Despite my less than Hip Hop friendly moniker, I am a big fan of Hip Hop music. Old school hip hop, mind you. Among the sea of upcoming bands and various musical genres, I took some time to have a chat with MC Garuda who buck the normal “lets form a band” trend and hit it out with his own style.

ironhead: Who is MC Garuda?

Garuda: MC Garuda is also known as Xarin the Manchild and I’m an advocateur of beats, rhymes and body-surfin, good music.

Basically I started out as a member/vocalist of Singapore’s OG hardcore band, Social Integration of the One Voice Asia Worldwide in 1997 and at the same year I had a Hip-Hop affection with skateboarding and rapping. So one thing leads to another and it seems that Hip Hop bought me in with a punk state of mind.

Xarin the Manchild is a full cycle of MC Garuda-who deejays and produces Hip Hop music.

ironhead: What is the state of SG Hip Hop scene and how has it change from the time you started out?

Garuda: I started out rocking my first Hip Hop show with a couple of mates back in a monthly Zouk’s Hip Hop nite, named  “Quiet Storm” (which is a monthly event, which I think it’s the first of its kind) in 1998.We were in a collective called “Ashkkar 203”. You can see faces of regular dudes hanging out watching the show and everyone was dressed to impress. Break dancers looking mean, suited up with Adidas and mad rappers tryna spit. It was rare for an ocassion like that since no other club outlets putting money onto SG Hip Hop.

From there on, I decided to pursue Hip Hop music as a hobby but it became a serious hobby when I started rockin as an MC with Singapore’s legendary turntablist, DJ Ko-Flow for almost 6 years now. So now ever since my first Hip Hop jam, I begun to look at the musical aspects of Hip Hop culture and started to learn music and its mechanics instead. Nothing of that bull-ish, I’m all bout dope Hip Hop music, art, dance, fashion- sense, and lyrics. Yes SG Hip Hop brought me to a lot of vibrant memories and people.

SG Hip Hop has passed thru different generations now and will always be. It has taught me a lot since I belong from the late 90’s era. I believe the only way for it to sprout a new beginning is to destroy and rebuild. A new phase, perhaps?  Why not for a new change and new faces. In one word…Frrrreesh.(2-click flare)

ironhead: What is the difference between being in the local hip hop scene as compared to being in a typical local band scene?

Garuda: Wow…I think the local bands scene has more loyal fans than the local Hip Hop scene. I mean there’s absolutely more purchasing power in the local bands market but the local Hip Hop has more youth appreciation. Well to sum it all, the local Hip Hop scene should study the local band’s scene in terms of musicality and the longevity plus the very most important…originality. (Yes, the wow-factor counts)

ironhead: How has the public and your peers react to your persona as MC Garuda so far?

Garuda: Well…fore mostly Garuda is very much a patented name (or its hasn’t?) but to me it means a lot to my Javanese heritage. What’s the first thing when Garuda is mention, is always connected to the mythology of Hinduism, and Buddhism with symbolism in India, Indonesia and also Thailand. This part of the Asian continent used to be a great kingdom. Now connect the dots…

But on the reaction of my peers, I’m still known as a member of Social Integration and an MC rockin with DJ KoFlow. I’m young veteran in this game. Still learning and grinding.

ironhead: What do you think makes you stand out from all the other MCs out there?

Garuda: I believe most MCs are equipped comfortably with their own style. As for me, I’m beginning to see Hip Hop from a alternate angle. It is a matter of finding or creating your own style, be it rappin, flow or just the sound of music that compliments your rhymes. Plus rhyming is a way of communication and to establish good rhyme sense, you need to read books. My style derives from my musical inspirations from the day I picked my my first music record purchase.(I think its Youth Of Today’s “Break Down The Walls” on cassette).I read lyrics!

Into another, I also deejays but my sets are which I called, “DJing from an MC’s perspectives “-meaning that I spins jams that inspires me in my MC artistry. Like I could drop a record from Operation Ivy or Portishead and blend/mix it in with a record from Mobb Deep or Flying Lotus, etc. It’s a deejay playlist where you would just kick back, smoke a blunt and nod you head to it…occasionally I would play some rare grooves/funk/disco for you to pop and lock or boogie…I luurve heavy deep-low bass lines and funky synths!

As for Hip Hop production, I’ve been producing music for myself ever since I bought out the MPC 2500 a year ago…I believe MCs should produce and craft their own music.

Does this stands me out?…I hope not.

ironhead: Full length album?

Garuda: Well look out for 2010 release of a conceptual, 3-volume, 3 parts audio meets design, last–debut release of Xarin the Manchild on Golden Triangle Records. I’m actually keeping things under tabs…but Sounds Good will be the first to get a copy.

ironhead: Any words for SoundSGood readers?

Garuda: You know the name…its not that easy to spell it out…easy to understand…repeat after me;
S-O-U-N-D-S-G-O-O-D…so what are you waiting for?, book mark this page! Ha…peace to the supreme and the universe.

Visit www.goldentrianglerecords.com & www.myspace.com/goldentrirecords

Text >> ironhead
Pictures >> Mark Teo and MC Garuda