Northern State |
It's time to get excited about new hip-hop again -- Northern State has arrived! Don't take our word for it just ask media outlets such asRolling Stone and the Village Voice, or artists like De La Soul who have been singing the praises of the group's four-song demo, Hip Hop You Haven't Heard. Better yet -- take a listen for yourself. The EP is selling like crazy at the bands website -- NorthernState.net -- and at venues around the country where the trio has played.
With a backing band that includes a harpist as well as a turntablist, Northern State's live show is something to be reckoned with. And even more impressive, the girls are generating serious heat without the backing of a major label. For many of their female fans, the appeal of Northern State is that they're sort of like a cool older sister who lets you borrow her hot-pink Chuck Taylors and gave you your first copy ofThe Bell Jar back in the day. For other fans, it's the precocious blend of old-school sounds, modern, socially insightful lyrics, and humorous takes on pop culture.
Northern State is comprised of three 20-something white females who met as youngsters on Long Island (the group is named after one of two major Long Island parkways): Hesta Prynn (Julie Potash), Guinea Love (Correne Spero), and DJ Sprout (Robyn Goodmark). Although their physical appearance and legit skills might make Northern State obvious candidates to be the girly version of a certain legendary New York-based Caucasian trio, the ladies have a unique charm all their own. But then, what do you expect from a band with a member who's taken her rap alias from the central character of a Nathaniel Hawthorne classic novel?
Recently, StarPolish editorial assistant Alee Hoffman was able to sit the gals down for a chat before they hit the stage at a New York City gig, where the topics of the day included D.I.Y. success in the music industry, whether or not the cars shown onMTV's Cribs are rented, the alarming images that female hip-hop artists are starting to take on and the challenges of finding a good bra.
In the Beginning
STARPOLISH: So, this is something you have been doing for years, right? I heard this started back in high school.
POTASH: No, actually we have only been doing this for a year and a half!
STARPOLISH: So hip-hop wasn't something you had always been involved with that you decided to start doing professionally?
POTASH: No. We would always listen to hip-hop music. Music was a big part of our relationship, with the three of us. But we weren't always, like, dropping rhymes. We didn't start doing that until a year and a half ago.
STARPOLISH: How did that come about?
POTASH: We were just sort of hanging out. I used to live down by the World Trade Center and we would be there partying every weekend. We just started [creating rhymes together]. (Goodmark enters the room) Hey, Robin, join the interview!
STARPOLISH: Was there some kind of decision in deciding to try and make this happen?
POTASH: Oh, well, there was a decision. It was like "Oh, we should do this... OK, let's do it!" But we didn't expect to be doing it like this! (Turning to Goodmark) Hey, did you see today's Village Voice article [on us]?
GOODMARK: Yeah, pretty cool!
STARPOLISH: That's something I wanted to bring up -- you are sparking such great interest from the media. I just saw that four-star record review you got in Rolling Stone -- congratulations! You are all over the newspapers here and in magazines. How have you been able to generate all this great interest with just a four-song demo?
POTASH: That's a very good question!
GOODMARK: I think it's because we've been playing pretty frequently in the Lower East Side club area the last year. (Laughs) And we really put on a quite a show!
POTASH: I think [what we do is] also a human-interest story... (Pauses mid-thought to whip out a shopping bag with some new purchases from Victoria's Secret) Look, no underwire!
STARPOLISH: Those look so comfortable! I always think of Victoria's Secret bras as all lacy and intended to push up...
POTASH: Oh, I don't really go for that stuff!
STARPOLISH: Then you've got to go to those bra stores with the little old ladies with the measuring tape...
POTASH: (Laughs) They have to, like, feel you up! But see, this one has no wire...
GOODMARK: Very nice! It has the same good cut as that other one...
POTASH: But anyway, I think this is a human-interest story because it's like, "White girl rappers? Wow, what's that like?" And then it becomes more about the music.
GOODMARK: Right. Initially, people are interested by the concept. Then they come to a show, to check it out, and they go, "Oh, not only [are they different], but they are fun!" [Our show] is an entertaining event.
