4/20 should be declared a national holiday! Grim Singmuf and Canna CDK have the sound track to help you celebrate 420 right!
Their Back 2 Basics Producer Kit is half-off right now! You can’t beat that deal! Get the beats used on the album! Click the picture down below to check it out!
Grim Singmuf Bio: Listen to the psychedelic sound of the mind-bending beats and rhymes. From the tripped-out creativity of Grim Singmuf combines his eclectic taste in music with a massive zest for life. With an ever-growing collection of singles, remixes, and full-length albums. Hip-Hop psychedelic specialist Grim Singmuf is ready to grasp the highest plateau of musical accomplishment. With his ever-evolving unique signature sound, innovative beats, and thought-provoking lyrics Grim Singmuf brings a captivating one-man show wherever his journey takes him.
Connect with Grim Singmuf via Earworm Entertainment Website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, Cesspool Asylum Bandcamp, The Cataclysmic Variable Bandcamp, Apple/Itunes, Deezer, iHeart Radio, and Reverbnation. Also read his CTRLPlusSpace interview here and read his review about Dusty Bumps here! See the review of Back 2 Basics here!
Canna CDK Bio: Canna CDK is the owner & founder of Earworm Entertainment & Earworm Radio. He is a performing artist for the Earworm Entertainment Artist Collective [EwEaC]. Canna CDK is from Brockton, Massachusetts, now living in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, (USA), he was first established on October 31st, 2013 with the Klown Around EP. The EP was followed by his first full-length album Misunderstood Mind, released in late 2015. After a period of self-reflection and medication returning in late 2016 shortly after launching Earworm Entertainment, Radio, & the Collective. Since its launch, three new albums, Interminable, Off the Chainz, & The Other Album have been released between 2017 and 2018, along with a mountain of collaborations.
Connect with Canna CDK via his Facebook, Instagram, Earworm Entertainment website, Twitter & Youtube. Get his music here: Amazon, Napster, and Spotify. See his CTRL+Space interview here! See the review of Back 2 Basics here!
Before we start with the interview, these guys are holding a song writing contest to promote staying home and being safe through this pandemic. Click the picture below and follow the instructions on the website.
Here’s the beat for the song writing contest! You could download it on from the website linked above!
These guys are also offering mask comfort straps to essential medical workers to help people heal from this pandemic. Click the picture down below to order some straps for free! Read about the straps here!
How is this album different from your solo projects?
Canna: Normally, with my solo projects, the creative drive and vision come solely from me. With this album, it really came from the two of us equally. And I mean that in every way, from the sounds used to make the beats, to the artwork on the case.
Grim: I asked Canna about creating a sound kit, then an album based on it. I mentioned to him he could sell the kit and album to help support the collective. So it is our first album where you can get a kit that contains every sound used. Even some secret sounds.
What inspired you guys to come together to create this album?
Canna: It honestly started out as a “back burner” project for the two of us. When we started talking about this, Grim only recently joined Earworm, so we were going over a lot of things, organizing, planning, etc. And the more progress we made with this album, the more time we invested in the project.
Grim: At the time prior to its conception, Canna and I have not met in person. We had about three collabs and were working on putting together “Heads of the Hydra,” a big cipher track. I was invited on “Wormed Out Tour” and really wanted to show my worth. At the time, I was not a part of EWE, but I respected what they were doing so much I just wanted to add on. It was not completed until I became part of the family. For me, it’s very special.
Who was responsible for what aspects of the creation of this album?
Canna: The entire sound design was Grim all the way. The sound kits used to make the beats, the beats, all that. Lyrically we both are responsible for our own parts. We split the beats (three each) to be responsible for and let the other build from there. You can actually tell who started each song by listening to the hook of each song.
Grim: I created the sounds, made the instrumentals, and wrote my own lyrics. As far as song direction and lyrical content, we split the songs, and each wrote a hook for half the album to set the tone. Very balanced.
What type of work goes into creating a sound pack?
Canna: That one is all Grim; he is the man when it comes to making custom sounds, kits, beats, etc. I can put together a beat but no way near the same level.
Grim: I manipulate sounds I recorded and create synthetic drums and other instruments and collect them as individual impulses. From there, I will create loops using only the sounds I created. Another step is creating “presets” on various VSTs. Then I separate each for easy navigating. So each kit will contain one-shots, loops, and presets. We’re currently giving away a free kit; it’s part of an article that details these steps. See the article here!
