I don’t know about you but I for one couldn’t wait for the sophomore album from Speak Easy aka visual artist Sean Fahie. The new album, Coronas, Condoms & Cigarettes: The Musical Guide to Awesome Living is the follow up album from last years album Words Have Power and it continues where the last album left off, giving you that easy living feeling and powerful yet subtle messages that will inspire you throughout your day no matter what walk of life you come from.
If you know Sean, he’s always full of laughs and art but knows how it is to struggle in this thing we call life. From his various points of views from negative to positive, he exploits all of these feelings thorough his words on this new album. Topics range from girls (or should I say youngins), motivation and basic living situations which are all lyrically expressed over jazzy, old school music that will put you at ease.
Art Nouveau got the chance to catch up with Sean Fahie for a quick interview in the midst of the preparations for his album release party.
Art Nouveau: First I have to ask, what led for you to call yourself Speak Easy? Is there any significance?
Speak Easy: There was a needed change happening in my life. [At the time] I was just moving from Savannah,Ga and I had a bunch of craziness going on in my life. One night I was hanging out with my friend, catching up and talking about music and the thought occurred to me. “Words have Power, Choose your words wisely, Speak Easy.” I was like, Yo I’m changing my name to Speak Easy. Done and Done. My homie was like yea roll with that. I also like the thought that it is also the name of the secret night clubs of the 1920′s and 30′s and I kinda hang out a lot in Atlanta.
AN: I know you debut with your album Words Have Power almost one year ago… what was the inspiration to do another one?
SE: Honestly, I just kept writing (After Words Have Power was done) and getting beats from my homies but had no where to record at the time (then my homie Sean Carter came through with his spot and i got to finish the album). I originally wanted to do a mix tape called the Black Dynamite mixtape (based off the movie) , but as the projected evolved it turned into this album that was kind of describing parts of of my summers here in Atlanta. By the by this album is a pseudo concept album. It’s all taking place in one weekend and it ends with Moment of Clarity (when the party finally stops and you have to take a retrospective look at your life). At that point it’s early Sunday morning and you wonder, “What is this all for?” and the bonus track it the process starting all over again.
AN: I also noticed that you have two collaborations on your new album, one song with Lario Emu Iji and another one with Bosco where on your last album you had none… was it a conscious decision to have collaborations on this album?
SE: Yea a little. My last album I had to get a lot of things of my chest and wasn’t even thinking about features or anything. I just wanted to rap and vent. This time around, I’m feeling chill about life and I wasn’t out looking for features but they came. My homie Lario was chillin at the house listening to beats and that beat came on (that he’s on the song for) and he was like, “Yo I gotta get on that track” I was like cool. Done and Done. The collab with Bosco came about, because I was spitting the verse to another friend of mine and he was like, “you need to have a girl singing on that hook, it would really make the song.” I thought it about it, and agreed. I gave Bosco a call and she was down to do it.
AN: You are a true artist and I know as an artist there are no genres… however, if you had to give your music a name or a genre, what would you call it and why?
SE: I’m a purist of this Hip-Hop at times man. If I called it anything it would be Hip-Hop. If I had to name it, I would like to call it “that Friday night chill music to ride to while chilling with people that matter in your life.” lol. That would be the genre.
AN: You have some pretty strong messages in your music that anybody can relate to… what kind of impact do you hope that your album(s) will have on the people that listen?
SE: Something Positive. Being the fact that I’m a Hip-Hop head and how hip hop has affected me. I listen for lyrics heavy (with a blend of an amazing beat). I know what I want my spirit to be feed, and I want to give the listener a little bit of that Goodness for their day. That PMA (Positive Mental Attitude).
AN: Sean, you seem always on the go, doing your art, attending concerts and participating in different shows around Atlanta, and you are also the star in a new documentary called 20 Somethings… how are these projects coming and can we expect anything else from you by the end of the year? Can we expect any shows in support of the new album?
SE: Music shows? I’m so over performing. [laughs] For this album though I may start performing here and there. Me and music have love hate relationship. Art’s my wife and music is my Mistress. If I get asked to do a show, i may or may not do it. But I do have a couple of art shows i’m working on. Curating a show with Eyedrum and one with Mint Gallery, I have some art work in the upcoming City of Ink show. Working with Burnaway (I think I said that right) a non profit. Doing some art work for an up coming project. I don’t know, I’m just trying to stay busy. Trying to prove to myself that it can happen when you love it and work hard for it.
AN: I like asking hypothetical questions so here’s one for you… If you had one whole day to yourself where you could do anything you wanted to do EXCEPT art, what would you do?
SE: I would bring my Grandma back and hang out with her for the day.
AN: One thing that I like about your album is the chill, laid back, freedom vibe that it gives off and it seems to be a trademark for your music… who helps you produce and create the music for your albums and what is the process that you usually take in preparing for an album and actually creating it?
SE: My homie RJM out in Cali has been doing a lot of the production. He did a bulk of it for Words Have Power, and he had like 4 tracks on this album. But also this go around Danny! and Unda really came through with a lot of chill relax bangers that helped to evolve the sound that i’ve been looking for. That summer time in Atlanta feel, you know. I want my music to be a wavy ass woman that changes your life. [laughs]
