An Interview: Clay Hughes

album art by Scribe

Clay Hughes recently released JKR70 Presents Clay Hughes: The Whether Machine. The album combines folky blues with hip-hop, and the project is one of the most consistent local albums beginning to end. Mr. Hughes was nice enough to discuss it with me for this interview project.

Who from KC are you listening to right now?

I've got a lot of local favorites...but, right now?! I'd say "Top 5 Most Listened To Lately" are thePhantom*, Deuce Fontane/Soul Servers, Ha Ha Tonka, Mac Lethal, and Elsa Rae.

Elsa Rae! Doesn't she have the greatest voice?

She is incredible. I ran across a post she made in the KC Songwriter's Forum and checked out her bandcamp page. Next thing I know, I had listened through the entire album. Her voice is incredible. Oh...and she'll be opening for us on Oct 28th @ Czar in KC, MO!!!

What national/non-KC acts are you listening to? 

Oh man, this hits a large range, too. Again, "Top 5" right now are George Watsky, MF Doom, Ray Lamontagne, Kid Cudi, and Langhorne Slim.


Why is Kansas City a hip-hop town?

I think it's the support everyone in the hip-hop scene has for one another. Too many bands/musicians/artists here seem too competitive to me. I think the hip-hop community works together a lot. Maybe it's because collaborating happens more in hip hop music; I don't know for sure. But, believe it or not, the "ego's" in Kansas City don't belong to the hip-hop scene.


What aspect of Kansas City shapes your music the most?


It's small and laid back compared to most cities. I don't know if that shapes my music or just happens to fit my persona well.

I think a lot of (genre) + hip-hop attempts end in pretty sterile pop-music-with-heavy-beats, but The Whether Machine avoids this. Was there a lot of crafting to avoid making a mess, or did the album happen pretty naturally?

I'd love to say it happened 100% naturally. But, there is always a song or 2 that you play back over & over and are eventually like, "Wow, this is watered down junk!" Luckily, JKR70 is a mad genius and 90% of our project together was pretty natural. We didn't approach writing or recording in any certain way. We just let it happen as we went until we were satisfied with what we had created.

Whatstheruckus.com posted a video of you playing "Love I Gave Ya" acoustic. Is this how most of your live shows go? Have you been able to play The Whether Machine live as it appears on the lp? 

No, most of the live shows are performed as "Clay Hughes & The What?" This features Zach Haddock on bass and Tony Beats on turntables & MPC. We [played] the album release with a larger band that included Josh Gleave on bass, Hermon Mehari on trumpet, Madison DeCamp on violin, Tony Beats on turntables, Lance Pollard on drums, and Matt Long on electric guitar. But, that was a special occasion. Most of those folks play in other bands and projects. This was the only time we played The Whether Machine in it's entirety. We definitely mix some of the tracks into our regular set, however.

I'm learning what a big deal Mac Lethal is in KC. Had you worked with him prior to The Whether Machine?

We did a few live shows with him prior to the collab, but "Bitter Pills" is the only track we've recorded together. We've talked about future projects, shows, videos, etc. But nothing has developed yet. I think he's a big deal in KC because he works so damn hard outside of KC. His approach to marketing himself is outstanding and I'm doing everything I can to take notes on that. I suggest everyone else do the same.

You've mentioned gigs with both Elsa Rae and Mac Lethal. Does Clay Hughes and the What? primarily book with local rock, indie, or hip-hop groups, and do clubs who book local music seem to cater to a particular scene or another?

I book a lot of our own support any time the venue will allow myself to do so. We like to mix it up. We don't consider ourselves any particular genre and love that we can work well with either a line up of emcees or indie bands.

What's next for you and/or other projects you're involved with? Do you think you'll make another album in the same hybrid vein as The Whether Machine?

I'm constantly writing and recording new music. I've got several new demo's/EP's in the works and most of them I'd consider to be in the same area as The Whether Machine. I've got a lot of touring for the rest of 2011 and early in 2012. I'll also have some new music videos finishing up soon. Also, JKR70 has an AMAZING project coming out soon on Sharp County Records and once he's got a little more free time, you can bet I'll be banging on his door for beats! Fortunately, we're neighbors so I don't have more than 20 feet to go to bother him.

Thanks to Clay Hughes for agreeing to do an interview!