The music industry is surely changing every day. It gives a real opportunity to grasp music through other forms and sounds. Far from your usual expectations about hip-hop music, AG Club – an alternative collective from the Bay Area in California – is introducing its second album FYE (Fuck Your Expectations). We have the chance to discuss further with them this new project and the vision of their club – in which self-mockery and sarcasm is normalised.
Bringing their creativity and personality together, AG Club has created a unique sound that represents their similarities and differences as individuals. Everyone has their place in this unconventional dynamic. From skate culture to video games, they are owning their universe and are not afraid to experiment new ways to create music. FYE (Fuck your Expectations) is in line with their disruptive approach, nevertheless, we can feel their imprint in every song in this new album. Welcome to the new version of the AG Club, which is not so far from the old one.
Your album FYE (Fuck Your Expectations) is releasing soon, what would you say are the similarities and differences between your album Halfway Off the Porch and this one?
There’s no difference and yet all the difference in the world. You choose your own destiny... Like in Netflix's Bandersnatch.
Lately, a few musical collectives have appeared in the Bay Area in California. Do you think this kind of approach for a band is more interesting in terms of creative exploration and experimentation?
Oh god, yeah! Music groups were really popping a couple of years ago and now it's dope because we can reach out and collaborate with so many groups.
As a collective, each of you brings in a contribution in your songs. On a practical aspect, how is the work divided in such a dynamic?
We all are apart of the 'machine.' We all know how to keep it moving and keep it oiled. We’re also all sexy Arby’s mascots.
The first song Jabbar's House sounds like a dream in which you are making a statement. “I blame myself” are the final lyrics. What do you think it gives creatively speaking?
It is up for interpretation but everyone blames themselves for something. It doesn't matter what it is, it's always there and its' something you just have to push through and deal with.
Youtube2MP3 is a song that talks about a relationship. Why did you give this name to a love song? And also does the jazzy melody represent this feeling of love according to you?
The song title has no correlation to the song whatsoever, we were just on that site at the time and that's the end of that. And also, it's jazzy because like, who doesn’t like jazz? It will make you feel all kinds of things.
A lot of your songs from this new album FYE (Fuck Your Expectations) involve a conversation – placed at the beginning or at the end. Is it a way to give the listeners more clues regarding the ambiance of your music?
A lot of it relates to the track but it’s more so a way of allowing people into the club. It gives insight into our lives and we’re just letting them in on the journey.
While listening to tracks such as Isaac Has The Papers or Hotpink we can feel you had a great time recording them. What would be the typical atmosphere in the studio when working such titles?
Dreary, demise, doom, disfunction, pain... Just kidding. We usually start off listening to music and we let our imaginations run wild.
Your approach is truly disruptive and creative. As an independent collective you have more space to produce genuine sounds, sounds that you like to listen to. Do you think this ability could only remain if you stay independent?
No matter where we end up, we’re going to do us. Independent or major, support can only help us.
For the 2020 Grammy Award Tyler the Creator pointed out the fact that hip-hop artists are often wrongly associated with the 'urban' category which can feel restrictive and stigmatising. Do you think the mainstream psyche tends to have a one-dimensional vision of hip-hop culture?
Yes, it's also kind of racist... Actually, not kind of, it's just racist.
Speaking of hip-hop culture, some of the articles on your collective tend to define your music as alternative hip-hop, how would you define your own musical identity?
Cock and Ball torture.
Your creations are inspired by a wide range of influences. From pop culture to video games, we could say that your world is the fusion of each of your environments. What do these different universes have in common?
It is all a part of our plan for world domination. But, of course, morally good domination.
Skate culture is one of these influences that has an important role in your aesthetic overall. What were your first experiences related to skate?
The Cajh boys have been skating for years and which is where they learned to shoot and create content. It is a style in and of itself and I feel like the way they shot their skate videos influences how we shoot our content now.
It must be very exciting to release this new album despite the actual context. What is the next step for your collective?
Taking down the hierarchy of Chuck E Cheese. Dismantling the monopoly of arcade games and pizza franchises.
As a collective, your are constantly evolving. Far from a traditional band, collaboration is truly part of your DNA. What artists would you like to include in AG Club – for a short or long term collaboration?
We would love to collaborate with rappers and musicians such as Sam Truth, who we've already collaborated with in Ugudbru and redveil in Truth.