March 17, 2024 • 27 mins
This week we meet a young artist at the beginning of his career. When Seattle's own Kiddus Fecto traded his basketball aspirations for the pulsing heart of music, a star was born in the lush soundscapes of the Pacific Northwest. This episode sings a tale of transformation, as Kiddus shares his melodious journey from the echo of church choirs to his first steps onto festival stages. We unravel the fabric of his musical background, underscoring the lucky strike of having found access to an array of production tools and the critical and sometimes unexpected role arts play in shaping our lives.
The symphony of creativity doesn't end there. We dissect the essence of Kiddus's standout tracks, where Spanish melodies meet the haunting echoes of choirs and operatic vocals, creating a genre-defying auditory experience. As Kiddus opens up about the alchemy of collaboration, we reflect on the surprising growth and skills unearthed when musicians collaborate. It's evident that music is more than a solo act; it's an ensemble of shared expertise and the unexpected joys of artistic interplay.
Our finale crescendos with Kiddus's dreams of global connections and the bittersweet nostalgia of a world less digital, less immediate. Venturing through the trials of live performances to the ebb and flow of musical trends, we celebrate the inspirations fueling the creative forge and the invaluable support of mentorship from communities like Totem Star. And for a dash of humor, Kiddus's audacious off-the-cuff claim as the "baddest Rockstar living" is the cherry on top of our sonic sundae, reminding us that confidence can be as catchy as a chart-topping hook.
Check out Kiddus Fecto on SoundCloud.
Jon's favorite tracks mentioned in this episode:
Nonexistent
1/2 Man 1/2 Amazing
Married To The Game
This episode was recorded at the Totem Star studios at King Street Station in Seattle. Totem Star provides access to a diverse community of young recording artists learning music and life skills through mentorship and meaningful relationships
Follow Totem Star
Website: www.totemstar.org
Instagram: www.instagram.com/totemstar
Facebook: www.facebook.com/totemstar
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kiddus (00:00):
Hi, this Kiddus Fecto and you are now listening to One
Hour to Doors Boom.
Jon (00:15):
This is One Hour to Doors, a podcast about the business and
soul of the festivals andevents industry.
I am your host, John Stone.
Every episode of One Hour toDoors explores the people,
issues, insights and trendsimpacting the enterprise of
bringing people and communitiestogether in common cause.
My guest today Kiddus Fecto.
(00:37):
Kiddus is a remarkable emergingartist, still very much on the
front end of his career.
Based in Seattle, Kiddus coversa lot of ground, including, but
in no way limited to, hip hop,rap, R&B, soul and electronic.
My path crossed with Kidduswhen he came into the
songwriting and performanceprograms at a nonprofit called
(01:01):
Totem Star in Seattle.
Totem Star is an organizationthat I believe in so deeply that
I have been volunteering mytime with them for over 10 years
now.
Kiddus performed at MOPOP'sSound Off Showcases in 2021 and
2022 and performed at the ThingFestival in Port Townsend in
2022 and 23.
I'm excited for ourconversation today.
(01:23):
Welcome to the show, Kiddus.
Kiddus (01:25):
Thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
You know what I'm saying.
Jon (01:27):
My pleasure! Kiddus, what is your origin story?
Kiddus (01:31):
I was born and raised in Seattle Washington.
I grew up in Hillman City.
I was just into art music at ayoung age.
I wanted to play basketball atfirst, but realized that music
was my passion once I startedmaking beats and singing and
(01:52):
also rapping too, was a part ofa choir
I was like six, took a hiatusfrom it and then joined the
youth choir at this churchcalled New Beginnings Christian
Fellowship.
In that choir there were a lotof people who were gifted in
(02:12):
music too and who are also inthe music business putting out
music.
One made a short film for whatwas going on around the Breonna
Taylor time and stuff.
Another person DJed at theJamal Crawford Pro-Am and other
(02:35):
club events.
Another person was engineeringat this studio called Mead
Street.
It was a good vibe knowing thatI was in a community where I
birthed a lot of talentedindividuals.
Jon (02:51):
I can't imagine that in a lot of community choirs that a
real bass such as yourself walksin the door every day.
Did they know what to do withyou?
Kiddus (03:03):
I wouldn't just straight up be like yeah, but I feel
like they did a good job.
It was weird with me because Iwas singing bass, but I was also
singing high notes too.
I had a falsetto.
Yeah, you've got a range I usedto sing, ushers climax, and all
(03:24):
the girls in there would belike oh look at you, you're
singing climax my usher.
My mom came from St Vincent inthe Grenadines and she moved to
New York when she was 14.
When she turned 18 or 20, shemoved to Seattle and stuff.
(03:45):
I met my dad, of course, butI've been living here for my
whole life.
I grew up in Hillman City area,seattle.
They're like Aki Kurose MiddleSchool, but it's funny because I
went to Queen Anne or I went toMcClare, which is in Queen Anne
(04:07):
area.
It was kind of weird just beingin one area Seattle and then
going to the North End.
You know what I'm saying.
Jon (04:17):
It changes a lot from area to area in Seattle.
I think of that in terms ofpublic schools.
I know from prior experiencethat Seattle School District is
what they call it adecentralized school district,
which means to me what it meansis that every school is kind of
an island and makes a lot oftheir own decisions.
(04:40):
It is responsible for a lot oftheir own resources.
The problem with that isbecause you've got wealthy
neighborhoods on one end of thespectrum and less prosperous
neighborhoods on other ends ofthe spectrum and everything in
between and where you movearound.
I think about it in terms ofmusic education programs is what
I was looking at with theSeattle School District years
ago.
You have some Seattle PublicSchools that have literally
(05:05):
world-class music programs, andthen you can go down the street
a mile and you'll have otherschools that have Nothing, for
lack of resources, and it's just.
It's a tragedy.
Kiddus (05:22):
I was fortunate enough to have like the equipment at my
high school because where Iwent was Franklin.
They had like the.
They had this piano room thathad like all the keyboards and
stuff, but she also had likemidis and like MacBooks like
lined up against the wall andstuff and everybody was just
(05:42):
able.
