shit in the underground, but how long have you been doing music for?
AJAX: I started writing songs and poetry when I was nine, I started rapping when I was thirteen, and then at fourteen, I finally got into the studio for the first time. So that’s over a decade now.. but I feel like I am just coming into my own fully at this point and am growing stronger musically everyday as a producer and songwriter.
BeZerk: What do you think makes you unique from other artists?
AJAX: I think the main thing that seperates me from most artists is my passion for all music in general and willingness to embrace it, and I have really only scratched the surface with that in my career. I am really going to try to showcase that even more with my upcoming projects. I have always loved electronic music and the elements of that in my music are going to be stronger, but my songwriting is so diverse I know I will be able to explore some different territories that my fans have not yet had the chance to see. I also think my positive attitude is also quite different than most artists. Even though I’m sure I’ve acted shy or possibly rude to some people by accident. Over all I try to keep things on an uplifting frequency and embrace the beauty of everything around me.
Flyer for last years Gathering. Click here to like AJAX on Facebook.
BeZerk: Just to have a totally bizarre random question completely irrelevant to this interview, but what did you think about Tupac at the Coachella?
AJAX: Haha, I think it’s hillarious! Fucking holograms man, oh my god the world is gonna change forever, lol. I feel that it kind of looks a video game image the way his movements just cycle over, and not to be a dick but his voice during the talking parts didn’t sound like Pac at all, they could’ve got that guy krazy who was on no limit back in the day, he sounded way more like Pac. I’m sure the people there loved it and I suppose if I was at Coachella tripping balls it would have blown my mind.
BeZerk: You’ve been able to do all sorts of shit in the underground. Who have you been able to work with?
AJAX: Ummm not nearly enough man. I wanna do more collabs with producers, umm lets see, ABK, Daddy X, Paradime, Abrasive Method, Peter Jackson, Mr. Yug, Gameboi, Haggerstown Skeez, my buddy Mike Troost who is a killer musician, my good friend Ashley Wimer, The Undustry Camp, Unstable, AJ Jordan and possibly a few others I can’t think of right now. I’ve done a lot of Production work with Fritz The Cat, Charlie Beans, and Tommy Kozup.
BeZerk: You’ve toured the US. What were some of your favorite shows to do, and who were some of your favorite openers?
AJAX: Traveling anywhere outside of home and performing is fun. I love all of the places I’ve played. The areas that have stood out the most are Buffalo NY, Charlotte, NC, Virginia Beach, VA, and both towns that I went to in New Mexico they were all seriously off the hinges!! Jacksonville, FL in 2010 was banging! Some of my Favorite openers have been Unstable, Head Hurts Monsters, Intrinzik, he gave me a shroom lol, AJ Jordan, 614 Villians, Menace 2 Sobriety, and so many others that we got along with.
AJAX and The Pumpkin King. Click here to follow AJAX on Twitter
BeZerk: Who would you like to work or tour with in the future?
AJAX: Ooo this is a good one and I could probably go on for days. I would love to collaborate and or tour with Pretty Lights, who I think is one of the most underrated producers in the game right now, The Black Keys are a favorite band of mine, and they have just blown up like crazy, but to get in the studio with them would be magical, Jack White is another producer songwriter that I would love to work with, others include Timbaland, Rusko, Flux Pavillion, Madrox and Monoxide from Twiztid, Die Antword, Kanye West, Bassnectar, Mac Miller, Chris Webby, and Bun B, just to name a few. I would love to collaborate musically or perform along side of any of those artists.
BeZerk: If you could do anything you wanted in the underground or in music, what would it be?
AJAX: Well, what I really want to do is play ambassador to this underground scene so to speak, and help bridge the gap to all these different musical worlds. As much as we feel like we are being judged or stereotyped by people sometimes, we have to remember not to do the same and realize that no matter what style someone is known for, they may have many different ideas to voice. To be honest just thinking about exploring different musical worlds with people who are as passionate as I am really excites me. One day I hope to not only release many albums that break musical and creative ground but I also hope to put on a music and art festival that truly unites all styles and highlights all the creative aspects of their individual cultures.
Treble Candy Album Cover. Click here to watch on YouTube
BeZerk:You just dropped a new mixtape called Treble Candy, which can be downloaded for free [Click Here] . What can the juggalos expect from this album?
AJAX: I feel like this is my best work to date even tho its a non published mixtape, my style is very different and very honest, I explore many thoughts on this record that I’m sure a lot of people can relate to. You can ride to this record or you can smooth out to it and relax, I’m all about finding the balance, and in the future I hope people will look forward to being surprised by my stylings.
BeZerk: What else do you have coming up? Any other CDs, mixtapes, music videos, merch, etc in the works?
AJAX: Well we are always making new merch on a regular, so keep visiting www.purplehashshop.com and stay up on the latest. We just made a new shirt for the mixtape! I am definitely working on a few videos currently, and I plan to have some really stellar ones for my new album to add to the collection by the end of the year. Treble Candy is currently available for free download at Purplehash.com and I’m now working on my next mixtape “Bong Rips for Breakfast,” as well as my new album A.D.D. Which may not even drop this year. Bong Rips should be out by late summer and I’m going to have some Exclusive song downloads popping up online that won’t even be on the mixtape. I’ll also have some mind bending dance remixes of random tracks. Because I’m a producer just as much as a lyricist, I may start dropping a lot more instrumental and simple vocal tracks in addition to my usual stuff. I also imagine I’m going to have an E.P. out by the end of the year, before my album drops.
Flyer for Tech N9ne's Hostile Takeover Tour 2012. Click here to go to Purple Hash Shop
BeZerk: When and where are your next few shows for the juggalos to be able to check?
AJAX: Let’s see.. they are mostly around Michigan. I’m playing a party during Tech Fest weekend at The Russell Industrial Center May 26th, and I’m opening up for Tech N9ne’s Hostile Takeover Tour when he comes to Detroit June 7th at The Fillmore. I also have 2 shows with Mickey Avalon on June 28th and 29th, the first show is in Chicago, IL and the second is in Pontiac, MI. All the info is up on Purplehash.com, come out and change the game with us.
Shout outs:
AJAX: Big shout out to all my fans and anyone who has shown any interest in the music or the clothing. Mad love to ABK and Native World of course! Link up with us online, at Purplehash.com, Ajaxfacebook.com, or go straight to the web store at PurpleHashShop.com. I want to thank you guys for the interveiw, I appreciate the support and I hope we talk again soon.
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