Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that MC Losty is a persistent character. He’s been a host at some of Sydney’s biggest raves including Utopia, Back to Basics and Godspeed, and of late he’s also been working closely with Elroy on some hip-hop material that’s been picked up by Warner Music. When asked to conduct this interview I was a little hesitant, I’d read Losty’s frequently acerbic posts on the inthemix forums, and the thought of that making its way in to the ITM features section wasn’t particularly appealing. But he was determined, and he offered a ‘no holds barred’ interview opportunity…
How did you initially get into MCing? How long have you been doing it for?
I always wrote songs since I can remember, when I was 16 I started my 1st band with my best mate Waza, I think MCing allows you to convey huge amounts of information thru songs, so it was my chosen way to work musically. Just after my 18th birthday, there was an add in the 3DWorld classifies that said “MC wanted” I rang up and went for it (I was the only person in Sydney that went for it), when I rocked up to the place they told me it was for a rave, I did my 1st one then hooked up with DJs Daydream and 911.They both started taking me along to there gigs. Boz (the promoter of Back to basics) asked me to host a rave for him, it went well and then Sam (Powerhouse productions) asked me to host Utopia at the Superdome, after that most of the rave promoters put me on the bill for their party’s, the whole time I was doing hip hop and jamming in bands, growing and learning each year.
It seems one of the contentious issues when it comes to MCs is the ‘know when to talk, know when to shut up’ rule. How do you personally approach this?
Less is more, you have to only MC in 30% to 40% of a set, anymore will shit the people listening, most MCs that over do it are new to it and its an honest mistake, but it’s partly the DJs fault if they don’t work with you and tell you “MC over this track its got no vocals but not the next one” most DJs cant work with an MC, the ones that can are the ones with more real live talent. This is why I work with Elroy and Fenix so much, both know how to work with an MC.
What styles of music do you MC over? Do you take a different approach in style between different genres?
Hip-hop, breaks, rave, live bands, drum n bass, trance. Different approach to every style, not just in my MCing, but also in the crowd hype and interaction.
How much of your MCing is freestyle and how much is repeated or routine based?
It depends on what style I’m doing. Hip-hop is 50/50, breaks its more freestyle so I’d say 70/30, at raves its 90% freestyle, my band is all written stuff, drum and bass is 50/50, and trance is 90% freestyle
You’re open about not doing drugs. Because you MC at quite a few raves does it feel weird that your job involves interacting with people often inhibited and out of control on drugs?
My drugs days are over, I use to enjoy, pills, weed, speed and coke a little to often, now I just drink now and then and spark a spliff every time we finish a song in the studio to give is a different listen, but as far as doing anything everyday or even every week, its not a part of my life. It doesn’t feel strange at all because I’ve done drugs and can relate to what they feel. I’m normally more hypo the most people on drugs, people often think I’m on drugs, by the way I act when I’m having a good time. Right now I want to look after my body and mind, I work out, I eat well, and I feel happy with myself and my body.
You often counter your ‘haters’ on the inthemix forums, what do you hope to gain by doing this? Do you agree that it does more harm to your image and name than good?
Yes and no, when you give up everything, anything and anyone to do music and put all you time, money and effort in to it, it’s a big part of your life, and when someone takes the piss on you for no other reason other then to get a quick laugh from there friends, its like they rip out your heart and kick it down the street. So you feel like doing the same to them, this can lead you to get carried away when you reply, since I’ve stopped drugs I’m much more light hearted about it now, and honestly it doesn’t get to me at all anymore. If you rock a gig and someone says you didn’t, it’s all good as long as you as a person know you did well and are happy with yourself, that’s all that really matters, at the end of the day actions speak louder the words, and some people are all talk and no action, its best not to take hate to heart, If someone gives me honest feed back good or bad, Ill always say thanks.
You’ve been working on some hip-hop material with Elroy, stylistically what approach are you taking with this and when can people expect to see a finished product on the shelves?
Elroy is one of my best mates and a guy who always had faith in me, so he will produce the bigger part of our EP and LP, but its going to be a family effort, Tom Piper who works with me and Elroy a lot is doing a few tracks as is Anober with the bass player from my band Hollowpoint as well as Golden Eye and Paul “DC” Digiacomo. Waza has also helped me and Elroy by playing, keys, bass and guitar on a few tracks. DC is a dude that Victor Woolley from Warner/Chappell has hooked us up with and he will be helping us on most of the tracks also. There are party tracks, deep personal tracks, hardcore hip hop stuff and lots of other styles on there, we have done around 3 tracks so far and have another 5 in the works as we speak, hopefully is will be done by the end of this year, even earlier, so we can start touring it ASAP. I’d love to show case these tracks at next year’s Big Day Out.
It’s coming to the end of Nu Func, the up-and-coming MC and DJ competition that’s been running at Greenwood on Wednesdays. Have you been impressed by the MC talent? Any names we should look out for in the future?
Yeah I’ve made some great friends there, so many dudes doing their thing, I love it! I’ve been blown away by guys like, Anecdote, Wilba Wild, Fortay, 206 Colab MCs, Adikill, Entouraj, Kandi Kane, Toasta, Redbak, Young NIB, QC, and many more.
What’s been going on with your band Hollowpoint lately?
We have been jamming and writing new stuff, DC is going to help us finish our EP so I’m happy to have a pro on board to give a hand and fill in the blanks.
From your posts on the ITM forums it seems that you feel you’ll finally how the ‘haters’ when you’re famous and rich. That seems to be inline with the gangster style of American rappers and MCs. Why do you feel it’s important to be notorious and wealthy?
Haha. Haters are people that put shit on everything and everyone, even when I’m rich they’ll probably just hate me more. I don’t want to be notorious at all, but if I’m seen as that then I’ll milk it for all its worth, haha. Wealth isn’t the way to get back at them, being a successful and good at what you do is, how rich you are really has nothing to do with it, I want to be one of the best MCs in Australia, that’s my goal, when I am all the people that told me Id never get anywhere or that I sucked will feel as big as there genitals (and that’s very small, haha). I’m no Gangster, my lyrics have nothing to do with guns, bling blinging or hoes, because that is not what I see and live.
It’s widely known that at Happy Valley a few years ago you piled a whole bunch of shit on a few of the Plastic DJs, you’ve since apologised, etc. Is there anything else in your career that you regret doing?
No not really, everything happens for a reason, nothing in life is accidental, fate molds you into what your destined to be. Maybe I was meant to say what I said at Happy Valley as Plastic gave me a job after that, which paid my bills and kept me alive, and now my friendship with the clubs DJs, staff and punters is stronger then ever. Its funny how life works out.
Upcoming MC Losty gigs:
Every Wed at Nu Func @ The Greenwood
17th May – Area 51
31th May – Scattered
8th June – 406 bar
13th June – 406 bar
21st June – Mystic
12th July – Godspeed
26th July – Clash of the Titans
10th August – Utopia
16th August – Switch @ Lake Jindabyne
30th August – Fantasia
13th September – Area 51
13th December – Godspeed
31st December – Utopia NYE
