Exposed Vocals Interviews BLOCK 29
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
BLOCK 29: .We are a hip hop crew of 3 by the name Ozzie,ICEY & Siege.2 rappers 7 one singer.We grew up in the avenues on a block of flats as youngsters in the avenues in the capital city of Harare Zimbabwe.We decided to become artists because music was a big part of our growing up.We watched a lot of TV & seeing hiphop music videos by some of the greats like P diddy & Mase,R kelly the way the music just moved us made us say we wanna be those guys one day.For they were coming from the same things we were experiencing so seeing them make it with music made us Artists at heart.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
     BLOCK 29: We grew up on a block of flats in the avenues of our city Harare called shelter court.We stayed in number 29.We named ourselves after that place because there we faced a lot of challenges there as kids growing up with a physically abusive dad who divorced early because of his ways with us & mum.He got custody so it continued with us.Growing up poor,going to school with no lunch.It was a lot so it was ICEY’s wise idea to name ourselves after something that we could identify ourselves with.So because we got out of that place alive. BLOCK 29 represents the struggle,it represents strength & growth.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
BLOCK 29:I think online music sharing is the future & that its the sole responsibility of opening up the music industry in a big way for artists who would never have been discovered or artists who might no have had enough money to push their own music.Very soon all music will be shared online no more CD’s needed.Online music sharing will see a lot of small artists grow to being the music industries big heads because of the cult following it already has & bypassing the need for a record label to publish or share your music with the world.
On giving away music for free,we used to do that but we no longer do it.I feel the music now is too good to give away for free & will only be giving it away if someone is buying it & putting money into my pocket.Music is an investment so l cant be giving away free material after l put loads of money to make it.Streaming is a bit different because its not giving it away for free because you don’t download it for free but you get to listen to it.The plays you do get play a big role in terms of telling you the numbers you’re reaching like 60 000 plays means you’re getting bigger.
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?
BLOCK 29:Hmmmmmm lm not quite sure myself since l’m trying be played & heard on Sway,HOT 97 all the big radio stations but l will tell them this.Try networking with people who know people like exposed vocals lol. Sharing their music on social media & going to radio stations with their music & trying get it played.To get gigs people gotta know you first so concentrate on getting airplay then the gigs will come after.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
BLOCK 29:Well that’s just hard l once messed up performing in front of an Honorable Minister forgot the lines……..Well l just started playing it off like yeah,okay,okay,you know what it is till the end of my verse.Felt real bad after but being an artist is a journey.Learn from it & make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?Â
BLOCK 29: We have done a lot of shows especially at big modelling contests with big crowds.Nice environment & always good crowds.We toured a bit.Once went to South Africa for a show & to sign a record deal but it did not materialize.We will certainly be looking to tour wherever we are called & am looking to tour the states one day to network & just to show what we have to offer.l believe we are better than a lot of cats in the game right now all that separates us is opportunity & location.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
BLOCK 29: Hahaha l like this question because it just shows you a lot about what goes on in the studio.For inspiration we get it from everything.Things like wanting to be better,a certain emotion or a melody that just pops up in our head.The songwriting process right now is as plain as this.We go to the studio,start listening to the beats on offer,start throwing around ideas fro choruses & stuff,choose a beat that we feeling or with the best chorus then we start recording & writing at the same time.We do this because of the expense of studio time so the process to choose a beat & come up with a chorus should not take more than 20 minutes then recording for an hour then we done.We would love to spend more time in the studio to perfect our songs.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
BLOCK 29:We don’t have a website yet or platform that we are selling our music.That is something we are working on because we feel the music is good enough to sell especially with singles costing 60 cents each.There are people who would love to buy our music & support us.We do share our music on soundcloud.com under the name BLOCK 29 in the block is in caps.We share our music on facebook & twitter too.But using the soundcloud platform.Follow us on facebook under the same name.To get all our music go onsoundcloud.com and follow us under BLOCK 29.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
BLOCK 29: The whispers – and the beat goes on.
Phil Collins.Oliver Mtukudzi
Well l ain’t ashamed of listening to old skull hahahaa thats my motivation.Classics baby.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
BLOCK 29:Well l would spend it by investing at list 250 000 in some products or businesses l believe can give me the guaranteed returns.Sorry cant tell you what those are.Will spend 100k on a house with a state of the art recording studio.Spend 30k on new album with the best beats from the best upcoming producers & 4 killer music videos to really push the BLOCK 29 brand to the world.Spend another 5k marketing the album & videos making sure its known everywhere.Then chill & see how that goes.If our music plays on Trace,Bet,Mtv,MtvBase what more can l say,that’s money in the bank right there.Keep pushing the music with returns from investments & slowly but surely make myself a millionaire.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
 BLOCK 29:Yep we do have equipment,a mic,mixer,laptop but for better quality we have to go to a good sound engineer.We do plan on getting a bigger better mixer & mic for better quality & clarity for more quality work because we trying be international artists so l will say it like DJ DRAMA says it.ITS ALL ABOUT THE QUALITY……….QUALITY,
STREET,MUSIC hahahaha BLOCK 29
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
BLOCK 29:Social media platforms is the best way to promote music because you’re reaching people from all over the world.Brazil,China all in one share no marketing money needed there just WiFi. l find that amazing that l’m in Africa but someone from Venezuela is saying l love your music.Radio is another good way depending on the fact that you can get your music on radio.But social media for me is the best because even the big artists are sharing their music using this platform.Its the future,Streaming is the future. Â
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
BLOCK 29:Whoa what an amazing question l like this question.
Madison square gardens because every artist whether be it musician or comic who has sold out their show there goes down in history,so l would like to do the same.Live a mark.
Artists to perform with l would say for me The Game because his my favorite artist.For the other guys its 2 pac well because his 2 pac & he new how to perform live.Wiz Kid because he pulls crowds & is currently the King of African music.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
BLOCK 29:Yes we have new projects we are working on.All music on our soundcloud is 2016 stuff new music only that you guys will be getting through the year.We will release an album but  1 single at a time.Also we will be looking to shoot our first music video.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
BLOCK 29:Well we are all getting educated right now in exercise science diploma,marketing  degree & diploma in school of music.We all getting educated too so if not for music we will be doing exactly what we are getting educated in.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
BLOCK 29:My first album that l bought was timbaland & magoo album.Well a guy who had it for such a long time offered it to me 7 l loving music got it for the cheap & bought it.Its a good bargain was what went through my head lol.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
BLOCK 29:Hey its hard but all l can say is this music is a priority now so its work for 5 hour & the rest is music,music,music.When music is life you cant live without it.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
BLOCK 29: BLOCK 29 putting out their best music 7 rising to the top with their support because nothing is gonna happen if they don’t support us,sharing our music on their social media platforms so other people can hear it.
Music Links:
https://soundcloud.com/block-
