ANIKO Forgo
Special to The Morning Star
This week’s Getting to Know is on Immaculate, aka Julian Wolansky, a Vernon-raised musician who has been making a name for himself as a fast-rhyming hip hop MC.
Most recently, he was named Artist of the Year at the 2015 Vancouver Island Music Awards and was nominated for Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards for his 2014 full-length album Solitude.
Q: What was your reaction to finding out that you won Artist of the Year at the 2015 Vancouver Island Music Awards?
A: “I was actually nominated for three awards but I didn’t think that this would be the one that I’d win. It was the final award given out at the end of the night and I was a little discouraged the others had come and gone, so I was surprised and humbled by the honour and the response from the audience was pretty surreal. In that moment, I was inspired and excited.”
Q: Describe your music in three words.
A: “Relatable. Honest. Evolving.
Q: How did you get your start with music?
A: “I was first introduced to hip hop in Grade 9 when a friend who was into rapping encouraged me to write lyrics with him after school one day while listening to Jedi Mind Tricks. We soon formed a group called Underground Assassins, which included me, Kodiak and Infatuate. We mostly freestyled at parties and recorded snippets on a desktop computer mic to play back for ourselves. A year later, in Grade 10, I had a substitute teacher in English class who encouraged and allowed me to write my essays in the form of raps. I would then record my song and play it for the class. She rewarded me with As. She was the reason I started taking the creation of my music more seriously and why I still strive for a positive message and poetic style.”
Q: What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?
A: “Never giving up on the pursuit of something that truly makes me happy. I don’t believe in conforming to society’s pressures and limitations, which is why I live cheque to cheque, but at the same time have something of true value that costs nothing to make, share and enjoy.”
Q: Who would your dream collaboration be with?
A:“As obvious as it seems, I would choose Eminem because of the supreme challenge it would present. To match his intensity, complexity and message would bring out the best in me.”
Q: What is the best thing about your life?
A: “Music.”
Q: What is your favourite song to perform live?
A: “The Kill, a song that was never released officially because of sampling issues, but one that often gets the best response while performing and also by way of e-mails and messages after shows with people asking what song that was and where to get it – telling me how hard it hit them.”
Q: What was the first album that you ever purchased?
A: “I’m going to skip right over the embarrassing ones that don’t count and say… Jedi Mind Tricks – Legacy of Blood.
Q: Where does the inspiration for your music come from?
A: “Absolutely anywhere and from anything that lends itself to me: emotions, experiences, relationships, tragedy, culture… the world around me. Inspiration is a fickle thing, and not something I’ve mastered capturing in a bottle. It’s an ongoing battle, but one well worth fighting everyday in attempt to make a great song.”
Ed note: After a brief hiatus, The Morning Star continues with its special feature, Getting to Know, featuring Q and As with local musicians conducted by Kalamalka Secondary School grad Aniko Forgo.
