artwork cover by Damaris, @daaaaydreeam
With the merge of 2 artists for this album being 2kSwerve involving Wallo2k @imwallo2k and Valleyswerve @valleyswerve mixing their styles together along the Wallo2k aesthetic which comes from "drain," meaning that it comes from originality and experimentation that comes from his work. Along side "drain" in the tracks from this album such as Era: Dosmil, La Vida, Vampiro, and Wizardly Flow 101 which incorporates the style of ValleySwerve which is Futureism, Future House. With Futureism along with a reggaeton style and while listening to this album there were things that caught my attention from the transitions to the references mentioned in the songs to the slang used as well. While being a 7 track album there is certainly a lot to be had. The amount of times I've listened to Era: Dosmil from the raw version sent to me through text to the finalized version. Listening to that police siren always catches me off guard to bumping Vampiro at social gatherings and in my car. I had a lot of fun listening to this album. With that being said Wallo2k does mention that with this album is "to make it a 956 project something that the 956 can hone in on. From an original sound to push that barrier. Especially with ValleySwerve."
If you haven't listened to it I'd recommend here is the link! If you have listened to it what do you think?
This is 2kSwerve.
We start off with some shout outs as Valley Swerve mentioning his co producer ChezNox along with Chez doing Vampiro. Jumex Palmas for being a part of Vampiro. @mxrcoknows for working on the video as Wallo2k mentions. His other videographers notmanagedbyme who worked on the planet zion video. Noimnotwhite working on the Mas Viral along with Japan Ot. The Roxch, @theroxch engineered some of the tracks on the album. There certainly is a lot of people involved. Shout out Damaris/daydreams she did the 2kSwerve cover art
We begin by asking what kind of styles do they both have as ValleySwerve mentions "futureism, future house, future bass. Predicting what the sounds would be in the future. Very stereo very spacey." As Wallo2k adds in by saying "I would like my music to one day be inside videogames from the fun aspect to the most serious. Besides the rapping there's the sound design. I learned a lot of sound from ValleySwerve working through this album." With there two styles merged I'll say that they put together along with everyone else a good project. I was hooked on Era:Dosmil from the moment I heard it through an audio message on my phone just having it on repeat. From the Broadcast Intro leading into Era: Dosmil you have hear both of these artist synced up very well.
What got these 2 artists to collaborate together? As ValleySwerve says "I think I shitposted enough on the 'RGV Baddest Hip Hop Artist' group that it caught Wallo's attention. When I got interviewed by Raymus Media he talked to me about the facebook group as well. When it comes to Wallo he agreed on my sentiments that a lot of the 'OG' artists don't want to change the 'rap game' when they should take into account experimentation.' Wallo adds in by saying "considering when you listen to mexican, latino, urbano it all falls under specific categories and it can be 'mainstream' and we can see how some of these artists will push it and try new things, but to some extent." I do agree with artists to be able to experiment and try something new. When it comes to art you never know what medium you'll end up liking and mixing with your own, but even in music this is the case as well. You don't know what you will end up with. In this instance Wallo and Valley Swerve took the opportunity to work together and create this album.
When it came to making the album was there any obstacles as they say "there were mastering issues, recording issues, mixing issues, and we weren't okay with some of the final songs. There was an instance when there was a recording, but it actually didnt' get recorded." Wallo continues by saying "along the way through this album there was so many different versions of these songs that I wasn't going to just 'settle' to this 'one and done' when we had to just get it right. I began to work on my deliveries and trying new things and adding new things to these tracks. There was so much that this is the process." With the idea of these song having different variations before the final version makes me wonder on how they sounded like for sure! We always see the final product and sometimes we get the chance to listen to demos, but knowing that artists face obstacles in their various types of work it just happens, but it's not what we tend to see. Before I finish I just remembered that the Vampiro Track with the red plant on the cover on Spotify is actually a demo compared to the final version on the 2kSwerve album. If you listen to both of them back to back you will catch the differences as mentioned by Wallo.
What can they say about the album, what do they like about it the most? They mention a couple of things such as ValleySwerve bringing up the lyrics being "regional along with the sound and the 'drain' movement. What gives it the most character? Well it involves the aesthetic/style of Wallo2k. It's a unique album and there won't be any other sound like it." Wallo adds in by saying "some people may call it a 'flop' but I'm used to these kind of numbers. The Vampiro video has less than 100 views and the video itself only got me one subscriber. There has been so much that has gone into the album and the videos. I will be working on other things, but this project will be something I look back on to remind myself to push the boundaries. Looking at this project and thinking this is '2kSwerve' this is a 'Wallo2k/ValleySwerve beat' overtime its all developing." What I do like about the album as mentioned is the references it has from Familia Pelucha, the "lonchitos", the slang used in the songs. The transitions we will speak about in just a moment. There is little things that make this album into what it is completely. It is 2 separate artists, but they are 1 in this project and that has to be what I like the most. Very different styles and sounds when it comes to their work as individuals, but they come together create a "956 Project."