STARPOLISH: The fact that you are white and female might be something people think of right away, because it's not as common in hip-hop. Does that bother you?
POTASH: No. I mean, that's what I would do!
GOODMARK: We are aware of how easy it is to put us in that box. I think the challenge then comes in the execution [of what we do] -- in the actual writing of our music, and the shows...making it be more than what it is on the surface.
STARPOLISH: So, at this point, with the success you are having, are you looking at labels? How did you go about getting your demo into the right hands?
GOODMARK: Initially, we just sent it out to a bunch of people. We recorded it on our own. Then, we just sent it out to people who thought would listen to it. And some did, and I'm sure some didn't even listen. But we just wanted to get some feedback, and get some ideas on what we may be able to do next.
The Next Move
STARPOLISH: How are you planning to put out the next record? Are you going to go to a label to have it put out?
POTASH: You mean with our EP, the next record? We don't know. We are kind of in a quandary with that.
GOODMARK: We're working right now on putting an EP out on our own, but we are talking to some labels. It's kind of whatever comes first. [No matter what happens,] we might put the EP out on our own just because we want to. Then we'll see what labels have to say. We're kind of at a point where we could probably use some money, but we are also interested in continuing to do things our own way, and not really giving in to whatever a label wants us to do.
STARPOLISH: So, creative control is a big issue...
POTASH: Exactly. That's the driving force behind any kind of record deal that we would get. The project would have to stay true to what it is.
STARPOLISH. You have these really sharp, smart lyrics. It brings me back to the Beastie Boys or A Tribe Called Quest, where I just like to read the lyrics. Even before I actually heard your music, I looked at your lyrics and I knew I'd love this. How do you go about the lyrical process? Do you guys all get together to do it?
POTASH: We pick a topic, go off on our own to write, and come together and share. We all write our own lyrics.
GOODMARK: We do a lot of free-flow writing on our own, and then we kind of see of what [everyone] has come up with, and think of ideas for choruses and hooks. [For] parts of it we will [write] together. For every song we have written so far, there has been a different writing process. It's always evolving, we are always learning more about the song-writing process. In the beginning, we didn't really ever think to put a chorus in a song. (Laughs) It never really dawned on us. Now we are much more song-focused, and really trying to create pieces of music.
STARPOLISH: How do you produce your music? Who makes your beats?
POTASH: We do it ourselves, and with our friends. We collaborate with a lot of people...
STARPOLISH: So that's the Northern State Posse I've heard about?
POTASH: Yeah. It includes our guys who play instruments with us [during shows], and our friend Katie Cassidy, who plays the harp and does a lot of the computer stuff [for us]. We just have this crew who we run with, really talented and really interesting people who have a lot of great ideas. We're kind of like the leading force, trying to bring all this talent together. We have graphic designer in our crew who designed our logo and our [merchandise]. It's all kind of in the family. (Laughs) It's very old-school...
STARPOLISH: That's actually sort of what my next question is about...
POTASH: I'm so thirsty!
GOODMARK: Me too!
POTASH: (Laughs) I'm like looking at your water...
STARPOLISH: You can have a sip if you want!
POTASH: Can I? Are you sick?
STARPOLISH: Nope, I'm a very healthy person.
GOODMARK: (to Potash) I'm totally hitting up that water after you! (Everyone laughs)
STARPOLISH: One of your lyrics is, "we're so underground were overground." Do you consider your hip-hop to be mainstream or underground? I can see elements of both in it. The way you are going about doing this, and how your lyrics sound have the vibe of a lot of underground hip-hop. But I could also see a lot of people getting into what you are doing; this could become mainstream music.
POTASH: It's both. Like, right now, it's underground. In a year from now it's gonna be overground! (Laughs)
GOODMARK: I think, also, the point behind that lyric and the point behind the concept [of Northern State] is a kind of old-school and DIY. It's just us. [What we are doing] is very appealing to a lot of different kinds of people. If we can stay true to what [Northern State] is and also get it into the hands of the public, we can feel that really have achieved success.
