Becoming Malkovich
[Originally published in MILK Magazine, Mar/Apr 2014/15]
As far as the social media family goes, Twitter has kind of always been considered the attention-seeking, annoying little sister. When you consider what it essentially provides – a 140-character unidirectional and generally self-serving shout-out to an audience you predominantly never have nor will meet – you can see why it gets the bad rap (pun forthcoming). However, Twitter has evolved to become much more than a reminder to the world that you’re 'waiting in line at the bank' or 'eating breakfast now'. The self-styled ‘homeless travelling rapper’ Malkovich has harnessed the creative networking power of Twitter to form vital connections with producers worldwide, before flying to them, rapping over their unique beats and classic world music, and creating a beautiful fusion of traditional and contemporary. MILK caught up with Malkovich and Kampot-based producer Mute Speaker (aka Rob O'Hara) while recording his latest work.
How did you get the idea of just hooking up on Twitter then just flying to collaborate with producers?
Malkovich: Well, It started with Becoming Phill, a Namibian producer and online fan of mine. We were talking on Twitter and I always wanted to go to Africa. So he sent me a couple beats, we made a couple songs remotely and we liked the way they came out. At the time, January 2012, I’d just thrown out everything I owned – gave up my apartment, sold my car – and Phill said, “You should come down here.” So, I’m like, “Okay, why not?” I booked the ticket and flew to Namibia. I stayed there eight months and I guess I started thinking that this was my thing, you know? I like beats, I like traveling. So I wrote on Twitter, “Alright, anyone out there, if you got some dope stuff and I like it, I’ll come over. You don’t have to pay me, I’ll just come.”
What was the reception like?
M: It was great. I mean, you know that thing about traveling – people welcome you with open arms. People love to greet someone who’s come to their neck of the woods. And there’s a lot of business opportunity out there, lots of musical opportunity – there’s just lots of opportunity! I’m going back to do more.
So since you decided upon living this kind of lifestyle, where has your music taken you?
M: I’ve collaborated in America, Namibia, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysian Borneo, Bali, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Holland, England… So far, I’ve done recording in Namibia with Becoming Phill – that was the first record of this kind. The second was with this guy called FunkPrez in Milan, Italy. The third is being done now with Rob (AKA Mute Speaker), here in Cambodia.
How did you guys meet?
Rob: We originally connected on Twitter. Then followed on with emails – I sent James some beats. We just went back and forth on email, and I think I mentioned something like, “Okay, I’m in Thailand on holiday now, and I’ll get back to you and send some more stuff when I get home [to Brighton, England].” He writes back and is like, “You’re in Thailand? I’m in Malaysia!” I just bussed it down right away to Penang!
So what was it that drew you to Cambodian music?
R: I was sourcing it a fair few years before coming here. I’ve always had a love of Asian music, particularly Indian music. But not so much Southeast Asian stuff. I didn’t really feel like I connected with a lot of the Thai and Vietnamese stuff that I’d heard. It was lacking something…lacking soul. And that’s what I found in Cambodian music. Mostly older stuff, ‘60s and ‘70s, but you know, a mixture of all that rock ‘n’ roll stuff, like Sin Sisamouth – all the usual suspects – but also picking up some chapei and traditional Khmer stuff.
What’s the process been so far in terms of recording together here?
M: Well early 2014, when Rob was sending me beats, I have a friend called DJ Squigz, who was in Southern Thailand, who was sending me stuff too. So I came up with this idea: me on the raps, these two on the beats. I found a lot of Malaysian music too which they sampled. So musically the work has got flavours from all around SEA. That’s what we’ve been recording so far in Kampot.
R: We had to abandon recording at my house though because I think we started to really freak out the neighbours. I live in this very shanty-town style place with wooden shacks. As a courtesy, I just said to my landlord, "If you think it’s too loud or maybe we're upsetting anybody then just tell me." He said, "Well, actually yeah, now you mention it…" (laughs).
M: They sleep with chickens and mad dogs but then I'm freaking them out? That’s an achievement!
What’s the name of the album you’ll be releasing?
M: The working title is Bounders. The theme behind the album is important. Basically, I ran off, he ran off, Squigz ran off – maybe you ran off to a certain extent too! So basically it’s about what’s behind all that. What’s behind those who get up, toss all their shit and go somewhere they don’t know anyone? What do you discover? Is it better? Was it worth it?
So what are your plans in terms of releasing it?
M: We’ll have to wait and see…probably early 2015. We’re still in the recording process right now.
