The Welcome Party
Sean Daley says Rhymesayer's Welcome to Minnesota tour could become an annual event.
Image credit: Courtesy Rhymesayers
Sean Daley – aka Slug of Atmosphere – is returning to the wintry Minnesota roads later this month as part of Rhymesayers’ second Welcome to Minnesota Tour. The tour, also featuring Kill The Vultures, Big Quarters, MaLLy and BK-One, comes to First Avenue on Feb. 22.
The Minneapolis show is sold out, but tickets for the remaining stops – Mankato (Feb. 20), Bemidji (Feb. 21), Duluth (Feb. 23), Rochester (Feb. 24) and St. Cloud (Feb. 25) – are still available.
Before putting on his snowpants and hitting the road, Daley spoke with METRO about what it’s like to play in Bemidji, his future plans and why he’ll never be an advice columnist.
Oh yeah, want to win tickets to the Rochester show? Send an e-mail to giveaways@metromag.com by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1 telling us why you should go. We’ll pick a winner by the end of the week.
METRO: So this is the second year in a row that you’ll be out traveling Minnesota. What is it about traveling around the state that you enjoy?
Knowing you’re always just three hours from home makes it very much like a winter vacation in a way. I have a feeling that this year is going to achieve a very similar feeling, and you don’t ever get that feeling when you’re away. Being close to home is definitely more important to me now. I’ve always had a want to be close to my family. And I’m kind of a control freak so I want to be close to anything and everything that I have in my life. Plus it just makes it easier to relax and make something feel amazing. It’s not like it’s the kind of tour that makes any money, but you don’t even have to think about it. And that’s a great feeling. When you got that going for you makes the show more focused, and you can just let it out.
How is a show in say, Bemidji, different than a show in Minneapolis?
Truthfully, the difference is not as big as you might think. There’s an underlying energy involved, and that feeling or that vibe is bigger than Atmosphere – it’s the vibe of going to a rap show, going to study, to judge the guy on the stage.
Is there any chance this could become an annual event?
That’s my plan. It might be too soon to say that out loud to people, but I’ll let you in on a secret, that’s my plan. And I want to do it without recycling the other groups that are on there. At some point I might not even go on and it just becomes the Welcome to Minnesota tour. I would love to be able to make sure rap shows are going on around the state because for years and years kids had to travel to the cities to see shows.
Can you let us in on any of the details for Soundset (May 27, 2012)?
Soundset is definitely going to happen, and that’s about all I can tell you right now. It’s official, we’re going to play on it. There are a couple of new tricks, but I can’t say too much.
You’re going to be playing outside at Red Rocks on Jan. 27. What’s it like playing outside in the middle of winter?
I’m from Minneapolis so when I think of Red Rocks I think that’s a great venue. I didn’t grow up going to shows, it was just another great venue, but for people who live there just a part of their reality. But no one has gone to a show in winter so it’s going to be very interesting to see what happens at this event. I’m intrigued and validated that they’ve asked me to perform. I’m from Minnesota so I’m like, ‘Whatever, I’ll play in the snow.’ I have performed outside in December up near Duluth and it was cold out. It’s not the greatest environment to play in but when you have to play outdoors and Mother Nature intervenes and it can make for a better show just because it eliminates the status lines around people. In the rain everybody’s just wet, we’re all just one…
You’re also going to be playing Capetown, South Africa in March. What does it mean to you to perform on an international stage, and are you surprised your music now has such a global appeal?
Because of the Internet, there are people everywhere who will love your music. For some reason or another always this group of kids who would say come to South Africa, and I’d think, ‘Yeah, in my dreams,’ and now it’s finally happened, and I’m like ‘Wow, that was all real. It wasn’t just a group of 16 kids.’ Not many underground rappers have gone to South Africa. And I love that I can use my art as a vehicle to see things I’ve never seen. Isn’t that part of why I do this? Why would you paint if you didn’t want the opportunity to get it in front of a bunch of eyeballs?
Are you actively writing now and, if so, should we expect any new music anytime soon?
I never stop writing. The only time I don’t write is when I’m living on the bus, and I got off the bus in November. But I go through phases, and I haven’t been pushing myself to be extra prolific. I’m making sure I exercise my writing muscles so when it is time to get back in the game I don’t have to spend a few weeks getting my muscles warmed up.
So what are you looking forward to this year then?
I’m really excited about what we have for the label (Rhymesayers). It’s going to be another stellar year. Considering some of the troubles us labels are having to not only have a successful year, but a great year for music last year was a real blessing. And I hope this year is just as great if not better. I used to take for granted that we ran this label but I realize now we’re putting out some really high-powered records. Who else is doing that as a label?
I understand you once considered contributing an advice column to this magazine. What would you say if we extended another offer?
My least favorite part about what I do for life is that people get disappointed. I only appreciate that fear of disappointment when I’m making music. So it may look cute on paper, but you should ask somebody who gives good advice because I tend to lead people astray.
+ For more information about Rhymesayer’s Welcome to Minnesota Tour visit rhymesayers.com.
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