Aaron Brezel: Dylan “Smooth Suede” Rothman.  Thank you for coming down.  First off, what is the origin of the name “Smooth Suede?”

Dylan Rothman: It really came from my personality and my style, because I’m a person who really enjoys old school movements, like jazz from the 20s and suede is a type of leather that gives off this vintage vibe in my mind.  So having the name “Smooth Suede” exemplifies my old school sensibility but also my smooth style.

AB: When did you start rapping?

DR: I knew I loved it when I was around nine or ten years old, but I wasn’t really serious about it until last year.  Once I started to take it seriously and do my homework, I listened to some really great inspirational artists and they led me to express myself through rap.  I started writing.  By now I’ve filled up almost four books with a cappella rhymes.  You really have to practice it like a sport.

AB: What artists influence you?

DR: There are a lot of artists that I admire, but I tend to stray away from the more mainstream stuff.  Some of my favorite artists are Tech N9ne, the biggest independent rapper in the world.  I consider him to be one of the best rappers alive.  I draw a lot of influence from the rap/hip-hop duo of brothers Wax and Herbal T.  Wax is a guitar player, but he also raps.  He really is an excellent rapper, and I like to base my persona off of him.

AB: I notice that a lot of your lyricism is unorthodox.

DR: Yeah, absolutely.  When I rap, ideas pop into my head from literature, poetry, even math and science.  I want to embrace that high level of thought in my rap.

AB: I’ve heard that you like to rap in multiple languages.  Could you develop on that?

DR: I love languages.  I know three  right now and I am trying to learn a fourth.  English is my first language,.Spanish I sort of grew up with.  I’m not fluent, but I know Japanese pretty well and I am trying to learn French.  I tend to use English the most because I have the most vocabulary, but other languages offer their own benefits.  You can get really funky and nasty with the Spanish and I like that flair.

AB: Is there anything that you have in the works now?

DR: The first album was really a challenge to make because we had very limited resources.  It was more of a rough draft for me.  Since then, I’ve really come a long way by practicing and doing lyrical studies of rappers.  For my senior experience next year, I’m really considering making a full length album.  I’d like to form a band of really top level jazz musicians.  Hopefully we can make some really funky tracks.  I’d hope to use that album as a repertoire and go around performing charity concerts.  Thats’ my idea for the future.

AB: Sounds like you’ll be very busy in the coming year.  Thanks again for stopping by.

DR: My pleasure, have a nice day!

To see Smooth Suede’s work, visit:

http://youtu.be/NtaK8azw-7Y

http://per-suade.bandcamp.com/album/renaissance-man-ep