Bag Of Tricks Cat

IAA: What is your music background?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: My grandma was the singer of the 1959 “Felix the Cat” theme song. She was also a big band singer on the east coast during the 50’s. Here is an article about her: http://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/2009/04/08/20090408gl-felix0408-ON.html. She inspired me to make music. I learned how to read and write at a very young age, and one day I just started writing poems. As I got older the poems I was writing turned into raps. I wrote my very first rap when I was 10 years old. I started recording when I was 12 with only a yamaha keyboard, boom box, and blank cassette. A year or two later, I was rapping on USB Gamer microphones into Audacity using instrumentals downloaded off of Limewire. Then a year or 2 after that I started recording on Garage Band and Logic Pro with a poor Dynamic microphone and a USB interface. I’ve recorded in so many closets and bedrooms that I have lost count. Now I record in professional commercial studios. I’ve worked with several respected artists in Arizona. Bookie, who is known for his g funk classic “stressing”, has made and produced several records with me. I have also worked with MegaRan aka Random Beats and Mav of Sol Camp. Besides my solo music, I’m in a hip-hop group called “The Bakers.” We’ve opened up for several mainstream acts in Arizona: Yo Gotti, Ghostface Killah, Sheek Louch, Elzhi, and Talib Kweli. My debut project is being released May 28th. It was made with a member of my group “The Bakers” TMK (The Mic Killa.) The album is called “Southwest Living: Live from the Oven.” I also engineer and make beats on the side.
IAA: Why do you want to record and release your own music?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: Music is in my blood. I have a lot of things I want to say, and I know I can say them perfectly through music.
IAA: What are your songs about?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: My songs are about my life and the lives of people close to me. I have a song called “Check the Forecast”. It is about the violence and corruption that goes on in Arizona, and how the musicians out here are overlooked. I have a song called “Friends” on my upcoming project about being stuck in the friend zone with a girl that you really like. Whatever I’m feeling when I sit down and write a song is what my songs are about.
IAA: Who is your fan base directed towards?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: My fan base is directed towards people who like good music and hip-hop. I’ve had teenagers who are only 15 tell me they listen to my music. I’ve also had people who are 35 tell me they listen to my music. I think I have something for everyone. I feel like the things I talk about are easy to relate to wherever you’re from and no matter how old you are, especially if you’re from The Oven.
IAA: Who are your musical influences?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: My grandma greatly influenced me. The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Eminem, 2Pac, Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Nas, and Anthony Hamilton have also been great influences.
IAA: How would you describe your music to people?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: I would describe it as Alternative Hip-Hop. There’s definitely a “Golden Age” influence when you hear it. I’d describe my music as honest and raw.
IAA: What makes you stand out from other artists?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: My concept, skill, logo, image, and sound make me stand out. I don’t rap like the “rappers” on the radio. I don’t look like the “rappers” on your TV. My logo is already a huge part of pop culture, and I’m making it relevant again.
IAA: What are some upcoming projects you are currently working on?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: I have my debut album with TMK (The Mic Killa) coming out on May 28th titled “Southwest Living: Live from the Oven” I have a solo EP/mixtape coming out towards the end of the summer called “Half & Half: Too Broke for Whole Milk.” We’re currently filming a music video for one of the singles on Southwest Living and have plans to film two more. I also have two music videos being planned out for my solo EP. I’m also going to begin booking shows this June for the rest of the summer. I have a couple more tricks in my bag too.
IAA: What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: I want to consistently release new music, videos, and do shows in my state and eventually nationwide. I already have designs for my own clothing company, so fashion is going to be a key revenue stream in my hustle. I’d like to get mainstream features and production, and eventually chart on iTunes or even Billboard. 10 years from now, I’d like to have my own label and for everyone to know who The Bag of Tricks Cat is.
IAA: How can your fans access your music and contact you?
BAG OF TRICKS CAT: www.bagoftrickscat.com
www.twitter.com/bagoftrickscat @bagoftrickscat
www.facebook.com/bagoftrickscat
www.soundcloud.com/bagoftrickscat
www.youtube.com/bagoftrickscat
www.reverbnation.com/bagoftrickscat
instagram @bagoftrickscat - Industry All Access

Bag of Tricks Cat talks about his upcoming projects, shows, videos, recording studios and more!