The teacher actually gave uslike a project to make, like he
gave us like an assignment tomake like a little hip hop
project or whatever, which waskind of funny.
You know what I'm saying, andthat's where I like actually
learned how to make beats.
But I've been high schoolswhere, like, they don't have any
of that type of stuff.
So, yes, it's unfortunate, Ifeel like, if one person has it
(06:06):
like, I feel like everybodyshould have it.
You know what I'm saying?
Like we all need you know whatwe can get to like, get to the
top.
Jon (06:13):
So yeah, I'm with you 100%.
I mean, it's STEM versus STEAM,right, I benefited from going
to a high school myself that hadI wouldn't say that world-class
music programs, but I had musicprograms.
It had something that we couldexplore.
I think the whole STEM you knowscience, technology,
engineering, math.
(06:33):
I am, I'm, quite outspokenagainst that.
I think it should be STEAM.
I think the A, the arts, iswhat's missing.
Who wants to live in a world ofall technical and no arts?
Yeah, it's like a part of beinghuman.
Oh, why on earth would you?
It just seems so short-sightedto skip over that.
But that's probably a podcastfor a whole nother day.
(06:55):
So you started making beats inschool then.
What brought you to Totem Star,like?
What was the timeline for that?
Kiddus (07:03):
Well, I was in The Residency at first year, prior
to whatever, and, like thesecond time I did the residency,
I met a few artists who whodone Totem Star, and they were
mentioning how they give likefree studio time, so like like
youth out here, and so I waslike, okay, like I'm gonna go
see what it's about, and when Iwent, I went with this one guy I
(07:24):
used to make music with.
He only went for one day.
Ever since I went, though, Ijust kept going.
You know what I'm saying andit's been a blast, you know.
I just working with the artiststhere, like you know, working
with the artists, mentors, andgetting opportunities to perform
on stage, like it's just fun ashell, because I used to be a
(07:44):
little kid like being in thehouse literally working on my
stage presence, like grabbing amic, like what's it called, a
remote, as if it's a microphone,and like just looking in the
mirror and just like going crazy, you know, like in the fact
that, like they give me theplatform to just do that, just
like you know it's lit, you know.
Jon (08:02):
For the benefit of the listeners, describe The
Residency.
That's another fantasticprogram.
Kiddus (08:07):
Oh yeah, The Residency is like a summer hip hop program
funded by Macklemore and BenSecord stuff and they like they
give you.
So you sure, if you're thereyou show up, you have to
audition and all that stuff andthen like if you get picked,
they have you be in either thevocal group or the production
group and if you're like thewhole objective is to make a
(08:31):
song for this, like showcase atthe end of the program and like
after the showcase, you get likethe stipend or whatever.
So yeah, and through that youknow you can go on like trips
and everything and meet peoplein the industry too.
That also was a greatexperience for me.
Jon (08:48):
And how long have you been with Totem Star?
Whole told Five years, fiveyears, a question that I asked
musical artists.
What is your earliest memory ofmusic?
I'm not talking about when didyou first hit a key on a piano
or pick up a guitar.
Even just your memory Likewhat's the earliest memory?
You have a radio or whatever itwas.
Kiddus (09:10):
I remember being a kid and like my favorite things by
John Coltrain, always likestanding out to me.
Jon (09:17):
Yeah.
Kiddus (09:18):
I remember like being in the backseat of like my mom's
car, listening to Alicia Keys.
Alicia Keys is falling Likejust that intro.
Jon (09:28):
I keep on falling.
Kiddus (09:34):
Like the way she just sang, that it was just crazy, it
was like haunting.
You know what I'm saying, butit was just like ill.
That was like one of myfavorites too.
And Bob, my mom had this BobMarley I think it was a
documentary or just like a moviewith like all his archives and
stuff and like his lifeperformances and he was doing
like naughty dread and stuff.
So those were like my firstmemories with like music, you
(09:56):
know.
Jon (09:57):
What a fine foundation.
Yeah, understanding that I'vebeen following you in the last
couple of years.
You've been really active withTotem Star just in terms of
listening, showcasing that kindof stuff.
But recently I went to yourSoundCloud, or something like
that, yeah, and I found thatthere was some older stuff in
(10:18):
there and I have some questionsabout some of that, if I could
so, first of all, you have atrack called Married to the Game
.
Yeah, and it has an infectioussample.
It's kind of the melodic hook.
But what is that sample and whydid you choose it?
Kiddus (10:36):
I don't remember that exact sample was like years ago
that I made that beat.
But I was just going throughlike there was this playlist on
YouTube.
I was going through like KrateDiggers and stuff the playlist
and just looking for songs likea sample.
I was actually trying to lookfor that song.
I couldn't.
I don't remember it.
It was like a Spanish song, Ibelieve, but it was wicked.
Jon (11:00):
Yeah, I just got stuck in my head big time.
I almost got ticked off for awhile.
I was like oh, man get out ofmy head.
It's so good.
Thank you A couple more.
There's the track you havecalled Half man, half Amazing.
Now that one grabbed myattention because I swear I can
hear clearly at least fourdifferent like stylistic
(11:21):
influences.
Wow, in that I mean you're justdrawing from everywhere, but
you're fusing them together in away that sounds beautiful.
Thank you, and that's whyyou're talking about my question
about, like, when did you firststart listening to music?
So I can hear you've got apretty broad background to begin
with stylistically.
Kiddus (11:41):
Yeah, that one Half man, Half Amazing.
Oh, that one meant a whole lotto me because that song I
sampled actually came from amovie I used to watch a lot at
my grandma's house.
I've always wanted to sample it.
You ever seen Brother Bear?
Like it's about this one dudewho, like he like killed a lot
of people.
He kills this bear and then,like later on, transforms into
(12:04):
one After and like during thatscene like he.
They're playing this song inthe background.
It's like this choir is justlike crazy, from like Bulgaria
or whatever, Like it'd be insane.
So I chopped it up and I justfelt it, you know, like I
literally felt myself likestanding on the chair and all
that.
