Jake Wallace
04/03/06, 08:07 PM
This is an interview I recently conducted with MC Lars (http://www.mclars.com). His new album, The Graduate, is in stores now on Horris Records.
How does it feel to have your first widely distributed full length (The Graduate) officially in stores?
Pretty good! I'm glad it's finally out, the record encapsulates the last year of my life.
You released the album 2 months early via iTunes, did that turn out to be a success?
Yeah, it got leaked early in the UK on BitTorrent so we wanted people to at least have the option of buying it if they wanted. I'm all for downloading free music, but when kids were putting the entire record to download for free off of their blogs, I felt like I had to do something to help speed up the release date. It helped build a stronger Internet buzz too.
You are putting out The Graduate through your own record label (Horris Records) instead of signing to one and having them put it out for you, has that had any negative effect on your ability to tour or promote the record adequately?
Everything seems to be going great. Nettwerk [Lars' management company] is facilitating the release because, really, running your own label is a lot harder than it seems! I'm involved in the financial and creative aspects of the project (being in the mix on distribution, budgets, etc.) but at the end of the day touring is what really promotes records.
“Download This Song” weighs in quite heavily on the issue of downloading music illegally, what do you think the major labels have done wrong in the battle against pirated music and what do you think they could do better?
I don't have all of the answers, but from being a music fan for so long and being involved in the industry, I have some ideas on what they do wrong. You obviously shouldn't sue the fans, because without them music would have no financial means of stability. This is where major labels are confused. Yes, the RIAA and major labels are different, but they are in bed together and it's one big ridiculous mess. In addition to antiquated views of how labels and the RIAA react to file-sharing, they complicate the matter by putting out a lot of crappy music. They don't take creative chances and are quick to sign stuff that fits a mold and drop it when it doesn't go gold in two months. Sure, major labels have always pandered to the lowest common denominator is, but that doesn't necessarily mean that that is what gets the best music out there.
Do you fear that with popular comedic songs like “Signing Emo” and “Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock,” people will fail to realize the message behind slightly more serious tracks like “Download This Song”?
Comedy is a great way of grabbing people's attention and then making them question things. And that's my whole thing - making people laugh but then think. The cool thing about shows like The Simpsons is that they may be written off by some as just a silly comedy, but at the heart that show is so much more. Similarily, people may be quick to write off what I'm doing as a "shtick", but its also a commentary popular culture we live in. I want people to ask questions wike, why does a store that claims to represent rebellious anti-authoritarian youth culture sell crap like Lamb Chop dolls and Tinkerbell pillowcases? Or why is there so much bad emo music on the radio? Or why are kids being sued for downloading music and not wanting to pay $18 for CDs of this bad emo music? The list goes on and on.
Your management company (Nettwerk) has recently helped file suit against the RIAA, on behalf of a family being sued for sharing pirated music files. In their press release they explain that the family contacted them after hearing “Download This Song.” What are your thoughts on this and are you at all concerned that the RIAA or any of the people they represent may try and hurt your career over the lawsuit?
I think it's cool that a song with a "revolutionary" message, such as how Gestapo tactics against 15 year old girls are wrong, actually had an influence on this girl's family's lives. I think it's strange how the press has spun it to make it look like her father is one doing the downloading! I read the article in Rolling Stone and thought that was silly - the point is that it's not a grown-up who was trying to run a piracy ring or anything, it was a little girl who was just trying to listen to some overpriced music for free, and there has been some spin on the article in the RIAA's favor. In terms of the repercussions of being a catalyst for the case, I can't see this as hurting my career. I am really proud of Nettwerk and the family for fighting the RIAA, and it's cool that the song inspired them.
The Graduate features 4 new collaborations with you and other artists, how did each of these come about and did you collaborate with each artist on the lyrics or write their parts for them?
Jaret from Bowling for Soup came in and sang his part that we had written for him, and that came about from being on tour with them in 2005 and becoming friends. I wrote the Hot Topic song and the Matches came in and rocked it and added solos and stuff and put their stylistic stamp on the song. I became friends with them when I toured with them in Australia last year. I had done a show in Connecticut with mc chris, and brought up the idea of collaborating with him when we were backstage, so he came down to the studio in Manhattan and we did the song in one day. My other friend Chris Rojas made the beat and mc chris and I both wrote our own verses over email together. Ill Bill is a friend of my friend Howie, and Howie knew I was a fan of Bill's so he hooked us up. Bill and Q Unique wrote the beat for that track, and Bill and I wrote the lyrics together.
