Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice
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Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice

San Marcos, Texas, United States | SELF

San Marcos, Texas, United States | SELF
Band Hip Hop Alternative

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"Chief & The DoomsDayDevice rotates his Mechanical and Verbal Weaponry for the Masses::: (interview)"

Chief (a native of Austin, TX) has spent his entire life surrounded by music. Early memories of trips to Sound Warehouse led to a career in DJing at the age of 15, with an MC career beginning shortly thereafter. Early gigs at the Jump On It! Summer Concert series, popular weekly Hip Hop Humpday (The Mercury), and opening sets at the legendary shows of promoters Hip Hop Mecca led to a love of live performance.

Boy-Cott: For those out there that don’t know you, can you explain the meaning behind your name Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice?

Chief: Back in high school, I was looking for a name to perform under. Random people always referred to me casually as Chief, and Da’Shade Moonbeam made it official. TheDoomsdayDevice is what I named my everchanging, always rotating series of gear I use for live performances. The name gives the illusion of a band, or at the least, something greater than the sum of the parts.

Boy-Cott: I noticed that you have a very abstract approach in everything you do. Was there a certain individual or family member that peeked your interest in abstract work?

Chief: The abstraction comes more so as a reaction to the blandness that is heard on radio and TV. Not to say all popular music is garbage, but a lot of it is formulaic, and there seems to be a lack of diversity in all forms of commercial music. I look for inspiration in alternative sources, be it music of the past, or music from other parts of the world, or musicians who explore unique ideas. Because the pool of inspiration is unique, the outcome is a bit abstract.

Boy-Cott: Back in 2004, you were in a crew called “The Word Association”, and you fellas taught a course on hip-hop at San Marcos. Would you mind giving a short description about the curriculum of the course?

Chief: The Word Association is strictly a hip-hop collective. I used to give poetry workshops to Johnston High School (Austin) with .::liquidstereoproject in the past, and I have been asked to do the same at Texas State University once or twice, but The Word Association is a creative think tank, and at times a performing crew.

Boy-Cott: You recently took part in an event called “Wake of The Dead 2?. Would you mind explaining what “Wake of the Dead 2? is, and is going to be a prolonged series?

Chief: “Wake The Dead 2? was an event hosted by Grimnasty, held at the Wake The Dead coffeeshop in San Marcos, Texas. I believe the first event featured Muggzy Flowz and Promise Udo, and part 2 featured Nov. 27 and DJ Trainwreq. I’m not sure what Grimnasty’s plans are for performing at that particular venue, but I do know he is always looking for opportunities to play in San Marcos.

Boy-Cott: You’ve been in Austin, TX for quite sometime, and you’ve seen the scene change over time… My question to you is, what do you think about the Austin hip-hop scene?

Chief: The Austin hip-hop scene, like the live music scene in general, has gone through many drastic changes. Back in the mid to late 1990s, there was already a scene going on, but the city had yet to embrace hip-hop as part of the “live music capitol” umbrella. Events like Hip Hop Hump Day, Blowpop (Nasty’s), Jump On It, and the legendary touring shows presented by Hip Hop Mecca with local artist support made the power of hip-hop in Austin undeniable, and it was great to be a part of that as a young musician… it gave one hope that making a living at music was realistic, and it provided a blueprint that I took with me and applied to future projects.

Today, the scene seems splintered, and there doesn’t seem to be an appreciation for local talent… a few artists are handpicked and groomed, but the networks are smaller. Many artists have been forced to reinvent themselves to stay afloat, and have left the scene behind. Others are fighting to bring the community back to Austin hip-hop. There used to be a feeling of “if one person makes it, we all make it”… nowadays, there is more of a “get what I can at the expense of the next man” mentality… there’s more than enough room for all of us to co-exist, we just have to find our middle ground. Big shout outs to Notion at MusicNMind, DJ Charlie and the entire crew with The Good Life, Table Manners Crew, and the whole Applied Pressure/Exploded Drawings camps for moving things in the right direction. - Boy-Cott Magazine


"Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice : Local Show Interview [ KTSW 89.9 Local Show - Thursday, January 27, 2012 ]"

Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice interview on the KTSW Local Show (KTSW 89.9 - San Marcos) - KTSW 89.9


"Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice : Local Show Interview [ KTSW 89.9 Local Show - Thursday, January 27, 2012 ]"

Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice interview on the KTSW Local Show (KTSW 89.9 - San Marcos) - KTSW 89.9


"Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice : DJ Culture Interview [ KTSW 89.9 News - Sunday, March 18, 2012 ]"

Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice interview on DJ Culture (KTSW News - KTSW 89.9 - San Marcos) - KTSW 89.9


"Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice : Other Side Drive Interview [ KTSW 89.9 - Monday, August 20, 2012 ]"

on-air interview with Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice on Other Side Drive (KTSW 89.9 - San Marcos) - KTSW 89.9


"Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice : Other Side Drive Interview [ KTSW 89.9 - Monday, August 20, 2012 ]"

on-air interview with Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice on Other Side Drive (KTSW 89.9 - San Marcos) - KTSW 89.9


"Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice reveals musical influences"

The name Chief and TheDoomsDayDevice may conjure images of a full band dressed in black while singing songs about the end of time for some, or perhaps a group of musicians who despise Superman.

