In the spirit of shit we already done told you is worth your time I feel like I need to mention that Matthew Schnipper has launched a digital-only record label called Friends. The label pretty much puts out worthwhile jams by Schnipper’s friends - duh.

One person that is Matt Schnipper’s friend is Maxmillion Dunbar. His album, Feel Free, is out now on the Friends label. I sat down and asked him a few questions about it.

Fun Vampires: Explain Maximillion Dunbar to me. Like, I know that you are also in Food For Animals. Is this something outside of the context of FFA - like a solo project or is it a completely seperate thing?
Maxmillion Dunbar: It’s not a completely seperate alias, really. It’s like when Big Boi says “aka Billy Ocean aka Luscious Leftfoot aka…” or something like that. I definitely want it to be thought of in the same context as Food For Animals - like a little offshoot with a bunch of disco samples and shit. All in the family. We might even use Max D beats for future FFA shit.

FV: I know that you recently moved from D.C. to Baltimore - Baltimore seems like it’s popping off pretty crazy right now - is there a difference in making music in once place vs. the other
MD: Baltimore is great. I tried to move to Spain this past summer (I came back because duty calls on this music shit and I have to play the visa game correctly to be able to tour in the E.U. and shit) and a lot of my friends moved up to Baltimore while I was gone. So, it seemed like a genius move to kick it up there. D.C. isn’t dead or anything, but it’s not nearly as ill as Baltimore for me right now. Someone always comes to the bar or to a show at the end of the night and tells you about a party you can go to somewhere else, which is sick. And the radio in Baltimore is crazy! Baltimore is really psyched on itself without being up its own ass, you know? It rules.

But making music is everywhere for me. I got a laptop that I do all my shit on and the freedom is great. I made a TON of new shit in Spain. The bulk of my next batch of beats plus my next album and my next 12″ is already done. Tropical and romantic vibe with a bunch of Korgs and shit. Ha.

FV: The Friends label seems like such a great idea - get back to basics and just release music you like that your friends have made.
MD: It rules. Matt is a character and, in many ways a visionary, so for him to start a label comprised of his friends from D.C. is great. We all talk on the nerd all the time and trade files of stuff we’re working on. I know and love Daniel, Damon, and Jacob from Mi Ami, Lili 51717, and Harris of President - so the label is just an extension of that. I know Ricky (Ricky Rabbit from FFA) is trying to compile some shit to send to Matt… no matter where we move, we can all keep hanging out via the internet and the label and our music.

And the digital side is great, because its more spontaneous than doing an album, then artwork, then a CD/LP and all that shit. A real thing in your hands is amazing and fun but Max D shit is kind of more on the fly than that for now. Through the itunes and Other Music services, you can still make pretty good dough and you have less of a buffer between your ideas and people. I work real fast usually and it rules to be able to drop things when you want.

FV: That’s pretty hype. I’m digging Feel Free but I have to be honest, I have a hard time describing it for people. What do you tell people about it?

MD: I tell people that Maxmillion Dunbar is alternately or at the same time:

1. Babylon on ice melting because of boogiefunk and heady LFO shit.
2. A smoooooooth operator, drinking on hippie beach, tapping tight drums with an index finger that is also helping the middle finger grip a spliff.
3. Going to the prom on real good MDMA

The track ‘Zookeeper‘ is up for free on the Friends site. It was was made using weed, a unique sample, and some “Top Back”-inspired 808s.

FV: Awesome! Thanks.

The Maxmillion Dunbar album, Feel Free, is out now on the Friends label. You can find it on itunes and Other Music. You should check it out. It’s fucking aweet. I’ve been cranking in the whip while driving around with my windows down and the heat blasting. The Food For Animals album, Belly, will be out on November 13th. Check back here soon for a FFA interview / discussion about the new album - it’s some of the craziest shit I have ever heard.