The West Coast’s new R&B star sits down to answer some questions.
Eddie G. recently sat down with West Coast R&B crooner Marleik for an exclusive interview. In this feature, you’ll get to learn more about what Marleik’s got in store for ’09 and hear what it’s like to work with everyone on the West Coast from Dae One to Dr. Dre!
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MARLEIK (MARCH ‘09)
Interview by Eddie G.
Also check Marleik’s “Perfect Timing” mixtape with DJ Ill Will & DJ Rockstar by CLICKING HERE
ChronicVacation.com: We’re here with Marleik, what’s going on?
Marleik: Aww man, just stayin focused and workin hard, featuring with all my folk.
ChronicVacation.com: Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into music…
Marleik: Well, I started out just a fan and just singing other peoples’ music. I wanted to be signed and become famous, but I later found out that it wasn’t that easy. Just finding who you are in the music is a monster in itself.
ChronicVacation.com: Do you feel that it’s harder to break out as an R&B artist than a rapper out here on the West Coast?
Marleik: Well it’s hard all the way around for some people who don’t have the connections that others may. Whether it’s R&B or rap, you still have to show and prove as an artist, so i wouldn’t say it’s harder. Both take a commitment, and rappers have to give away a lot of free music to stay in the game these days. But R&B takes a lot more time [to record] a song, so you know, they’re both respected.
ChronicVacation.com: Tell us about your latest mixtape with DJ Ill Will & DJ Rockstar, “Perfect Timing.”
Marleik: “Perfect Timing” is my intro to the world of mixtapes. It’s been done for a while but it did happen with DJ Ill Will and DJ Rockstar. I started releasing songs like my version of T-Pain’s “Can’t Believe It” & “Chopped & Skrewed.” I got about 40,000 downloads between the two, and another 20,000 for a song I did called “With You” featuring K-Aktive, so I got a great response to the tape.
ChronicVacation.com: Tell us about the videos you guys filmed for the mixtape…
Marleik: Yeah, I shot a video to the “Can’t Believe It” remake with Chalice Serrano. Shout out to Chalice, I got major love for her, a very sexy co-star! But yeah, I was in the middle of the shoot with my boy Anton and a car comes flying by in the alley while we were shooting. I started yelling at the damn car like, “Hey, what the fuck you doing? This is a closed set here!” Everybody started rolling cause we were shooting this straight guerilla style…real hood.
ChronicVacation.com: Two producers who worked heavily on the mixtape were Dem Jointz & Dae One. The West obviously has a lot of new talent on the production side of things. But you’ve also been in the studio with Dr. Dre. Is the approach to recording different when you’re working with the new guys as opposed to the veterans?
Marleik: Hell yeah, the vets know what they want and they don’t have a lot of time to spend with you. If you don’t know what you doing when they ask the first time, you either get it right or get on, cause know you working at a level of professionalism. With [newer] producers, the professionalism is there but we have more room to experiment.
ChronicVacation.com: What can we expect next from Marleik?
Marleik: Well, I’m thinking about dropping a new tape soon, calling it “Perfect Timing 2: Color Of Love.” [There’s] no date for it, but before the summer. You can catch me on Disko’s new single, 211’s new album, and K-Boy’s new album. I’ll also be on YB’s mixtape, Kam’s new mixtape, Dae One & Noni Spitz’s “No One” album, Lil Bam’s album, and I’ll be on my artist Miller’s two new singles. And there’s more to come man!
ChronicVacation.com: In case someone reading this is dumb enough to still sleep on your music, let them know why they should check you out. What can they expect from a Marleik record that they can’t get anywhere else?
Marleik: If you like R&B that’s not watered down and has the same quality as any other R&B artist that’s out, check with me. I’m going to send a song to be post on Chronic Vacation [LISTEN HERE] and you can be the judge. Show and prove!
March 4th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
dudes sick i enjoyed his mixtape!!