Artist Spotlight: MindState

I got hip to MindState about a month ago when they sent me their Black Lung EP [download] that they had released a few months back. While checking it out on their Bandcamp page, I quickly became a fan and downloaded their entire catalog.

Two brothers, Dusk One and DJ Honna, hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah. They bring the soul and old school in a whole new school approach. Dusk hones roots stemming from classic singers like Otis Redding by keeping that rasp and grit in his voice. Honna is a veteran DJ with beats, chops and loops so strong they’ll put a beer in your hand and smile on your face. DJ Honna & Dusk are serious about not taking themselves too seriously.  They’re not here to preach a message or save hip hop, just to provide you with something dope to bob your head to.

Hit the jump to get to know the duo known as MindState.

Where you reppin:

We’re repping Salt Lake City, Utah. More Specifically West Valley.

Introduce yourself:

MindState is made up of brothers DJ Honna & MC Dusk.

Dusk: I rap, make beats, and outside of music I also do a lot of art. Painting & drawing mostly.

Honna: I’m the DJ, provided the scratches. Outside of music I’m a student & run scratch music website Tablist.net

Where did the name Mindstate come from?

Honna: The name came from our boy Dixion, who used to MC in the group.

Dusk: At first we just liked the way it sounded, but later we realized that it went hand in hand with a lot of our lyrical content.

Main musical inspirations:

Honna: Scratch music from people all over the world, 70′s rock, & Louis Armstrong.

Dusk: All styles of rap from the Beastie Boys to Swisha House. Otis Redding & Tom Waits are favorites too.

When did you fall in love with hip hop?

Honna: Not sure exactly where it started but I do remember listening to local Salt Lake hip hop show “Rap Attack” & getting tapes from the bookmobile

Dusk: Being that we’re brothers I was listening to “Rap Attack” right along with Honna. I remember getting a tape of LL Cool J’s album “Bigger and Deffer” in 4th grade.

Current projects we should be looking out for:

Honna: We’re Working on another album & also working “Mental Hygine” a scratch music mix/album.

Dusk: The new MindState album, another digital ep & 7″ record.

Previous work that we should know about:

Honna: A Scratch Music podcast called “Daymakers Mix” which you can get at Tablist.net

Dusk: We have “The Black Lungs EP” available for free at mindstatemusic.com, we also released an album in 07 “Call The Cops”

What’s your equipment setup like?

Honna: Turntables, mixer, loopstation, Dr. Sample, cool edit & records

Dusk: my pc, cool edit, fl studio, & records

If you had to pick one song that defines your career to date, what song would that be?

Both: probably the song “Back To Work” off our previous album “Call The Cops”

Why should the readers and fans give you a shot and listen to your music from here on out?

Both: We do honest music with out gimmicks. We’re not here to save hip hop or the world, we just want to give you something dope to listen to.

If you could only take one record on a deserted island with you, what album would that be?

Honna: Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique.

Dusk: Otis Redding, Live at The Whiskey A Go Go.

What’s next for you?

Honna: Finishing school, continue making music, & make Tablist.net the place for scratch music.

Dusk: Making more music & art. I’ll be hitting the road this spring as part of the Alive and Well Tour. A 30 city tour made up of all Utah hip hop artists. peep aliveandwelltour.com

Any shout outs or last words?

Both: Erin, Michael, Bethany @ Patiri Photography, Uprok/4th Street Records, all our producers, everyone on The Alive & Well Tour, all our supporters (too many to name), & you for reading this.

Easy Now

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Black Lungs

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