Swollen Members, a Vancouver-based band getting ample airtime on urban radio stations across the nation, has landed a strong presence in Canada's flourishing hip-hop scene.
Band member Prevail, 24, attributes their mounting success to two key factors: the band's commitment to independence and their fierce loyalty to the group. With the release of their third album, Monsters in the Closet, the Members continue to put out proud West Coast beats.
In 1996, band member Madchild co-founded Battleaxe Records in response to the Members' urge to release their own material.
"From there, Mad really started taking it as a serious business," explains Prevail. "We started putting out compilations and looked at signing other artists, and that's how it went down."
Prevail applauds the entire group - Moka Only, Madchild and Rob the Viking - for their hard work and perseverance in bringing the band to a place where they can concentrate on music full time.
Prevail and Moka grew up making music together in Victoria, BC, before moving to Vancouver. They first met Madchild on a trip to San Francisco, but it was their second meeting with Madchild that became the stuff of legend. "At a house party in North Vancouver, he was there as well. We just kind of started rhyming together back and forth. We had a crazy chemistry and started talking on the phone," remembers Prevail.
Before music became his primary source of income, Prevail spent a few years in service jobs, like cooking and bartending. If he wasn't making music, Prevail says he might have worked in another part of the entertainment industry, like theatre, film or television. He notes that he also likes cooking, and might have worked to get his chef's papers. On a recent tour to Victoria, however, a friend reminded Prevail of his first passion, inscribed in their junior-high yearbook: "I want to be a rap star."
For the future, Prevail will continue to make music with the band, but says there are other musical genres to explore. "I'd like to learn how to compose and make symphonies in the next 20 years," he says.
CP: What do you listen to? What inspires you music-wise?
P: Between all of us, we listen to a whole run of things, from Willie Nelson to Black Sabbath. I listen to a lot stuff: classical, lot of Motown, lot of jazz, lot of hip hop, a lot of rock. I think it's important to listen to a whole range. It keeps your mind open, especially as a musician. You never want to shut yourself off from other influences.
CP: Do you have any secret weaknesses that nobody knows?
P: I collect things. I collect masks, tribal masks from all over the world. I have a lot of cool native Canadian masks, First Nations masks and a couple things from around the world, which I'm pretty proud of.
CP: Do you have any advice for people looking to get into the music business?
P: This is the crew slogan, and it's regardless of what you're trying to get into: 'Do it if you love it, but love it if you do it. We feel it's really important that you enjoy what you're doing in your life and that your job brings you joy because, chances are, you're going to be working at it for a while before you get a chance to mellow out and retire. You've got to enjoy it while you're trying to get there.
