Funky poetic Bootlegs 1st Anniversary

Reflections of the Avant Garde Funk

1. **Tell us about your album, "Funky poetic Bootlegs" What inspired the title and the overall sound of the record?** 


Overall it was the cassettes. We were all working with them writing songs, making demos. Whether it was us as The Chaotic Beat or with PC Muñoz, it was all we had since we all had limited or no studio access. 

I was also influenced by Carolyn Fok/Cyrnai and what she had done with Charred Blossoms and Cody ChestnuTT’s 1st album which was done on 4 track. That’s what inspired me to put out Funky Poetic Bootlegs. That’s what The Chaotic Beat should have done. 


We should have finished it up and put that out as an album. We just didn’t have the nerve then. We were too embarrassed by it all in the early 90’s. Not the songs themselves, but not being able to be in a studio. The title was just summing up what the project was. I’m bootlegging myself. 

2. **What was the recording process like for "Funky Poetic 
Bootlegs," especially considering it was recorded on a 4 track 
cassette?** 

It was more fun when I had the Yamaha MTX 1. WJ and I got that when there were no more band members and we started focusing on our songs. Even after The Chaotic Beat, I kept recording on it all through the 90’s. From about 2002 I got the TASCAM PF01. It doesn’t have as much as the Yamaha, but it was what I did the most learning on as far as mixing and arranging. 


3. **How did the limitations of the 4 track cassette recorder 
influence the creative decisions you made during the recording 
process?** 

Because there’s only the 4 tracks and what you lose bouncing down tracks. So it took a lot of years until I could catch up digitally to add, subtract or mix things how I wanted. 

4. **Can you share any interesting anecdotes or challenges you 
faced while recording "Funky Poetic Bootlegs"?** 

For the most part getting things to sound digitally the way I was hearing them on cassette. Even after mastering, some of the songs lost a little something. Overall I like the outcome of the songs. 
‘Keep it Moving’, ‘Get 2 Know Ya’ and ‘Another Moment’ sound 
great after the whole digital transfer, overdubs, mixing and 
mastering. 

5. **What sets "Funky Poetic Bootlegs" apart from your previous 
work or other music in the same genre?** 


I can’t speak for previous since it’s the first one finally, but comparing it to previous versions of Funky Poetic Bootlegs, the album now is the best version. As far as avant garde or avant garde funk, it’s me being me or me being the Plastic Funkadelic Ono Band, but still sounding like me. It’s got a good reception so far. It’s out there to still discover. 

6. **Moving on to your upcoming EP, "The Reset EP," how does it 
differ in terms of themes and musical direction from your previous releases?** 


Only one track ‘Hold On’ is a holder over from Funky Poetic 
Bootlegs. The other 3 songs are totally recorded digitally. I’ve 
always intended to move away from the 4 track thing with major 
releases moving forward. 


7. **What can listeners expect from "The Reset EP" in terms of sound and lyrical content?**


Since I’m trying to finish it off, I’m still discovering what it can 
become. I have more of a pallet since the 80’s & 90’s. I can’t wait 
for everyone to hear it. 


8. **Did the experience of recording "Funky Poetic Bootlegs" 
influence how you approached recording "The Reset EP"?** 

Only with ‘Hold On’ which is different than the single that’s out 
now. I rushed putting that out and now I regret it. (laughs). The 
version that’s on The Reset EP is the original. I originally wrote it in 2009 at the tail end of recording Funky Poetic Bootlegs. 


9. **Are there any specific techniques or equipment you used 
during the recording of "The Reset EP" that you're particularly excited about or feel contributed to the overall sound of the EP?** 


I’m doing more with the MPC and the Akai mini, with the keyboard 
and synth sounds. I’m doing overdubs with those on this project and demos for the Parallel Echoes album. 


10. **Finally, what message or feeling do you hope listeners take 
away from both "Funky Poetic Bootlegs" and "The Reset EP"?** 


I hope people will pick up on the art or the sound or the lyrics. I’m 
not running for office with these projects. There are positive 
messages like ‘Rise’, Save Yourself’ and ‘Hold On’ , but overall I 
want the records to be an example of you can overcome whatever to pursue your passion. Whatever it is. it’s not too late to create.

Funky Poetic Bootlegs was released on June 30, 2023. The Reset EP is coming soon. 