Did anyone else from Earworm Entertainment influence the sound?
Canna: Yeah, this was actually supposed to be exclusively Grim and myself, but there is one song that just screamed for a feature from one of our Earworm brothers, Jay Prophet.
Grim: Aside from Canna and myself, the homie Jay Prophet comes through on one of my favorite tracks, “Find Yourself.”
What do you enjoy most about working together?
Canna: Like Grim said, it’s difficult finding artists who share the same drive. With us, we have that plus some. One of the greatest aspects of working with any of the Earworm artists is we can adapt and flow together but with our own style and flow. Finding artists who can do that is even rarer.
Grim: It’s increasingly difficult to find a human with the creative drive, dedication, and passion that Canna displays. This is not a hobby for us, its a way of life. We don’t need to convince one another into being motivated. We simply pitch ideas and execute them. In my experience, this is rare.
What was the most difficult part of working together?
Canna: The distance for sure. Being in the same place, we can get way more done. We still get a lot accomplished but not nearly as much as when we are working in the same studio.
Grim: Not being in the same room, but even that was not difficult. It would be dope to have an EWEAC retreat. No phone, no internet, just creating in the same cabin deep in the woods. Honestly, Canna is a dope artist; there is never any push and pull. We respect, guide, and listen as a team.
What is your favorite track on Back 2 Basics?
Canna: I would have to say “Into the Beyond” is my favorite. It’s the first song from the album I wrote and recorded for. It really set the foundation for what (in my opinion) this whole album became.
Grim: “Find Yourself” is the one I love the most. The nature of the album is fun, outgoing, and engaging. However, this track deals with the inner struggle we all deal with. The pain inside. In the hook, I ask for space to feel my feelings. We all deserve that space. It’s okay to feel, even if the feeling is numb.
From your favorite track, which lyrics stood out to you the most in the song? What do they mean to you?
Canna: I would have to say “Taking a interstellar journey to all the galaxies a-far
Summoned to send a message to the grays on behalf of the human race
But words are spoken easily; talk is cheap with no taste
So I come with bars, I come with flavor, a taste delivered for all of you to savor [savor]
Out of reach and out of touch with all the garbage played and dissin
Beamed out transmitted, and for some reason, a bunch all listen!”
Grim: Canna says “. . .In my mind most the time, you see the weather’s stormin’ with a smile on my face to hide the fact that I am mournin’. . .” To me, it speaks to the mask society expects us to wear. A mask that shields society from having to deal with experiencing another’s true emotion. “Cheer up kid,” “Wheres your smile lady?” Most people don’t want to see your pain. It displeases them. What is on the outside does not dictate what a human is actually feeling, or dealing with.
Can we expect some music videos for this release?
Canna: Yes!
Grim: Yes! Canna was going to come to Mount Shasta, but this trip is delayed due to the current pandemic. We will create some videos for this when the time is right. This too, shall pass.
Can we expect more collaborative albums from the two of you?
Canna: You never know what the future may hold. I will say I am very proud of this album and really enjoy working with Grim. Our two styles, although very different, go well together, and when we get together to create, we vibe so well one will think it, and the other will say it. It’s almost to the point of being a little creepy, haha.
Grim: Man, I sure hope so. I enjoy working with Canna. I can picture us creating more vibes!
Which song was the easiest for you to track, and why?
Canna: “Into the Beyond” was the easiest for sure. Like I said, it was the first song I wrote and recorded for, and it really set the stage for the rest of the album, in my opinion.
Grim: “Prepare to launch” came easy. It’s definitely a cannabis song. I am definitely a midnight toker. Well, I’m a morning, noon, and night toker. I enjoy the smell, the taste, the inspiration, and the therapeutic value. There are of course, many songs about the herb, but I gotta give respect where its due. To all my relations. Animal, fungus, plant, mineral, etc.
Which one was the most difficult, and why?
Canna: The most difficult part of this album for me wasn’t the music. It was actually the artwork. The artwork for this album was drawn by me, and it’s the first album to release with my hand-drawn art.
Grim: The only difficult thing for me was creating the space and time to record vocals. I recorded all my vocals in three days in a suite at Ashland Hills Hotel in Ashland, Oregon. Right down the street from Caldera brewery. I made it a vacation for my partner and our son. So while they soaked and enjoyed some saunaing at wellsprings, I recorded. I’m not a rich dude, so it was an experience we saved up for.
