EDC #1 – Twist it 2

Posted by By T. Craig at 25 April, at 19 : 42 PM Print

Past Life Records founder aims to put North Carolina on the map

FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Though EDC#1 is a true musician at heart, if you were to ask him what his approach is to the music industry he would say that his goal is to be more of a CEO or manager. His record label, Past Life Records, already represents three artists in addition to himself, and is beginning to catch the attention of others within the industry. His current artists include rapper Jayon, R&B singer Sir Ben Marx and producer Shaun Lamb. His company has also worked with and produced for artists such as Pastor Troy, DJ Sir Jinx, Ice Cube’s long-time producer Patra, Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers, Stat Quo, comedian Rodney Perry, and former No Limit and Strange Music artist Young Bleed.

The most recent release from the record company is a single called “Twist It 2,” which combines Jayon and EDC#1’s talents into a laid-back club anthem. EDC#1 said it’s a song he wrote for the ladies, and it’s one of those songs that has a groove that anyone who listens will want to dance to it. It’s a great example of the kind of music that he wants to create and distribute through his company – mainstream music with enough of a twist that it sounds unique and different.

“I don’t sound like anybody,” he said. “Every song I have I switch up on my style. You can try to compare me to other people, but in the end you just can’t. I try to set myself apart from other artists through my voice and the way I deliver my lyrics. It’s like no other today, and no one has ever sounded like me before.”

Growing up, EDC#1 said it was his older brothers who first influenced him to fall in love with music. They would bring tapes home and play them in the house and he would fall in love with the way some of the old-school rappers would deliver their music. After a short stint in college, EDC#1 decided that he wanted to pursue music full time and began studying some of the greats. He would save his money from work and buy tapes every week, listening to them in his car over and over again. He points to artists such as Outkast, Dog Pound, Nas, Jadakiss and Lil Wayne as some of his greatest influences. The more he studied and the more he developed his own unique sound, the more he realized he loved the development side of the industry and helping others also find their unique sound and style.

“I’m more of a CEO or manager,” he said, “but the songs I do make are different and versatile. One of my earlier songs, for instance, called ‘Play With Me,’ is one of those songs that people won’t fully get until they get through to the end of the song. It’s intended to be wack so that I could be different and creative. Most of the music going on right now is too similar. Hopefully we can become the first major label from North Carolina. I’m trying to bring an open market to North Carolina and expand it more. And the type of artists I have are versatile and ahead of their time.”