Skip to content

Cesspool Asylum’s Grim Singmuf & Mystah Spaulding Music Interview


    Cesspool Asylums Grim Singmuf & Mystah Spaulding Music Interview-2

    Xttrawave sat down with Mystah Spaulding and Grim Singmuf of Cesspool Asylum to talk about the recent “Wormed Out Tour” in New England, the Atlantic North East region of the United States of America.

    (XW)
    Tell us about your recent tour, what’s the story behind it?

    (MS)
    The Story behind the Wormed Out tour is that for a long time prior to going out with the EWE guys, I’d wanted to get in that tour experience, so when the slot was offered Grim and I didn’t think twice about jumping into the spot.

    (GS)
    Yeah man, actually I was living in California when Mystah Spaulding asked if I could be present for this tour.

    At the time I figured on taking a flight out east to get it in. Somewhere between then and now my family acquired a homestead out in northern New England, and we decided to drive out east prior to the tour. Either way I was ready and willing to get it in.

    (XW)
    In which New England Towns did you perform?

    (MS)
    We Performed in the towns of Lebanon, ME , Worcester, MA , Cranston, RI , Hampton Beach, NH, with the tour ending In West Danville, VT.

    (GS)
    It was dope AF to experience all the little towns and cities out here, I’ve always thought of New England as one state, but being in each area for such a short period of time gives you a unique perspective when you taste all the flavors so close together.

    (XW)
    What were your favorite and least favorite venues?

    (MS)
    My favorite venue would have to be Cloud 9 on the Hampton beach stop. My least favorite (only because the sound guy) is Charleez Hill, Lebanon, ME.

    (GS)
    The vibes at Charleez Hill were on point in my opinion, it had a laid back “family” vibe I”m used to on the west coast, my only regret is that Canna CDK didn’t handle sound aspects.

    The sound guy was used to jam bands and acoustic set, we went in there with a different vibe being hip hop heads and all.

    Cloud 9 gets points for style, but my mic kept cutting out, it was actually the only time I had a complaint during my set. I was not the only Emcee that experienced that at Cloud 9. I honestly don’t have a least favorite, the entire tour was lit. I’d go back to each venue.

    (XW)
    How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

    (MS)
    I’ve known the Earworm Crew going back to like 2012 or so, I was a young rapper new to the game and I was just out of my commitment to XR7 Wrekordz after a falling out with owner Psykosis.

    I met Canna and the guys and just pitched my material to him, and after a while I was signed to Earworm Entertainment.

    (GS)
    Aside from Mystah Spaulding and Jay Prophet, this tour was my first time meeting any of these artists in person.

    Jay and his wife are old friends, we’ve shared many herbs and drinks in this life and possibly others. Canna and I have met in cyber space, but dude is a super genuine soul with a strong mind and heart, we have some similar differences. Reflections.

    (XW)
    From what I’ve heard the two of you have very different styles, how do you blend these so effortlessly?

    (MS)
    Definitely, So the way we go about it is kinda like a yin and yang. With Grim and I its a process.

    I talk about a lot of the negative stuff in life (Rape, Murder, Child Molestation, Suicide, and things of that nature) being as how I’ve lived through so much of the things I talk about, Grim, On the other hand is more a positive vibe guy.

    So he talks about negative things on occasion, but He’s often the more positive spin on life. thus Yin and Yang.

    (GS)
    Word, Yin & Yang. Positive, negative, all realities are considered. Spaulding and I wouldn’t get along the same if we were just clones of each other. Shit probably wouldn’t be as interesting. I dig it cause we create a dynamic that’s seldom heard or seen.

    We grew up on the same planet during different generations in different housing projects in neighboring states.

    Both took different routes, homies an army veteran, where I’m a veteran of hitchhiking and train hopping to the next Dead show or Rainbow Gathering. We represent 2 different sides of American culture.

    (XW)
    What do you think of the hip hop scene in New England?

    (MS)
    I can’t really speak much to the “Mainstream” in New England because i believe pop and mainstream music is ruining the industry what with the constant barrage of child rapists to hit the scene, and articulative musicians being masked by more popular one liners like “What you think im stoopid?”

    However the underground independent circuit is booming with life from all areas of life, many perspectives, and of course, talent.

    Cesspool Asylums Grim Singmuf & Mystah Spaulding Music Interview-3

    (GS)
    When I was a kid it was pretty lit. In Rhode Island at least. We had POAM Lands in Pawtucket, and AS220 in Providence. Dope Emcee’s like the Cape Verdian rapper Chachi Carvalho are still around from back then inspiring more youth.

    Last I seen him live he opened up for Immortal Technique, still holding down that same vibe. As of now though I’m not sure but these Earworm cats are seriously holding it down, not anything like what they got, then there is us here in the Cesspool… Honestly in my opinion we are whats next and I think that is dope for the hip hop scene in New England.

    Earworm and Cesspool together create an unearthly Daemon that is going to engulf the entirety of the east coast before consuming your planet. This Cessworm will climb out of the eternal Wormpool, and all will bow down.

    (XW)
    Have you performed outside of New England?

    (MS)
    I have not as of yet, But I am in the works of planning a tour within the next year or two where we can branch out and market ourselves to other scenes.