Challenges Ahead
STARPOLISH: Do you think that is going to be a challenge as your success becomes more widespread? Do you think you might have to deal with people trying to take away your creative freedom, as you start to be considered mainstream?
POTASH: I'm not so worried about that. Maybe I'm being naive...
GOODMARK: I think it doesn't even enter into the equation [for us].
STARPOLISH: What kinds of things have shocked you about the music business so far? You pretty much do this by yourselves, so I'm sure you have experienced a lot of the business first-hand.
POTASH: I'm shocked that the artists make so little money. Shocked! Even major artists... I'll be watching [MTV] Cribs; I do not understand where the money comes from!
STARPOLISH: I think some of that stuff has to be rented.
POTASH: I really think it is rented.
STARPOLISH: Some of those artists have one hit, and they are on the show like, "...and this is my collection of 12 cars..."
POTASH: I know! Maybe [they receive] free cars! Maybe that's what it is...
GOODMARK: I'm sure they buy their houses, because that's like the first thing you do when you get money. It makes sense, because it's an investment. But the cars...
STARPOLISH: That's the irony with move stars making $20 million a film -- then get all that free stuff for presenting an Oscar!
POTASH: We're looking forward to that free stuff more than anything else. We enjoy getting things. (Everyone laughs)
STARPOLISH: I wanted to ask you about touring. You have played shows with such a wide spectrum of people. You've played with DJs like The X-ecutioners, and hip-hop artists such as De La Soul and Princess SuperStar. You are also playing with more alternative-oriented bands, like Le Tigre...
POTASH: We haven't done any official touring; we've just played shows with different bands.
STARPOLISH: So what's the future plan for touring? What kind of musicians would you want to play alongside? More hip-hop, more rock...
POTASH: All kinds. Definitely, there is a market for us to play with other hip-hop acts and [gain] more credibility in the hip-hop community. But, I think we also totally have the opportunity [for it to work for us] to play with other female bands, rock bands, and even some pop music. We hope to [play with different types] so that we can reach as many people as possible. I think a huge fan base for us is going to be younger girls, and I think it's harder to reach them if we are only playing hip-hop shows. We have a friend who teaches sixth grade in San Francisco, and he got our music out to some of his students. We get the craziest amount of mail from these sixth-grade girls! They are all so awesome, and they get what we are doing, and they feel it so hard-core. There are only about six of them, and they write us every day. They are some of the best emails I ever get. (Turns to Goodmark) I just got a cool one from that girl, Olive. It was so funny!
GOODMARK: She's awesome! We totally need to make her president of our fan club. (Laughs) Sixth-grade girls are so much cooler than they used to be! So we are really hoping to get more music out to that demographic. We might have to play with some acts that we may not feel that much, but it's an opportunity.
STARPOLISH: A lot of women in hip-hop today have like this street-tough sex kitten thing going on. The lyrics have this feeling towards other girls like, "Stay away from my man, biatch!" It's so crass -- I don't really understand it.
POTASH: I could talk about this for hours! I think it's a response to men objectifying women [in songs] in a sexual way. It's as if they feel this is the only way they can own that. By taking the sex thing and making it violent...
STARPOLISH: But you guys don't do that act at all, and it's not like you're manly! (Laughs) You're still feminine and attractive.
POTASH: But, it's not like we're from the street, either.
STARPOLISH: But how many artists aren't either, and still portray that with their music?
GOODMARK: Yeah. I think we try to do it and be true to our gender. We are feminine people, but not too feminine.
POTASH: I think people respond to it because we're a lot like a lot of girls out there.
(At this point, the final N.S. member, Corinne Spero, enters the conversation)
SPERO: We were just talking the other day about how we all have this perfect balance of feminine and masculine characteristics.
STARPOLISH: You don't exaggerate what you are. I feel like what those artists are doing are exaggerating their sexuality, and their violent tendencies...
