unique techniques

Guante & Big Cats

Over the past few months, I’ve been doing extensive work with Kyle Tran Myhre AKA Guante.  On Halloween, we released a video for the first song on Guante’s newest project with producer Big Cats, and I think it’s some of the best visual work I’ve personally produced:  

In addition to this, we shot and directed a bevy of both poetry and music videos @ Bryant Lake Bowl with the help of Davin Haukebo-Bol (who is an amazing videographer in his own right:  http://davinhb.com).  Here’s one of those poems.

Big Cats (http://bigcatsbeats.com) deserves a post of his own, but I want you to read the entire story of his recently released album “For My Mother” for yourself, so you can understand the depth and passion he put into the project.  I captured the final culmination of this project on film @ the Cedar Cultural Center with the help of Davin Haukebo-Bol (http://Davinhb.com) and Mike Olson (https://vimeo.com/lumnivore).  

You can watch the entire show HERE:  

More to come…  

UTvid#18: Truth Maze

MPLS hip-hop enigma Truth Maze stopped through the Unique Tecniques Studio in February 2012 and instead of doing a traditional song, I asked him to kick a beatbox with some old school flavor. As always, Truth did not disappoint.

UTintrvw#13: Desdamona

Download the Podcast HERE! UTintrvw#13: Desdamona

It’s about time I broke the trend of testosterone here at Unique Techniques. Desdamona, feminine half of the group “Ill Chemistry”, is an emcee, teacher, spoken-word artist, activist, and community facilitator. I met Des through my work at the Neighborhood House, but I don’t feel like we’ve ever had a conversation like the one you are about to be privy to. Join us as we discuss traveling abroad, Ill Chemistry’s new record, growing up with artistic influence in a small town, and the effect our construct of time has on our consciousness.

Download the episode HERE or search “Unique Techniques” on iTunes and subscribe for weekly updates, interviews, videos, and more.

UTintrvw#10: Zac Hills-Bonczyk

Download UTintrvw#10: Zac HB

I talked with Zac Hills-Bonczyk a few weekends ago and found out how he discovered hip-hop through freestyle, an interest in theatre, and method acting. Zac didn’t have a “traditional” hip-hop upbringing, but hell, neither did I. Join us as we discuss the transformative power of music and the community contained within hip-hop. You can find Zac’s music on his bandcamp.

Download the episode HERE or search “Unique Techniques” on iTunes and subscribe for weekly updates, interviews, videos, and more.

one year.

today didn’t go exactly how i’d planned, but it ended up being just what i needed.  i lost my father unexpectedly one year ago today.  i spent the afternoon at Cherokee Park in Saint Paul.  i went down a few paths, recorded some guitar on eyedea’s bench and took pictures of the sunset from the bluff.  

at dark, i came home and put the finishing touches on a song i wrote for pops shortly after he passed last november.  my father loved to paint, so i painted one of my sound panels in the studio for him.  enjoy the fruits of my labor.  

there goes the sun.  

purple jimi.  

for jcp.  

i’m thankful for my multiple artistic releases, i have no idea who, where, or what i would be without them… among the amazing people i surround myself with on a daily basis.  oldest friends and new comrades, you are all loved.  

UTintrvw#08: Mike Schank of Sector 7G

Download UTintrvw#08: Mike Schank of Sector 7G

Join Mike Schank and I as we discuss new Sector 7G, the greatest American Movie of all-time, impressionable young minds,  the uncut raw, and finishing projects faster than they can be released.  Mike and DJ Pseudonym (Sector 7G) are headlining a show at Honey in Northeast MPLS on Monday, November 21st @ 830 PM in benefit for Mr. Dibbs, a local Twin Cities veteran who has recently come under some health problems as of late.  Come out, suppot and say hi.   You can find Mike’s music @ FillInTheBreaks.com 

Download the episode HERE or search “Unique Techniques” on iTunes and subscribe for weekly updates, interviews, videos, and more.

UTintrvw#04: Kristoff Krane

Download UTintrvw#04: Kristoff Krane

I hung out with Kristoff Krane earlier in September, and talked in my parking lot for an hour.  We probably should have recorded that conversation, but we did hop on the mics long enough to discuss a few new projects he’s been working on, touring in Europe, and his growth since Abzorbr.  There is a public memorial service for Michael “eyedea” Larsen on 10/16/11 in Cherokee Park in Saint Paul, MN from 11 AM to 7 PM and it’s free.  Come pay homage to one of the greatest to ever bless a microphone, and hear performances and speeches from many talented faces involved in Mike’s legacy.   

Download the episode HERE or search “Unique Techniques” on iTunes and subscribe for weekly updates, interviews, videos, and more.

**NOTE** I used an aggregate device while recording this episode that caused a few staticky crackles.  Sorry about that, it won’t happen again.

UTintrvw#03: Analyrical

Download UTintrvw#03: Analyrical

I sat down with Colin Wanke AKA Analyrical near the end of August to talk about dream collaborations, diabetes, Grind Time, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the personal exploration of new sounds.  Colin’s penchant for the written word and battle abilities give him distinct style all his own, which he is looking to expand on the debut album from the Truebadours, Analyrical’s upcoming release with fellow Background Noise Crew member Phingaz.  

Check more out from Colin and the rest of Background Noise Crew @ http://www.backgroundnoisecrew.com

Download the episode HERE or search “Unique Techniques” on iTunes and subscribe for weekly updates, interviews, videos, and more.

UTintrvw#02: Guante

Download UTintrvw#02: Guante

Kyle Tran Myhre AKA Guante is a rapper, spoken word artist, activist, youth worker, and, well,  superhero.  Tune in as we discuss the 2008 Republican National Convention, a new Guante & Big Cats! album, the craft of songwriting, keynote speeches, the surprising return of Goodie Mob, Cowboy Bebop, and being stung by bees for a few hours.  

Download the episode HERE or search “Unique Techniques” on iTunes and subscribe for weekly updates, interviews, videos, and more.

UTintrvw#01: Carnage The Executioner

Download UTintrvw#01: Carnage The Executioner

What better way to start this party off than to have it shut down before it begins?  I recently had an opportunity to sit down with twin cities hip-hop godfather Terrell Woods AKA Carnage the Executioner to discuss super human multi-tracking, Coaches, and what exactly constitutes the meaning of the word dope.  He speaks on how he stays fresh after 20 years on the mic, and also takes a fond liking to my cat.  

Catch the entire interview on iTunes (search “Unique Techniques” in the iTunes store) or LISTEN / DOWNLOAD HERE.  Right-click / Save link as…  

Stay tuned for some exclusive footage from our session, as well as a nice surprise for all you curious music makers…