by Unemployed Lloyd

Prince Terrence is the sort of friend you meet and wonder why you hadn’t met them before. Although we live in the same city, frequent the same parties, and share many of the same friends, it wasn’t until Winter Music Conference in Miami two years ago that we would meet. The conference was was a week long event full of all night parties, debauchery, loose women and incriminating hotel rooms. Through it we became friends.

Back in New York, I would soon run into Terrence all the time – At parties, get-togethers, late nights. In the two years I’ve known him I can honestly say the only time I’ve ever seen him during the day was in Miami. Just as I was about to write him off as some party kid, I started seeing his name more and more. Turns out Terrence had his shit together. Aside from throwing and DJing parties in the city, he has drummed and toured the world with the likes of Spankrock, Santigold, Major Lazer, and Hearts Revolution.

The more I got to know Terrence the more I got to like him. Accomplishments aside, it was his humility and raw talent spoke to me most. A leader by nature, it was to no ones surprise that he would eventually go solo. Hence, Hussle Club was born.

So, you’re originally from Louisvillle, Kentucky right?

Yeah I was born in Detroit, but grew up in Louisville

How do you think being from there has shaped the sound of your music?

Sometimes I think about the fact that I would have been an entirely different person if I still lived in the projects in Detroit. Growing up in Louisville was good for me because the music scene was so prominent. A lot of very influential bands come from there, but not bands that most people have heard of. More like bands, bands… Like, Slint they were a band in the late 80’s who recently did a few reunion shows and were recorded by Steve Albini who also did Nirvana’s records. One of the guys from Slint went on to play with Billy Corgan and plays with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The drummer played drums on the first Breeders album. So it’s kind of a breeding ground (no pun intended) for artists. Bad thing is it’s really hard to get out of there and some really amazing artists become content with living there and working jobs that they hate.

That being said, did you ever see yourself moving to New York and doing as well as you have?

I can’t say that I saw myself doing well, but I do feel like I needed to be in NYC for a reason. I knew that it would be easier to concentrate on what I wanted to do because the environment is so inspiring and polar opposite of what I grew up in. I’ve been touring since I was 17, so I’m use to being in different places some stranger than New York even, so it was a pretty natural transition to make. I moved to NY from Kentucky with 1 suitcase, cymbals, snare and my chihuahua and slept on a floor in Brooklyn for the first year. Now I have a room in the Lower East Side that is nearly the same size as the suitcase I moved from Kentucky with.

Nice. So how did you end up drumming for Spank Rock, Major Lazer, Santogold and more recently Hearts Revolution?

In New York when you’re a musician especially if you’re drumming it’s easy for things to fall in your lap. There’s a limited amount of drummers out there but infinite guitar players, bassists etc. So I, by default became the go to drummer for these types of acts. It’s like whatever gig I’m doing at the time gets me the next one.

At what point did you decide you wanted to do your own thing?

I don’t think it was really a conscious decision just one of those things. I’ve technically been playing guitar longer than I’ve played drums although I haven’t ever owned one. And I was in High School Marching Band and Symphonic Band so I had to learn how to read music and scales. I guess having the knowledge and ability to play different instruments played a huge part in me starting my own band. Its almost like I have to do this. It’s so easy with this project since I play all the instruments. I’m not relying on other peoples schedule in the studio and I can work at my own pace and each part played is unique because it’s coming from one specific place inside me

How would you describe your sound?

Come on… you know thats the most impossible question. I will say that my mom says it sounds like David Bowie, but I honestly don’t even think my mom knows who David Bowie is.

Good answer. You also DJ as well. How did that come about?

I always enjoy seeing people have a good time and it’s all about music anyway no matter how you look at it, that’s what fuels us and keeps us going as humans. Djing was my contribution to the party as well as a hobby. Fast forward 3 years… Djing has evolved into an attempt at avoiding working a ‘real job’ while not on tour.

Which do you get more joy out of? DJing or performing?

I would have to say I enjoy performing more. Nothing can compare to the energy created by playing music with friends whether its on stage in front of thousands or in a small practice space with no one around.

Cool. What can people expect from Hussle Club in the new year?

A few songs and remixes are going to be released through RCRD LBL at the beginning of the year and an amazing director named Bijoux Altamirano is doing a short film scored with my music. We will probably start playing shows in early spring and do the whole SXSW circuit.

Nice!

Visit Hussle Club’s Myspace for music and information



Tags: , , ,