Capital City Crook$ – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

Capital City Crook$ – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

We ran into Joe Sorriento of Capital City Crooks and conversated. These were the results.

RRX: Like songs, every artist has a unique feeling about their first show. What was your first show like? Was it your best show? If not, what was your best show like?

JS: Our first show was an unforgettable experience. It was our sister Lily’s first curated art show, and she gave us the opportunity to perform. Well, it wasn’t our best, it was a confidence booster, and got our foot in the door. Our next show we met our very good friend Shane, and he has been the biggest reason we are able to do what we do. His support with booking and collaborations means the world to us. As for our best show, they just keep getting better, so make sure not to miss the next one!

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

JS: We admire anyone who is inspired to create, whether it is music, art, photography, etc. A huge shout out to Shane (SuperDark) for constantly giving us opportunities to perform and collaborate. We would also like to shout out Rhakim Ali and Speig for pushing us and to be better rappers and producers. The same goes for Soo Do Koo, Aila, Ricky, KD3UCE, etc. There is so much talent in this community, and we are inspired by everyone. Thank you to all of you, even those not mentioned. You know who you are!

RRX: Artists, musicians, we immortalize. We set it in stone. Is there anyone who has passed that you feel you have immortalized in your work? If so, can you tell us a little about them?”

JS: We have two we would like to mention. When it comes to the art of lyricism, the one rapper who comes to mind is Big L. To this day nobody is touching his pen game, and he’s often referred to as, “the punchline king.” He’s a master at keeping you on the edge of your seat, and that is something we incorporate in every song. Set it up, and then knock it down. When it comes to the art of producing, J Dilla is who we take inspiration from the most. His beats don’t need words to tell a story, they speak for themselves. When we sit down to make a beat, it’s hard not to ask ourselves, “is this what Dilla would do?” But there is only one J Dilla.

RRX: With the exception of singing, everyone has an instrument, an inanimate object that has the distinction of being a lifelong friend. Smooth or temperamental, these objects have a character. So pick someone to answer, can you tell us something special about what you play, your technique, your instrument?

JS: Our weapon of choice is the iconic MPC (Music Production Center). While it is not your traditional “instrument,” it allows the user to play it like one. Its ability to manipulate sound and samples is unparalleled. It is a sketch pad for ideas, and because of its intuitive workflow, it can turn sketches into fully realized ones. But it is never the machine, it is the person behind it.

RRX: We let it out differently when we play music. The happy, sad, good and bad; it can all be put out musically. Overall, do you feel better when you sing about the better times, or the worser times? Is there a difference you can describe?

JS: It is easy to talk about the easy times. That being said, when you are able to take the past, especially the hard times, and turn it into a song, it makes it a much more rewarding experience. It is our own version of therapy. To be able to take hard times and look through it with lens of music.

RRX: What instrument would you add to the band if you could? Is there anything you are trying to do musically that would be helped with one or more additional players?

JS: We are performers and entertainers at heart. We don’t just want to rap and leave, we want to give fans an experience. Our beats are played off an SP-404 while we perform, which allows us to DJ and do a bunch of effects live with our instrumentals. But to be able to have a live band to cover our songs would be incredible, and would lead to a crazy live experience. To bring rap and live instrumentation together is a dream of ours!

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