The Hype Magazine Interviews: Father Dude

Who is Father Dude and where are you from?

Who is he?  Shall I speak in third person?  Shall Father Dude refer to himself in such fashion?  I am originally from Long Island but have spent the last 9 years in Harlem.

Who has been your greatest inspirations musically and why?

Musical inspiration came a lot from my family growing up.  My father sang and listened to a lot of Doo-wop.  I feel like that shaped me as no one my age was really listening to that – it made me not afraid to like different things which kinda led to my severe eclecticism.  I was obsessed with Jim Morrison and the Doors as an early teenager and eventually got into a ton of Rock music.  Later, I really embraced Jazz, fusion and soul from Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Michael Jackson to Tower of Power, EWF and the Isley Brothers to the Hip-hop born from them.  Huge Frank Zappa fan as well.  The reason why he and Geroge Clinton and even Brian Wilson are so important to me is because of how undeniably unique they were.  You know it’s them because they can’t be anyone else.

What do you feel you offer the music industry that we don’t already have in other performers?

You only get one Father…….  Dude.

When can we expect some new music from you?

I’ve been very lucky to work with so many great musicians and producers so, there will be many varied releases coming out this Fall with me as a featured artist.  I will also be releasing my own new music through the Hegemon collective as well as a forthcoming EP here in the US and Australia.

What has been your greatest achievement so far?

Having patience and never stopping.

If you could collaborate with one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Dead: Frank Zappa.  Compositional genius with a sense of humor and soul.  Living: Mike Patton.  I feel like he is a chameleon but always grounded in himself musically.  The ability to collaborate is a strong point for both of us.

Last but not least, HYPE wants to know…What’s your CRAZIEST “Where they do that at?!” moment…

I love how even with NYC being every bit as filthy as it is, people flock outside to eat at restaurants’ sidewalk seating.  Right where that dog just shit, garbage juice is baking in the midday sun and people are breathing into your drink as they walk by, is the perfect spot to post up and overpay.  Where do they do that at?  Here.

www.fatherdude.com
twitter.com/fatherdude

By: Just Jay