The Spring Up EP Archives - The Come Up Show

[Interview] Shad talks “Flying Colours,” fighting fear and pride, and why it’s important to remember to remember

Photo credit: Danielle Da Silva

Interview by: Martin Bauman How do you follow an album that won a Juno? That was the pressing question facing Shad as he set to work on his latest album, Flying Colours. His response? Take the same approach as always, trying to write music worth sharing and explore ideas worth talking about - something he had plenty of time to do after completing his master's of Liberal Studies at Simon Fraser University. The result, in Shad's fourth full-length album, is a thoughtful offering that delves into the topics of success and failure, fear and pride, and the power of truth, all while displaying Shad's typical honesty and humour. As a result, it may just be the best album yet for the Vancouver-based "most-rewinded Rwandese." We caught up with Shad at his homecoming show in London to talk about Flying Colours, fighting fear and pride, why it's important to remember to remember, and much more. Read the full interview after the jump.

Interviews Journal

[Interview] Skratch Bastid talks Spring Up EP, favourite Toronto emcee, Producer Album and more

Chedo

Last month we had the pleasure of having DJ Skratch Bastid spin a live set on The Come Up Show Radio. If you caught the show live then you remember how amazing the set was; if you missed out don't worry we got you covered with a quick sample of his performance. After the set we had the opportunity to chop it up and I think it will be of interest to you especially if you are a Shad fan (WHO ISN'T?). J.R. asked Skratch how long it took to record his collaborative EP with Shad, The Spring Up, if you had to guess I bet you wouldn't say TWO DAYS. Thats how quickly they put the majority of the project together. Skratch also expanded on the recording process and told us if the extra joints that didn't make the EP will ever be released or not. Now I know I told everyone that you wouldn't be able to hear ANY of Skratch's set recorded and that you had to listen to the radio show live. Skratch granted us special permission and I'm happy to treat you with an unreleased verse on Shad's "Stylin" from Chip Fu of the Fu-Schnickens (shh!!! for your ears only). Since we were playing Rich Kidd instrumentals the latter part of the interview I asked Skratch who his favourite emcees from Toronto are which you have to watch to find out! We had to know what Skratch is up to next before we let him go. He told us he is interested in creating a Skratch Bastid Producer Album along the lines of Mark Ronson, where he has a whole bunch of musical styles and artists that he can showcase. If you've had the pleasure to see a live show by Skratch Bastid then you know he loves to play all types of music and that Hip-Hop is his first passion that led him to explore of all types of music. I hope you enjoy our interview with DJ Skratch Bastid on The Come Up Show check it out in full on The Come Up Show TV and make sure to subscribe!

[Video] Shad Spits a New Verse

Martin Bauman

Yeah, it's time to drop everything once again. Out of nowhere, Shad lets loose a lengthy new verse over Kanye West's "Grammy Family", in anticipation of his upcoming album Flying Colours. Clocking in at almost 7 minutes of straight rhyming, the video might remind you of another Shad freestyle video, and it's equally impressive. If you haven't done so yet, make sure you check out Shad's recent EP with Skratch Bastid, The Spring Up. Check out the video below, and make sure you watch to the end for a sneak peek of Flying Colours. The album is set for release this fall.

Videos

[EP] Shad & Skratch Bastid – “The Spring Up”

Martin Bauman

And now, the moment you've been waiting for. Shad and Skratch Bastid just let loose their collaborative EP, The Spring Up. The five-track offering has a classic (slight pun intended), cut-heavy sound, with features from Cadence Weapon and DJ Jazzy Jeff. The Spring Up has an easygoing feel, and for an EP, it also sounds quite polished - much more so than melancholy and the infinite shadness, although that's no dig at the previous EP. For more on the EP, make sure to read our interview with Skratch Bastid (shameless bit of self-promotion: he described the interview as the best questions he's ever received). Stream and download The Spring Up EP below. Shouts to Pigeons and Planes on the premiere.

"The Spring Up is the result of fortunate timing, grapefruit Perrier, a shared high school obsession with Outkast’s Aquemeni, and a couple of sessions at Skratch Bastid’s Toronto studio this April. The 5 track collection marks a moment in time for the pair; embodying the spirit of Spring and also serving as a sort of prelude to Shad’s upcoming full-length, to which Skratch Bastid also contributes."

Audio EPs

[Interview] Skratch Bastid talks “The Spring Up” EP with Shad, his friendship with Jazzy Jeff, and all things vinyl

Martin Bauman

Skratch Bastid Interview on The Come Up Show

Interview by: Martin Bauman When it comes to hip-hop, the Maritimes really have a wealth of talent. Halifax, in particular, has served as a hip-hop cultural hotbed over the past decade or two. Time after time, the city has produced new artists who grow to new heights under the tutelage of the previous generation. One of the latest examples of this is Bedford, Nova Scotia's Skratch Bastid. The three-time Scribble Jam champion and Red Bull Thre3style ambassador has cemented his place as one of Canada's most talented deejays, and also one of its most promising producers: in 2008, Bastid was a Producer of the Year Juno nominee for his work on Buck 65's Situation. Now based in Toronto, Bastid has been working on Shad's latest album, Flying Colours, and in the meantime is getting ready to release a collaborative EP with Shad called The Spring Up. The Come Up Show caught up with Skratch Bastid to discuss the upcoming EP, his friendship with DJ Jazzy Jeff, his vinyl collection, and much, much more. Read the full interview after the jump.

Interviews Journal