Magical Noise Experiment is made up of C Sage & Hugo. Time to get inside their heads.
Daytime (real) names: C Sage Hart and Hugo Perlskog
From: Perth, WA, and Stockholm, Sweden.
How did you get your name: The name itself is a mash-up of classic '60s music culture, taking eferences from progressive acts like Hendrix and The Beatles... like the Magical Mystery Tour.
What you rhyme to... What do you want to hear? Haha, nah but so far we've done a lot of different beats, mainly hip hop, ranging from slick '90s-style to more electronic drum machine-based stuff. We love the fusion of genres that's going on right now, and are always staying open to new music.
What's your genre? Hip Hop/Comedy.
First live performance, and what was most memorable for you? At a deli converted into a creative lair/cultural centre/party house in West Leederville. Graffiti artists, DJs, designers and illustrators, all doing stuff live on the day. So many hipsters, but so much love.
All time fave rhyme on a produced track? Hugo: Clever, light-hearted stuff like has always done it for me. Big L and Kanye has millions, but Notorious B.I.G.'s “I get more butts than ashtrays” and Jay-Z's “You can pay for school but you can't buy class” are classics. C Sage: There's nothing like a 'conscious' rapper, Blackthought is killing it on his verse in The Roots' Make My:
“Tryin' to control the fits of panic
Unwritten and unraveled, it's the dead man's pedantic
Whatever, see it's really just a matter of semantics
When everybody's fresh out of collateral to damage”.
Fave MCs and why? Tough one. In terms of storytellers not a lot compares to Common, Blackthought, Nas, Mos Def and Atmosphere. And few does wit like A Tribe Called Quest, André 3000 and The Pharcyde.
What do you look for in a producer, and who's doing it right? The best ones deliver timeless quality while also pushing genre boundaries. J Dilla, Noah '40' Shebib, Kanye West, The Neptunes, Q-Tip and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League are all legends.
Best live performance by a Perth talent and why? In hip hop? It's been Drapht, easily. But Ta-ku and Kit Pop are killing it right now.
Funniest thing you've done when up on stage? Probably taking the first place at Hip Hop Kara”YO!”Ke at The Bird doing Ain't No Fun (If The Homies Can't Have None) by Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Warren G & Nate Dogg. Always good fun down there.
Perth club/dance/hip hop scene need more or less of? More places doing it like The Manor; like a Biggie music video, plus good crowds, turntables and live mixing.
First record you've ever MCed over?
C Sage: California Soul by Marlena Shaw, while riding a bicycle at Rottnest Island. Hugo: I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down by Ann Peebles, back in Sweden at age 11. Still got some recordings of it laying around at my mums crib I think.
Worst MC performance ever? C Sage: You Gotta Love This City by RAED, because I can't make it through the whole song without wanting to punch a kid in the face. Hugo: The ad Black and Yellow Cab by Taxi Dave. Or even worse, Lil' Wayne on I'm On One. God damn, kids shouldn't have to hear that.
Challenge: Rhyme something with duck. Our man Shorty Bangz would drop something mad for you.
In real life you are: C Sage: Film producer and presenter on a kids show. Hugo: Copywriter and cocktail bartender.
What type of music do you guys do? We do comedy hip hop entertainment, focusing on storytelling and wit. Also, it should help you conceive.
What can people expect if they go see you perform live? We're here to entertain! Good music should make you laugh, dance, and give you dirty thoughts about your mate's girlfriend standing next to you.
Production release: Magical Noise Experiment out in hard copy, iTunes, Spotify, Nokia Music etc. in February 2013. The album is produced by MNE and Nick Gallagher at Brainestorm Studios.
Where can people get more info: Facebook.com/magicalnoiseexperimentmusic/
Magical Noise Experiment will be playing the following dates:
Thursday 7 February - The Good Shepherd, Perth WA