Hi Alaska Redd, and welcome to College Radio Charts! Thank you so much for joining us today. How has your autumn been so far?
It’s been great, thanks for asking and having me on the program.
You’ve been described as a pioneer of Alaska’s hip-hop scene. How does it feel to hold that title, and what does being a pioneer mean to you personally?
I feel honored to hold that title and I feel like it comes with a responsibility. I’ve been called a pioneer because I’ve been around the scene for a couple of decades plus now lol and I’ve helped nurture the culture in an area that’s desolate and doesn’t have much access or exposure to Hip Hop, especially back in the day. 2002 I opened up my first commercial recording studio that catered mainly to hip-hop and R&B artist and provided a professional recording setting in my city of Fairbanks, Alaska, for them to come record and grow as build their skills as artist. 2007 I also started a promotion company, that would bring national & headlining acts to my city, and other cities in Alaska. I would have local artist open up for these acts along with myself and I also would invite different local acts to come out on tour with me every year on my annual tours through Alaska. Exposing them to life on the road and giving them invaluable experience and knowledge when it comes to touring as an artist. I love the scene and I love watching it grow and helping the artist and sharing my knowledge along the way as I’ve gained a lot of experience through my 20 + years of trial and error and successes and failures in the music business.
Your latest project, Alaska Borealis, and the song “Deadly Combo” are making waves. Can you tell us how this project came together?
Yes, I was approached by our buddy Lance who is the brainchild of this project and he asked if I would be interested in contributing my work and doing a feature alongside Killah Priest. There was no way I could turn down the opportunity to work with such an esteemed artist. I also liked the vision for the project. Alaskan artists that are up-and-coming collaborating with an artist that has a platform to help expose the newer generation of Alaskan Artists to the masses. That’s what I’m all about.
What was the inspiration behind “Deadly Combo?”
Basically I just brought it back to that late 90s early 2000 era of raw uncut hip-hop. I chose a beat that I thought was fitting of the styles that we could equally contribute to, and the rest is history.
You’ve worked with legends like E-40, Tech N9ne, and Paul Wall. How have these collaborations shaped your career, and what have you learned from working with such iconic artists?
Honestly, I’ve learned a lot working with each one of them, not only experience on working in the studio with them and the writing process and recording process, but also being on the road, watching them perform live, studying their business models and taking in their stories and advice on the music industry. Each one of the collaborations is a testament to my dedication to the Craft and my perseverance as an artist coming from Alaska, to be able to achieve these accolades is mind blowing, especially where we are from. I’m proud of these achievements and milestones in my career.
You’ve built a successful career not only as a musician but also as a producer and promoter. How do you juggle those roles, and which one feels the most natural to you?
I feel like they all kind of coincide with each other. It all revolves around Music, which is my passion so it all comes somewhat natural to me, but takes time to learn and gain experience. None of them are easy but I can’t see myself doing anything else.
With your label, ReddDott Productions, and your concert promotion company, Permafrost Promotions, you’ve contributed to the growth of hip-hop in Alaska. What challenges have you faced in building and sustaining a hip-hop scene in such a remote location?
One of the biggest challenges we face is the location. Just being that we are so desolate and so far away from everything it made it harder to move as an independent artist. We’re not connected to the rest of the lower 48 states so jumping in a car and touring is not really an option for a lot of the Artist up here, it takes a Huge step just to get out there and get on the road. We lack resources like venues, concerts and events to perform at. As well as the typical challenges of a lot of places not supporting the type of music we were doing. I’m glad that’s changed some over the years.
Keeping the concert promotion business profitable or not so upside down that we can keep bringing the entertainment to the state. Trying to selling tickets at a level that will sustain these shows has always been a challenge. But the hustle of it all is what I really love.
Your albums like Trapped In The Land of The Frozen and Snowsuits & Bunny Boots have a clear connection to Alaska. How important is it for you to represent your home state in your music?
It means everything to me. People are intrigued about Alaska already and bout what they don’t know. So I feel like it’s great to be able to give a representation to the people from my point of view and from my experiences living in and around Alaska.
You’ve been in the game since the 90s, which is an impressive feat. How has the hip-hop landscape changed since you first started, and how have you adapted to those changes?
The Music business is forever changing and evolving it has went through some massive changes over the last couple decades. I just try to stay up on the latest tools and technology that are available. Keep making music I enjoy.
Do you come from a musical family? What are some of your earliest musical memories?
Yes, my grandmother was an opera singer in San Francisco in the late 70s. My father was in bands, my whole life as well as my brother and my cousins,uncle and aunts. We have a very very musical background and family. Some of my earliest musical memories are watching my father and uncle jam out in the basement of our house in Spokane, Washington when I was a very little kid. Watching my older brother play the drums with grown-ups. I always thought that was a really cool.
What was your first concert?
1st Real concert I ever went to was lollapalooza at the Gorge in George Washington. 1996
Speaking of concerts, in 2018, you headlined the “All Gas No Breaks” tour, covering 10 states. How does the energy of performing outside Alaska compare to performing in front of your home crowd?
It’s amazing. It’s funny. Sometimes you don’t get the love inside your own town or state that you receive outside the state. I think people respect the fact that you’re out there on the road grinding. I always tell the local artist from around the state. Don’t get discouraged about the crowds or the interaction from here get out there on the road and spread your music around to other places you’d be surprised how well you’ll be received in other markets.
With projects spanning multiple decades, how do you stay creatively inspired and continue to push boundaries in your music?
I just try to keep moving stay productive, and I find inspiration from life & what comes with it and the things that are all around me and the experiences that I have or had.
As someone who’s worked with both underground and mainstream artists, how do you strike a balance between staying true to your underground roots while reaching for mainstream success?
I don’t worry about mainstream success. I just focus on making music that means something to me. I focus on my family, my community. As far as the hip-hop scene in Alaska, I’ll always try to help it grow as much as possible and be a resource to help the up and coming artists that are from here.
What’s next for Alaska Redd? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
Always working on something lol. Got a couple events. I am scheduling around AK this winter while living on the island of Hawaii. I’m also going to be lining up another tour this summer through Alaska that I will be inviting some select artist from the state on. I’ll be dropping singles through the winter, Just trying to stay creative and productive.
Thank you so much for taking some time out of your day for us! Where can people go to find out more about you and your music?
Thank you for taking the time out to interview me. I really appreciate it. You can find me on most music and social platforms at: @AlaskaRedd / YouTube: @alaskaredd907
Thanks again, cheers.