To everyone freaking out…
Posted on August 29th, 2007
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 12:10 pm
Please stop.
Stop writing this up and pontificating upon me taking a break like it’s an obituary. I mean, it’s cool that y’all care – it makes me feel like maybe I achieved something with what I was doing, but it’s not at all the end of the world. Besides, it’s not like I’d had been putting out a lot of music, or gigging all the time anyway. If it takes an extra year for The Fourth Estate (if I even call it that by the time I put it out,) to be released – so say a 2009 release date – that’s not really an obscene gap between releases. I mean, revision4920 (as a CD) was released in 2005, Romance Language was released in 2007 and Opensource could drop whenever I feel like it (maybe if I get some cash together from sort of normal, gainful employment soon, it’ll be out be soon.) Time flies all things considered, and really, in the proper perspective, one can argue this changes nothing. I’m just codifying what I’d probably end up doing anyway.
To put it another way, patience is a virtue: think about how much more polished, soulful and rewarding the next album should be if it’s not part of a pressured deadline or schedule. Don’t think of this as death folks, this is a rebirth. I’m making me Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.
Comments Off on To everyone freaking out…
“From my revision beginnings…
Posted on August 28th, 2007
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 3:32 pm
To that OpenSource ending
Listen close you’ll hear what I’m about
People feel my truths.”
-Me paraphrasing Jay-Z
So, I’m taking a break from music. After basically losing my temper after a miserable PAX, and generally sort of so/so summer, and given that I just can’t really justify pushing onward when I can’t even get the basics right like being good to my girlfriend, and generally getting my life moving forward, I think to need simplify. Fact is, I need to get back into school (especially since I have my transfer degree from BCC now,) I need to get some gainful employment (especially since I can’t really eat off of my music at the moment,) and I need to get my own place (my parents are great people, but I have to prove myself out in the world, or atleast give it a real shot – if I don’t, atleast I know that I have a caring family to fall back on – not everyone can say that.)
Besides, I don’t think I even really have the heart to do much musically at the moment – all that’d probably come out is dumb emo rap, and lets face it, no one wants to hear that. I will get Rai’s album done, and I’ll make beats for Nursehella when ever she wants them, but beyond that, I’m just not feeling it (if a raft of people want Opensource, maybe I’ll get a run done since all the song for that are ready; however, I doubt that, so maybe I’ll just try to get it on iTunes or something.) I think part of the problem was all this stuff was going to my head, yet, I really didn’t have the basics down. That’s backwards. I think I should be successful and happy in the rest of the facets of my life first before trying to be a public figure of any sort, even in the only vaguely internet famous way that I am. If I don’t, I risk messing things up worse than before.
I’m sorry if I’m letting anyone down or getting anyone’s spirits down by saying all this, so allow me to end on a note of hope; I think Nerdcore is going to be massive with or without me, and that’s a good thing. I mean, if taking one person out of scene meant that it wasn’t going to function, that would have meant it doesn’t really have the legs to go somewhere, right? However, as I saw during the concerts at PAX (when I wasn’t being kicked out from them even though I had a special guest pass,) and just by the general attention and recognition the luminaries of this young genre received, Nerdcore is in better shape than ever. There are wonderfully talented people who are just beginning their careers, and they are the proof that this all has legs beyond just the 1st and 2nd generation acts. I mean, when the 3rd gen acts are already holding their own with people who have been in the game for over 7 years now, that’s wonderful. I wish the best of luck to everyone who makes Nerdcore a priority in their life who are happy with that decision. You’re creating something brand new via your own talent and strength, and that’s lovely and awe-inspiring. Maybe one day, I’ll be strong enough again to stand beside you. I certainly don’t intend to give up with out a fight, I just need to fight through some other things first.
Comments (8)
However, before PDX
Posted on August 22nd, 2007
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 9:44 pm
I still have a show in Seattle: Nerdcore Night II
Featuring a plethora of talented, brilliant MCs, all for the low, low price of 5 bucks and it’ll go down right at El Corazon on Sunday 26th @ 5pm.
