Madchild says his purpose in life is to make music.
Between touring with his longtime group Swollen Members, the Vancouver rapper has been regularly releasing solo albums, including 2017’s Darkest Hour, and has a new record in the works that he expects to hit shelves later this year.
“I know I’m a bit of a controversial personality in Canada but when I travel from city to city I get a lot of love from people and that motivates me and keeps me going, a lot of support. It’s pretty amazing,” he said.
“Maybe I refuse to throw in the towel, refuse to retire. I just love what I’m doing. It makes me feel young, it keeps me young and when I can think of something I’d rather do, I’ll start doing it.”
Earlier this year Madchild performed in Nanaimo with the rest of Swollen Members – Vancouver Islanders Prevail and Rob the Viking – and on Saturday, April 14 he’ll be back at Evolve Nightclub for a solo show.
“Two of my family members live there so it’s like a second home to me,” he said of Nanaimo.
The Harbour City gig is Madchild’s last Canadian date before taking off on a European tour and later in the year he said he’ll embark on a Canadian tour both solo and with Swollen Members. He said the group has been “like a second family” and there are talks of a new record and touring the world for the 20th anniversary of their debut release, Balance, in 2019. Last month they debuted a new single, Bank Job.
“They’re just the greatest guys so it’s been easy to get along with them all these years and we’re a badass group, he said.
“Life’s been a roller coaster but we’ve ridden some incredible waves and achieved amazing things and to be able to keep making music and keep touring [with them] is exciting to me.”
In the meantime Madchild recently released a new single, Columbian Smoke, to give his fans “a taste of whats to come.” The rapper said on his next album he’s “staying in my lane and sticking with my classic sound.”
“Being a seasoned veteran in the game, it doesn’t make sense for me to try to switch up and do what’s popular and new with the kids right now,” Madchild said.
“It’s very fortunate that I still have a young fanbase and I feel really lucky to still be relevant after doing it for many years and I think it’s just because I stick to my guns and give it all I got.”
WHAT’S ON … Madchild performs at Evolve Nightclub on Saturday, April 14 at 10 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 to $40 at the door.
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