It literally like makes youwant to just get up and just do
(12:25):
like a backflip or somethinglike a little jump, like a
skydive or something Like youknow it's fantastic when I, when
I started listening to that one, I actually texted another
Shauna, another board member.
Jon (12:38):
I'm just like you listen to this center of the link to the
back.
If you listen to this like thisis amazing, it's amazing.
One more track to ask you aboutnon-existent.
Now on that one, to my ears youhave a pretty unique vocal
range.
You can go pretty darn low, butyou've got some upper range.
Kiddus (12:58):
Yeah.
Jon (12:59):
You are blessed that way.
In non-existent, you reallyleverage that range to some
amazing effect, but you don'tlike lean on it Like the overall
composition is just rich, andit once again drawing from so
many different styles.
Where'd the idea for that trackcome from?
Kiddus (13:16):
Just like experiences with like certain people or that
I used to kick it with.
You know what I'm saying andI've always wanted to make like
something slow you know what I'msaying Because it still has
like a nice steady beat andstuff Thing with.
That is like I just wanted toshowcase my voice, like the bass
.
You know what?
I'm saying and just really takea risk with that, because you
(13:37):
don't really hear people singinglike that nowadays, yeah, and
if they do, it's like theyalways compare it to like Kid
Cudi, because Kid Cudi he do alot of like hums or whatever.
He's like, hmm, you know like,and I get influenced from him
too Like I don't really hearpeople like full on singing like
oh, what a shame, that's likeold school, it's almost operatic
(14:01):
.
Yeah, this is crazy.
So, like that song, I justwanted it to be like hella
powerful.
I just wanted it to feel likegrand and you know.
Jon (14:13):
And you said the key word.
You said you wanted to take arisk and you just made me
realize that is.
I think what grabs me aboutthat track is it's just, it's
bold as hell and it's beautiful,thank you, thank you.
I've heard you speak in someother interviews about how much
you value collaboration, you andI, before we started recording.
Today, we're just talking abouthow easy it is to just kind of
(14:35):
do everything yourself in thebox these days.
That said, why do you valuecollaboration so much?
Kiddus (14:41):
Because, like when you collaborate with people, you
could like learn new things.
You could like learn a newskill, you could learn how to
like, when you know that you're,you have a powerful like
presence, or like a powerfullike or big personality, learn
how to like.
Maybe step back a little bit sothe other people could shine
and get their light to you.
Know what I'm?
Jon (15:02):
saying Share space, yeah, share space.
Kiddus (15:05):
And I had to like learn that you know this year and it
was a blessing, so yeah.
Jon (15:10):
I think that's really smart .
Quick, little anecdote as amusician in my earlier years I
was in a number of rock bands,avant-garde bands, a weird path,
it's like.
From day one all I ever playedwas originals, even my earliest
years with a guitar, so I neverreally learned covers.
(15:31):
At the very end of myperforming part of my career I
landed in a cover band and theshtick was we only played covers
of the saddest songs everwritten in a genre.
It was just something we weredoing for fun, just a bunch of
friends, but I'd say it was allcovers, and I became tenfold a
(15:53):
better musician by playingcovers for two years.
That I did in 10 years writingoriginals, because it forced me
to learn how other people play,how other people think about
music that way.
Kiddus (16:05):
That's crazy.
You say that because right now,in this internship, thaddeus,
he has us do these things wherewe do interpolations of people's
songs and stuff.
We'll listen to a song and thenwe'll have to hear all the
elements and then remake it, sowe learn how to we learn about
the process and what went intothe song and what we're
(16:26):
listening to.
Jon (16:27):
Kind of reverse engineering .
What are you doing for giggingthese days?
Are you playing out much Ismost your time in the studio.
Are you getting on stage?
What are you doing?
Kiddus (16:38):
I would like to get on stage more, but lately I've just
been working on my album andlearning how to become better
artists' mentor and learning howto engineer.
As far as performing, I willsay I would love to get on stage
a little bit more.
Jon (16:57):
You liked your experiences at Sound Off and Thing Festival.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the ThingFestival must have been cool.
I haven't been able to get outto that the last couple years.
Like that is like the coolfestival in the country right
now.
Kiddus (17:09):
Yeah, it was just.
I had a blast you know what I'msaying Especially getting to
see Lil Yachty too last year.
So for this year, that wassuper cool.
He was literally backstage Well, yeah, backstage, but while he
was on stage performing, butbeing that close and seeing it
was crazy.
And he's also podcasting too.
Jon (17:32):
Oh, yeah, yeah, I'll have to check that out.
In terms of your art history,in terms of your craft, do you
have firm goals?
Do you have a firm vision?
Do you know where you want togo, or are you just kind of?
I mean, you're just startingoff on the journey, which is
just such a beautiful thing?
That's one of the reasons Iwant to talk with you so much.
It's just a great perspective.
I'm 30 years removed from whereI began.
Kiddus (17:55):
Yeah, I definitely want to.
I know what I want to do andstuff.
I definitely want to reachmillions of people At some point
and I also want to just travelthe world and know what it's
like to tour.
I be hearing it from a lot ofartists that is super stressful,
but I still want to justexperience it and get to go
(18:19):
around the world and learn newcultures and stuff.
So I'm sure I will thatcontinue.
Jon (18:24):
It's a lifestyle.
I can tell you that and it'snot everybody's cup of tea, but
it is Unlike any otherexperience you're gonna have.
Yeah, learning how to get alongwith the same group of people
in a bus.
Yeah, for weeks and weeks andweeks, you learn a lot about
yourself.
Kiddus (18:44):
Mmm, a lot whether you want to or not.
I wonder what I'll be like onthe tour or my tour bus would be
like people just be pouringcold water on each other while
they sleep.
Jon (18:58):
Like I can tell you this from my experience.
Pretty quickly on, likemonotony sets in.
You know, there's just a wholelot of nothing going on Most
hours of the day and then all ofa sudden you got to work and
have fun and then it's back onthe road and it gets boring
really quick.
