Music

STAFF PICK 2010: D-Sisive

by Nicole Villeneuve

A lot of eyes have been on Toronto’s D-Sisive ever since his 2008 EP The Book was released, a surprisingly dark, personal confessional from the wise-cracking MC that garnered critical praise and a Juno nomination for best rap recording. But it wasn’t the first time anyone took any notice—it was actually considered a comeback.

His story is indeed one of music mythology: after making an impression on the Toronto hip-hop scene in the late nineties, D-Sisive, known formally as Derek Christoff, dropped off the map. Wracked with grief over the death of his mother, severe subsequent depression, and the death of his father six years later, a revelatory flash of inspiration came after years of retreat one day while listening to the Beach Boys. The single “Brian Wilson”—a fitting figure, really—was penned, and he hasn’t stopped since.

When we tell the always acerbic D-Sisive that he’s one of our feature artists for 2010, he isn’t necessarily surprised. “It’s funny. Since I came out in 2008, I’ve been on somebody’s year-end list. Like, ‘this is the artist to watch next year.’”

“I guess a lot has changed as far as like my profile is concerned, but… it’s been a very slow grow. At the same time, a valuable grow. And to me that’s amazing, because you’re not hitting any dead ends. I’m not there yet. I’m not where I want to be.”

This year, D-Sisive released Vaudeville in June, a departure from the production of both of 2009’s albums (yep, two—the Polaris long-listed Let the Children Die, which would be put to rest at a funeral in November after lawsuits over uncleared samples, and the stellar, free-download Jonestown), but one as accomplished as ever in the head-spinning pop-cult references and the whip-smart wit that weaves it all together. Like last year, D-Sisive hopes to get a second album, the anticipated Jonestown II, out before the end of 2010 as well, but due to standard and unavoidable delays, it might not happen. But of course, it’s hardly discouraged him.

“[Next year], I’d love to put out three,” D-Sisive admits on the phone from a bookstore in downtown Toronto. “At the same time, one of my goals for next year is stepping up my touring game. And today, I was listening to the new Brian Eno album and I thought, ‘you know what’d be cool? If I wrote an album to this.’ And I probably will. That’ll probably be out in a month. I’ll just release it for free.”

Not content to do things by the book, it was recently announced that D-Sisive would be changing his name for all future releases to Derek from Northcliffe. He’s since retracted that, suggesting instead his full name, Derek Christoff, only to leave it all in the air, undecided, at the time being. It makes sense, then, that he considers himself the “Pink Eyes of rap,” tweeting those very words to the nickname holder Damian Abraham, frontman of fellow rule-breakers Fucked Up and a source of inspiration to D-Sisive.

“I look up to him. I’m very fortunate to have a lot of great people and great artists in my life. He’s in a great position; one that I hope I can be in. They did things the way they wanted.”

“I’m very confident with what I do, but at the same time, there’s still that insecure part of me. People like him in my life, they help put it to ease.”

D-Sisive’s rare balance of modest, awe-like fandom, ravenous ambition, and self-aware surety continues to push him forward, to “where he wants to be.”

“My father would always teach me that, when you begin a new year, you should have more in your bank account than you had last year. Which I have never done in my life, ever,” he laughs.

“But that’s kind of applying to my career. Next year, I should be much further along than I am this year. The progress that I’ve been making… at least I’ve been able to achieve that. And it feels great.”