In this interview spotlight, I chat with Epic & Deadly Stare about their latest project, music memories, dream collabs, and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Let’s get this hot topic out of the way from the start. What are your feelings on AI as a creative tool? Have you experimented with it? Or released any projects where it was used?

DS – Personally, I have never used it in music or graphic design. I don’t think I have actually ever used AI tools, to my knowledge. Like any tool, AI can be used for good, I would assume… I really can’t say from experience but I guess it can be used in a similar way that I would sample a record, sound, etc… Take a piece of something created by someone or something else and then mangle it to your own perfection. 

What is your earliest music memory? Or a moment that sticks out for motivating you to write, record, and release music?

E – The early days of Saskatoon rap. We went from no local rap to a handful of groups doing shows and eventually putting out music. We even wanted our rivals to succeed. Dope shows and wack shows. The first time I performed at a show I grabbed the microphone mechanism, closed my eyes and just started busting freestyles.   

DS – One of my earliest memories is playing vinyl in my headphones, looking at album covers and just zoning into them. Probably around ‘84 or ‘85. I can vividly remember playing Corey Hart and just thinking “Sunglasses at Night” was so cool. Then soon after, buying Run DMC’s Raising Hell or getting it for Xmas (not sure on that detail) and just being enamoured with it and just so curious what this music was all about. I also have this memory of being at my grandparents’ house in Spring Hill, NS where I spent a couple weeks each summer. We would drive to Amherst for a shopping trip and I would usually get an album and I remember getting The Jacksons’ Victory and just playing the shit out of it at my grandparents’. I don’t think I can recall any of those Jacksons songs these days!  Haha.

Back in my Halifax days, one of the moments I remember that made me want to start making beats was seeing Josh Martinez at this tiny space in Halifax (I can’t remember where – it wasn’t a venue) when he released the Hali 100 and just thinking I gotta get into this, for real. 

What’s up with this latest release? Any cool back-stories, bloopers, or notable inspirations?

DS – This record started from one song. Originally, I made a beat designed specifically for Epic with a focus on working with a piano sample. Maybe it was originally for an album with multiple producers he was working on? The song turned out great and we both really enjoyed the process so we talked about another beat and then it tumbled into a full length collaborative album. 

E – I wrote this record during a transitional period in my life. I retired from my day job and shortly after my family (including my dog)  moved out of downtown Edmonton. I had lived in a downtown area for about 35 years. My new neighborhood of Wellington in Edmonton had 1950s houses including bungalows. This differed from the densely populated inner city with its condos and tall apartment buildings. A quiet low density neighborhood allowed me a quiet lifestyle to reflect on my last 20 years. This really gave this album a 50 year old content feeling. Deadly Stare’s beats were a perfect landscape for this project. 

At one point I was writing a verse and paused to take a break. I started up the robot vacuum to do the weekly clean. While going to the bathroom the robot vacuum somehow got past the blockers into the bathroom.

What keeps you going, especially on the “bad” days?

E – That better days are coming. My two dogs and my wife. Driving around in my Subaru listening to songs that I have recorded, including this project. New mixes from Scott in my old civic or the new Subaru are something to look forward to. I loved working with Scott on this project.

DS – I think these days, it has to be my daughter. Watching her grow is beautiful. When things are looking horrible in the world, as they tend to be these days, I just think that my daughter and all of her generation will be better (more compassionate) than previous generations of humans. 

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why?

E – I would like to collaborate with Del the Funky Homosapien. I think we could make an ill jam. I once opened for Souls of Mischief and gave the DJ, Zach Hendrix, the Heater In My Truck record. A few years later Zach came back to Edmonton for a show with Del and took me to introduce Del. He introduced me as the rapper who made that record I was telling you about, which made my year.       

DS – This is incredibly hard to answer. Honestly, I don’t even think about this. I’m just happy to work with people who want to work with me. It would be really cool to work on a project with Tricky. I have just always found him to be so unique and it would be fun to work on beats for and with him. 

I know it’s hard…but favorite song (or artist) of all time? Or Top 3 if you can’t choose one…?

E – My favorite song is “Pacifics” by Digable Planets. My group of friends moved to Vancouver when I was 19. We played Digable every day. Later in the year they played at the Plaza of Nations, which was a beautiful Vancouver concert venue. The beat and the rhyming on that beat are perfection.

DS – I second Digable Planets. I bought Blowout Comb on CD at Superstore in high school for like $14.99 and it was maybe one of my greatest purchases to date. One song that I can always count on is “Know the Ledge” by Eric B and Rakim. I seriously can’t get enough of it. 

Where’s the best place to connect with you?

E – Via the Hand’Solo records website: www.handsolorecords.com 

DS – www.deadlystare.com / www.endemikmusic.com 

I appreciate Your time. Any last thoughts before signing off? 

E – Yes, respect the Canadian underground independent scene. If you love this record check out Jesse Dangerously, Soso, Buck 65, and Touch as the start of a deep dive.