That being said, I was donetouring like years before Cell
(19:20):
phones even came out.
Yeah right, so what we?
What we did?
We were I wrote postcards, Ijust so.
I always took like a hundredpostcards with me and I'd spend
time just literally writingletters home and those are cool
because I still have all those,sent those to my wife at the
time and she kept them all, putthem punched holes in them and
just put them on a big binder.
Those are actually super coolto look back on.
(19:42):
Yeah, cuz it's got the date andthere's usually like a
geographic yeah, we're in, youknow whatever kind of like
souvenirs are like.
Kiddus (19:51):
Yeah, it's like a diary, I guess.
Jon (19:53):
But I digress.
Have you tried getting any inany club gigs here in town?
Kiddus (19:58):
No, not quite there yet I mean I want to, you know, but
what's stopping you?
I'd be thinking, cuz, like someof my music.
Like I be hearing what theyplay in the club and I be
thinking, like my music likefitting for this type of setting
.
You know cuz, not saying that,like you know, my music isn't
good enough for anything.
I'm saying like, like, is itright for this type of like?
(20:19):
You know Cuz, like a lot of my,it has layers and stuff like
and a lot of club, to be likehella stripped down and just
like simple.
You know like I be trying tolike experiments and what you
know so, but I definitely wantto.
I definitely want to get my cuz.
I have some like.
I will say I have some likeclub bangers on my on my album.
Like I got this one song calledone that get back, but it's
(20:43):
like a Jersey Club type of song.
It's not really like a, youknow, it's not West Coast Club
type of, you know so.
Jon (20:50):
I'm just sitting here thinking, I mean I would
encourage you to just get outthere and try some stuff.
I say that just because, firstof all, everything in terms of
what's deemed popular, it's allcyclic.
I mean, you probably realizethis by now, but it's just a big
circle and it all goes aroundand around the circle.
So what's popular today won'tbe popular tomorrow, and what
was popular yesterday willsomeday be popular again.
(21:11):
On and on and on.
I think this is just my opinion.
I think the time is right for alot of your stuff, but the
trepidation that I've sense fromyou, it's like is this really
what people want out there?
That's exactly why I think thetime is right for you to start
taking some steps into thatwater, just because it's a
little different than what'sgoing on and you said.
(21:33):
You also said club music tendsto be really stripped down right
now.
That's been the case for quitea long time actually, in this
area, in this region, so I thinkit's about time for a change.
So here along comes from kiddoswith this layered, luscious
stuff.
I think it might be the righttime.
I'd go for it.
Kiddus (21:52):
Thank you.
Jon (21:53):
I'm gonna start getting you some gigs.
Yeah, what inspires you to makeyour beats?
Kiddus (22:00):
just a bunch of stuff like sometimes could be like me,
just frustrated at something orwhatever, just I.
It could be me look watchingthe video my favorite producer
making the fire beat, likePharrell, or something like
laying down something with ChadHugo.
You know I'm saying like JustinTimberlake's justified album.
(22:22):
You know watching like TravisScott in the studio jumping up
and just raging and going stupid.
Or seeing Kanye act the fooland chop up samples, like I Get
influenced by anything.
Jon (22:34):
You know, just get up and create a little reaction area or
whatever it's time in themoment.
Yeah, do you have, or have youhad the benefit of any mentors
in the business?
And I would imagine you'd sayboth in totem star, in the
residency.
That's exactly what's happening.
Kiddus (22:50):
But like before them at any time.
Jon (22:53):
Currently do you have, do you have any mentors?
And that's kind of what totemstar is all about.
Oh yeah, yeah, like.
Kiddus (22:58):
So of course, like we'll Thad, Pak, Matt, Paul, Tracy
talk about the whole family.
Jon (23:07):
Yeah, yeah, and that is why I've been with the organization
for so long.
Yeah, it's just that, it'sliterally, it's a, it's a family
level of support, and a lot ofthose guys too, man, they have
so much experience in allaspects of the industry
Invaluable.
You know, money can't buy thatkind of advice, that kind of
(23:29):
experience.
Yeah, what are you most lookingforward to in 2024?
Kiddus (23:35):
Just to level up you know what I'm saying.
And just put out this project.
It's called the Jumping LegThread.
I've been working on it forlike years, upon years, upon
years, since high school.
It didn't change the name likethree times.
The Jumping Leg Thread is aboutgetting over this hurdle.
You know what I'm saying?
The Jumping Leg Thread is adance move, like a retro move,
(23:56):
where you like grab your leg andyou hop while you're still
holding it.
So it's like, in a way, it'slike a hurdle or like just the
obstacles.
So that's what I'm looking foris who the most?
And just like seeing new youththat come in the studio here you
know what I'm saying.
And also just to experiencemore stuff and learn.
You know, I just want to learnlike.
I just want to learn and grow.
That's all I care about at thispoint.
Jon (24:18):
My sense is that you're pretty much a sponge as far as
learning goes.
You just want to soak it all up.
I'm the same way to a faultsometimes.
What is your favorite sound?
Kiddus (24:31):
Probably birds chirping in the morning.
Jon (24:35):
You're going to get an ice cream cone and it's got two
scoops.
What are your two flavors?
Kiddus (24:41):
Cookies and cream and cookie dough.
Jon (24:46):
(Laughing) I see the common thread there, which one goes on
top.
Kiddus (24:52):
Damn.
I think the cookie dough mighthave to go on top.
That's a surprisingly hardquestion, isn't it?
They on top one.
Jon (24:58):
I got that from in real life.
This is like 20 years ago.
I was driving around in Ballard.
I was going from somewhere tosomewhere else and it was a
really hot summer day and therewas a Baskin Robbins ice cream
shop right there, so I figured Iwas like I'm going to go in and
get a cone, you know.
So I go in and I order my coneand the guy behind the counter
(25:23):
Kind of reminds me of an oldRockwell postcard or something
like that.
He was like at least 80 yearsold, obviously retired,
semi-retired guy or whatever,but he took his job like super
seriously.
He was as professional as I'veever seen.
