Exclusive Interview with Adrian "AJ" Younge, composer of the forthcoming Wax Poetics "Black Dynamite Original Score."

Writer, composer, producer and editor Adrian Younge offers VINYL4GIANTS some rare insight on one of the most anticpated soundtracks of 2009, from one of the most anticipated films of 2009. We sat down with Adrian "AJ" Younge for a few minutes in between rehearsal sets for the Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra's (BDSO) world debut at the Black Dynamite Red Carpet Premeire on October 13th. Here's what he had to say...

V4G: Out of the 15+ tracks that're featured on the "Black Dynamite" soundtrack album, which of those did you find the most tedious to record, or hardest to complete?

AJ: The song Gloria (featuring vocalist Toni Scruggs) was probably the hardest to complete because the overall arrangements were changed multiple times, and the instrumentation was very, very difficult. You'll understand what I mean when you hear the track, it sounds like there's a number of things going on all at the same time. It took a couple of days just to get the cello right; also, the bass was very challenging due to the multiple movements (or soloing) within the song.

V4G: Which one of the tracks is your favorite?

AJ: My favorite song is either "Shot Me In The Heart" or "Chicago Wind." These are two of the last songs composed for the score, and artists generally tend to like the last songs that they compose; it reflects my latest compositional perspectives. My next album will be composed of very dark soul; these two tracks give insight into my future thoughts.


V4G: If readers were to listen to only one track on the album, which one would you recommend?

AJ: "Shot Me In The Heart" is the track that I would mostly recommend. This I because it is a very deep song musically, and vocally... Actually, I will make the claim that this song has the most depth on the entire album. Loren Oden (the vocalist) really took this song to the next level with his voice, and I tried my best to match his level of intensity; the live rendition of this track is really something else entirely. The combination ensues an interesting perspective on dark soul music.

V4G: Being a band leader, and first and foremost a composer & producer, which song do you look forward most to performing live, and why?

AJ: I look forward to playing the bonus track "Tears I Cry When Love Has Died" because I see it as a darker version of "Shot Me In The Heart." I love dark soul with deep emotional ties; and the groove is unimaginable. I will take a dark song over any other type of song any day. I love how the band synthesizes this feeling and plays it with serious emotion and intensity.



V4G: With Curtis Mayfield and the "Superfly" soundtrack being an obvious inspiration for the score, and barometer for the quality of work you sought out to produce, what other artists, soundtracks, and or albums did you listen to for reference?

AJ: Ennio Morricone, Barry White, Isaac Hayes, Willie Hutch, James Brown, and surprisingly enough, The Wu-Tang Clan. Wu-Tang definitely has an influence because they sampled the stuff I've always wanted to create in some form or fashion. The RZA sampled this music like a true musician, and manipulated in a way that took Hip Hop to the next level. My music is literally based on the Hip Hop "break," or "sample." Therefore, I am influenced by the break, and how the Hip-Hop producer incorporates the break.

V4G: If you could pick one person, whether it be singer, or song writer, or producer, living or dead, who would you like to work with?

AJ: Curtis Mayfield...

Vinyl4Giants would like to thank Adrian Younge for taking time out of his schedule to give us a little bit of a glimpse into what it took to make the score, and the thoughts behind its conception. The album is available for digital download through the WAXPOETICS website, as well as iTunes & Amazon on Oct. 13th, and will be in stores on the 20th. Grab it up, folks. You will not be disappointed. Back soon. Peace!!