Have you kept in contact with Hearts That Hate after working with them 2 years ago on “Signing Emo”? (Which also appears on The Graduate)
Yeah, last year they contributed their acoustic "Cry Tonight" for the UK "Signing Emo" single, and since then we see each other whenever I'm in Rhode Island. Blake has gotten into yoga, and has been going to California a lot for these meditation retreats. Jacob has been working at a restaurant selling rapidly prepared food to customers in automobiles, Alan has been playing a lot of Xbox 360, and Harlan has been spending time with his girlfriend.
“Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock” became a surprise hit at radio stations across the country, what was your reaction to its success?
What's so strange to me is that that song is so different from the rest of the record and that it became such a big radio hit. But it's cool to have a song on the radio and the Matches have been equally psyched. We're touring together in May so that is pretty appropriate.
Have you received any flak from fans of the song, since you sell merch at Hot Topic? How do you feel about selling MC Lars items and CDs there and insulting them for being corporate and heartless at the same time?
This is how I rationalize it: Just like the Dischord back catalogue, not everything Hot Topic endorses sucks. Just most of it. The fact of the matter is that I was able to make fun of Hot Topic and they still are supportive of me, so in a sense, DIY ethics win in this instance. This is why I have merch there; I try to think of it as subverting the mainstream from within.
Do you really think you can take Magneto? Because I think he could kick your ass.
He can't stop me, I'm on fire tonight.
While we’re on the topic, Darth Vader could kick your ass too.
He could if he had space game.
“21 Concepts” features 21 unused song ideas, were there any unused concepts you were so embarrassed of, that you didn’t even include them in this song?
Yes, there are twelve other concepts that I am embarrassed about and the album is called Radio Pet Fencing.
Do you think Lil’ John is going to try and kill you in your sleep if/when he hears “Generic Crunk Rap”?
To put it bluntly, crunk is killing hip-hop. It trades intelligent lyrics for mindless chants and it trades interesting production for sloppy and loud party music. While this is fun every once and while, crunk is the mass-marketed, insane McDonalds of hip-hop music. I thought it would be appropriate to write a song that lyrically distills everything crunk is about. This may be offensive to Lil' Jon and the East Side "Boyz", but the fact that they are still releasing records is equally offensive to the discerning American public.
Lastly, did you call the album, The Graduate, because you just graduated from college or because you like to sleep with hot older women?
A little bit from column A and and little bit from column B.
How does it feel to have your first widely distributed full length (The Graduate) officially in stores?
Pretty good! I'm glad it's finally out, the record encapsulates the last year of my life.
You released the album 2 months early via iTunes, did that turn out to be a success?
Yeah, it got leaked early in the UK on BitTorrent so we wanted people to at least have the option of buying it if they wanted. I'm all for downloading free music, but when kids were putting the entire record to download for free off of their blogs, I felt like I had to do something to help speed up the release date. It helped build a stronger Internet buzz too.
You are putting out The Graduate through your own record label (Horris Records) instead of signing to one and having them put it out for you, has that had any negative effect on your ability to tour or promote the record adequately?
Everything seems to be going great. Nettwerk [Lars' management company] is facilitating the release because, really, running your own label is a lot harder than it seems! I'm involved in the financial and creative aspects of the project (being in the mix on distribution, budgets, etc.) but at the end of the day touring is what really promotes records.
“Download This Song” weighs in quite heavily on the issue of downloading music illegally, what do you think the major labels have done wrong in the battle against pirated music and what do you think they could do better?
I don't have all of the answers, but from being a music fan for so long and being involved in the industry, I have some ideas on what they do wrong. You obviously shouldn't sue the fans, because without them music would have no financial means of stability. This is where major labels are confused. Yes, the RIAA and major labels are different, but they are in bed together and it's one big ridiculous mess. In addition to antiquated views of how labels and the RIAA react to file-sharing, they complicate the matter by putting out a lot of crappy music. They don't take creative chances and are quick to sign stuff that fits a mold and drop it when it doesn't go gold in two months. Sure, major labels have always pandered to the lowest common denominator is, but that doesn't necessarily mean that that is what gets the best music out there.
Do you fear that with popular comedic songs like “Signing Emo” and “Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock,” people will fail to realize the message behind slightly more serious tracks like “Download This Song”?
