The Struggle –
Count Bass D Swims
Against the
Hip-Hop Mainstream

by John B. Moore

Count Bass D has always been about contradictions. He’s one of the most talented underground hip-hop artists recording today, yet lives amongst the boot and hat adorned crowd in Tennessee. He has a depth of musical knowledge that should appeal to fans outside of his chosen genre, yet the folks at the label behind his first major release never managed to capitalize on this appeal.
It’s a shame, with all the pre-packaged and copycat musicians nailing platinum records on their walls these days, that someone like Count Bass D - who eschews samples in favor of recording his own bass, drums and keyboards live in the studio –isn’t on the cover of magazines on a regular basis.

Having just released L7 (his seventh and most personal record to date) and wrapped up a tour with labelmates Sound Tribe Sector 9, Count Bass D– aka Dwight Farrell– spoke with us recently.   

How do you describe your sound to those who've never heard you before?

Over the years I've had a few different sounds I've gone through on my projects.  Underground Hip Hop has been my sound since 2000. Growing older I've been going back to more instruments and people will hear that in my upcoming projects.

Tell me a little about the new record.

L7 is about my struggle to be a "normal" husband/father in the music business and provide my wife and five children a life that is similar to people with 9 to 5 jobs. The life of a musician doesn't always afford that, and L7 is a sonic representation of that struggle.

Are there any themes to the songs?

The themes are pretty personal.  I went even more inward more than I normally do.

You've been on both major and indie labels. Considering the current state of the music industry, what are some of the pros of being on an indie label?

The pros of being on an indie is the flexibility and the amount of music that you can release. The pressure to hit a home run so to speak isn't there as opposed to a major label.

Do you still listen to all genres of music?

People don't understand that in order to make hip hop in the traditional way, you have to listen to all forms of music because we add a backbeat to anything and put a fresh spin on it.  So my record collection contains anything and everything. When I DJ, I spin anything and everything as well.

Anything you were listening to in particular or any events that influenced L7?

The record was born in 2007 and my mother passed away that same year. There were a lot of representations of the number 7 and that also influenced the title. I listen to the same three or four records for a few years at a time so I wouldn't say that they were as much of an influence on the music per se, but most definitely the spirit.  Marvin Gaye’s “Hear My Dear” Bill Evans and Tony Bennett – “Together Again” and Clark Sisters – “Live One Last Time” to name a few.

There was a gap between your debut and the follow up, but you seem to be on a roll now, releasing a record at least every couple of years. Are you just more inspired now to write and record? 

I would say. That was how being let go from a major record label in my early 20's affected me.  Once I felt the freedom to be independent I've been inspired fairly easily ever since.

What was it about 1320 (label founded by Sound Tribe Sector 9) that drew you to the label?

I love how self-contained STS9 are. I like how much of a family atmosphere they have in what they do. They are all for one and one for all and that's how they've grown their band to what it is now.  I would like to learn some of those lessons and apply them to what I am as I go forward.

How long will you be on the STS9 tour?  Any tour plans after that?

I just ended the tour from Halloween in Austin, TX to the 13th of November in Charlotte. After Charlotte, I got on a plane and now I'm here in Los Angeles working on writing for others and collaborating with artists that I've been too far from in Tennessee.

Anything else you want to add?