G Force (G): Congrats on the release of the EP ‘Ritual Law’ fellas. Was it always on the cards to drop an EP after the freebie ‘Mixtaste?’

Deece: cheers dude. To be honest the original plan was to drop Mixtaste then the LP, but as always time gets away like a runaway bride. As soon as we looked like rapping up the album over a year had passed since mixtaste and we didn’t want to risk missing the stand up citizens of this scene suffering from short term memory lose. We re-jigged a few track arrangements and come up with a formula we thought would give peeps a good ear to who we are and what the LP will offer.

G: You seem to have a good idea of what you want to be doing with the timeline and progression of things. Not many artists would drop a video clip with an EP let alone having two of the four tracks with a clip, what’s the idea behind this?

D: We’re both just mad fans of a good clip and of the opinion that a good clip can give a dope track a whole new dimension, plus there just mad fun to do. We’d do a clip for every track if we had the time.

B wiv: Were also lucky to have a few hook ups that have helped us out and I’ve been able to edit them myself so we thought why not?

G: The professional and serious approach extends to the final sound side of things, using Sing Sing for mixing and Jack the Bear to master. You both have a big interest in equipment and the recording process so did getting the right final sound play heavily on your minds?

D: Fuckin oath! That’s pretty much the whole reason it’s taken us so bloody long. We’ve always been on the hunt for the perfect vocal chain and the perfect mix. We’ve had the tracks written for a while but couldn’t bring ourselves to let them loose not sounding up to scratch. We’ve constantly upped our game in the studio on a mission to get our shit to what we thought was releasable quality. We eventually got the recording down but still couldn’t get the mix exactly we’re we’d envisioned it. We did some research and got onto Tony Espie (his mixed everything from the classic Avalanches ‘Since I left you’ LP to TZU’s latest ‘computer Love’). Working with Tony in a room full of vintage eq’s and compressors was unbelievable. He used what we had already done as reference then took it to the next level. Of course Jack then tied it all together to get it to sound consistent because each track really has a mind of its own sonically.

G: Production wise B Wiv has a pretty unique style, what are your influences and how do you go about your own production?

B: Man my influences range from DJ Premier, The Rza, Nu-Mark, Suffa, Trials to Rage Against the Machine, Bob Dylan and John Lennon. I have no set way I go about making my beats, I guess it starts with the sample or a melody I’ll have in my head and then I’ll structure the beat around that.

G: Deece, the track 40 days and 40 fights is a deeply personal track. Was hip hop a big outlet for you to relieve some stresses and emotions involved with this or was this track used as a closure to the experience?

D: It’s both really. I’ve been on the mic longer than I’ve been sticking myself with insulin. Something I don’t expected people to pick up on is the fact I refer to myself in the third person up until the time I’m diagnosed in the track. When I look back on life before the needle it’s like looking at a different person. I didn’t want the track to come across like I was looking for sympathy because I’m really not. Just being in the hospital after knocking on deaths door made me realize how lucky I was. I was in a bed across from a stroke victim in his 40s who was totally paralyzed and I was kept up at night listening to the nurses trying to shove a tube down is throat to feed the poor bugger. I had nothing to whine about next to that dude and many others around me so from that day onwards whining and wasting time was over with.

G: How would you describe your sound and how it differs from other Aus hip hop releases at the moment?

D: In one word I’d say aggressive. B wiv’s production can be simple or it can be epic, but most of the time it’s just plain epic. His got a good music brain and it comes across in his production, especially when there’s no sampling involved. It’s always suited my style and helping push it. If I had to put a point of difference between us and others it would be simply that we don’t sound remotely like anyone else out there at the moment. Although I see originality as a good thing it is a catch 22 in that it has also alienated us to an extent. I reckon it would take balls to say you think B wiv Deece is the shit to your one track minded hip hop buddies haha.

G: Being brothers you probably argue at times. How does this work with creating music together? Are you honest and critical with each other on both production and lyrics and has this led to any problems?

D: You know what? I probably argue with Mr Wiv the least out of the whole crew. We grew up 2 of 7 siblings and there was plenty of arguing no doubt, but our personalities are chalk and cheese and the only reason we’ve got this far. I’ve been involved in plenty of musical relationships and this incest situation has defiantly been the most productive. I’d say we’re very honest and critical of each other but in a positive way. One of the reasons we work so well musically is because we grew up sharing bunk beds with the same posters on the wall listening to the same shit. We both know what we like and have very similar tastes, so when he goes na that sounded whack, nine times out of ten I take a second listen and agree. The other one time I slap the shit out of him.
B: Yea that’s pretty much how it is except the complete opposite haha.

G: So, from here what can we expect? A full length release and when?

D: the full length is in the can awaiting its chance to shine. At the moment we’re pushing the EP to ready people for it. We’re also sorting out all the behind the scenes stuff like lable/distro. Ritual Law is a 100% independent release but for the full length we’ll be seeking assistance to get it out to as many suckers as possible. Regardless of how we end up releasing it, it should be out late this year.

G: Maundz features on the EP, any plans for him or other features on the full length?

D: Not at this point, however I’ve just recorded a verse for his upcoming LP ‘Mr. Nobody’. For the amount of time we spend in the studio together it’s lame how much we don’t rock tracks together. At the end of the day it’s probably just that we have such different styles that rarely relate to the same beat and concept. In saying that though we’re talking about dropping a joint 12” after we both finally get our LPs out but we’ll see.

G: What else should we be looking out for from B Wiv Deece, live shows, guest spots, production credits?

D: Defiantly some shows in the next couple of months. We’re working on getting interstate as well for some launches. As far as guest verses from myself go there’s not too much on the cards apart from the Maundz LP. I guess I’ve been so busy recording that foul creature as well as mixing the whole thing I don’t have time for much else. I then of course have to deodorize the house after he leaves, it’s a lot of work but it’s very nearly done!

B: I’ve laid down some beats and cuts for Maundzs LP, he pretty much gets all the B wiv Deece leftovers haha

G: I thank you greatly for your time, good luck with the release and do you have any shout outs or final words?

D: Go out and cop it! The easiest way is directly from www.myspace.com/bwivdeece via paypal. You get the EP + postage + your very own B wiv Deece stubby holder for the bargain price of $10! It’s a steal. It’s also in local shops and on itunes so keep an eye out.

B: You can also check out our clips on Vimeo or Youtube