Tell Magazine - El Shaddai Crew

Journal of the Breakthru Generation

El Shaddia Crew

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Who are El Shacfdai crew?
We're a Sydney based gospel hip-hop crew comprised of 3NAYLZ (emcee), TC (emcee) and more recently DJ DEL-REY (turntablist) has joined us.

When did you decide that you wanted to be a performer? How did you start going about if?
TC: I didn't really decide - but I do remember watching Rage and Video Hits when I was about 17 and going to a bunch of rock and hip-hop gigs back in the day and thinking...."I think I'd like to do that!"... I'd been singing and playing drums in church since early high school and then I joined a few rock bands and got a taste for performing. I've always had a soft spot for hip-hop ever since heard Public Enemy's "Fear of a Black Planet" (old skool represent)! I just kept singing and rhyming and writing my own songs (most of which no-one else has heard) and I kept taking opportunities when they came up.
3NAYLZ: I actually grew up wanting to be a professional ball player. To be honest if someone said 4 years ago would be a recording artist performing infront of large crowds and traveling etc I would have laughed to myself. But sometimes there are greater things at work.

How and when did you guys meet
TC: We first met randomly about 7years ago just skatin' and chillin with mates at local high school near where we both ived at the time. We didn't know each other but just started chatting and found we had a bunch of stuff in common and I guess the rest is history... We started goin to the same church fellowship a few years later and we met and one day just started freestylin and writing rhymes over free instrumental beats we had downloaded off the internet. We weren't too serious back then, but our passion for our craft grew as God opened doors for us... and they are still opening.

Is El Shaddai Crew what you do for a living?
TC: we invest a lot of time and energy into our music but we only do it part-time and we don't really make any money from our music. Anything we get paid for performances do goes straight back into expanding our music. I've got a day job - I'm a teacher - Phys Ed and Christian Studies - 4 days a week and 3NAYLZ is in Marketing for a big computer corporation. Would love to do music for a living though.

Do you write your own material?
TC: Yeah we write all our own lyrics. 3NAYLZ is the lyrical genius behind most tracks but we collab on most of our stuff. We're working with a few different producers on our new album with the beats and instrumental arrangements from the US including Tony Stone, and M-Simp and Sharp Sounds at Kingdom Productions as well as Will Eriksonn (Loud Productions) from Sydney.

What kind of stuff do you write about?
TC: Anything that's meaningful - God, truth, reality, love, life, relationships, spirituality, issues, experiences, redemption, hope - our individual journeys.

When you write a song, how do you go about it? - Lyrics first, music first?
3NAYLZ: Sommetimes the right beat creates the right emotion and it flows from there. On the flipside sometimes you got something you just have to put to UnashamedUnashamed pad and pen, then it's a matter of finding music that fits the emotion you are trying to convey. That said -within that context we have our own techniques, for eg. I will try freestyles on different lines to get to were I want to go.
TC: I will generally take a theme/topic - find a beat that suits the vibe, find a flow and then just start brainstorming, experimenting and putting lyrics down on paper within that context. It generally forms and grows from there. We are constantly re-working and refining lyrics and flows as the song writing process continues.

What is ft like performing to a huge crowd?
Its strangely addictive - a huge buzz -full of adrenaline and energy, it's super fun when people are into what we do! The key is to focus on why you do what you do, and to make sure you communicate what you want to, while staying grounded, humble and real.

What's been the greatest musical influence on your life?
TC: My iPod - it holds all of my favourite artists and bands. I also give thanks for my friends and family who have hugely encouraged my to follow my heart and passion for music.

What's been the most memorable experience when performing?
There's 3 that stand out - Hittin the stage to a packed house at the Sutherland Ent Cent in Sydney at Mobilise (June 06) and another huge crowd in Melbourne at the Purpose Driven Hip-Hop Mixtape Launch (June 07) plus being the only gospel hip-hop crew at the 2006 Urban Music Awards in Sydney.

What do you want people to get out of this album when listening to It? How would you choose to describe It to someone who was unfamiliar with your work?
We want people to hear the truth and not be afraid of seeking out the truth - we want to reach out with a message of hope to the broken.

What would be your dream line up Jor a gig and why?
LECARE, THISL, MARKIA and us..
.31st Aug 07 - UNASHAMED!!!
www.myspace.com/unashamed2007
Don't miss it! see ya there!

What was the biggest challenge you faced when writing & recording this release?
Finding the time!!! - with the grind of the 9 to 5 plus organizing our first tour (IN NOT OF) and a massive Holy Hip Hop Event (UNASHAMED) it's been super challenging trying to fit in all the writing, recording and mixing... we're nearly finished!... it's dropping Aug 1.

Tell us about your next tour - what does it mean for you?
The IN NOT OF Tour is the first of its kind in Australia ... we're hitting the South East coast of Oz from 17th August to 2nd September. We start in Melbourne travel town to town, city to city through VIC and NSW and finish up in Sydney. Hip Hop veteran THISLfrom St Louis USA (116 Clique), RnB sensation MARKIA from Melbourne and turntablist shining light DJ DEL-REYfrom Wollongong NSW. This is the culmination of a vision that we've had for a while now... it means a lot to us and is definitely stretching our faith. It's gonna be big! Tour stops are filling up fast so if you wanna get the tour to your home town contact us at info@elshaddaicrew.com and visit www.myspace.com/elshaddaicrew for more details.

And finally do you have any tips for young people wanting to get Into the music industry?
There's no formula - but don't sell out! Don't compromise your artistic integrity just to make it "big". Stay true to yourself and your music and develop your own style. Be dedicated and if you want it to be more than a hobby... be prepared to work hard! Success doesn't necessarily mean lots of album sales and money... but dream big and make music that matters! And remember - Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted

To book the El Shaddai Crew for performance/gig please contact Josh Ward: bookings@elsfiaddaicrew.com

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