He was really serious about icecream and you know what.
That's awesome.
I respect a professional inanything, you know.
So I ordered my two scoops Ican't remember exactly what they
(25:45):
were and then he just keptlooking at me and I'm like what
he was like, which one goes ontop and man it, just it caught
me off guard.
I'd never thought about that,but I instantly realized it
matters in the experience ofeating your ice cream cone.
You know, totally depending onwhich way you go, you're going
to get two very differentexperiences.
(26:05):
I guess the lesson I learned onthere is like sometimes the
details, the details matter.
So here's a big one that a lotof people just don't know what
to do with this.
But who do you think you are,rockstar?
Kiddus (26:28):
If it will be like, that is the best answer in the
history of this podcast, really.
Jon (26:35):
Absolutely.
The audience can't see this,but I have a huge smile on my
face right now.
That is the best answer I'veheard yet.
Kiddus, it has been fantastictalking with you today.
Thank you so much for makingthe time.
Thank you for having me.
Thank you for having me.
Hi, this Kiddus Fecto and you are now listening to One
Hour to Doors Boom.
Jon (00:15):
This is One Hour to Doors, a podcast about the business and
soul of the festivals andevents industry.
I am your host, John Stone.
Every episode of One Hour toDoors explores the people,
issues, insights and trendsimpacting the enterprise of
bringing people and communitiestogether in common cause.
My guest today Kiddus Fecto.
(00:37):
Kiddus is a remarkable emergingartist, still very much on the
front end of his career.
Based in Seattle, Kiddus coversa lot of ground, including, but
in no way limited to, hip hop,rap, R&B, soul and electronic.
My path crossed with Kidduswhen he came into the
songwriting and performanceprograms at a nonprofit called
(01:01):
Totem Star in Seattle.
Totem Star is an organizationthat I believe in so deeply that
I have been volunteering mytime with them for over 10 years
now.
Kiddus performed at MOPOP'sSound Off Showcases in 2021 and
2022 and performed at the ThingFestival in Port Townsend in
2022 and 23.
I'm excited for ourconversation today.
(01:23):
Welcome to the show, Kiddus.
Kiddus (01:25):
Thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
You know what I'm saying.
Jon (01:27):
My pleasure! Kiddus, what is your origin story?
Kiddus (01:31):
I was born and raised in Seattle Washington.
I grew up in Hillman City.
I was just into art music at ayoung age.
I wanted to play basketball atfirst, but realized that music
was my passion once I startedmaking beats and singing and
(01:52):
also rapping too, was a part ofa choir
I was like six, took a hiatusfrom it and then joined the
youth choir at this churchcalled New Beginnings Christian
Fellowship.
In that choir there were a lotof people who were gifted in
(02:12):
music too and who are also inthe music business putting out
music.
One made a short film for whatwas going on around the Breonna
Taylor time and stuff.
Another person DJed at theJamal Crawford Pro-Am and other
(02:35):
club events.
Another person was engineeringat this studio called Mead
Street.
It was a good vibe knowing thatI was in a community where I
birthed a lot of talentedindividuals.
Jon (02:51):
I can't imagine that in a lot of community choirs that a
real bass such as yourself walksin the door every day.
Did they know what to do withyou?
Kiddus (03:03):
I wouldn't just straight up be like yeah, but I feel
like they did a good job.
It was weird with me because Iwas singing bass, but I was also
singing high notes too.
I had a falsetto.
Yeah, you've got a range I usedto sing, ushers climax, and all
(03:24):
the girls in there would belike oh look at you, you're
singing climax my usher.
My mom came from St Vincent inthe Grenadines and she moved to
New York when she was 14.
When she turned 18 or 20, shemoved to Seattle and stuff.
(03:45):
I met my dad, of course, butI've been living here for my
whole life.
I grew up in Hillman City area,seattle.
They're like Aki Kurose MiddleSchool, but it's funny because I
went to Queen Anne or I went toMcClare, which is in Queen Anne
(04:07):
area.
It was kind of weird just beingin one area Seattle and then
going to the North End.
You know what I'm saying.
Jon (04:17):
It changes a lot from area to area in Seattle.
I think of that in terms ofpublic schools.
I know from prior experiencethat Seattle School District is
what they call it adecentralized school district,
which means to me what it meansis that every school is kind of
an island and makes a lot oftheir own decisions.
(04:40):
It is responsible for a lot oftheir own resources.
The problem with that isbecause you've got wealthy
neighborhoods on one end of thespectrum and less prosperous
neighborhoods on other ends ofthe spectrum and everything in
between and where you movearound.
I think about it in terms ofmusic education programs is what
I was looking at with theSeattle School District years
ago.
You have some Seattle PublicSchools that have literally
(05:05):
world-class music programs, andthen you can go down the street
a mile and you'll have otherschools that have Nothing, for
lack of resources, and it's just.
It's a tragedy.
Kiddus (05:22):
I was fortunate enough to have like the equipment at my
high school because where Iwent was Franklin.
They had like the.
They had this piano room thathad like all the keyboards and
stuff, but she also had likemidis and like MacBooks like
lined up against the wall andstuff and everybody was just
(05:42):
able.
The teacher actually gave uslike a project to make, like he
gave us like an assignment tomake like a little hip hop
project or whatever, which waskind of funny.
You know what I'm saying, andthat's where I like actually
learned how to make beats.
But I've been high schoolswhere, like, they don't have any
of that type of stuff.
So, yes, it's unfortunate, Ifeel like, if one person has it
(06:06):
like, I feel like everybodyshould have it.
You know what I'm saying?
Like we all need you know whatwe can get to like, get to the
top.
Jon (06:13):
So yeah, I'm with you 100%.
I mean, it's STEM versus STEAM,right, I benefited from going
to a high school myself that hadI wouldn't say that world-class
music programs, but I had musicprograms.
It had something that we couldexplore.
I think the whole STEM you knowscience, technology,
engineering, math.
(06:33):
I am, I'm, quite outspokenagainst that.
I think it should be STEAM.
I think the A, the arts, iswhat's missing.
