Music
Dispatches from the Olympics - Cadence Weapon at Alberta House
by AUX staff
February 22, 2010
Our Olympic music correspondent bring us this new dispatch from the west coast. The writer catches up with hip-hop artist Cadence Weapon at Alberta House in Vancouver where the discussion focuses on patriotism, music at the games and what he's got planned for his forthcoming album.
I meet Cadence Weapon at the Alberta House on Robson and Beatty in the thick of Olympic activity. It seems as though this building has gone up over night and being an Albertan myself, I am mildly impressed with the stylish presentation Alberta has put forth. Thank god the hay bales and white cowboy hats were left in Calgary. Upon meeting Roland (Cadence Weapon), we instantly start talking about the Olympics. He tells me that, to his surprise, he’s stoked to be part of the festivities. “I got excited once I got here, even though I was a bit cynical about the whole thing.” He admits to have caught a bit of the Olympic fever when the plane full of people started cheering upon landing in Vancouver. We continue to talk and I’m finding him refreshingly humble, insightful and well spoken. We chat about anti-Olympic movements and how musicians and artists have been seduced by VANOC and the Cultural Olympiad. There has been controversy surrounding what participating artists are allow to say about the Olympics. In order to perform, they must sign a agreement not to explicitly slag the Olympics. Due to this and other issues, there has between a sort of divide created – you are either for or against the Olympics. Roland and myself agree that we both exist somewhere in between, “extremes are always a mistake” he tells me, “sometimes it’s nice to feel like you are a part of something, I think it’s part of being human”, I nod in agreement and Cadence Weapon and I have a human moment.
Roland tells me about his upcoming album, with a pending release date in September. He describes it as “an existentialist new wave rap album” and explains how he’s fleshing out his rhymes with a full band. I get excited when he tells me it’s influenced by Elvis Costello and Lou Reed. We continue to chat about the Olympics, writing and making music. I get inspired when he tells me about his respect for people like Neil Young, who put out albums on their own terms. I recognize this same drive in Cadence Weapon and suspect his next album will follow a path of his own making.
Dispatches from the Olympics is written by Tara Mahoney.
Tags: Music, Interviews, Cadence Weapon
