In this interview spotlight, I chat with Ready To Paste about their self-titled EP, an adventure through Electronic and Hip Hop music brewed in Paris, France.

As a life-long Hip Hop head, I’m definitely a fan of this group. They push boundaries, make music on their own terms, have a thorough understanding of what it takes to be an artist in a world where AI will be writing all the new hit songs, and they love Outkast and Andre 3000…as do I; they’re in my Top favorites of all time.

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik until forever! 😉

Full Q&A with links and music below.

AI (aka Artificial Intelligence aka Chat GPT 4.0)… How is it changing the music world? What are your thoughts about this new trend?

Ok, straight off with a loaded gun!

You can’t stop “progress”, right? And we grew up watching the Terminator so this is familiar territory. The music industry has seen so many transformations in the last two decades or so, that it is tempting to say we’ll endure whatever is thrown our way. Thing is, though, “we” as in the community of composers and musicians at large, are ever growing but getting drowned out by the noise.

I mean back in high school, everyone played the guitar and called themselves an artist. And it was okay. Because you only had to play better to stand out. Back then, it was all about getting your shit out there, so down to promo. Which was tough. But at least there was some degree of merit involved. A couple years ago, anyone with a computer and a modest amount of cash could produce. And that was great because it shifted the focus away from majors and main corporate players to place some creative freedom and visibility on indie artists. We used to joke that sound engineers with a little knowledge of music were better off than die hard musicians with no computing skills.

With the advent of AI, the focus is shifting again, to absolutely anyone with the right query. And boom, you can make a hit. Not just yet but soon. It won’t matter then how much skill or creativity you’ve got if the next person gets better, read luckier, results. The noise used to be made of too many okay writers and composers competing for the same spot. Soon it’ll be made of too many sentient human beings trying for a bit of fun and fame, competing to make the same goddamned song.

On the real, though, I’m not sure that AI is the main problem when it comes to music. Because if the worldwide public hadn’t been skillfully and relentlessly exposed, year after year and day after day, to the same lazy melodies, the same predictable hooks and the same infinitely marketable, homogenous crap, it wouldn’t be craving for more of the same. The fact that we as an audience were taught to instantly recognize and appreciate the same gimmicks over and over again is the real problem. I guess AI is merely a magnifying glass to this trend. This will only multiply volume and make it harder to stand out for real producers who pour sweat and tears into it. But it was already tough, right? I mean, what are we doing just now, trying so hard to promote countless hours of soul-searching work in order to gain a bit of recognition and visibility, against a mainstream landscape that has never been so packed with crap?

Ultimately, as a society, we get the music we want and the world we deserve. That’s where a lot of us indie artists come in. We’re not in it for that. We want real connection, true, raw emotion and soul, through music. We are in dire need for dialogue, for reinventing ourselves and retaking control. AI is just an unavoidable evolution.

Can you choose a favorite song of all time? Or is this an impossible task? If yes, what’s the song? If no, what’s your current Top 3?

Tough one… If really, really hard pressed, I guess I’d have to go with “The Wind Cries Mary” from Jimi Hendrix. Simply because it sends chills down my spine every time, and because, aside from how amazing the song is, “a broom is drearily sweeping up the broken pieces of yesterday’s life” is just pure poetic genius.

What about this project makes you most proud? Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?

We started Ready to Paste based on a drive to make something new and relevant. We wanted to leverage the insane possibilities that electronic music can offer while retaining the organic, live elements that make this music truly vibrate. We’re proud to put forth this unusual setup – machines, bass clarinet, and MC – with no computers, meaning that what we do live is always open-ended.

The idea is to craft richly produced songs that sound different, using only analogue devices and instruments. I personally take pride in carefully devising my lyrics. Anyone can come up with a familiar beat and catchy 808 sounds, then capitalize on sex and violence while talking utter bollocks. None of us want to do that. We’re exhausted of fast interchangeable hits, autotune galore and fucking nonsense. I guess you could say we’re pissed-off hip hop nerds, craving for more of the goodness, inspired by your Tribe Called Quests and your Kendricks.

We honestly don’t know where we fit in and how we relate to the current music landscape. Sure, we take cues from well-established acts like Run the Jewels or Radiohead, but we mostly try to do our thing and keep going, hopefully we meet our audience in the process. It’s a matter of time, opportunity and resilience.

Now, with our debut EP “With Each Breath”, we’re basically trying to get the ball rolling.

What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

So here’s the thing. Once you’ve tried working in a different field, you can fully realize that music is like oxygen. That making awesome, thought-provoking bangers with inspiring people isn’t a given but a privilege. At the same time, getting started (again) is hard. Word of mouth is a complicated process, and getting heard and noticed by the right people can be a bitch. We’ve got nothing to prove, but a ton to accomplish. This is the motivation to keep going. Not to mention that we all have kids who will inherit whatever world we leave them, and hopefully be proud of what their dads have fought for.

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.

I’d have to say Andre 3000. I just watched his GQ interview and I found it humbling. Here is what true artistry should be about. Fuck fame, building a brand and making a name. Ultimately, we’re all complex beings striving for meaning and beauty. That my favourite MC, from one of my all-time favourite bands, would have the stomach, honesty and stamina to put out such a weird, deeply personal work of art, at his incredible level, is truly inspiring. So yeah, I’d love to work with Andre, let alone getting to meet him and just shoot the ish. I imagine it’d be a wild ride, and an insane opportunity for open-ended creation.

I can also think of Doug Pinnick from King’s X, IMO one of the unsung heroes of modern rock. His voice is just out of this world, and I think he could be versatile enough to craft something amazing, albeit out of his usual ecosystem. Dunno if he’d be up for it, though. I was shocked to realize he’s now 73!

Then there’s Tom Waits, Kendrick, Tori Amos, Joey Badass and Thom Yorke. One can dream, right?

What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?

The last song I listened to is “Haegeum” from Agust D. For those of you who don’t know, let me not spoiler who he is. Anyway, this guy really knows his stuff. My teenage daughter is completely into it, and she made a playlist for me. Love this one in particular. I find it amazing to see a mainstream Korean superstar, cute and polished by design, producing such raw, powerful music with true grit.

For my favourite all-time artist, I’m sticking with Andre 3000. I don’t love everything he’s done, even with Outkast, but I just have to acknowledge pure talent and vision. Love this guy.

Also, and I know it wasn’t the question, but I’d like to mention one particular album which holds a particular spot in my heart: “Question in the Form of an Answer” by People Under the Stairs. It’s not the most technically polished or anything, but it just flows and grooves like nothing else, and some of the samples are just out of this world. Absolutely love those dudes, and was devastated when Double K passed away.

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

For starters, you can catch us at the Klub in Paris on April 26, 2024. Right now, being realistic, we need everyone on Spotify, i.e. the Gate Keeper. This is 2024 and we have to do it by the book! If you want to drop us a comment, a question or a proposal, feel free to get in touch via Instagram. We’re ready to paste and plug anything into this machine of ours. If you want us to come perform down your neck of the woods, let us know!

I appreciate Your time. Want to say or plug any other projects before we part ways?

Thanks for that, Joshua! We just recorded two new killer tunes that allowed us to experiment even further into electronic madness and true lyrical anger. We’re keeping our cards close to the chest so no immediate release is planned for now, since we are waiting for the right opportunity to come along. Right now, we’re trying to score a slot at international festivals, and to find a booking agent… First, people need to spread the word, and share the love, so please, if you like what you hear, let it be known! Thanks for reading. We feel really privileged to connect with you!