It is always good to hear something new and innovative when it comes to music. So I was more than delighted when I first heard the musical expertise of the innovative OutofaWhole. OutofaWhole consists of three members, the legendary Mike Bliss, M.C. Kilch, and D.J. Imergeandsee.
My meeting with the OutofaWhole sound almost seemed inevitable. It was only after doing this interview with founding member M.C. Kilch that I learned that we all group up in the same religion. Uhmm, family always has a way of finding each other even when we are strangers. In any event, I met M.C. Kilch through a fraternal organization that we are both members of. Kilch emailed me the group’s website and i was transported to an inter-dimensional world of Hip Hop. It is a place that is real. A place where you can be original. You can be what you want to be and feel good for being your self. I must admit that OutofaWhole has a certain rawness that reminds me of the days when I first heard 36 Chambers by the Wutang Clan. Needless to say, many people are catching on to the OutofaWhole sound. I recently attended a performance by the group and the reception was no less than Beatlemania. Here is a video clip below:
Not only does this trio express a raw sense of musical expression that is lacking in today’s music for the most part, they are also extremely intelligent. Their talents a best understood by people who are free to be who they are. I got a chance to talk with M.C. Kilch about OutofaWhole. i thought you might want to sit in on the conversation and learn a little about the group’s origins, future plans, and etc. Enjoy:
Messiah’el: I must say that it has been a pleasure sharing the same stage with a phenomenal group. It is deeply appreciated. Thank you for keeping us in mind, but for our readership who may not be aware of your history; how would define OutofaWhole?
M.C. Kilch: Much thanks for the kind words. We’ve enjoyed sharing the stage with a creative force like Warlock Asylum. OutofaWhole is mainly collaboration between Mike Bliss and myself (M.C. Kilch), with D.J. Imergeandsee helping us put the whole fiasco together live. We make Hip-Hop music and mix it with several other music styles; Punk/Hardcore and Trip-Hop being examples, although what we have been putting out over the past year is essentially Hip-Hop. We enjoy using dark melodic beats and evocative lyrics. I like to call it “Dark-Hop”. Our material is bound to become more controversial.
Messiah’el: What made you decide to take music a career path?
M.C. Kilch: Bliss and I are old friends. We have been writing lyrics together since we were in our early teens, taking long bus and train rides to hang out with our friends throughout New York City. Music was our therapy growing up and still is, we just felt the need to experience it more directly which lead to us making our own.
We grew up listening to all brands of Rock, Hip-Hop and Electronica, respectfully appreciating artistry regardless of genre. We always had a boom box or portable music devices with us. I think after falling in love with music to the extent we did, you feel like there is nothing else you would rather do with your time. So being in a band, playing shows and making records came naturally.
Messiah’el: Today you see a lot of emphasis placed on solo acts. It seems like the world of “me-ism” has even crept into modern artistic expression. In view of such, do you find it challenging working as a group at times?
M.C. Kilch: I’m not too sure how much I’ve noticed that trend, since I usually listen to Hard Rock music and it’s mostly groups, but I can see what you mean from the Hip-Hop perspective. I think Hip-Hop is a heavily ego-based art form, not that I see anything wrong with that, so that could be why we have so many solo acts on the scene right now.
Working with a group is something I have always enjoyed, I understand how this may not work for some people, but with us, we share a lot of values and we’re a family, so I don’t find it challenging. I find it inspiring. I think that people have enjoyed our group dynamic. Some artists feel like they are limiting their personal expression being in a group. For me, I only see that as the case when the group chemistry is wrong, when the energy is flowing properly, you validate each other.
Messiah’el: After having seen some of your live performances and listening to your music, it is easy to see that you guys really work well together. How do you guys come up with such innovative material?
M.C. Kilch: I am glad you feel that way about our material. For much of what we have done, it begins with Instrumentals built from scratch by Mike Bliss, I am usually there helping with picking samples and overall song composition. We then sit there listening to the beats while making fun of each other for hours on end, iPhones in hand writing lyrics, generally writing 2 bars for every 100 derogatory statements thrown at one another. There seems to be quite a bit of Rum involved lately too, judging by all the empty bottles of Captain Morgan on my counter right now. Somehow it all comes together in a way that makes us smile.
Messiah’el: Who are some of the people who inspire you?
M.C. Kilch: For the most part we’ve been influenced by the people and artists around us to make our music. Meeting some random Puerto Rican guy at the corner Bodega who ends up playing Guitar for us, or stumbling upon people in the park with Congas leading us to freestyle there, as well as many other random musical happenings, have always influenced us more than any bands or established artists we could name.
The kids we know that come out to our shows are a big influence on us too. Personally, I have always been influenced by the ambient sounds of the city, the things you hear in between all of the usual noised you hear such as loud pedestrians or cars honking their horns. For Mike Bliss, I think The Captain who stands tall on bottles of Captain Morgan’s rum, is his biggest influence.
Messiah’el: Your sound is definitely different from what appears in the mainstream today. Is there an overall message that you are trying to convey in your music?
M.C. Kilch: Many of our songs are simply our encapsulated experiences, or concepts we want to explore. As far as a message, we can say that through our own unique sound and sometimes through actual messages in our lyrics, we encourage people to be individuals. In a society that many times sells us our own beliefs and revolutions through popular media, we advocate individual expression. We also endorse the use of technology to enhance human life.
Messiah’el: Based on your experience in the music world thus far; what wisdom would you impart to those who are newly interested in pursuing a musical career?
M.C. Kilch: Well, being an underground band, all I feel I am qualified to say is that upcoming artist should be true to themselves. It is a popular belief that you have to “sound like everyone else” to make it, but it’s not necessarily true. If you want to move music forward and earn long-term fans, be yourself, because that what will get you noticed. Use empathy to feel out your audience. After all, if you sound just like everyone else, why should anyone choose you?
Messiah’el: Are there any other ventures that you are now engaged in other than music?
M.C. Kilch: We are starting our own Media Company, an idea masterminded by our D.J. There will be a music division for our own record label, but art and clothing departments will be a major focus. Our team “444” will be doing a lot of the upcoming artwork. We know many artists that do everything from comics to fantasy-type sculptures and graffiti who we would like to help reach urban audiences worldwide.
Messiah’el: Where do you see OutofaWhole five years from now?
M.C. Kilch: I see us coming up with more quality material, reaching a wider audience, strengthening our own record label, and buying out the Suicide Girls Company, thereby playing lots of shows in what will be call the “Suicide Girls Mansion”. *laughs*
Messiah’el: I get a sense from listening to your music that there is some sort of “spiritual” perspective that you approach your craft with. Is there?
M.C. Kilch: Mike Bliss and I are both Atheists, we we’re both raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses, but we never thought God was real. We enjoy viewing ourselves as Gods of our own subjective universes, since it keeps us responsible for our own actions and making change for ourselves. We incorporate Myth and Theology into our lyrics for their emotional value, not because we believe in God or Devils.
Messiah’el: Any final thoughts?
M.C. Kilch: We are working with our friend F.L.E.E The Maestro on and Mixtape coming out in the next couple of months so check out our respective websites at www.outofawhole.bandcamp.com and www.fleethemaestro.bandcamp.com. The tape will be available as a free Download on both of these pages. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you and your readership today. All the best to each of you!
Messiah’el: That you very much for taking the time out to answer a few questions. Many blessings to the OutofaWhole legacy!