What do they wish to evoke from the listener when it comes to the album starting with Wallo as he says "I have a lot of crazy punchlines so I would like for them to be surprised or shocked or just confused in a good way more like having their breath taking away. There was a friend I have and I showed him one of my songs I believe it was 'Planeta Zion' when the beginning of the song plays and the hook plays he says 'it's different' due to the hook. He was making fun of me in a good way, but I got him with it. That right there is a weird feeling, like he didn't know how to react the 'ay dios mio, ay dios mio, ay dios mio.' So the element of surprise is what I'm going for." Valley Swerve adds in by saying "I would want the listeners for this album to become their identity. Take for artists being re-shared and being re-posted because it has been made their identity. I do feel like 2kSwerve has the opportunity for that." Wallo continues by saying "If you're reading this right now I'd say to just give the album a chance and listen to one song, If you don't want to listen to Intro because it's a skit at least listen to one full song and see what happens. I want to say after this it might stay 'experimental' but I believe I have found my sound. I have found my direction through my learning and my learning through the game not to sound corny. I learned a lot through ValleySwerve." For sure I was caught off guard by the transitions from Wizardly Flow 101, Vampiro with its references and with how it just got stuck in my head along with Era: Dosmil. Even just listening to the skit in the beginning I was ready as I was listening to this for the first time on my drive back home from work on the expressway. In a sense would Wallo say that this album has evoked HIM as it is a project he will be looking back on? Now that he has also found his "direction" as mentioned.
Do they have any favorite tracks off the album? Valleyswerve starts us off with "Mas Viral its the hardest one. It's got that throwback to edgy soundcloud era, but not too much, but more like in a 'commercial' way. It's the banger." Wallo adds in by mentioning "fun fact when it comes to 'mas viral' when it comes to this song there's an artist named 'Anuel AA' I named it the song after his ex-girlfriend due to their breakup and now he has a new girlfriend. Like yes this useless information but taken into consideration of Yailin 'la mas viral.' As he mentions this news/"controversy" in his song happening at the time as he mentions "I also bring up the talk of crypto currency. Bringing up two things being brought up on two different sides. That's why the song is bilingual." Now that Wallo mentions that about "Mas Viral" that's a very interesting take on how to make a song bilingual by taking news happening on two different sides and incorporating the sounds/language to each section. Along with ValleySwerve mentioning it being a very "meta" song as well. If you've listened to the album what would you say your favorite track is? Can you guess mine? (I'm pretty sure I've made them obvious)
What can be said about some of the artistic choices in the album as we bring up the vocal distortions in "La Vida" towards the end of the song. Which is their own twist as the song plays. Wallo2k says "I reversed my verse that I speak on." With bringing up Wizardly Flow 101 which they mention it's called "tape stops." Calling it a "classic motif in rap. " Wallo2k says he wants to have the listener or let the listener just play the song. That they don't need to waiting on something, but rather have them entertained throughout the track. Rather than "expecting more" just have them enjoying it. As myself bringing up questions about the tracks brings it back to what Wallo2k refers to being "entertained." When it comes to the transitions, beat stops in the song Vampiro along with the visuals shown in the Vampiro music video. Wallo2k mentions he is a very "hook" based artist along with how he structures his work "Cuando me ven se cojen suspiro. En la noche parezco vampiro" as he is experimenting with his structure with Vampiro as an example. We continue by using Wizardly Flow 101 as an example with how towards the middle of the song it switches up to a more "game" like instrumental or as ValleySwerve calls it a "classic tape stop." Due to a more future sounding beat to a more "game" like sound. ValleySwerve mentions Chez did the first half of the song until the switch. It's all done something to "catch people off guard" when it comes to the production as ValleySwerves adds in as well. It's an "element of surprise." Fun fact vegeta was sampled in the track he's the one you can hear during the switch up.
One thing ValleySwerve and Wallo2k mention that caught my attention was the sound or rather the implementations in rap. How in some instances the guitar riffs are sampled off other bands, but in the example used in this case being "Gunna" that guitar will become more used as time goes on. Is the guitar the future of the rap game?
We continue by asking what their thoughts on experimentation and ValleySwerve says it's very important "due to our advancements in sound design" by also "accepting change, but only if you want to. We understand that there are traditional genres. It's what you do to change things up. Experimentation is a scale for sure." Wallo2k adds in by saying "we shouldn't be scared to experiment, but there is a pro and con. For someone who doesn't put out too much or doesn't works on their craft too much shouldn't experiment too quickly. In my case I don't really care as I've rebranded and just continue. For some they may be used to what is 'traditional' in their sense. Someone can come up and change the game with experimentation and can create a 'wave/genre' while still being an individual. With this we can use corridos tumbados as an example. While people will say 'oh the original corridos are better,' but things change. In my end 2kSwerve is very experimental along with the work done with ValleySwerve. Even with experiments you never know how they can go, but we worked on keeping in control and we are glad on this came out."
What are their thoughts on the local valley,
ValleySwere: I don't know if there's a real way to answer this. What is a "good" scene? I think there is a lack of unity in the community. If the RGV Baddest Hip Hop facebook group can be an analogy it can be toxic. Even with the amazing talented people here like b11ce who is truly not afraid to experiment. There is quality in the valley, but the toxicity it just goes all over the place, which is the environment. Why the competition or people feel like it's competitive when we're all making different art. With all this we could just bump each other?
Wallo2k: In a scene, being a musician like someone else who has a passion for what they do. Why do we need a scene? Aren't we passed the need for performances? We are independent artists, we do our own shit. I don't think there's a need for a scene. Even in this "scene" I would say what's important is constancy. I'm just looking forward to seeing that happens consistent rather sporadic.
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