Exposed Vocals Interviews PYCE
Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
PYCE: I’ve heard about Exposed Vocals previously from a couple of friends, but never really inquired further untill they followed me on twitter. Now I’m signed up and recommending them to other artist’s I know.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
PYCE: I was born near Addington Beach, Durban, but moved to Johannesburg at a young age with my mother, and later lived with her friend after she went AWOL. It was him who I lived with that got me into music. He was a collecter of EBM, Electronica and all other electronic genres of that time like Wolfsheim, VNV Nation, Gary Numan, BlutEngel and many more. I began rapping and dancing hip hop at the age of 14 by influnence of a friend I met, and later (16) dropped both to focus solely on producing.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
PYCE: My artist name (PYCE) is actually based on my real name (Pace) and is prononunced the same way. The day I was born, the hospital spelt my name incorrectly, replacing the ‘a’ with a ‘y’. I feel it means something deeper to me because in essence it was my original name, the first name I had upon birth. As a rapper and hip hop producer I am known as Pezus The God (compliments of RE-G), merely because I want to control the world.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
PYCE: Online music sharing has changed the music industry for ever, that much is obvious. I think that online music sharing is a good advancement for music but it needs to be more controlled. I would give away a lot of my tracks for free, and I wont charge if I don’t have to, but if I do charge just know that track will be the sickest you will hear, period.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
PYCE: Well, in reality I am also a start-up, but if I had to give tips to anybody it would be something someone once told me and has turned out to be very true: “If you want something, your very desire for it will bring it”. So if you are constantly going out and trying to get something going with your music, the mere fact that you are trying will result in the ‘Universe’ or ‘God’ (or whoever you do or do not believe in) will bring about circumstances to help you get it. The more you try, the closer you get…just ask the mountain climber
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
PYCE: I have made mistakes during performances, some worse than others. This wasn’t my fault but at one time Squad Empire ( the crew I roll with) had a gig. During Blazey’s verse of his song, our man behind the desk decides that he’s had enough of this and switches the beat up from the middle of nowhere into another track. Lucikily it was my track and Blazey had featured on it, so he just had to go with the flow. It was a major confusing moment but the crowd seemed to think it was all part of the show. I wont lie though, the switch was very clean.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
PYCE: I have been on tour once, but it wasn’t my tour. I had a mentor and so I went everywhere he went and would open for him now and then during hes gigs. December 2015 was kind of depressing when we all went for some breakfast. We just had a lit af set the previous night, we are all deprived of sleep and had massive hangovers. To our dismay we returned to a very empty tour bus. Close to R100 000 worth of equipment; Mac’s, Speakers, Phones and some of our gear all gone. Its still a mystery as to how they were able to sneak away with all that in a parking lot unseen…Welcome to South Africa hey.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
PYCE: Generally I just assign time to producing, and what im feeling like at the moment I will try make that. So if I feel chilled and at ease, that’s the kind of song I make. I normally listen to artists of that genre type before commencing production, so if im making a chill out track Ill listen to some Seven Lions, Above and Beyond, Twofold e.t.c. I allow the moment to define the song, so I don’t really have a set process.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
PYCE: Souncloud:https://soundcloud.com/pyce-30619241/tracks
Twitter: @PYCE_Official
Squad Empire: https://soundcloud.com/user-105212252
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
PYCE: Well at this moment there are only 3 songs on my new soundcloud, and in my opinion they are all embarising. My production level has increased tenfold compared to what is up now, so don’t judge just yet 😉
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
PYCE: Wow! I would def invest in some upgrades; get a Mac, set up a nice studio at home, invest in some gear for live. I would use some of it to travel and see the world, get new influences. The rest I would save. With the time off I would just work on perfecting my craft. Simple life goals.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
PYCE: At the moment I have a makeshift home studio; Behringer C1 microphone and audio box, Yamah HS8 monitors, American Audio headphones, and a Prodipe MIDI keyboard. I produce moslty on my laptop with FL Studio 12. Massive, Serum, Sytrus, Harmor and Nexus is all I use at the moment. Its doing well for me so im not planning for an upgrade, but if it comes Ill accept it.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
PYCE: Im not very into self-promotion at the moment, with trying to perfect my craft and all, so posts on twitter now and then, Facebook and friends is how I get word out. Mostly its word of mouth marketing, but I am going to kick into promotion overdrive with my new shid, so ask me then.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Artist: This question is very limiting *laughs*. There is a list of artists and places on my bucket list; like collab’s and performances with Borgore, Styles and Complete, Seven Lions, SNAILS, Savant, Getter, Skrillex, Shirk, Pendulum, Adventure Club, Krewell e.t.c. I really don’t mind performing anywhere but places like Maddison Square Garden, Slane Castle, Budapest, Amsterdam and California is a must, and Sydney and Blue Frog in Mumbai are all going to get conquered by me. And just as a triubte to a man that has so much respect in the industry, I would absolutely love to perform with the late David Bowie, Rest His Soul.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
PYCE: Well apart from my new music which I am so excited about, im going to be co-producing the Squad Empire EP coming this year along with features and collabs. Ive also got some features on the cards with hot local South Afican acts like Lil’ Chrispy Ent, Shezzy K, Prince Manonga and more. This is going to be an exciting year and Im looking forward to it all.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
PYCE: Before the music came I was a game and web page designer ( nerdy I know). I was like 12 at the time and collabing with a friend of mine from pimary school to make the most amazing non-story based sandbox game. Unfortuneatly we never ended up finishing it. I still have it on my PC and should probably sell it, it has a pretty dope concept.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
PYCE: The first album I ever bought was Will Smith ‘Lost and Found’. Will was one of my favorite actors so when I saw he rapped (at the same time I had also started rapping) I was the first to get the CD. ‘Lost and Found’, ‘Tell Me Why’ and “Loretta’ were songs I related to immediately, and would spend hours with them on repeat. Ive never really followed him as a rapper after that but I still respect those tracks.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
PYCE: I have revolved my whole life around music so there isn’t much juggling to be done. All my friends are producers or singers/rappers or some how involved with music, and I sell beats part time for income. I make sure to always set time aside for me and my music though, its almost law!
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
PYCE: Well I’ve listed some of my upcoming projects for the year, but 2016 is goung to be the year I define myself as an artist and a person. New Music, More Videos, More Heat, Squad Empire is what you should look to this year.