Comments Off on However, before PDX
On that Portland, OR show
Posted on August 22nd, 2007
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 6:56 pm
Here’s the details I have so far:
-It’ll be 9PM @ Backspace
-I have no idea how much tickets/cover are but I’d venture that it’ll be $5-10. That’ll probably be free if you’re a backspace member.
-I think it’ll be all ages. Not sure though.
Comments Off on On that Portland, OR show
Statistically Improbable.
Posted on August 13th, 2007
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 10:52 pm
Just in case things didn’t seem exceedingly mundane enough…
So, off of one soda (specifically, a Lime Crush,) I won a soda. Then, from that soda I won another soda. From that soda I won a candy bar. Additionally, the next soda I bought also won me a free soda, and that soda won me nothing. 1 in 3 odds? Either it’s more like 3 in 5, or I’ve had an usual level of success, some more like 1 in 30. Oh, and I haven’t cashed in that candy bar. That could win me something for all I know.
Comments (2)
Nerds on the Jock Network.
Posted on August 11th, 2007
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 12:24 pm
Check this video at about the 4:40 mark:
Nerdcore MCs including me on Spike TV’s Gamehead
Alas, it’s probably not applicable media for the Wikipedia entry on Nerdcore, but I guess this does add somewhat to my notoriety.
Comments Off on Nerds on the Jock Network.
Hot Springs Episode / Castlegar Clubbing
Posted on August 11th, 2007
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 2:48 am
So, today (well, technically yesterday) was something close to surreal. I mean, today was almost as awesome as a day can get. Lazily, I woke up around 10am, goofed around the net a bit, and then headed out to Nelson with Danielle for Starbucks, then went up to the Ainsworth Hot Springs which was truly relaxing and soothing. If you ever get a chance to go a natural hot springs, do it. It’s really quite nice and rejuvenating. I mean, my respiratory system had felt out of whack since the San Diego Comic Con, but after a few hours in the hot spring, it was like I was totally reset. Besides, it was quite fun to see the actual cave were the water comes from, and to take a dip in the cold water pool as well.
Around that time, Danielle and I realized that we hadn’t really eaten yet that day, so it was time to hit up a great Mexican restaurant by the name of Mazatlan for a very delicious meal. If you’re ever in Nelson – seriously, go to Mazatlan and get the Chicken Tamales. You’ll love it, and you’ll never be able to do Taco Bell stuff again.
On the way back to Castlegar a couple interesting events occured. First, I discovered that just because normal Pepsi and Mentos are not as volatile as Diet Coke and Mentos, that does not at all mean you should put Mentos in your Pepsi while driving. It still fizzes up… a lot. In fact, lets just say that had the results of this impromptu science lesson been recorded and uploaded to YouTube, I might have even given Chocolate Rain a run for it’s money, as it was just that funny and dumb. After that, Danielle spotted an old friend of hers once we were back in town, and she chatted with him a bit, which was cool and which also led to going to Element, the only club in Castlegar, later that evening.
The club was surprisingly fun. I mean, I’m not a clubber. I listen to and have written club music, but I’ve always been more DJ than a dancer. However, it was really quite fun to be there with Danielle. I mean, the club was almost too cheesy, but in an awesome way. As we walk up, we hear the dance track used in the first episode of the second season of The Venture Brothers, and by the time we’ve paid the 3 dollar cover, a remix of “Everybody Dance Now” was blasting. In general, the music was largely older dance and R&B jams – it was almost like walking on to the set of an episode of Mtv Jams circa 1990-1995, barring a few critical exemptions. There was some random track no one seemed to know, so Danielle and I goofed around a bit by getting on the empty dance floor and doing stuff like dancing the Charleston and breakdancing (well, I breakdanced poorly, she cheered me on.) Later, she and I cleared the floor as we just cut loose like Footloose during Kanye West’s “Stronger.” It really was like something out of a movie, or at least it felt that way. Later in the evening some one even said “you guys are the best dancers here” or something to that extent. Granted, it’s not a feat to be the best dancer at the only club in a tiny town, but it’s certainly fun to be told you’re awesome, even if you know that’s kind of flotsam. As we left the club, TI’s “What U Know” kicked in, which was kind of a fitting end to the evening, if only because Danielle had run into another old friend there and this friend didn’t know who TI was. Said lack of knowledge was a little problematic as Danielle was trying to tell him who she’d been on MTV with last month.