On the contrary, Chief is a solo DJ, MC and music producer. Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice can be found at Triple Crown in San Marcos on Doomsday Mondays.

In one recent performance, Chief introduced himself, pointed to a red box on stage, and said, “I have TheDoomsdayDevice with me.” He then hunkered down over the box and music started to pour out of the speakers. Chief, wearing his hooded jacket in a dim, blue light, began rapping in the microphone.

Chief, also known as Texas State alumnus Greg Williams, said he created a name for himself that would keep people intrigued. TheDoomsdayDevice is a piece of musical equipment Williams performs with to perpetuate a sense of mystery.

Williams moved from Austin to San Marcos in 1998 when he started classes at what was then Southwest Texas State University. He worked at KTSW for several years while in school and hosted a specialty show called Underground Sounds.

“I really enjoyed the school and still enjoy the town, which is why I still live here,” Williams said. “Living in San Marcos is a nice breath of fresh air.”

Williams said he has always enjoyed different kinds of music and meshing sounds of many genres together. He said that working at Sundance Records as a student opened up a never-ending stream of new music, though the best way to find out about songs is still through active research.

“The lion’s share of finding out about music comes from talking to people and seeing what people are listening to and what they are into,” Williams said. “You talk to people who are artists, musicians and other creative types. A lot of those folks are driven by music.”

Troy Baham, creative writing grad student, shares the stage with Williams on occasion. Baham, also known as Symmatree, said he would describe Williams’ music as eclectic or ambient.

“Even when he DJs, he pulls from every kind of genre to do mashups and mixups,” Baham said. “His sound is very broad.”

Baham said Williams is versatile in his sound and talent, as he can be booked as an instrumentalist, a DJ and an MC.

“I think his best work is the work he has invested in the most,” Baham said. “The work when he does all of the production and writes all of the verses too. He has full control of the project and it is truly his vision. I think he is the best when he is behind the board and behind the mic.”

Williams is influenced by hip-hop artists such as El-P and Public Enemy. Williams said it’s because he loves the sound and the way they explore other types of music. He said these artists take complete ownership of their music, and that he is trying to release at least one more album before the end of the year.

“I am working on a new album of solo material, all of my own beats and rhymes,” Williams said. “It is called Permanent Record. It will be a very personal record, kind of like a portfolio of the man who is Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice, a very honest one.”

Williams said he has been laboring hard as a solo artist for the last few years, but it doesn’t seem like work because it is his passion.

“It has to be something you would do even if nobody was listening,” Williams said. “I think you are really putting yourself into the music when you are making records for yourself, your family and a close circle of friends. I think you get a sense of the person when you listen to their music. It has to be a genuine expression of you.” - The University Star


"Episode 2 – .::liquidstereoproject [ Death In Amber podcast - July 7, 2013 ]"

a look back at .::liquidstereoproject by Death In Amber - Death In Amber podcast


"Episode 7 – Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice [ Dusty Grooves podcast - July 19, 2013 ]"

an interview/mix with Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice - Dusty Grooves podcast


"Grimnasty Testimonial"

I liked the music [It/ll Be Better Tomorrow]… it was like listening to jazz. Powerful message and your own style entirely. - Grimnasty (Facebook)


"Suzanna Choffel Testimonial"

[It/ll Be Better Tomorrow] is complete with Cat Power samples, sweet beats, and lovely baritone phrasing…get it! - Suzanna Choffel (Facebook)


"Binary Audio Misfits Interview : SXSW 2010"

Plenty of bands have long-distance working relationships — the digital age has allowed musicians to swap ideas without being on the same continent, let alone in the same city. Binary Audio Misfits, however, can add language and culture alongside the tyranny of distance. Half of the group are French — members of the band Expérience — and the other half hail from Texas (they’re members of the Word Association). Formed after discovering each other on MySpace in 2007, the band have managed to overcome the challenges of working separated by the Atlantic and released their debut album in 2009. This will be their second SXSW appearance. - Spinner