Who wants to live in a world ofall technical and no arts?
Yeah, it's like a part of beinghuman.
Oh, why on earth would you?
It just seems so short-sightedto skip over that.
But that's probably a podcastfor a whole nother day.
(06:55):
So you started making beats inschool then.
What brought you to Totem Star,like?
What was the timeline for that?
Kiddus (07:03):
Well, I was in The Residency at first year, prior
to whatever, and, like thesecond time I did the residency,
I met a few artists who whodone Totem Star, and they were
mentioning how they give likefree studio time, so like like
youth out here, and so I waslike, okay, like I'm gonna go
see what it's about, and when Iwent, I went with this one guy I
(07:24):
used to make music with.
He only went for one day.
Ever since I went, though, Ijust kept going.
You know what I'm saying andit's been a blast, you know.
I just working with the artiststhere, like you know, working
with the artists, mentors, andgetting opportunities to perform
on stage, like it's just fun ashell, because I used to be a
(07:44):
little kid like being in thehouse literally working on my
stage presence, like grabbing amic, like what's it called, a
remote, as if it's a microphone,and like just looking in the
mirror and just like going crazy, you know, like in the fact
that, like they give me theplatform to just do that, just
like you know it's lit, you know.
Jon (08:02):
For the benefit of the listeners, describe The
Residency.
That's another fantasticprogram.
Kiddus (08:07):
Oh yeah, The Residency is like a summer hip hop program
funded by Macklemore and BenSecord stuff and they like they
give you.
So you sure, if you're thereyou show up, you have to
audition and all that stuff andthen like if you get picked,
they have you be in either thevocal group or the production
group and if you're like thewhole objective is to make a
(08:31):
song for this, like showcase atthe end of the program and like
after the showcase, you get likethe stipend or whatever.
So yeah, and through that youknow you can go on like trips
and everything and meet peoplein the industry too.
That also was a greatexperience for me.
Jon (08:48):
And how long have you been with Totem Star?
Whole told Five years, fiveyears, a question that I asked
musical artists.
What is your earliest memory ofmusic?
I'm not talking about when didyou first hit a key on a piano
or pick up a guitar.
Even just your memory Likewhat's the earliest memory?
You have a radio or whatever itwas.
Kiddus (09:10):
I remember being a kid and like my favorite things by
John Coltrain, always likestanding out to me.
Jon (09:17):
Yeah.
Kiddus (09:18):
I remember like being in the backseat of like my mom's
car, listening to Alicia Keys.
Alicia Keys is falling Likejust that intro.
Jon (09:28):
I keep on falling.
Kiddus (09:34):
Like the way she just sang, that it was just crazy, it
was like haunting.
You know what I'm saying, butit was just like ill.
That was like one of myfavorites too.
And Bob, my mom had this BobMarley I think it was a
documentary or just like a moviewith like all his archives and
stuff and like his lifeperformances and he was doing
like naughty dread and stuff.
So those were like my firstmemories with like music, you
(09:56):
know.
Jon (09:57):
What a fine foundation.
Yeah, understanding that I'vebeen following you in the last
couple of years.
You've been really active withTotem Star just in terms of
listening, showcasing that kindof stuff.
But recently I went to yourSoundCloud, or something like
that, yeah, and I found thatthere was some older stuff in
(10:18):
there and I have some questionsabout some of that, if I could
so, first of all, you have atrack called Married to the Game
.
Yeah, and it has an infectioussample.
It's kind of the melodic hook.
But what is that sample and whydid you choose it?
Kiddus (10:36):
I don't remember that exact sample was like years ago
that I made that beat.
But I was just going throughlike there was this playlist on
YouTube.
I was going through like KrateDiggers and stuff the playlist
and just looking for songs likea sample.
I was actually trying to lookfor that song.
I couldn't.
I don't remember it.
It was like a Spanish song, Ibelieve, but it was wicked.
Jon (11:00):
Yeah, I just got stuck in my head big time.
I almost got ticked off for awhile.
I was like oh, man get out ofmy head.
It's so good.
Thank you A couple more.
There's the track you havecalled Half man, half Amazing.
Now that one grabbed myattention because I swear I can
hear clearly at least fourdifferent like stylistic
(11:21):
influences.
Wow, in that I mean you're justdrawing from everywhere, but
you're fusing them together in away that sounds beautiful.
Thank you, and that's whyyou're talking about my question
about, like, when did you firststart listening to music?
So I can hear you've got apretty broad background to begin
with stylistically.
Kiddus (11:41):
Yeah, that one Half man, Half Amazing.
Oh, that one meant a whole lotto me because that song I
sampled actually came from amovie I used to watch a lot at
my grandma's house.
I've always wanted to sample it.
You ever seen Brother Bear?
Like it's about this one dudewho, like he like killed a lot
of people.
He kills this bear and then,like later on, transforms into
(12:04):
one After and like during thatscene like he.
They're playing this song inthe background.
It's like this choir is justlike crazy, from like Bulgaria
or whatever, Like it'd be insane.
So I chopped it up and I justfelt it, you know, like I
literally felt myself likestanding on the chair and all
that.
It literally like makes youwant to just get up and just do
(12:25):
like a backflip or somethinglike a little jump, like a
skydive or something Like youknow it's fantastic when I, when
I started listening to that one, I actually texted another
Shauna, another board member.
Jon (12:38):
I'm just like you listen to this center of the link to the
back.
If you listen to this like thisis amazing, it's amazing.
One more track to ask you aboutnon-existent.
Now on that one, to my ears youhave a pretty unique vocal
range.
You can go pretty darn low, butyou've got some upper range.
Kiddus (12:58):
Yeah.
Jon (12:59):
You are blessed that way.
In non-existent, you reallyleverage that range to some
amazing effect, but you don'tlike lean on it Like the overall
composition is just rich, andit once again drawing from so
many different styles.
Where'd the idea for that trackcome from?
Kiddus (13:16):
Just like experiences with like certain people or that
I used to kick it with.
