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So what have you’ve been doing lately? On Twitter it says you've been doing a show in the last 5 or 6 hours, can you tell me a little bit about what’s been going on tour-wise?

Actually I haven’t been on the road in a really long time... I mean I’ve been to Sweden and had some really really intimate shows in New York but the show that I did today was actually my radio show... it’s on every Thursday from 4-6 on Beatminerz radio.

I have no ideas why they let me have the show, they must love me! [Laughs] Every week it’s just utter fuckery... and it’s movie day once a month, like last month we watched Purple Rain with live commentary throughout the whole thing. So they pretty much let me do utter fuckery every Thursday.

And you watched Purple Rain in its entirety?

We watched the entire thing. And no one ever sees me they just hear me do the commentary... 

So the idea being that you can be watching it at home and following along…

Yeah pretty much...

How long have you been running that radio show now?

I think it’s been about 4 months now...and it’s been really really good fun.

And you’re heading to South-By-South West (SXSW) Festival. Are you showcasing new material or just getting amongst it?

I used to do a lot of SXSW shows, years ago, and last year it was alright, but this year I have to destroy everyone [Laughs] that’s the main reason I’m going…and I’m not even joking [Laughing]

So you’re just there to wreak havoc really?

Pretty much…

Do you think SXSW is a festival that holds more potential for artists who are still finding their feet?

Its always been an amazing place for break out artists, like when you see them at first you might say to yourself... what the hell am I seeing right now?’ and then a few months down the track say ‘Holy shit!’...I remember going to see TV On The Radio and no one knew who fucking TV On The Radio were but we were standing there thinking ‘this is fucking incredible.’ It’s just a really gathering place for people like us...and it’s a great place to see artists you really respect, because it’s a much smaller and more intimate venue.

I didn’t realise it was based on such intimate gigs...

It’s a lot smaller, there are a couple of bigger events but otherwise its smaller rock clubs and small outdoor tents, and you can just keep walking along and popping into these little bars and clubs... plus the drinks are like $1...

Well that’s one of the most important thing for a festival go-er I’d say...

It’s the most important thing! They should just call it the ‘liquor fest’ and have some people performing! [Laughs]

What’s your favourite liquor at the moment because I remember last time I saw you in Australia you had a bottle of Hennessy up on stage. You still hitting the hard stuff?

Oh my god were you at the Rev show?

No, I was at the show in Brisbane. Was that the Rev? I can’t remember the venue...

Was that the one with the high stage?

No I think that stage was relatively low to the ground...it had a high ceiling though...

So that was the day after that I broke my foot...

Are you for real?

I fell of the stage at the Rev...

Ok, I didn’t hear about that. How far through the tour was that?

It was on my second to last day...so when you saw me my foot was about 8 sizes too big, I’d just put on a pair of Dunks and had to fly back to Portland to do a show...

So that’s why you were drinking the Hennessy...

It was a pain killer!

[Laughs] I was about to say it was probably more about numbing the pain than anything else yeah?

I was in a ridiculous amount of pain then I had to wear a fibreglass cast for the next six months...

Ouch. Speaking of footwear are you still rocking Dunks?

No! Actually I’m not!

I must say every time I see you you’re rocking in heels, getting your girl on a bit more.

I loved heels then, but I was definitely at a point when I was not ready to wear them on stage. [Laughs] but it was a personal choice, I’ve always been very girly off stage, it just made sense to be a lot more fucking comfortable on stage...

Ah yes, It’s practicality...

And now I just don’t really care… and with all the marketing for this album I was just like ‘let’s do something fucking different!’ I’m not a sneaker head, but the other day someone bought a pair of patented leather Vandals... And I was like, ‘I got to get a fucking pair of sneakers!’

[Laughs]

I just like collecting shoes...

Don’t all women, you love it... it's inbred.

It’s delicious!

Speaking of delicious...What’s the idea behind the name Cake or Death?

Well originally the name was Prom Night.

So you’re keeping a massacring theme here… slay them motherfuckers. [Laughs]

No but you would think, it was named that before the movie came out, so I was like ‘fuck this movie!’

Well that’s what happens when you take too long Jean! [Laughs]

I know! I was so fucking sad they named it Prom Night... it started off because it was the album I wanted to make first, knowing what I know now, music choices, arrangements and all that stuff.

Why is it the album you would have made first, because many of your earlier albums are raw rap albums… are you saying you wouldn’t have made them first?

No it’s definitely a rap album… I just wouldn’t have been afraid to be as musically open. I’ve learnt a lot since then, to be a lot more free.

Do you think the industry is currently in a place that allows artists to be more free to be experimental?

