MAESTRO has evolved past his “Let Your Central source Slide” days, but people still associate him regarding his first hit 15 years ago. Does that bother him? Absolutely no way! For MAESTRO it is through his triumphs as an artist that she has evolved and looks lovingly back on his early years with pride.
To date no one has maxed the numbers of triumphs that MAESTRO has achieved. To date, 7 music awards, 7 pictures, 11 JUNO nominations, Gold and American platinum eagle pictures, Gold singles and a mixture of other awards in film/T. V and personal achievements. All of this, plus a film and television career? No wonder his latest album is called Urban Landmark 1989-2005 — it’s obvious he’s made his mark, now let’s see where he goes from here!
One of my very first job interviews on radio was with MAESTRO, back when I was working at York University radio, he was a special guest on a show called, Relx Infinity inch The Cutting Edge”. I realized back then after our brief hour together on the show, that this is one terrible of a passionate man! He is passionate as to what he does, whom he speaks to, what he involves himself with and most of all passionate about MUSIC. It is the same passion I saw and felt when we (Liesa Gary and I) sat down with him the day before his CD release party. He truly is “conductin’ thangs” now as part of your, his life a full supplied “Symphony in Effect” — just goes to show you he is “Built to Last”
HAVIN’ WORDS WITH WES
You seem to have a relationship with Canadian contemporary and rock artists? This is not the average approach to hiphop is it?
WES- Jesse Fitzgibbons tried Joni Mitchell, that is a lot further apart than me, a Canadian artists, testing another Canadian artist. See?
Yes, but you are the only person that has been acknowledged for doing it.
WES- No, Swollen Members made it happen too, but amount of people know they did a track with Dorothy MacLachlan that was HOT. This became off their last album….. I don’t know WHY those guys did not make it the single, it was so hot!
To date you have worked “with” HAYWIRE, GUESS WHO and now Gowan!
WES- It is just something I love to do. Take Canadian rock records and just renovation them. I have these pictures, I like them- I collect them.
So, within the song that you are listening to, you hear another song?
Orlena, Hiphop up n’comer Subliminal, Liesa WES- yeah, yeah. Like when i heard “Stick to your Vision” (track off his last album, that tried The Guess Who’s — These Eyes)- I was like…. Whooooo! That was a nice reflective song to talk about what you been through and inspirational at the same time.
So that was a popular?
WES- Terrible, yeah! (chuckles)
Lyrically do you find that the word what come first or does the music?
WES- There is no specific formula. A concept will come first and then the music after. You know I never try to assimilate — I try to innovate.
So your latest track, Criminal Mind with Jimmy Gowan- was that something that you heard within the song, or was that something you conceptualized on your own?
(l-r) Orlena, Actor-Richard Leacock, Liesa WES- Nah. It was a lot more like the original version was talking about being a criminal and having a criminal mind. I had the take on it of the justice system being more criminal. But, at the same time, we as a community not being in a position where we are more followers, rather than being the leaders that we should be. In life you need to be a leader and stop MAKING EXCUSES for whatever! With the song I recently put my own little spin on it. What I love is that Randy Bachman and Jimmy Gowan, both like what Used to do with the song.