You know what I'm saying andI've always wanted to make like
something slow you know what I'msaying Because it still has
like a nice steady beat andstuff Thing with.
That is like I just wanted toshowcase my voice, like the bass
.
You know what?
I'm saying and just really takea risk with that, because you
(13:37):
don't really hear people singinglike that nowadays, yeah, and
if they do, it's like theyalways compare it to like Kid
Cudi, because Kid Cudi he do alot of like hums or whatever.
He's like, hmm, you know like,and I get influenced from him
too Like I don't really hearpeople like full on singing like
oh, what a shame, that's likeold school, it's almost operatic
(14:01):
.
Yeah, this is crazy.
So, like that song, I justwanted it to be like hella
powerful.
I just wanted it to feel likegrand and you know.
Jon (14:13):
And you said the key word.
You said you wanted to take arisk and you just made me
realize that is.
I think what grabs me aboutthat track is it's just, it's
bold as hell and it's beautiful,thank you, thank you.
I've heard you speak in someother interviews about how much
you value collaboration, you andI, before we started recording.
Today, we're just talking abouthow easy it is to just kind of
(14:35):
do everything yourself in thebox these days.
That said, why do you valuecollaboration so much?
Kiddus (14:41):
Because, like when you collaborate with people, you
could like learn new things.
You could like learn a newskill, you could learn how to
like, when you know that you're,you have a powerful like
presence, or like a powerfullike or big personality, learn
how to like.
Maybe step back a little bit sothe other people could shine
and get their light to you.
Know what I'm?
Jon (15:02):
saying Share space, yeah, share space.
Kiddus (15:05):
And I had to like learn that you know this year and it
was a blessing, so yeah.
Jon (15:10):
I think that's really smart .
Quick, little anecdote as amusician in my earlier years I
was in a number of rock bands,avant-garde bands, a weird path,
it's like.
From day one all I ever playedwas originals, even my earliest
years with a guitar, so I neverreally learned covers.
(15:31):
At the very end of myperforming part of my career I
landed in a cover band and theshtick was we only played covers
of the saddest songs everwritten in a genre.
It was just something we weredoing for fun, just a bunch of
friends, but I'd say it was allcovers, and I became tenfold a
(15:53):
better musician by playingcovers for two years.
That I did in 10 years writingoriginals, because it forced me
to learn how other people play,how other people think about
music that way.
Kiddus (16:05):
That's crazy.
You say that because right now,in this internship, thaddeus,
he has us do these things wherewe do interpolations of people's
songs and stuff.
We'll listen to a song and thenwe'll have to hear all the
elements and then remake it, sowe learn how to we learn about
the process and what went intothe song and what we're
(16:26):
listening to.
Jon (16:27):
Kind of reverse engineering .
What are you doing for giggingthese days?
Are you playing out much Ismost your time in the studio.
Are you getting on stage?
What are you doing?
Kiddus (16:38):
I would like to get on stage more, but lately I've just
been working on my album andlearning how to become better
artists' mentor and learning howto engineer.
As far as performing, I willsay I would love to get on stage
a little bit more.
Jon (16:57):
You liked your experiences at Sound Off and Thing Festival.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the ThingFestival must have been cool.
I haven't been able to get outto that the last couple years.
Like that is like the coolfestival in the country right
now.
Kiddus (17:09):
Yeah, it was just.
I had a blast you know what I'msaying Especially getting to
see Lil Yachty too last year.
So for this year, that wassuper cool.
He was literally backstage Well, yeah, backstage, but while he
was on stage performing, butbeing that close and seeing it
was crazy.
And he's also podcasting too.
Jon (17:32):
Oh, yeah, yeah, I'll have to check that out.
In terms of your art history,in terms of your craft, do you
have firm goals?
Do you have a firm vision?
Do you know where you want togo, or are you just kind of?
I mean, you're just startingoff on the journey, which is
just such a beautiful thing?
That's one of the reasons Iwant to talk with you so much.
It's just a great perspective.
I'm 30 years removed from whereI began.
Kiddus (17:55):
Yeah, I definitely want to.
I know what I want to do andstuff.
I definitely want to reachmillions of people At some point
and I also want to just travelthe world and know what it's
like to tour.
I be hearing it from a lot ofartists that is super stressful,
but I still want to justexperience it and get to go
(18:19):
around the world and learn newcultures and stuff.
So I'm sure I will thatcontinue.
Jon (18:24):
It's a lifestyle.
I can tell you that and it'snot everybody's cup of tea, but
it is Unlike any otherexperience you're gonna have.
Yeah, learning how to get alongwith the same group of people
in a bus.
Yeah, for weeks and weeks andweeks, you learn a lot about
yourself.
Kiddus (18:44):
Mmm, a lot whether you want to or not.
I wonder what I'll be like onthe tour or my tour bus would be
like people just be pouringcold water on each other while
they sleep.
Jon (18:58):
Like I can tell you this from my experience.
Pretty quickly on, likemonotony sets in.
You know, there's just a wholelot of nothing going on Most
hours of the day and then all ofa sudden you got to work and
have fun and then it's back onthe road and it gets boring
really quick.
That being said, I was donetouring like years before Cell
(19:20):
phones even came out.
Yeah right, so what we?
What we did?
We were I wrote postcards, Ijust so.
I always took like a hundredpostcards with me and I'd spend
time just literally writingletters home and those are cool
because I still have all those,sent those to my wife at the
time and she kept them all, putthem punched holes in them and
just put them on a big binder.
Those are actually super coolto look back on.
(19:42):
Yeah, cuz it's got the date andthere's usually like a
geographic yeah, we're in, youknow whatever kind of like
souvenirs are like.
Kiddus (19:51):
Yeah, it's like a diary, I guess.
Jon (19:53):
But I digress.
Have you tried getting any inany club gigs here in town?
Kiddus (19:58):
No, not quite there yet I mean I want to, you know, but
what's stopping you?
I'd be thinking, cuz, like someof my music.
Like I be hearing what theyplay in the club and I be
thinking, like my music likefitting for this type of setting
.
You know cuz, not saying that,like you know, my music isn't
good enough for anything.