By the way, speaking of media exposure, I was on Spike TV’s Gamehead tonight with a host of other Nerdcore rappers, which is cool. BTW, boourns to Spike for cutting out Danielle. She’s more of a gamer than I, and thus more deserving of exposure on a game-related show. Of course, not that I really mind getting a freestyle on international cable stations either, but you could have cut some of that Uwe Boll interview for more Nerdcore, in as much as gamers like cute girls (like Danielle,) and hate Uwe Boll with a loathing rarely paralleled.
Like I said, an almost totally awesome today. Tomorrow (or rather later today,) I just relax, which is kind of cool in it’s own right.
Comments (4)
Recuperation
Posted on August 9th, 2007
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 6:46 pm
So, I’m currently in Castlegar, BC with my girlfriend, generally chilling. We went out to a lake today so she could attempt to teach me to swim. I say attempt as when it comes to feats of physical prowess, I’m nigh useless. However, I do feel that I’ve learned enough that I wouldn’t die immediately upon being thrown into a body of water – I might have a good 30 seconds before I went under. Maybe with a few more lessons, I might actually learn enough to say I can swim.
Currently, my lovely lady is playing some Harvest Moon for some extreme dating/farming sim action, while I goof around on the net via the Wi-Fi I setup for her mom last night while watching some TV. Ah, a vacation.
Basically, I’m getting a bit of break before heading into the last two weeks of August and the first week or so of September at a break neck pace. That should be fun*.
*=only partially sarcastic.
Comments Off on Recuperation
Reports Exaggerated, Etc. + ComicCon Video
Posted on August 4th, 2007
Filed under: Music News,Videos — Karl Olson @ 11:45 pm
So, turns it’s just Sinusitis (aka a Sinus Infection.) Of course, since it wasn’t just viral, I was put on some good old fashioned Amoxicillin (only 4 bucks at Target, even for my totally uninsured self,) so I’ll be ok. Still sucks a bit though.
Meanwhile, I’m back in Canada, chilling in a internet cafe while my girlfriend drops off some presents from Comic Con for a friend of hers. Tomorrow (or maybe the day after,) I will be driving out to Kelowna, followed by driving to my girlfriend’s hometown of Castlegar so I can spend some time with her, and so that I can see where she grew up.
Then, I’m back home to prove that I’m an awesome and skilled producer, as I will not only finish atleast an EP for Rai, and either do self-replication or get pro-replication done in time for Kumoricon, I might just have a little project that’s, oh, two years overdue out in time for PAX. Why? Because I want to and because I can.
Speaking of egotism, watch this video of me at the Capcom Booth at Comic Con 2007. For something more interesting (in as much as it’s not reliant solely on my stage presence,) check out this video of Nursehella and I performing our collab on the same stage.
Comments Off on Reports Exaggerated, Etc. + ComicCon Video
Ill In The Traditional Sense.
Posted on August 2nd, 2007
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 2:05 pm
So yeah, I’m sick, as is my girlfriend. Head Cold with a side of Bronchitis, or at least that’s what it feels like.
This bites. However, at least being sick in hot weather means you don’t have to bundle up to stay warm.
Meanwhile, I have a gig in Portland, OR on August 30th, probably. Rai will also probably be involved. If I’m not well by then, well, I’m probably super sick and that’s it’s own problem.