It took Maskoutaine rapper Rymz four years to release his new album, which is slated for the fall. But he has not been idle in the meantime.
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In recent years, Rymz has chained singles, collaborations, and shows. And he intends to continue the adventure with a tour of France soon.
Always willing to represent his hip-hop community, he’s happy to talk about his friends’ work when it comes to showing off his musical passions.
Has the way you work in the studio changed over the course of your albums?
Certainly yes. I used to arrive better prepared. But now I like to work with the “beatmakers”, with the people who are there. I like to let myself go spontaneously.
Have you got your team listening to albums to give them an idea of the “mood” you’re trying to find?
Especially with “Beatmakers”. I come up with “vibes” or types of textures that I would like to find. I do it regularly.
Often it is in series or in a film. There’s always a little epic side. It’s effective. Film music consists of fairly short sequences. It’s perfect for rapping or “sampling”. Hans Zimmer is the best example. It’s so epic and awesome.
On one of my then popular songs, “Y sais pas” (featuring Mauvais Acte), I had taken a “sample” from The Lion King.
Do you come from a musical family?
My mother played the piano. We always had a magnificent ancestral piano at my house. An upright piano. My mother made music in the house. Of course that could have appealed to me. She also always wrote little poems, which she carefully hid.
And what music did your parents listen to?
My mother was Eurythmics, Queen, The Cranberries. My father was more interested in Quebec music: Plume Latraverse, Richard Desjardins. All Harmonium Albums. He also liked Francis Cabrel.
What were your basic requirements in high school?
When gangsta rap came along, it was Dr. Dre and his whole gang. Before that it was more like The Offspring, Limp Bizkit. But “2001” by Dr. Dre is an album that I’ve listened to a lot. That and Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers.
Otherwise what I heard on repeat is really unknown. It was a group from Saint-Hyacinthe called Les Patriotes… I bought their tape at the Videotron Club. Also “L’Accent Grave” by Yvon Krevé, I could sing it to you by heart.
Was it the first one on “Rap Queb” that turned you on?
I liked Dubmatique, but since they spoke French it was more in the French rap category in my mind. Like IAM and “L’école du micro d’argent” it’s an album that I really listened to. Like the Funky Family… But in Quebec it was really Yvon Krevé, Les Patriotes, Sans pression, Muzion.
Were there hip hop “shows” in Saint-Hyacinthe?
Yes! They were big “shows” and more. I had seen No Pressure play there. I saw him in Baie-Saint-Paul two weeks ago and asked him if he remembered asking my gang and I to film his “show”.
At the end of this “show” it was Loco Locass after him. Then he was angry. He didn’t want to leave and smashed his manager’s tank after the show. He jumped with both feet. His arm was in a cast. He beat up the tank. It’s one of my earliest memories of a rap “show” in my life.
Is it the “show” that made you pursue music as well?
I also remember Farfadet, who I think sang with the Chiens de campagne at the time. They also performed. That whetted my appetite. Because I saw that we can do that in Saint-Hyacinthe, sing and rap on a “stage”.
Your favorite copywriter?
Richard Desjardins. He’s a storyteller that I enjoy listening to.
An album to listen to without “skipping” any “melodies”?
What a good question! I would name any Loud Lary Ajust album. It’s so well built.
Which producer or musician would you dream of collaborating with in your wildest dreams?
It would be a pianist… Jean-Michel Blais.
Your newest musical crush?
I will rap because I want to represent my community. There is one album that I really liked. These are guys I’ve known for a long time, Sauce and Sadam Huss. Her album is called “Holy Grail”. It’s brewing!
Otherwise, I recently went to Dua Lipa. It’s more pop but she does it so well.
Your plans for starting school?
After four years my album is finally available! But I’m not stingy with time. I take advantage of it. I am not trying to deliver goods.
There is also a tour with Youv Dee. He’s an incredible French artist. We did the Francos together. It really clicked. He returned to Chiller two weeks after the show. We made songs. And there he returns for a tour in Quebec.
After that we will return to France for a tour with him. We asked to do small squares as well so it would really be rock ‘n’ roll. “Shows” that are brewing like in time!