Interview with Ill Papa
Desmond Dunmore, aka The Black Diamond Pearl, aka Ill Papa is a self-described “countrity soldier” (1/2 country — born in Button Willow, California, near Bakersfield — and 1/2 city). The 34-year-old Seattle singer is shy of even one album, but is putting out solid tracks without aid of a studio. He is an ex-member of mid-1990s Seattle band Kill a Crop.
Listen to Ill Papa’s Carpet Ride [mp3]
How do you write music?
I’m not a beatmaker. Beats just come to me, put them to a rhythm that I hear in my head. This is what it would sound like if it was a live band. I use Sonic Foundry Acid Pro.
Describe your music
Truth is there. There’s nothing fictitious about the lyrics. I call it “atmospheric journey”. If people listen to the lyrics, what’s being said, they’ll hear the journey.
Current bands you’re into?
Incubus, metal, Roots, Snoop Dogg, Floetry, Kanye West, what people call conscious hiphop. I love Outkast, Goodie Mob, Eric B & Rakim, EPMD, Wu Tang Clan, Method Man Red Man. Punk? Green day. Growing up in foster homes forced me to have an open mind.
Likes?
Old kung fu flicks.
People?
I listen to whatever people have to say.
Did you have any musically influential people in your life growing up?
I got my influences from listening to classic rock n dicso, Joplin, Hendrix, Buffalo Springfield, and the Doors. I grew up in group homes and foster homes. Nobody that did music that I knew influenced me personally. My music is diverse because I was in a diverse atmosphere. A lot of the heart and soul of music came from where I grew up, Charleston South Carolina and Kern County California.
Childhood?
I never had one. Hanging out, laughing… now I’m getting into a lot of things I didn’t get to do. But I don’t feel the world owes me anything. I’m 34, aging gracefully. I don’t look at it (writing music) as getting started late, because I’m just getting started.
Recent Past?
I was a bike messenger for 6 years here in Seattle. I was in a band called Kill a Crop in the mid-1990s. We headlined at Colorbox in Pioneer Square. It was awesome. We did it, and after that we got offers to play the Phoenix. We played up north, Everett. Although it was something I wanted my entire life, a lot of things were happening fast. We were getting shows so fast… a lot of pressure fell on me, and I broke the band up. I needed to learn how to keep a band together, I needed to learn some things. I was hard-headed. For me it’s education.
Where are you going to take your music?
I would like to be in a live band. A lot of poeple like to just jam in the basement. I had a dream and I was on stage. It was sunny, and there were thousands of people. It was big, it was real, it was intense. When I find people that want to share with the world. Money? It’ll come. My main purpose is to stand up with a band and let people dance and have a good time. That’s where I’m going to go. Whether it’s with myself, or with a band, I’m going to get there.
Lyrics?
Comes to me naturally. I go through lyrics at work, make up stuff… while I’m working I’m singing something. I have a lot to say. I’m not a gang banger. Sometimes the rhymes come off like that. I was given this talent to share with the world; it pours out. I like rhyming, but I love to sing. Any time of the day I can come up with something. There’s no time when I don’t want to sing. I just put it down.
Formal training?
No, I taught myself how to sing.
Whose voice would you borrow?
Combo: Joplin and Hendrix. I like the raspy Joplin, but Hendrix has that smooth calm.
Albums?
No releases… I’ve given singles to friends [and releases on the Web, see below]. I have time now to sit and breathe, as opposed to being winded. I’m just getting started. I’d love to be in another live band at some point. This is just the beginning for me.
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