This question is for Canna. What medium did you use to draw the album art? What was your inspiration?
Canna: Yes, I started the artwork in my sketchbook to get the concept down and the basic outline of the artwork. Then I scanned the final line drawn art into the computer, and everything from there was drawn digitally with my drawing tablet. It was a lot of trial and error since this is still something new to me. Luckily, my oldest son and wife are artists (of the drawing nature), so my frustrations were minimal.
This one’s for Grim Singmuf. When you created these sounds, did you know how you wanted them to sound before you make them, or did you shape them until they were what you liked? Tell us more about that process.
Grim: When It came to creating the drums, I wanted to create something similar to the drums commonly heard on old boom-bap style songs. I also recorded myself playing my bell drum. As for the other sounds, I messed around with some soundwaves till I found vibes I liked. The entire sound kit is available on our website. See and purchase the sound kit here!
Another one for Canna. What gave you the idea to start 3D printing comfort straps for masks during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic? Do you think you could make more items that might useful to help protect our healthcare workers?
Canna: My niece is how the comfort straps got started. She is a nurse in Massachusetts, and after hearing what these doctors/nurses/medical professionals are dealing with, I wanted to do something to help. So the first batch was sent off to her hospital, and once people started seeing them, it just took off from there. At the time of this interview, I am proud to say Earworm has mailed out over 300 comfort straps to various medical facilities and essential workers. And we have a lot more still to do. And as much as we want to help in any way we can, we are also make sure that what we are printing and offering is truly helping, and we are doing that by doing extensive research into what materials can be used and how safe they really are. A lot of fake information is going around with this pandemic, and we are doing everything we can to make sure Earworm and its staff are not spreading fake-facts or sub-standard products.
Another for Grim Singmuf. When you created these sounds from Maschine 3, what was the basis for the sounds you created? Were they preexisting sounds that you modified for your purposes, or did you go out and record new sounds and processed them using a program?
Grim: Well, I created the sounds in FL Studio 20, then created the beats from those sounds on the Maschine. In FL, I created each sound from very basic sound waves. Sine, saw, square, triangle, etc. I begin adjusting ADSR, then I add harmonics, adjust EQ. Really just keep manipulating the sound wave until I dig the sound. The other approach I take to this is recording a sound, like a water drip, and manipulating it till I dig the vibe.
I got to hear the album early. It’s awesome, and I think a lot of people will enjoy it. My favorite song is “Take a Trip.” You guys want to tell us a bit about that song? What does it mean? What are your favorite lines in that one?
Canna: That song has layers of meaning. The clear and obvious message is about Psychedelics. If you listening closely to the lyrics in that song, it also speaks to the fear society has put into using mind-altering substances and the fear of reaching out to find your true self. And even more so it is telling people their state of mind has a lot to do with their path through life. For example, if you think your life sucks and won’t ever get better, then you’re going to have a hard time doing anything to change it. You must change your way of thinking if you want to find peace with yourself.
“Making new memories, helpin other people see, how happy everyone can be
But if you don’t believe then we can’t make you see
Only you have the key to the doors of your mind
Turn the key and open up and see what’s inside
Free your third eye and open it wide
Everything you’ve been told is fake, faux, and lies
The truth is in the experience his, yours, and mine”
Grim: I am a big psychonaut. My verse comes from a place of balance and unity. I quote Salvador Dali in the very beginning by saying, “I am Drugs.” Which, to me, speaks to the inherent psychedelic nature of humanity. I then invite people to join us. EWE is a very inclusive group. You’re cool, we’re cool. I go on to mention, “I’m the new Neal Cassidy, get on the bus.” For me, the music is the bus, as a lyricist, I’m the driver. Neal was the driver of the prankster’s bus “Furthur.” At the same time, in the hook, I urge the listener not to follow me. We all have the ability to create our own reality, I want to grow beside others. I don’t want them to be like me, I want others to observe and add on in their own way. We are all divine creators.
What’s next for you?
Canna: Time to continue on with working on my solo album, releasing later this year. It’s called, “Sinister Intent,” so keep an eye out for that. Not to mention, all the wonderful things we have planned for Earworm Entertainment.
Grim: My first full-length album on Earworm Entertainment entitled “Deviant Dialect” drops May 22nd. Looking forward to its birth!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Canna: Big shoutout to all who care and support! And thank you for having us Much Love!
Grim: Shout out to your readers! Stop by our website, join the family!