There seems to be a rise in Khmer hip hop right now. Have you had any experience with Khmer rappers while over here?
M: I haven’t. The rap in Asia generally I found to be mostly imitation of mainstream rap, or an imitation of Asian underground rap, which I find equally awkward. In my defence, though, I’ve only been in Cambodia a very short period. I think it’s probably coming time for some non-American rapper who sounds not American to make it. I think it’s coming pretty soon because everything’s becoming very global, international. People want to hear that. People want something different.
How did you get the idea of just hooking up on Twitter then just flying to collaborate with producers?
Malkovich: Well, It started with Becoming Phill, a Namibian producer and online fan of mine. We were talking on Twitter and I always wanted to go to Africa. So he sent me a couple beats, we made a couple songs remotely and we liked the way they came out. At the time, January 2012, I’d just thrown out everything I owned – gave up my apartment, sold my car – and Phill said, “You should come down here.” So, I’m like, “Okay, why not?” I booked the ticket and flew to Namibia. I stayed there eight months and I guess I started thinking that this was my thing, you know? I like beats, I like traveling. So I wrote on Twitter, “Alright, anyone out there, if you got some dope stuff and I like it, I’ll come over. You don’t have to pay me, I’ll just come.”
What was the reception like?
M: It was great. I mean, you know that thing about traveling – people welcome you with open arms. People love to greet someone who’s come to their neck of the woods. And there’s a lot of business opportunity out there, lots of musical opportunity – there’s just lots of opportunity! I’m going back to do more.
So since you decided upon living this kind of lifestyle, where has your music taken you?
M: I’ve collaborated in America, Namibia, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysian Borneo, Bali, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Holland, England… So far, I’ve done recording in Namibia with Becoming Phill – that was the first record of this kind. The second was with this guy called FunkPrez in Milan, Italy. The third is being done now with Rob (AKA Mute Speaker), here in Cambodia.
How did you guys meet?
Rob: We originally connected on Twitter. Then followed on with emails – I sent James some beats. We just went back and forth on email, and I think I mentioned something like, “Okay, I’m in Thailand on holiday now, and I’ll get back to you and send some more stuff when I get home [to Brighton, England].” He writes back and is like, “You’re in Thailand? I’m in Malaysia!” I just bussed it down right away to Penang!
So what was it that drew you to Cambodian music?
R: I was sourcing it a fair few years before coming here. I’ve always had a love of Asian music, particularly Indian music. But not so much Southeast Asian stuff. I didn’t really feel like I connected with a lot of the Thai and Vietnamese stuff that I’d heard. It was lacking something…lacking soul. And that’s what I found in Cambodian music. Mostly older stuff, ‘60s and ‘70s, but you know, a mixture of all that rock ‘n’ roll stuff, like Sin Sisamouth – all the usual suspects – but also picking up some chapei and traditional Khmer stuff.
What’s the process been so far in terms of recording together here?
M: Well early 2014, when Rob was sending me beats, I have a friend called DJ Squigz, who was in Southern Thailand, who was sending me stuff too. So I came up with this idea: me on the raps, these two on the beats. I found a lot of Malaysian music too which they sampled. So musically the work has got flavours from all around SEA. That’s what we’ve been recording so far in Kampot.
R: We had to abandon recording at my house though because I think we started to really freak out the neighbours. I live in this very shanty-town style place with wooden shacks. As a courtesy, I just said to my landlord, "If you think it’s too loud or maybe we're upsetting anybody then just tell me." He said, "Well, actually yeah, now you mention it…" (laughs).
M: They sleep with chickens and mad dogs but then I'm freaking them out? That’s an achievement!
What’s the name of the album you’ll be releasing?
M: The working title is Bounders. The theme behind the album is important. Basically, I ran off, he ran off, Squigz ran off – maybe you ran off to a certain extent too! So basically it’s about what’s behind all that. What’s behind those who get up, toss all their shit and go somewhere they don’t know anyone? What do you discover? Is it better? Was it worth it?
So what are your plans in terms of releasing it?
M: We’ll have to wait and see…probably early 2015. We’re still in the recording process right now.
There seems to be a rise in Khmer hip hop right now. Have you had any experience with Khmer rappers while over here?
M: I haven’t. The rap in Asia generally I found to be mostly imitation of mainstream rap, or an imitation of Asian underground rap, which I find equally awkward. In my defence, though, I’ve only been in Cambodia a very short period. I think it’s probably coming time for some non-American rapper who sounds not American to make it. I think it’s coming pretty soon because everything’s becoming very global, international. People want to hear that. People want something different.