Exposed Vocals Interviews Da Canine
Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
Da Canine: I found out about you guys on Twitter. Amongst every other social media platform, Twitter is one hell of a bird in hand and you happened to be just right there. It was a miracle discovery.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Da Canine: I was born and bred for the most part of a lifetime within the confines of Nigeria. Can’t remember when I first put pen to paper as an amateur artist, but I can vividly recall my insatiable desire for music and began experimenting at the age of 15. I started out doing RnB, but things quickly elevated to a level where I had too much content to integrate. As well as that, I’ve always had a high measure of appreciation for rap. The ingenuity, the beauty of the craft, the power of expression it facilitates. I became drawn to it and ever since then, it evolved into a passion, which affected every aspect of my lifestyle, giving me a sense of purpose and defining who I am, ultimately. At that particular period in my timeline, my life was punctuated with a series of problems, for which making music was a sanctuary, right until now.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Da Canine: The name “Da Canine” stems out from a childhood obsession with dogs. It always impressed me how dogs were these volatile, vociferous carnivores, constantly outspoken, without any inhibition. Dogs will bark if they don’t like you and will do the same if they do. That’s exactly how I relate to everything in my habitat. Only difference is I use words instead.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Da Canine: Online sharing is a goldmine for any artist who wants to be heard out there. Most of my available music is for free. That way, you get to earn a lot of recognition and establish an audience. Only when you do that will you earn a living in this industry, It demands a lot of patience.
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?
Da Canine: One word; contacts. It’s all about who you know. In order to gain any showcasing opportunities, you need to maintain constant vigilance and keep an eye out for connected individuals in every event you go to, whether as a performer, or just a member of the audience. Online research is resourceful as well.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Da Canine: Of course I do. My entire performance is always nothing short of a mistake, so was the giant asteroid that collided with the Earth, giving it the necessary tilt to support life. I never can anticipate what’s going to happen when I hit the stage. I just dissolve and drench myself in the moment, allowing that stage fright to completely overwhelm me, channelling the surplus of enveloping nervous energy into the only weapon I know how to wield; my voice.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Da Canine: There’s always that one odd occasion when I fail to turn up on time and it’s suddenly me against the world. However, once the DJ turns on the beat, the whole crowd starts moving and it’s like it never even happened. For that, I’m guilty. My bad yo.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Da Canine: Well, my sources of inspiration are infinite. Long walks while listening to my own music, certainly give me a spark. Sometimes when I’m in the shower also. But nothing beats when I’m going through a tough situation. I’ve learned that my craft tends to be at its sharpest when I’m emotionally disadvantaged. It functions as a form of escape.
My songwriting technique is very much still a mystery to me. Once I’m lost in the moment of creativity, ideas and words spontaneously appear from nowhere and all of a sudden, I find myself playing a cross between scrabble, crossword and a picture puzzle in the imaginary facets of my mind.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Da Canine: Nothing too distant, just the handy social media outlets; Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Reverbnation.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Da Canine: All Of Me (John Legend), Baby (justin Beiber) and most embarrassing of all, an audio version of 2 Chains’ freestyle on Tim Westwood.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Da Canine: Man, ama take my mum on a trip around the most exquisite places within every corner of the earth. She deserves that.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Da Canine: “Logic” is my favourite production asset. That software is just dumb. I’m comfortable with it. Don’t need more. I might be looking to traverse into the territory of making beats, but that’s probably gonna be in the next life. With the copious amount of work I put into writing bars, recording tunes, mixing, mastering, promotions and booking shows, I’d say I have just about enough on my plate for now. Thanks.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Da Canine: For me? I’d say ‘just put in every element of your talent in every single word, on every single bar, within every single verse of every single tune and the rest is easy. Give it all you got, give it your best shot. Fans are everything. Once they love your tunes, they’ll promote them inevitably. I have faith in the word of mouth. Nevertheless, there’s the occasional phenomenal services of people like you guys (Exposed Vocals), which can be gemstones in the hunt for a fast-track means of Getting heard.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Da Canine: If I could perform with Pac, Eminem and Nas on the same set, wait.. So much for wishful thinking. I’ll pass on this one. Next Question.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Da Canine: I’ve just unleashed a few releases from my mix-tape titled “Every Dog Has Its Day”. The method of release is quite unorthodox. I chose to put out the tunes on a weekly basis successively. This is so as to provide my listeners the opportunity of swallowing and digesting the elements of each and every song conveniently. It has to be this way cause In my platform of music, lyrical content is everything. I love integrating a lot of powerful puns wherever possible, in every bar, which might call for a second listen. No offence intended. You didn’t hear it from me.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Da Canine: Probably be working overtime in a stupid massage parlour for aristocratic young women, to which I would gladly do overtime.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Da Canine: Ooh, how could I ever forget? It was back in the year 2001, the album was called “Resurrection” by Bone Thugs N Harmony. This was on a summer vacation in London. I was a lil kid back then, remember being too short for the cashier at HMV Marble Arch to even see who was in front of the till. He refused to serve me, until my younger sister who was several inches taller and could pass for over 18 ( for some dumb reason) came to the rescue.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Da Canine: It’s not exactly a walk in the park, but I manage to pull through. That’s called life.
Exposed Vocals: What can your fans look forward to in 2015?
Da Canine: An all out package of everything that’s embedded in Me, Myself and I. The Complete package of Da Canine, right to the letter. More tracks, more Shows, more features. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears glued. Remember, Every Dog Has Its Day, Best Believe.
