Artist Interviews
Interview with Daforce on Hip Hop, the Music Industry & What’s Next
MuzicNotez: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.
What kind of struggles does a hip-hop artist like yourself go through in comparison to a garage band or folk singer?
Daforce: The main thing is getting venues to book us
Hip hop has become so popular that even an underground artist has the same problems as a bigger artist the expectations are almost the same. Support and success is seen differently.
In other music communities the support comes easier and the expectation of success and popularity isn’t a needed factor from the grass root level.
Is it difficult to go from indie artist to actor? Is that something you have attempted?
Daforce: It is very difficult because you have to deal with the union it is difficult to get casted for movies and tv if you don’t have the credits the role will go to someone that has it. The fine is very high if they use someone that isn’t credited. I have been in 4 situations where the producer was shooting and they upgraded my scenes for the assistant to come back and say stop filming go to the next scene we wont be even if the producer loves you his hands are tied. That happened on Leslie Nelson’s space travesty where I was a musician and upgraded to a small talking part a few lines but got cut out for that reason no credits and he said sorry kid thought I could do something but keep working. The second was on the set of the Jackal there was a prison scene where I was upgraded to a small scene where we could act up yell and curse. The same thing happened there. So you get the idea yea it’s very hard.
Where did you learn the business side of music? Who were your mentors in that?
Daforce: I did a lot of street promo and my manager at the time had contracts with a few labels like No limit records, Roy Jones jr label to do some of their radio and club promos in the late 90s and 2000s. We did the southern belt from Florida to Arkansas.
Being a veteran in this music business, is it difficult to navigate? Is radio play an important factor these days or is it all about streaming now?
Daforce: Yes its difficult because of all the expectations of everyone and everyone is looking at something different and have high expectations. Yes, radio play is very important if you want to broadcast to hundreds of thousands and millions at one time. Where as streaming you can reach hundreds of thousands but not in 1 moment that’s the big difference.
With a large catalog of music, nearly 300 songs, collabs and features, do you still find it difficult to break through? What does it take beyond just releasing music?
Daforce: I would have found it nearly impossible to break through as a mainstream artist without medium size and major labels. However, that was never my focus because I knew early keep your creative control and secondly not to take funding and not be able to return on investment. That is not cool just stay in your lane having fun and sending music was my main goal. With a big catalog, I knew I could make a decent living eventually. You would be surprised to see what being consistent could bring you and the people that connect with you based on your work output.
Not only do you create music, but you run your own label and make a living outside of that. How difficult is it to handle all of that with a niche fan base as an independent artist?
Daforce: Its hard work but I always remind myself that my earning potential is bigger than the average major artist is. Now a superstar is something different they make the most. However, as an indie my fans could spend $100 any given moment on my music, merch and shows, and we keep most of the profits. It accumulates and every year it gets more exposure, this allows us to create and release more content without stress.
Have you worked with artists outside of your hip hop genre? What has that experience been like?
Daforce: I work with all kinds of genres and the reason being is I started out playing instruments first and understanding what it really takes to create art. Sometimes it is not pretty or polish sounding art but it’s still art.
What do you think the differences are between the American and Canadian music markets? Pros and cons?
Daforce: I do not think there is much difference at all with the exception in population on the grand scale. The difference we see are not differences I would say its demand and exposure and control over different regions. Toronto is like L.A or NY with a lot of urban exposure, Montreal is like N.O, it is just America has a bigger market which means more urban, more folk, more rock outlets.
Success as an artist can mean many things, what does it mean to you? What advice would you give to new emerging artists?
Daforce: Success to me is achieving whatever you set out be. I know many people who set out to make a living but quit because they could not make a living in music and did not understand the whole process and succumbed to the internal and family pressure.
Wearing many hats, like we mentioned before, as a rap artist / producer and an entrepreneur businessman, what are the differences in those roles?
Daforce: Basically it has the same formula work work work all 3 roles are result based jobs.
One of the artists on your label is Curtis Dayne, what has your experience been working with him and cross genres?
Daforce: It has been great experience and fun to watch every ones faces and expressions. Some people said he is a cheap version of Bjork, some said Rick Astley, and Even Daryl Hall imagine that, but most commonly Capital Cities. So the fusion of hip-hop makes it something different, people are warming up to his sound alot of similar sounding artist is emerging lately proving our formula is working.
Music has changed a lot over the years, from vinyl, cassettes and cd’s, now to mostly all digital streaming (although vinyl has come back a lot), which do you prefer? How do you feel about all that?
Daforce: I personally liked the physical form stuff but digital is cool also.
Being a music vet, do you still think it’s important to tour when promoting a new release? How do you promote new releases?
Daforce: Well for us we do not tour to promote a release, we release and build momentum then do a series of shows. However, tour we cannot say that. We do not cover that much territory in a release to set up a tour.
We love supporting independent artists here like yourself, why did you decide to stay indie? What are the benefits?
Daforce: Everything has to balance out financially in the end you have to be content with your choices, not that I am opposed to the majors at all. They have upgraded a bit so you never know, they survive off of result and I survive off the same thing.
What artists inspired you as an artist to this point? Who are your favorite artists?
Daforce: Wow wow I will just say that I’ve been inspired by a lot of people over the years, musician of all genres to rappers, I met Gordon light foot, Captain and Tennille as a kid, To Prince when he came to Montreal. You meet many people over the years and continuously get inspired.
Can you expand upon that and list a whole top 10 list?
Daforce: Very hard to do but I do have lists for each Genres but Ill say my hip hop list which changes sometimes. In no particular order
Man I hate these lists because they’re all brilliant for different reasons.
1: Mount Westmore which has 4 of my top guys in there
2: Rakim
3: Pac
4: Ras Kass
5: Redman
6: Sadat X
7. Nas
8. MC Hammer
9. LL
10. Biggie
11. Krs one
What artists would you best be compared to?
Daforce: A few people told me MF Doom to because of rapping style but because of being so unique and different.
In a memorable music career up to this point, what’s your most memorable moments?
Daforce: Meeting and talking with the people I did. learning and getting advice from the best. You would be surprised who you’ll meet in a 30 year span in the business starting out as a teenager.
What is the most important thing you can do as an indie artist to be heard? Do you have specific intentions with your music career and the music you create?
Daforce: I think as an indie the best thing you can do is get as much exposure as possible and remember if you are good people will knock you down while comparing successful achievements of others against yours, grow thick skin and keep going.
Looking back, if ya could change anything or do it all over again, what changes would you make?
Daforce: Nothing because the truth is you learn from failures and it would be like saying I wish I was this person or that person which I never feel anyhow.
What else are you working on? What can we expect to see and hear from you in the future?
Daforce: Im working on a album with Foundation 6 (Daforce, Curtis Dayne, Spoilt Child, Geneva Simz, and crew)
Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your music? Any message for your fans?
Daforce: Lyrics are important look at it as our way of communicating with you. Lots of question and answer it’s all there!!
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