FSD: How’s working with those producers? Has their music forced you to challenge yourself?
Dally Auston: I think these producers I have are in my realm. I think that’s what has made the music as of now so easy, because I pick beats that really fit me. So, moving forward is going to be me stepping outside of my comfort zone. My writing may change. I’m expecting a lot of stuff to change, because I only want to make better music.
FSD: On your last projects, The Wood and Westside EP, you didn’t have so many other people featured. Are you going to keep the features slim, or are we getting more into Dallywood?
Dally Auston: Definitely that! I like that you point that out. The Woodtape was what is was for that time, but the Westside project I definitely didn’t want any features only because of the timing that it was. You know, we had the Acid Rap. We had the Vic [Mensa]. So I just wanted to let people know I could do a tape by myself, and also to send a message to other artists that you should do more music by yourself. Just really establish you. That’s what I’m doing right now, establishing my sound, so people can resonate with Dally and not all of these other rappers that may be cool to have on a song. Just showing that I can carry a song by myself. I only had one feature, and that was Mick Jenkins, and look what he’s been doing. Not to say that “I did that,” but I’m just really smart about how I do shit. Me and Mick go back too, though.
FSD: Speaking of Mick, we saw that picture of you, Saba, and Mick down at SXSW on all three of your Instagrams. Are we going to get some Green Line, Westside to South Side track?
Dally Auston: It’s a track already made right now. We did this song with Closed Sessions, No Name is on it as well. All three of us are close: Me, Saba, and Mick. People don’t even know how close artists are. There’s not one Chicago artist I don’t know. Other than GBE, and gang banging niggas, I know everybody.
FSD: Back on the feautures, you do have the Vic Mensa, the Jean Deaux, the Saba, the Mick; are we going to get some of those on Roses, or more like the Westside EP like, “No this is my tape”?
Dally Auston: No, I’m definitely bringing some people back on the scene for this project. I just want it to be a little more nostalgic, I’m not even going to say the names. I’m definitely trying to get some bigger names on this project.
FSD: Bigger names, you know, you’ve worked with GLC on an O’My’s track not too long back. How’s working with someone like that, who has a bigger name, and is seen as more classic and historic than these contemporary artists?
Dally Auston: O’My’s are definitely going to be legendary in Chicago, but then again those are my homies. So a lot of these people that I make music with, I was friends with before and I think that’s what makes my music so genuine. It’s a relationship before the music is made. I don’t do features from people who hit me up in my email. I barely take money from that. I’d rather do music the way I want to do it, and I think that’s just another characteristic that I have. Doing music with people with names, like GLC, is crazy. That nigga was on music I listened to when I listened to Kanye. But again we met, we was cool, and we was just always like “let’s get up”. That just happened to come about. I wasn’t in the studio for the GLC shit, but he knows me. Hopefully I can get him on Roses, I need that! If I say it’s anybody I’m reaching to get its G.
FSD: Is that off the record?
Dally Auston: No I definitely need that to be on the record.
FSD: Well back to the Dally Auston Show, we’ve peeped some shows in other cities. You’ve been branching outside of Chicago, and you made a little bit of noise with Kids These Days opening up for them a few times a while back. You’ve also made the move to visit LA last year. Should we be expecting you to branch out a little bit more into a national Dally Auston?
Dally Auston: Right now you’re just getting what you get, you know what I’m saying. Like I said, just establishing myself more as an artist; wanting to branch out more, just really building the foundation to actually do it. I definitely want to be on a national scale within a year. Seeing my friends on XXL, and whatever, is giving me another drive. I’ve always had the initiative to get things done, but if you want it you gotta go get it. Everything right now is exciting. Definitely want to be on a bigger scale doing more shows soon, when the music gets more solid, going into the next project.
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sweet interview from the journalist and dally
Great interview. I like that it was very in depth and didn’t have the regular “easy” interview questions. It challenged the artist to provide thoughtful answers by digging deeper. Would love to see more interviews like this!