Blazed by the Bell hosted by DJ Olivia K
KASC The Blaze 1330 AM, ASU's Original Alternative Radio Station - Arizona State University

1. Felix The Bag of Tricks Cat how long have you been doing music and what got you into doing music?
My grandma, Ann Bennett, was the singer of the 1959 “Felix the Cat” theme song. She was also a singer on the east coast during the Big Band era, and even sung for President Eisenhower. She inspired me to start making music. I’ve been making music for over 10 years, but I started taking it seriously about 2 years ago.
2. Felix The Bag of Tricks Cat what are the pro’s and con’s of doing music in Arizona and do you feel that you have the right outlets in order for you to become big?
The pro’s of making music in Arizona is that I’ve lived here my whole life and I get a lot of love from my community whenever I release a project or do a show. I’ve also had the opportunity to work alongside talented artists who live here (Hannibal Leq, Mega Ran, Bookie). The con’s are that there is an over saturation of Hip-Hop artists, and limited opportunities since the Southwest Hip-Hop culture is still very young. The politics of the music scene is wack too.
3. Felix The Bag of Tricks Cat how has your life experiences effected the style and sound of music that you make?
I rap about what I feel, what I’ve seen and what I’ve experienced. You can tell what mind state I was in when I sat down and wrote or recorded a record. Since I’ve lived in Arizona my whole life, I feel like there is also a hint of Southwest in the majority of music I make.
4. Felix The Bag of Tricks Cat you have a hit single called friends. How did that song come about and what was the process in recording the song?
“Friends” is definitely the most popular song I’ve made. I was stuck in the friend zone with a girl I was head over heels for when I wrote my verse and the chorus/hook. I wanted to make a positive song that everyone could relate to, and I feel like everyone has been in that situation before. Whether they were stuck in the friend zone or had to put someone in the friend zone. I showed it to my buddy TMK (The Mic Killa) and he wanted to hop on the song, so we ended up putting it on our debut project “Southwest Livin: Live From The Oven.” I reached out to Mega Ran on Twitter and sent him a rough version of the recording. When we all got together to lay down the vocals, there was a lot of chemistry between us. It is one of the most fun and memorable experiences I had in the studio. I think you hear how much fun we had when you hear the song and watch the video.
5. Felix The Bag of Tricks Cat what are the pro’s and con’s of creating a song like Friends?
The pro’s are that it’s radio friendly and everyone can relate to it. John Blaze spun it on his radio show on 93.9. It was my first song ever played on FM radio, so it definitely did what it was supposed to do. The con’s are that gangsta rappers, trap artists and their fans look down on you since it’s not “hard.” But who cares about them.
6. Felix The Bag of Tricks Cat what is the concept behind the song and what is the concept behind the video for the song friends?
It’s about liking a girl that doesn’t like you back, but continuing to be great friends. When we shot the video we wanted to see visuals of what we were talking about in the lyrics, and we did just that. So there is beautiful women, alcohol, cartoon characters/heroes and video games.
7. Felix The Bag of Tricks Cat what is the name of the latest project that you are working on and what is the concept behind that project?
I’m working on my next solo project called “The Cat That Never Came Down.” The concept behind it is never allowing the negative aspects of life bring you down, and to always stay positive. And you know, get high too. I should have the first single/music video released at the end of April or early May. I’m also working on a mix tape called “Paid In Sex” w/ Mike Biggiz, and a few other projects as well.
8. Felix The Bag of Tricks Cat at the end of the day, what do you want people to remember you as, when it comes to music?
I want people to remember as the realist cat out there. I want to give my listeners epiphanies, relatable music, laughter and entertainment. I don’t want to be compared to any other artist out there.
9. Felix The Bag of Tricks Cat what other business ventures do you have coming down the pipeline?
I’m currently promoting Arizona Hip Hop shows with Respect The Underground. I also engineer and will be working with my cousin at his studio HKS in Glendale, AZ. Expect a clothing line launching at the end of year or early 2015 as well. Too many tricks in the bag to give away all at once.
10. What is your mission statement and where do you see your brand and career in the next 5 years?
Always Original, No Copycats. I see my career and my brand becoming well-known in the southwest during the next 5 years. My music is going to be on the radio in steady rotation, and I’ll be touring around the country still pushing. You’ll have to stay tooned to find out. - Real Entertainment News