"SXSW Records : Binary Audio Misfits"

With uncompromising backpack raps over crushing rock tracks, the LP plays like a lost companion disc to the seminal Judgement Night soundtrack. The project is remarkably cohesive and exceeds the measure of any collaboration; the sum total is better than the individual parts. - Austin Chronicle


"Going His Own Way"

Dig into the local music scene far enough and Greg Williams’ name will appear every time. A mainstay for more than a decade, the MC, poet and producer has injected his own creativity into numerous local music projects — often times many at one time… “It/ll Be Better Tomorrow” pull(s) from all kinds of genres, styles and time signatures to create Williams’ own voice. - San Marcos Daily Record


Discography

http://chiefandthedoomsdaydevice.com/sounds/

CHIEF AND THEDOOMSDAYDEVICE (SOLO)
-Permanent Record
-DoomsdayNOW!
-It/ll Be Better Tomorrow
-The Weather Underground
-...less is NOW more

CHIEF AND THE DOOMSDAYDEVICE (COLLAB)
-(sic) silent.invisible.conversation [ prod. by Kinder ]
-Mixed Signal Transmission [ prod. by Mnolo ]

FEATURE APPEARANCES
-The Elephant Race (REMIXES)
-Connect the machine to the map
-Exploded Drawing SXSW Compilation 2013
-Sole Glow Collective Compilation Volume One
-No Wraps Vol. 2

THE WORD ASSOCIATION
-Two Producers, One Deejay and Five Emcees Later...
-lucid.
-The Word Association

BINARY AUDIO MISFITS
-BAM (LP)
-BAM (EP)

.::liquidstereoproject
-Second Nature

Photos

Bio

:: mc : dj : producer : artist ::

A wordsmith with the heart of a poet and the head of a broadcast journalist. A DJ who is not afraid to venture outside of the norm. A producer with a different vocabulary of influences, and no fear whatsoever about embracing them. An artist searching for the link between the palette and the pixel.

Founding member of The Word Association, Electric Mayhem and Binary Audio Misfits. Former member of .::liquidstereoproject and the DKC.

A product of the true golden era of hip-hop (88-92), Chief began his career as a DJ for Hip-Hop Mecca shows at legendary venues like Steamboat, The Electric Lounge and The Mercury on Austin’s legendary 6th Street in the late 1990s. As a student at Southwest Texas State (now Texas State University), Chief explored other avenues of expression within the hip-hop culture.

A 4 year stint as the host of KTSW 89.9's “Underground Sounds” hip-hop show led to a meeting with members of what would become the wildly succesful .::liquidstereoproject, and the offshoot DJ project Electric Mayhem (8 years of packing Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar every Wednesday). In the fallout of the .::liquidstereoproject breakup, the creative think-tank The Word Association was formed.

The Word Association opened many doors for Chief. Aside from learning how to book shows, promote shows, make promotional material, record and perform on a higher level, the crew traveled throughout the southern, eastern and midwestern sections of the United States. A MySpace encounter led to the forming of Binary Audio Misfits (a Texas / France collaboration with Tolouse, France rock band Experience). After an international recording contract, tours of the US, Canada and Europe, and several SXSW appearances, the project was dissolved.

Chief continues as a solo artist, and continues to find new areas of exploration.

Big things lie in the future… will you be there to see them happen?

ARTISTS PLAYED WITH:
De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, GZA/The Genius, RZA, El-P, Digital Underground, Aesop Rock, Shabazz Palaces, Killer Mike, Phife Dawg, Common, Heiroglyphics, Saul Williams, Rob Sonic, Homeboy Sandman, Open Mike Eagle, Cool Calm Pete, Black Milk, 9th Wonder, Killah Priest, Kool A.D., Cannibal Ox, Busdriver, Abstract Rude, Blueprint, One Be Lo, Kenny Muhammad (The Human Orchestra), Illogic, Ceschi, Qwel, Hangar 18, 2Mex, Insight, Sol.illaquists of Sound, DJ Drez, The Go Team, Japanther, Cerebral Ballzy, Computer Jay, This Will Destroy You, Alejandro Escavedo, Mr. Muthafuckin’ Esquire, Despot, Moodie Black, Grupo Fantasma, Suzanna Choffel, Bird Peterson, Table Manners Crew, Henry + The Invisibles and many more…

FESTIVALS/EVENTS PLAYED:
SXSW, Vans Warped Tour, Fun Fun Fun Fest!, A3c, Exploded Drawing, Foodstock (resident DJ), Canadian MusicFest, Rockomotives (France), Vendredi 30 (France), SA IndieFest, Mr. Fest (KTSW-TX State), and more…