My Global Hustle » Archive » YG Chats w/ Colin Munroe a.k.a The One Man Band

YG Chats w/ Colin Munroe a.k.a The One Man Band

YG: Colin I would like to thank you for taking time out of your schedule to meet with me. I know ur busy having one of the hottest songs on the net right now. 🙂 How do you feel about that?

Colin: Think nothing of it.. I enjoy answering questions actually! It’s obviously amazing that the track has had this kind of response. I thought it might get a little attention but nothing like this. I don’t know how I feel about people saying they like it better than Kanye’s version… I fell in love with the original which is why I wanted to do something with it. I’ve got nothing but the utmost respect for him and obviously my version would never have existed without his version first. But I appreciate the fact that people seem to really identify with my version.

YG: Tell me a little about growing up in a small town in Canada and eventually moving 2 the T.Dot.

Colin: Small town Canada is probably alot like small town anywhere. It is beautiful but isolated and I always felt a bit cut off from the world. Running off to Toronto after highschool was like a bit of an escape. And I’ve done most of my formidable growing up since moving here.

YG: Besides being an artist, you are also a songwriter & producer. Who were your musical influences growing up in Canada?

Colin: I grew up with Van Morrison and Chicago on my parent’s record player. They didn’t really want me listening to the radio but I did anyway when they weren’t around and thats when I discovered more newer music. You didn’t hear a whole lot of hiphop/rnb in Canada back then, so I was pretty much on a strict diet of U2 and stuff like that!

YG: I heard that you werea fan of J. Dilla. How did his music influence you as a fan and artist? Did Dilla’s music play a role in you becoming a producer?

Colin: He was amazing. He could make you bounce your head AND break your heart. That is a rare thing. He understood pocket in such a deep way and I think really changed the way people use rhythm in production now. And on top of his drums would often be melodic and harmonic ideas that just seemed to come from another planet. That is what blew me away most.. it was the same stuff I taste when I listen to The Beatles or Stevie Wonder.. just something extra.

YG: You have produced for artist like Glenn Lewis and Saukrates. What lead you to producing Hip Hop & R & B records once you got established in the T.Dot?

Colin: The hiphop and R & B community in Toronto really embraced me and gave me lots of encouragement and opportunity. I was a nobody from out of town but I guess they heard something and took a chance on me. Glenn was one of the first guys in the community that I met. We were introduced by a mutual friend and when he heard what I was working on he told me it was just a matter of time. I’ve learned alot from Saukrates in producing for him and co-producing with him over the years. He is a rockstar in his own right that has yet to get his full due.

YG: After your success as a producer, how did you end up linking up with Marked Music? Dallas Austin?

Colin: Marked Music is my manager’s independent label. We’ve known each other for years. Dallas only heard my music as of last year when a friend of ours in NYC named Folayan Knight put my album into his hands. He was into it and the rest is history.
YG: What inspired you to remix Flashlight? And did you expect such a response?

Colin: When “Graduation” came out I felt it was a special album and “Flashing Lights” stood out to me. It came on for the first time and all I could hear were these melodies and a huge potential to do something different with it.

YG: You have received positive feedback from the Emo & Hip-Hop world about your remix to Flashlight. Was there an intent to bridge the gap (due to your Hip Hop production background) btn those 2 worlds?

Colin: I don’t feel like I belong squarely in either world. I’m not a full on hiphop head but I’m not a straight rock guy either. The production wasn’t an intentional bridging of the gap so much as it was an honest expression of who I am.
YG: Due to the huge response from that song & the possible niche that you have found musically. Will you re-record more songs along that vein for the new album?

Colin: Who knows.. right now I’m just tryin to let the dust settle and see what the lay of the land is!

YG: Now that everyone knows Colin Munroe or at least heard ur song. Do you feel pressure to produce a dope final product?

Colin: Not particularly. I’ve always just done what I do and leave the rest up to the big plan. I kind of look forward to surprising some people with what my own material sounds like! I’d rather change expectations then meet them!