I had the pleasure to talk to Mathias, one of the three emcees and four members of Earthworms. Earthworms is a hip-hop group that consists of three emcee's, Kama, Mathias and Black Patrick and the hardest working DJ in St. Louis, DJ Mahf. The buzz swarming around this hip hop quartet is unreal. Like a mama bird looking for worms for her young in the morning, the Earthworms are always on the look out for what can get them closer to being number one... anything from a catchy hook or sample to the next big act rolling through St. Louis that they can meet and be the opening act. With trips to South By Southwest and L.A., the Earthworms have made the effort to take themselves to the national level. It's nice to have connections, but these perfectionists are not affraid to get their hands dirty. The Earthworms are slowly but surely inching their way to the top.
Check out the Earthworms performing at Play: STL Fest at Blueberry Hill's Elvis Room September 18th.
How long has the band been together?
Mathias: 4 years
How did you come up with the name 'Earthworms'?
Mathias: It rhymed with Smurf terms… really it's because earthworms live underground... and in hip-hop you are either underground or commercial. We are the former.
It seems like every person in a St. Louis band came from another band. Is that the case with your band? Where did you come from?
Mathias: Earthworms was born in the basement where Core Project used to live and rehearse. Kama was in Core Project for 6 years... I was also in Core Project, but before that made my name as a part of Jive Turkey, and later - Art Thugs. DJ Mahf got his start with Essence of Logic, and Black Patrick used to be the regular break dancer at Lojic shows. We all became free agents at the same time (except for Mahf - who pulled double duty for a couple of years).
Are you for or against the Guitar Hero and Rock Band craze?
Mathias: Personally, I am indifferent. It takes me a while to catch on to sh*t like that. I don't think anyone else in the group regularly plays or owns either of those games. I could be wrong… Kama could be a closet Guitar Hero fanatic… more likely if there are any Dropkick Murphys songs in the game.
What television show do you consecutively agree on? What do you think is the best show on the tube today?
Mathias: Family Guy. Best show ever. I am speaking for Kama, Mahf and myself of course... Black Patrick lurks in a secret woodland location amongst gnomes, tree creatures and Ninja. He follows the way of the Hawk, and has no use for something so trivial as a television.
If you had the opportunity to open for a national act that happens to be rolling through St. Louis, who would it be?
Mathias: Can't pick only one. Atmosphere, The Roots (done it), A Tribe Called Quest, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings... anyone who draws a huge crowd that likes to have a good time. We'd open for Motley Crue on a Casino tour if they wanted us to.
With varied musical styles and genres in today’s music, is there one artist or band out there that has impressed the hell out of you?
Mathias: WAY too many to say… I think we are all usually impressed by different things. Most recently, I would say that we all really like a band called "Lovers in Arms" from Chicago. Great live band and lots of fun to do shows with. Also "Approach" from KC, now in San Fransisco... He puts on one of the more energetic and on point hip-hop shows out of anyone touring right now. Earthworms are an energetic group, so artists with similar stage energy usually are the most impressive to us.
One thing that I think is great about the St. Louis music scene is the friendships that are made between bands. Who are your band buddies on the scene?
Mathias: Ready? Fresh Heir (our backing band), Midwest Avengers, Nato Caliph, Jonathan Toth From Hoth, Steddy P, Spark1duh, Royal Illete, The Bureau, The Perfect Strangers, DJ Crucial, Helias, Splitface, 40 Til 5, Black Spade, DJ Who, DJ Spec, Mount Up, Lyfestile, Space, Jia Davis, Rockwell Knuckles, Trackstar, Needles, Family Affair, Steve Ewing, The Feed, Gotta B Karim, 932, Dub Kitchen, Upright Animals, Nite Owl, Scripts n' Screws.. etc, etc.
What music venue do you like playing the most/do you want to play?
Mathias: We love playing at Atomic Cowboy... always a great time and great crowd when we play there. Gramophone too... Also Blueberry Hill (Duck Room). And obviously The Pageant.
Where do we want to play?
Mathias: Madison Square Garden. The Hollywood Bowl. Stonehenge. Red Rocks. The Playboy Mansion. The Hi-Pointe (RIP). House of Blues on the Sunset Strip (oh wait, we did that this summer..), the Rolling Stone party at SXSW, the Grammy Awards, Barack Obama's victory party in November... you know - modest goals.
Click here to see shots of the Earthworms performing at the Metropolis Lot Festival (photos 50-75).
