Citizen Cope
Citizen Cope creates very original music. His work is a mixture of funk, Tom Waits and Long Island rap. His latest album is The Clarence Greenwood Recordings.
Check out official site for Citizen Cope
Daniel Robert Epstein: What inspired The Clarence Greenwood Recordings?
Citizen Cope: I just wanted to make a record that I followed my first instincts on. Im just inspired by life, people Ive met, situations Ive been in and just whatever comes to me as a writer.
DRE:
Did you purposely try to make it different from the last one?
CC:
I think each record probably evolves into its own thing and makes its own life. It wasnt purposely different; it just turned out that way.
DRE:
Since your stuff is so unique, are you surprised to be on such a big label?
CC:
No because I always wanted to sign with a major label. They were willing to invest in recording since Im really into the recording aspect of it.
DRE:
Do you do most of the producing yourself?
CC:
I do a lot of that. Ive always been inspired by it.
DRE:
What makes you want to want to do all of that work yourself?
CC:
Its just my nature because I have a vision for what the music should be so production is a very important aspect of the process and thats why worked out for me to do it.
DRE:
Your music reminds me a little bit of Tom Waits. I was wondering if he was an influence on you at all.
CC:
Well, he wasnt but Ive heard that before and I respect him a lot.
DRE:
At age 35 you seem a little young to have such deep meaning in your work. Where does that come from?
CC:
I guess I was reacting to the situations Ive had in my life I guess. Just being meditative when you write songs puts you into a kind of deep meditation so maybe that leads towards some type of introspection or something.
DRE:
How did Carlos Santana end up on the record?
CC:
I did a song for his last record called Shaman and he asked me if theres anything on my record that I wanted him to do. So he played on it and it worked really well.
DRE:
Did you see him play with Antonio Banderas at the Academy Awards?
CC:
I saw it. Im not passing judgment on that but I heard the movie was really good.
DRE:
The movie is really good but I was a little surprised to see Antonio there. But Ill leave you alone on that.
Is this album more personal than your previous albums?
Is this album more personal than your previous albums?
CC:
There were personal aspects to both of the records and I just think this is me naked. There was a lot of emotion in it.
DRE:
Do you produce a lot of other people as well?
CC:
No, I dont. Ive been asked to do a lot of production but I havent really jumped into that quite yet.
DRE:
What happened with DreamWorks?
CC:
What happened on this record was that I had to give $100,000 to DreamWorks because they had my contract and they were supposed to do the next record, but I didnt want to do it with them so they let me out for a fee so it pretty much took a good chunk of my recording budget.
DRE:
What was the problem?
CC:
They werent really set up to break an artist like me. I think they thought a lot of people like the music but it really takes a vision.
DRE:
I read that you played with the Neville Brothers in Holland, how was that?
CC:
It was great, man. I love those guys I mean Ive always loved the Meters and love the whole New Orleans sound the drummers and everything are great.
DRE:
Yea, theyre amazing. Howd their crowd take to you?
CC:
They took to us alright. It was kind of early so by the time they got on it was packed. But there werent that many people there but I think they enjoyed themselves.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
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