I don’t pay attention to anything else anyone is doing in terms of 'this is going to work now and this won't', because you just don’t know. But I grew up respecting musicians, so had I not been recording in my own bedroom, by myself without access to musicians or musicians around me willing to work with me, I would have made this album then.

Is there an underlying theme?

It changed its name, and it was a play on the Eddie Izzard stand up on the Church Of England where they pretty much said to the people ‘cake or death’ so people said ‘I think I’ll take cake’… so it stands for a lot of things. Sound wise, or sonically, its much easier for us to accept the cake but what does cake mean to you? Is it simple shit, or is it really pleasing stuff you want to listen to. Being more domestic and stepping away from crazy rap life and tours, so at times I was literally baking cake…

Well that was going to be my next question… is it a reference to actually just eating cake? Did you get your bake on?

You know what I did actually learn how to bake, which was a very different art then just cooking, you cant really fuck around with the measurements, you know, you gotta stick to the recipe, you can add what you want at the end, but you know, do you stick to the formula or wander off? It takes a lot of fun interpretive turns…

I wanted to hit you up about the production, who have you got working on the album with you? People you have history with?

I’m working with Knotz, with Danger Mouse with RJD2 but I wanted to keep it pretty small and simple for this album, and they all definitely had the musicality I was looking for. I was a little afraid initially that these people would be too big for me, or too minimalistic, so it was about finding a balance. You know, tonnes of vocal arrangements and live elements…

Has that been a problem for you bringing in those live elements into an album?

Yeah. Its always been shit that I hear something in my head and I want I to go that way but not having the opportunity to do it and right now being around some amazing, talented artists who say they want it to work. So this time around we’ll definitely be bringing a DJ and a live band, not this show, but the next one.

In Australia?

I’ll come to Australia before the year is up.

Thanks for the heads up!

I want to do something different, really realise the music I want to make and be doing that.

And is that why this album’s been delayed? When we received that Blacksmith mixtape with you and Strong Arm Steady and it was all about the ‘Year of the Blacksmith’ and then we were supposed to be receiving your album later… what happened there?

I told him not to call it Year Of The Blacksmith because it would confuse people…

Yeah, why can’t it be one hundred years of Blacksmith!

What a silly name! Because then people are just going to think it’s that year when it’s much more…

Well that was supposed to be the release year of your album… was it problems with the label or...

It was a lot of shit...

And you’re still on Blacksmith for this album?

Yes.

And with this Australian tour what’s the goal with that? Are you trying to refresh people’s memory of the older material?

People haven’t seen me in a while and I’m not sure what they’re expecting or what they’re not... but I’m happy that people even want to see me! Basically my mission from this week on is to destroy everyone...

So you’re willing to get your battle rap on?

No. No one wants that, I’ve been standing alone trying to get people to battle me but no one wants to, and I’m fine with that…

You can’t bait anyone?

No.

I guess it’s irrespective whether they’re male or female either, you’ll take anyone whose willing?

Yeah, but still no one wants to! [Laughs]

I remember when I saw you a couple of years ago you made a note of how many women were in the audience, you said you couldn’t believe how many ladies there were at the gig. Is that something that has continued to change? Are your performances still mainly male dominated shows elsewhere?

No you know its definitely changed over the past few years, the past few shows, whether its been New York, Sweden, or Chicago I make a note of it every time. Ladies are now more than half of the audience! And it’s a very wide array of ages and races, it’s amazing!

I think that’s an incredibly good thing for rap. Because the last thing I want to do when I go to a club is stand with a hundred other dudes...

Exactly! So it works for you guys too!

And are you in a relationship? Haven’t you been in one for a while?

No, no.

What happened there? Did that break off recently?

I’m generally having some sort of man crisis, which makes for great music.

So you’re always in some sort of 'stage'?

It’s like I’m always married and engaged at the same time… I’m not even kidding! [Laughs]

Well as you said it makes for good writing definitely...

I’m actually just coming out of a really tough break-up, so going a way for a month is perfect.

As you said the liquor tour! Speaking of liquor, I’ve heard you often invite people to sponsor your alcohol and nicotine addiction? How’s that working out for you?

It’s not like I’m asking people to buy cigarettes for me! [Laughs]

I heard you had a fund going?!

Well I have a thing called the war against sobriety...and I invite people to help me fight the war against sobriety, because it is just a horrible thing, and people it must be the recession...and I just say ‘get the fuck out of here, I just don’t want to buy my own beer!’ Who the fuck wants to buy their own drinks?!

Cake Or Death will be out soon via Blacksmith Records (Jean Promises!). To keep up with Jean follow her on Twitter. She’s probably one of the more entertaining people on the damn thing. 

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