I'm saying like, like, is itright for this type of like?
(20:19):
You know Cuz, like a lot of my,it has layers and stuff like
and a lot of club, to be likehella stripped down and just
like simple.
You know like I be trying tolike experiments and what you
know so, but I definitely wantto.
I definitely want to get my cuz.
I have some like.
I will say I have some likeclub bangers on my on my album.
Like I got this one song calledone that get back, but it's
(20:43):
like a Jersey Club type of song.
It's not really like a, youknow, it's not West Coast Club
type of, you know so.
Jon (20:50):
I'm just sitting here thinking, I mean I would
encourage you to just get outthere and try some stuff.
I say that just because, firstof all, everything in terms of
what's deemed popular, it's allcyclic.
I mean, you probably realizethis by now, but it's just a big
circle and it all goes aroundand around the circle.
So what's popular today won'tbe popular tomorrow, and what
was popular yesterday willsomeday be popular again.
(21:11):
On and on and on.
I think this is just my opinion.
I think the time is right for alot of your stuff, but the
trepidation that I've sense fromyou, it's like is this really
what people want out there?
That's exactly why I think thetime is right for you to start
taking some steps into thatwater, just because it's a
little different than what'sgoing on and you said.
(21:33):
You also said club music tendsto be really stripped down right
now.
That's been the case for quitea long time actually, in this
area, in this region, so I thinkit's about time for a change.
So here along comes from kiddoswith this layered, luscious
stuff.
I think it might be the righttime.
I'd go for it.
Kiddus (21:52):
Thank you.
Jon (21:53):
I'm gonna start getting you some gigs.
Yeah, what inspires you to makeyour beats?
Kiddus (22:00):
just a bunch of stuff like sometimes could be like me,
just frustrated at something orwhatever, just I.
It could be me look watchingthe video my favorite producer
making the fire beat, likePharrell, or something like
laying down something with ChadHugo.
You know I'm saying like JustinTimberlake's justified album.
(22:22):
You know watching like TravisScott in the studio jumping up
and just raging and going stupid.
Or seeing Kanye act the fooland chop up samples, like I Get
influenced by anything.
Jon (22:34):
You know, just get up and create a little reaction area or
whatever it's time in themoment.
Yeah, do you have, or have youhad the benefit of any mentors
in the business?
And I would imagine you'd sayboth in totem star, in the
residency.
That's exactly what's happening.
Kiddus (22:50):
But like before them at any time.
Jon (22:53):
Currently do you have, do you have any mentors?
And that's kind of what totemstar is all about.
Oh yeah, yeah, like.
Kiddus (22:58):
So of course, like we'll Thad, Pak, Matt, Paul, Tracy
talk about the whole family.
Jon (23:07):
Yeah, yeah, and that is why I've been with the organization
for so long.
Yeah, it's just that, it'sliterally, it's a, it's a family
level of support, and a lot ofthose guys too, man, they have
so much experience in allaspects of the industry
Invaluable.
You know, money can't buy thatkind of advice, that kind of
(23:29):
experience.
Yeah, what are you most lookingforward to in 2024?
Kiddus (23:35):
Just to level up you know what I'm saying.
And just put out this project.
It's called the Jumping LegThread.
I've been working on it forlike years, upon years, upon
years, since high school.
It didn't change the name likethree times.
The Jumping Leg Thread is aboutgetting over this hurdle.
You know what I'm saying?
The Jumping Leg Thread is adance move, like a retro move,
(23:56):
where you like grab your leg andyou hop while you're still
holding it.
So it's like, in a way, it'slike a hurdle or like just the
obstacles.
So that's what I'm looking foris who the most?
And just like seeing new youththat come in the studio here you
know what I'm saying.
And also just to experiencemore stuff and learn.
You know, I just want to learnlike.
I just want to learn and grow.
That's all I care about at thispoint.
Jon (24:18):
My sense is that you're pretty much a sponge as far as
learning goes.
You just want to soak it all up.
I'm the same way to a faultsometimes.
What is your favorite sound?
Kiddus (24:31):
Probably birds chirping in the morning.
Jon (24:35):
You're going to get an ice cream cone and it's got two
scoops.
What are your two flavors?
Kiddus (24:41):
Cookies and cream and cookie dough.
Jon (24:46):
(Laughing) I see the common thread there, which one goes on
top.
Kiddus (24:52):
Damn.
I think the cookie dough mighthave to go on top.
That's a surprisingly hardquestion, isn't it?
They on top one.
Jon (24:58):
I got that from in real life.
This is like 20 years ago.
I was driving around in Ballard.
I was going from somewhere tosomewhere else and it was a
really hot summer day and therewas a Baskin Robbins ice cream
shop right there, so I figured Iwas like I'm going to go in and
get a cone, you know.
So I go in and I order my coneand the guy behind the counter
(25:23):
Kind of reminds me of an oldRockwell postcard or something
like that.
He was like at least 80 yearsold, obviously retired,
semi-retired guy or whatever,but he took his job like super
seriously.
He was as professional as I'veever seen.
He was really serious about icecream and you know what.
That's awesome.
I respect a professional inanything, you know.
So I ordered my two scoops Ican't remember exactly what they
(25:45):
were and then he just keptlooking at me and I'm like what
he was like, which one goes ontop and man it, just it caught
me off guard.
I'd never thought about that,but I instantly realized it
matters in the experience ofeating your ice cream cone.
You know, totally depending onwhich way you go, you're going
to get two very differentexperiences.
(26:05):
I guess the lesson I learned onthere is like sometimes the
details, the details matter.
So here's a big one that a lotof people just don't know what
to do with this.
But who do you think you are,rockstar?
Kiddus (26:28):
If it will be like, that is the best answer in the
history of this podcast, really.
Jon (26:35):
Absolutely.
The audience can't see this,but I have a huge smile on my
face right now.
That is the best answer I'veheard yet.
Kiddus, it has been fantastictalking with you today.
Thank you so much for makingthe time.
Thank you for having me.
Thank you for having me.
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Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.