Nova Scotia DJ/Producer Uncle Fester has just released Super Villain with Niagara Falls emcee John Creasy and it definitely shows off his deft skills as a producer with some truly soulful beats throughout.

Uncle Fester extensive resume goes back over two decades and includes engineering, producing, mixing and live DJ’ing.  Some artists he has worked via these services include Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Ali Shaheed Muhammed, Pharoah Monch and Roc Marciano.

We caught up with Uncle Fester as he answered our legendary 10 Questions.

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

Been in love since I can remember anything at all tbh, but I have some specific moments that defined my love of hiphop and music, first time hearing 36 chambers on my cassette walkman, seeing Large Professor on the roof top with turntables in Mad Scientist video, those types of things.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

At this point in my life I'm mostly influenced by my peers and people around me or that I work with on the regular, but in the past the guys you might expect, Premo, Pete Rock, Large Pro, Alchemist, Dilla, Madlib etc etc but my main influences specifically come from hearing a beat that pushes me to be better and reach that level and beyond. I'm influenced by wanting to be better at all times. As far as people that I'd like to work with at some point that I don't know, Elzhi, Vel The 9th, Eddie Kane are ones that come to mind, oh and I been trying to get Large Pro on something forever, someone please vouch for me!

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

Main focus right now is Super Villain with Creasy but I do always have tons of projects on the go, working on stuff with Roshin (Notes to Self/BBRC Toronto) AP The Overlord, LXVDR, Hatfield, Stephen Hero, Primojab, just remixed an EP for Worms Ali, Mylo Stone and DJ Frenic, just a ton of stuff always on the go.

4. How would you describe your sound?

Boom Bap with Lo Fi and Dilla swing influences would be most accurate I think. I'm a hiphop junkie so I'm WIDELY influenced in my production sound so it's broad tbh with a foundation of boom bap and swung Dilla type rhythms.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

Very, Very hard question with many answers I can't divide up. Chilling in studio with KRS1, DJ’ing some dates in Atlantic Canada for Ghostface and Raekwon, Playing to 6000+ people this summer with Aquakultre and the Red Seels, working with Ali Shaheed from ATCQ on The Extremities album "Mint Condition" with Fresh Kils, all come to mind right away.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

There's only one true path to success, whatever that is for you, and that's longevity and just staying the course. The end, not exciting or a hack but the truth, just. keep. going.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Damn, so many, Ambeez, DK The Producer, Worms Ali, Brainorchestra, Ghettosocks, Aquakultre, Chan Hays, General Khan, Fresh Kils, LXVNDR all come mind as serious serious hiphop music you may not be up on just yet, that you should be!

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Ambeez "As We Continue On"  Brainorchestra "Progladyte" (not on Spotify lol) Anything Alchemist drops (also Fuck Spotify) support artists directly.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

Hang with my wife, watch ball, honestly just relaxing stuff since i'm either making beats, engineering, mixing or DJ’ing so often.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

MPC, Vinyl, Speakers.

Words: Gavin Brown