Edinburgh born musician, rapper, poet, promoter and producer Pete Ferguson aka Pedro Solenoid has just finished recording his latest album ‘Hands Will Roll’ with his band The Landing Party, due to be released in January next year. Ferguson’s music is mainly influenced by jazz and hip-hop, but essentially all music is about good tunes and good rhythm, he says.
You are a white Rapper in Edinburgh – how did that come about?
I’ve been rapping since I was a young kid. I first heard rap when I was about six and I was immediately taken by it. I fell in love with the rhythm. Dad is a Jazz musician and there are quite a few similarities between Jazz and Hip Hop. I remember saying to dad, “Why do all the songs have to be about love? Why can’t they be about other stuff?” I learnt to play drums when I was 12 and started writing serious rap when I was about 16 and then began rapping at parties and the clubs in Edinburgh.
Can you explain exactly what Rap is?
RAP stands for Rhythm And Poetry. Performing Rap is basically about the ability to spit poetry – in a rhythmic fashion. You create rhythm with your words. Rappers are modern poets or street poets. Some people say poetry doesn’t have to rhyme, but I like it to rhyme.
What sort of gigs do you play?
Everything. I support major Hip-Hop acts when they come to Scotland, for example I recently supported Guru who came over from New York City, and People Under the Stairs from LA – they’re both big names in the industry. I also play at Festivals and local gigs in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from traditional Jazz, from my dad, music in general and poetry. A lot of my material, especially songs I’ve done with The Landing Party, is very tongue and cheek. An idea or a word will come into my head and I’ll write it all down, often late at night, and it’s not til the next day or weeks or even months later that I figure out where that rhyme came from or what it means. I’m very honest in my work, which can sometimes be scary, but that’s just the way I am.
Describe a normal day for you?
I get up, put some music on, have breakfast and normally go into the studio for a few hours. The studio’s in my house, so I don’t need to go very far. I listen to stuff I might have recorded the previous day or I listen to tunes that producers have sent me and want me to do the vocals on. Then I’ll head out for a few drinks in the evening and more often than not I’ll come and write more material. I’ll do a show once a week and rehearse once a week and I’ve always done a bit of sport or exercise to stay fit – you need your fitness when you’re jumping about on stage.
What projects do you have in the pipeline at the moment?
I’ve just finished recording a new album ‘Heads Will Roll’ with my band The Landing Party which will be released on Swingingman Recordings in January 2008. It’s a pretty tongue and cheek album with a few serious head bouncing tracks. It’s fun. I’m pleased with it. And next year my big project is working on my solo album, which I hope to have out mid next year. I’m performing at Hogmanay on the Mound again this New Year’s Eve, which is always a good time.
What gives you the most satisfaction from your work?
Listening to finished material, hearing it played on the radio and having random strangers come up saying they’d been at a gig or heard a song and had really liked it. And you can’t beat playing a great live show when the audience really appreciates what you’re doing. You get a great sense of wellbeing out of it.
What is your most memorable career highlight?
Performing at T in the Park in 2005 with my old band FBCollective. Everything came together that weekend. We played great, big name DJs loved us and we got heaps of radio play and television air-time. It was a great weekend. We worked hard.
Plans for the future?
I want to finish my solo project next year. I want to get Hype MC working with me. Get a new DJ so we can take the show live and tour it. And I’d like to start a new band with a jazz, funk, hip-hop sound.
What advise would you offer someone starting out in the music industry?
Make sure you get paid! Don’t play for free and don’t sell yourself short if you believe in yourself.