Comedy is a great way of grabbing people's attention and then making them question things. And that's my whole thing - making people laugh but then think. The cool thing about shows like The Simpsons is that they may be written off by some as just a silly comedy, but at the heart that show is so much more. Similarily, people may be quick to write off what I'm doing as a "shtick", but its also a commentary popular culture we live in. I want people to ask questions wike, why does a store that claims to represent rebellious anti-authoritarian youth culture sell crap like Lamb Chop dolls and Tinkerbell pillowcases? Or why is there so much bad emo music on the radio? Or why are kids being sued for downloading music and not wanting to pay $18 for CDs of this bad emo music? The list goes on and on.
Your management company (Nettwerk) has recently helped file suit against the RIAA, on behalf of a family being sued for sharing pirated music files. In their press release they explain that the family contacted them after hearing “Download This Song.” What are your thoughts on this and are you at all concerned that the RIAA or any of the people they represent may try and hurt your career over the lawsuit?
I think it's cool that a song with a "revolutionary" message, such as how Gestapo tactics against 15 year old girls are wrong, actually had an influence on this girl's family's lives. I think it's strange how the press has spun it to make it look like her father is one doing the downloading! I read the article in Rolling Stone and thought that was silly - the point is that it's not a grown-up who was trying to run a piracy ring or anything, it was a little girl who was just trying to listen to some overpriced music for free, and there has been some spin on the article in the RIAA's favor. In terms of the repercussions of being a catalyst for the case, I can't see this as hurting my career. I am really proud of Nettwerk and the family for fighting the RIAA, and it's cool that the song inspired them.
The Graduate features 4 new collaborations with you and other artists, how did each of these come about and did you collaborate with each artist on the lyrics or write their parts for them?
Jaret from Bowling for Soup came in and sang his part that we had written for him, and that came about from being on tour with them in 2005 and becoming friends. I wrote the Hot Topic song and the Matches came in and rocked it and added solos and stuff and put their stylistic stamp on the song. I became friends with them when I toured with them in Australia last year. I had done a show in Connecticut with mc chris, and brought up the idea of collaborating with him when we were backstage, so he came down to the studio in Manhattan and we did the song in one day. My other friend Chris Rojas made the beat and mc chris and I both wrote our own verses over email together. Ill Bill is a friend of my friend Howie, and Howie knew I was a fan of Bill's so he hooked us up. Bill and Q Unique wrote the beat for that track, and Bill and I wrote the lyrics together.
Have you kept in contact with Hearts That Hate after working with them 2 years ago on “Signing Emo”? (Which also appears on The Graduate)
Yeah, last year they contributed their acoustic "Cry Tonight" for the UK "Signing Emo" single, and since then we see each other whenever I'm in Rhode Island. Blake has gotten into yoga, and has been going to California a lot for these meditation retreats. Jacob has been working at a restaurant selling rapidly prepared food to customers in automobiles, Alan has been playing a lot of Xbox 360, and Harlan has been spending time with his girlfriend.
“Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock” became a surprise hit at radio stations across the country, what was your reaction to its success?
What's so strange to me is that that song is so different from the rest of the record and that it became such a big radio hit. But it's cool to have a song on the radio and the Matches have been equally psyched. We're touring together in May so that is pretty appropriate.
Have you received any flak from fans of the song, since you sell merch at Hot Topic? How do you feel about selling MC Lars items and CDs there and insulting them for being corporate and heartless at the same time?
This is how I rationalize it: Just like the Dischord back catalogue, not everything Hot Topic endorses sucks. Just most of it. The fact of the matter is that I was able to make fun of Hot Topic and they still are supportive of me, so in a sense, DIY ethics win in this instance. This is why I have merch there; I try to think of it as subverting the mainstream from within.
Do you really think you can take Magneto? Because I think he could kick your ass.
He can't stop me, I'm on fire tonight.
While we’re on the topic, Darth Vader could kick your ass too.
He could if he had space game.
“21 Concepts” features 21 unused song ideas, were there any unused concepts you were so embarrassed of, that you didn’t even include them in this song?
Yes, there are twelve other concepts that I am embarrassed about and the album is called Radio Pet Fencing.
Do you think Lil’ John is going to try and kill you in your sleep if/when he hears “Generic Crunk Rap”?
To put it bluntly, crunk is killing hip-hop. It trades intelligent lyrics for mindless chants and it trades interesting production for sloppy and loud party music. While this is fun every once and while, crunk is the mass-marketed, insane McDonalds of hip-hop music. I thought it would be appropriate to write a song that lyrically distills everything crunk is about. This may be offensive to Lil' Jon and the East Side "Boyz", but the fact that they are still releasing records is equally offensive to the discerning American public.
Lastly, did you call the album, The Graduate, because you just graduated from college or because you like to sleep with hot older women?
A little bit from column A and and little bit from column B.