    (GS)
    I’ve done some freestyling at clubs and open mics, rapping to my friends acoustic sets at music festivals, and playing harmonica and hand drums while improvising lyrics across the United States. Alotta house parties and those types of situations…

    (XW)
    What would be your dream venue in which to perform?

    (MS)
    I personally would love to perform at the Roxy In Denver, CO.

    (GS)
    Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO hands down the most awe inspiring place to be able to perform. Shall we do a 4 corners tour Mystah Spaulding? I’m ready!

    (XW)
    Do you make your own beats and write your own lyrics? If yes what software or equipment do you prefer using? If you don’t do any of this by yourself, how do you get this done?

    (MS)
    Absolutely, everybody at the Cesspool is a producer as well as some other art medium (recording artist, DJ, ETC.) As far as equipment, I like to use FL, Audacity(Vocals) And Pro tools, on top of playing my own guitar and piano.

    (GS)
    All about the production, love making a song from scratch, altering sine waves and all that!!! I use FL Studio and Maschine MK3 mostly. Always open to new software, I also own licenses to Ableton and other DAW’s.

    (XW)
    Which ingredient do you think is most essential in making your sound and style the way it is?

    (MS)
    The most essential ingredient to making my sound and style is my attitude. Whereas i create music based on my life mostly my experiences, path, all of that adds up to the words that i say on my tracks.

    (GS)
    The passion to create. I feel those who lack the passion are those who create to boost the ego. I create because I overstand that I am a creator. I am he who is I am.

    (XW)
    What makes a good recording session and how do you translate that into your live show?

    (MS)
    I feel like when I’m in a recording sesh, if I leave the booth and i’m not incredibly exhausted, then I’ve not put in 150% (which i learned from My time in the U.S. Army is absolutely unacceptable).

    I’m in a profession, that i need to be 1000% myself and to give that to every fan. As for translating that into a live performance it’s more of the same.

    I look to my Drill Sergeants in Basic Training often during my writing/ recording/ live processes. I learned one statement that I often like to quote, ” In order to achieve greatness, you must apply greatness to EVERYTHING that you do. ” That is the key I aim to live by Every. Damn. Day!

    (GS)
    For me its having the time and space for all of us to give the track undivided attention. Phones on silent, social media is forgotten, the problems and stress we have are translated to lyrics and not dwelled upon to the point where any of us are sulking.

    In that regard I try to encourage creation to my homies and hope they would propose the same if I’d not hopped to it myself. That’s really it, it boils down to passion and effort as well as being comfortable with each other.

    With enough of that and knowing each others beats and rhymes bar for bar and being able to catch the vibe of my homies, to put myself in their shoes and really feel it with passion, it translates flawlessly. Key is passion and effort, mixed up with time and space.

    Cesspool Asylums Grim Singmuf & Mystah Spaulding Music Interview-4

    (XW)
    What are three things you look for when you see an artist play live?

    (MS)
    Personally, I’m looking for first off, The music HAS to be correct. By that I mean is it just some ol’ garbage? or something you can tell that the artists put time and love into.

    Second, I like to see a really good, energetic stage presence. (constant motion around the stage and such). Lastly, is the passion there? without the passion, you really don’t have much.

    (GS)
    1st. Beat Selection and/or Instruments. 2nd. Vocal presence and if the artist uses their vocals in the beat. 3rd. Stage presence, consistence, and persistence.

    (XW)
    How involved are you in the recording, producing, mastering, marketing, and other processes needed to make and sell your music, and do you outsource any part of these processes?

    (MS)
    I am 100% involved in all aspects of the music from beginning to end. I have produced numerous tracks myself, as well as bouncing ideas off artists and other members of the Cesspool Asylum Beatz (Our In-House Production team).

    I find that the more we can do in house, the better for sales and profits not just for anyone personally, but for the label as a whole.

    Money aside, there’s a real sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that the team has created our stuff from scratch, (a claim that only a few in our profession can claim). We do work with outside producers and artists of course but this is not as common as us creating our own vibes.

    (GS)
    All about all of it. We love to create the illest vibes from the ground up, and we are underground artists so alot of our promo is self promotion and word of mouth.

    We distribute our tunes world wide on many major digital platforms. Its great to peep the global analysis, even if I see one listen in a random country it makes me super happy that they found us!

    (XW)
    What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or tours?

    (MS)
    I am currently working on three albums, (2 solo albums, And a Cesspool Soldiers Album) as well as many singles and collaborations with other artists (EWE, Death Raver, and many other types of projects).

    As far as any tours, I suppose you’ll have to keep a lookout on our social media and our website for much more wickedness to come!

    (GS)
    Constant creation. Spaulding and I are about to drop this “Basement Tracks” EP, shits gonna be dope. I’m hoping for alot more shows, super sad for the end of tour. Ready and willing to get live and direct with this planet.

    I want to formulate something Illified with our team and our affiliates that would take us from regional to national acts in no time. That type of mission is only for the truly dedicated. Some will rise, some will fall, to get to the wormpool…

    You can find everything Cesspool Asylum and Earworm Entertainment have to offer at their respective websites:

    www.cesspoolasylumac.com & www.earwormentertainment.com

    Listen on SoundCloud:


    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    submit your music popup