Interview

Funky Poetic Bootlegs is the debut project by Richard Cole on the Amari Communications label. Mostly recorded on 4 track between 1987-2009 with overdubs and mixing done in Audacity during 2022-2023, Funky Poetic Bootlegs is an avant-garde take on the funk with weird noises, backward sounds and plenty of bass. Funky Poetic Bootlegs is currently in the mastering stages and will be released this summer. Two singles, We Funk (2 the Last Band) and Save Yourself are available on many streaming services. Richard discusses the journey to finally get Funky Poetic Bootlegs released. 

 

 

Q: How and when did your involvement with 4-Track Cassettes begin?

 

A: It started with my old band, Chaotic Beat around '88. My band mate and songwriting partner, Walter (Johnson) and I  bought a Yamaha MTX 4 track. We demoed a lot of songs with that machine. I continued using it long after the band until '99. I’m actually digitally archiving that stuff now. Not sure what we’ll do with it. 

 

Q: Had you thought about releasing the music at the time?

 

A: At the time it was unheard of to release music from the 4-track. It was mostly a songwriting tool for demos. We talked about releasing some of the songs on that medium, but sort of laughed it off. Many years later I heard about Cody ChestnuTT releasing his first album using 4-track cassette. 

 

Q: Was there an underground scene in St. Louis?

 

A: No. In the 80’s there were quite a few R&B/funk bands. One of which became DaKrash and was produced by Jesse Johnson. The Chaotic Beat were underground because we were really going out of our way not to sound like what was going on at the time. Plus we were more interested in recording than the stage. We did very little performance wise. It hurt us in a lot of ways, but we really developed our own sound. It's really helped me in what I do now.

 

Q: How did being unknown over the years help turn you into the music artist you are today?

 

A: It gave me the opportunity to study a lot about what works in all of the music scenes. It helped me to see that it's ok to be myself.

 

Q: What excites you to create music then and now?

 

A: I've always been moved by funk. I'm influenced by a lot of things, but I like funk. I won't deviate much from that.

 

Q: Were you ever involved in hip hop?

 

A: I've dabbled in all of its incarnations. There's a little bit on Funky Poetic Bootlegs. The track “Get 2 Know Ya”

 

Q: Talk about some of the other tracks on Funky Poetic Bootlegs. 

 

A: There's the singles We Funk (2 the Last Band)  and  'Save Yourself'. A couple of instrumentals 'Piscean Aquarium' and ‘Another Moment’ which is from the Chaotic Beat days. From about 1991. It’s inspired by Art of Noise ‘Moments in Love’. 

 

Q: What are your favorite tracks on the album?

 

A: 'Save Yourself', 'Rise', 'Experience in Love' just because it’s pure songwriting in that they have a beginning, middle and end. They're very complete songs for me.  'Rise' and 'Experience in Love' were the last songs written for the album. They both have a very spiritual meaning to me. 

 

Q: What was the motivation behind Funky Poetic Bootlegs this way as opposed to a state of the art studio recording? 

 

A: I just wanted a lo-fi feel to the tracks. I loved that hiss from the tapes from Prince bootlegs and The Beatles bootlegs from the Get Back sessions. Plus a lot of East Coast Hip Hop in the 90's pre-Biggie was recorded for that sort back pack/headphone experience. 

 

Q: How did you come up with the title?

 

A: I wanted a title that was cool sounding. Probably the main influence was Carolyn Fok/Cyrnai's 'Charred Blossoms' cassette.

 


 

Q: What do you miss from the old days and how does that compare to what you are doing now?

 

A: I'm finding I miss New Jack Swing (laughs). I have to find a way to be in on it should someone decide to bring it back. Plus with the return of vinyl, I’m enjoying a lot of what I loved about the 70’s and early 80’s. Lot of good feeling and memories from those days. 

 

Q: What impact has the internet had on you?

 

A: Huge. It started with MySpace for me. Then my own website and You Tube. Streaming is great. I love it for the exposure. I know it’s hard for an independent artist to get the streams and the revenue. I wish we had this in the 80’s. I love it and thankful it exists.

 

Q: Can you give us your take on what’s wrong or right with today’s current music industry / non-industry?

 

A: There's a lot that's been said that's wrong with the industry today. I think it’s harder to get deals now unless you get the million views on YouTube. 

 

Q: What do you have planned for the future?

 

A: I'm taking a break before starting the next album. I’m trying to finish creating a couple of comic books, but I’m taking a break before I start writing the next one. I want to do a proper album. It will be more state of the art recording wise than Funky Poetic. 

Listen to We Funk (2 the Last Band)