POTASH: It's like, "What's our springboard into the hip-hop culture?" For us, it's a really easy choice [when it comes to our image]. We consciously steer clear of some things.
GOODMARK: For us, the springboard is more going back to the old-school. [We want to] keep it light, and funny, and interesting, but also use it as an opportunity to say things that are important too.
STARPOLISH: Your lyrics are definitely very insightful.
SPERO: With the old-school rappers, a lot of women weren't doing [the violent-sexy image]. That seems to be an early '90s thing.
POTASH: I think it's part of the whole "bling bling" thing. Your man is a commodity the same way your woman is a commodity.
STARPOLISH: Like you were saying, maybe they are trying to bring the power back.
POTASH: I think that is what they are trying to do, and I really just feel bad for them. It's kind of sad. It's not really very empowering [for them or] their audience. I certainly don't feel empowered [as a woman] by that. And that's why we're not doing it. What makes us feel powerful is making other people feel powerful.
STARPOLISH: What female artists were inspiring you when you were putting this together?
POTASH: Definitely Queen Latifah. But it's not like we put on her videos, like "Let's model ourselves after her!" It's more over our lives. We've absorbed things we like...
SPERO: And other female artists who aren't in the world of hip-hop. Just other strong, interesting female artists who have said interesting things and been really empowering.They don't have to be necessarily [involved] in hip-hop.
STARPOLISH: Does that include female writers? You give a little shout-out to Sylvia Plath in one of your raps.
SPERO: I was a Women-Studies major [in college], so I have a [great interest in] feminist literary stuff. I used to love (The Bell Jar author) Sylvia Plath when I was in, like, seventh grade. I think one thing that we can all relate on is that we were all...not nerdy girls, but we were all...
GOODMARK: (Stage-whispering to Spero) We were all smart! (Everyone laughs)
SPERO: Yeah, we were all smart. I mean, my reading Sylvia Plath in the seventh grade wasn't that extraordinary, but I was really enjoying it.
STARPOLISH: You have an intimate, friendly way when dealing with your fans. For instance, your Northern State newsletter is written by Julie. It's not a quick information wrap-up from someone working for you. You have anecdotes from your life, silly contests...
POTASH: It gives me a breakdown every time I have to write it! (Everyone laughs) At this point we have thousands of people on the list, most of which don't even know me [personally], so every time I write it...
SPERO: But she does such a good job. The job she loves to hate!
STARPOLISH: The tone of the letter doesn't feel like something you are writing to thousands of people, it feels like something you wrote for 20 friends from high school.
POTASH: That's how it started. You have to understand, for the whole first year of this band, we had those 20 friends from high school coming to all of our shows! We had to entertain them, because they were watching the same thing -- which, P.S., was not so great, [over and over]. (Spero and Goodmark laugh) Suddenly, it got really good, and more people came...
Keeping the Connection
STARPOLISH: What do you think the challenge of keeping that close-knit vibe with fans is going to be as your popularity grows from like thousands to perhaps millions?
POTASH: (Striking the "Dr. Evil" pose) Hmmm. Millions...
GOODMARK: It's definitely something we talk about, as far as how to improve the live show, as it gets bigger, and what we can do to connect with the audience more. We just opened up for De La Soul on Friday night...
STARPOLISH: Wow, how was that?
GOODMARK: It was awesome; we took a lot of tips from them. They have such a hot live show. They really connect with the audience, and there is a lot of involvement [on both sides]. That's something that we want to try to beef up [with our live performance].
STARPOLISH: It seems like De La Soul was one of your influences. Was it surreal to open for them?
POTASH: It was sort of surreal. I went on their bus, and I was talking to them and saying, "This is really big for us, it's fairly major," and they were [really relaxed about it].
GOODMARK: It's already becoming a reality that we are playing bigger and bigger places with more and more people who we don't know, and so there is a definite difference in the vibe, and we want to make the vibe even better, and more fun. As we are opening for bigger acts, it's a great learning opportunity. We're just trying to learn from those who came before us.
