The Future of Substance Abuse (the group, that is)

July 13, 2017

103

EXPOSED VOCALS: SO TELL US YOUR STORY. WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME AN ARTIST?

We grew up in L.A. We knew cats that used to hang off of freeway signs and catch tags, so our role models weren’t dudes with mullets who wore varsity jackets and drank Coors Light. Art was everywhere around us. We made the choice to vocalize ours.

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?

There’s no one path. You really could be discovered rapping at Starbucks. But if you want to go the route of annoying everyone on social media that can be effective too. You really have to be a telemarketer when it comes to this music shit. Bombard people with your songs. It’s the only way.

EXPOSED VOCALS: DO YOU EVER MAKE MISTAKES DURING PERFORMANCES? HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT?

Sometimes being drunk or nervous (mostly the former) fucked us off. But when we became the mature fellows we are now, we stop leaning on the alcohol to give us confidence. We just started to believe in our ability to rock a show.

EXPOSED VOCALS: DO YOU TOUR? ANYTHING INTERESTING HAPPEN ON TOUR THAT YOU THINK OUR READERS WOULD ENJOY HEARING ABOUT?

We did Warped Tour a few years back. The rap acts were pretty marginalized at the time. We might as well have been rapping in the parking lot. But was it a bad experience? Not in the least. We sold a lot of merch to people who weren’t even hip hop heads because we were persistent.

EXPOSED VOCALS: ANY PLANNED STUDIO UPGRADES? WHAT ARE YOU WORKING WITH NOW?

The upgrade would actually be having a studio. But someday, someday it will happen…

EXPOSED VOCALS: HOW DO YOU FIND WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC? WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU?

Tinder is a great way to promote music. Nah seriously, Twitter is actually the best way to find people who will bump or post your shit. There’s all kind of DJ’s and blogs that request music submissions. Everyday you will find new people looking for tunes.

EXPOSED VOCALS: IF YOU COULD PERFORM ANYWHERE AND WITH ANY ARTISTS (DEAD OR ALIVE) WHERE AND WHO WOULD IT BE WITH? WHY?

Layne Staley from Alice in Chains (R.I.P.) Dude was the best singers of the 90’s, but he had a presence and aura about him that was almost like a rapper. He had a mystique. The whole band was off the chains really (no pun intended). Not sure how they feel about hip hop but they deserve much props.

EXPOSED VOCALS: SO, WHAT’S NEXT? ANY NEW UPCOMING PROJECTS THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT?EC

A new album. We don’t know what the title is yet but we want to make sure it’s something that’s easy to google.

EXPOSED VOCALS: IF YOU WEREN’T MAKING MUSIC, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?

Being an attorney or an architect, or something boring like that.

EXPOSED VOCALS: WHAT SHOULD FANS LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO?

A duet with Barbara Streisand.

EXPOSED VOCALS: ANY SHOUT-OUTS?

Peace to Waes One up in Oakland. Our homies Da Stig and Philm One for coming with them loops. And our families who always supported us on our musical path.