Azarel - Tacoma, WA
By Frank Shines from Morango

Ocean Records to Release Azarel’s Debut CD in April 2001

Do yourself a favor and listen to Azarel’s thumpin’ new track, U&I (Unity) today! Azarel is a new voice out of the Seattle area (Tacoma, to be exact), who brings clarity, vision and inspiration to the hip-hop sound. His lucid lyrics laid over a gritty back-beat still speak to the struggles of the urban youth scene. But he moves beyond the stale and trite complaints of the past and offers uplifting, practical solutions in a manner that is palatable to even the most skeptical among us. 

We hooked up with Azarel to find out more about his music, his artistic and spiritual philosophy and his upcoming album.

Morango: Congratulations on the success of your new single, U&I. Also, please relay our thanks to Ocean Records for supporting this interview effort. So, what are you working on right now? And what other things do you have planned for this year?

Azarel: My debut album just got completed, and will be released by Ocean Records in late March - early April. The other things I have planned for 2001 are compilation & soundtrack appearances. So far I have four compilations confirmed from Germany, Canada, South Africa & the US. Now that I have completed production of the album, I will always be looking to do shows. And on top of all that I will be constantly trying to gain more of an Internet presence.


Morango: You have a lot going on! I admire your work ethic and your efficiency. Tell us about your name: "Azarel." What influence (if any) does it have on the type of music you make and your artistic philosophy?

Azarel: It’s a Hebrew name that I "stole" from the Bible. I found out after I had picked it that the original person was a musician. Kind of spooked me out at first, but then it seemed as if it was a sign because it assured me that I was supposed to be doing music. It also assured me of the style of music that I was supposed to do, -- which is Conscious/Positive rap, somewhat Gospel but definitely Hip-Hop. So my name defines my music.

Morango: What an interesting story. Well now we know how you came up with your name, so how did you come up with the idea for the single, U&I (Unity)? What personal experiences drove you to write such a powerful and positive song?

Azarel: The idea came to me when I was real upset about how I couldn't get other artists from my city to collab on songs. There was either this "I need to get paid to be on your album" attitude or cats just weren't showing up to the studio. So I said to myself, if we stopped talking about how hard it is for someone to make it and started putting our minds & dollars together..."We could be on top of the world". I was a little skeptical about releasing it at first, so I did a digital debut of it and placed it on MP3.com and from there I started getting responses from artists all over about how it’s the same in their city. There's still not too much unity in my city, but for those of us who do come together, this rap game is a whole lot easier.

Morango: Yes, I can imagine the response you received online with MP3.com. I listen to lots of songs every day, but rarely does one stop me in my tracks the way U&I did. I also like the line, “We could all come together for the money or whatever...” You’ve got a wonderful gift. Now that you’ve spoiled us, what are some of your other works? Where can we find them?

Azarel: Until March/April, U&I is all that is available online. You can find out more info about me at either www.oceanrecord.com or www.Azarel.net. Please join the mailing list, as that will be your ticket to knowing when the exact release date will be.


Morango: We will be sure to remind our visitors in the Spring. How would you describe your style of music?

Azarel: I would label it revolutionary. Because I'm asking to see results, and I am asking people to make self-adjustments rather than complaining about there not being someone to do it for you.

Morango: Word. Can you tell us a bit about the most influential artists in your life -- and why?

Azarel: KRS-One. I try to model the kinds of things that he has done with music. He has always been able to make "thinking" songs. He is a great storyteller, talks plainly to you (not using big words), gives you both the good & the bad sides and lets you choose for yourself. There are other artists out there that may be better entertainers, but they lack the total package. Others artists that have inspired me are Chuck D, Queen Latifah & Paris.

Morango: How do you develop a song? What process works best for you?

Azarel: My best songs come out when I write my songs first without any beat. I usually develop it based on an emotion that I am feeling or a current news event. The hook usually develops first and then I match it up to a beat and the verses just flow out easily.

Morango: When did you first know you wanted to be an artist? How did you get your start and how long have you been in the industry?

Azarel: I started in high school with a rap crew called Lethal Hook-Up. After graduation, I started concentrating on my solo presence. I played around with different styles like hardcore militant/pro-black & street knowledge, but didn't really know my niche until 1998. Well in the end of '99 I almost called it quits because I didn't see myself going anywhere, then Ocean Records decided to give me a chance to shine and here I am doing my thing.

Morango: I grew up in the Seattle area myself and my parents still live in Edmonds. Are you originally from the Pacific Northwest? How does the music coming out of this region differ from other bedrock cities such as NY, Miami, Los Angeles, etc.?

Azarel: I'm originally from Baltimore, Maryland. I am going to break the talent down like this: Remember back some decades when the search for gold was on and people were coming from all over to find it? Well, the NW is a goldmine untouched. We kind of have the best of all coasts, the beats sound like a mixture of West, East & South. The various genres are uncountable. And the delivery of styles are very diverse & well put together. Artists from here don't really sound like anyone out in the industry now. But talent-wise -- we are just as good, if not better.

Morango: Listen we really appreciate your time and your insightful responses. Just a couple of last questions. This past year (2000) was a difficult one for the technology sector in general (i.e., Internet companies) and for many online music companies in particular. How have you used the Internet to promote and distribute your music? What are your plans for the future? And more importantly, how can we find your music online?

Azarel: The Internet has been the main promotion/distribution medium for my music. I plan on continuing to concentrate mainly on the internet, along with the radio, club & record pool outlets to reach a worldwide audience. My music can be found online at www.mp3.com/Azarel.

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