Exclusive: Shwayze Lets It Beat!

Rapper/musician Shwayze (Aaron Smith) has called himself "the only black kid in Malibu". Growing up in a trailer park and mixing it up on the beach with rich kids, Shwayze picked up an early rock 'n roll vibe that he still counts as part of his musical soul. When the young rapper met Whitestarr frontman Cisco Adler, son of mega music mogul Lou Adler, lifestyles as well as the musical styles of hip-hop and rock merged as the duo made the California party scene and started writing and performing anthems about it. With Cisco's in-house, state of the art music studio, the duo had the tools to make their own music and get it out there. On Nov. 3rd, "Let It Beat", the duo's sophomore CD, streets.

If you saw the thriller Sorority Row, you caught the party scene in which the guys' provocative tune "Get U Home" appeared. We had a phone hook-up with Shwayze recently and he gave great advice for teens trying to live a dream and clued us in on his take on women, the "Cali" lifestyle, what he does on tour and some of the tracks on the new CD....

TeenMusic: Okay, why "Shwayze"... you a fan of Dirty Dancing or of Patrick? What is the origin of your name?

Shwayze: First of all, Cisco gave me the nickname Shwayze.  It has nothing to do with Patrick Swayze but the answer is 'yes', I'm a huge fan of Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing, Ghost and Point Break was just awesome.

TeenMusic: Cisco is more rock and you are more hip hop so how do you blend the two successfully?

Shwayze: The beautiful thing is that, growing up, I was more rock 'n roll.  I grew up in Malibu and all my friends were into rock 'n roll so I was more rock in the early stage and then got into more hip hop later. Cisco is the exact opposite. He was really hip hop and wore baggy clothes and then got into rock 'n roll. So, we both love both sides of the spectrum.  So, when we get into the studio, it's like 'what are we gonna be today? Rock stars or hip hop?'  I think that's what we tried to show. Making that first record, we were becoming friends as we were making music and establishing our connection. Then we hit the road and came back with 'okay, how can we make this better?'  

TeenMusic: So do you feel your new record "Let It Beat" reflects that change?

Shwayze: Yeah, the production is stepped up and, on the song-writing end, it's stepped up.  This record, we show that we can do anything.

TeenMusic: Cisco is from a show-biz family and you were born in a Malibu trailer park but the music brought you together. Can you talk about how where you come from doesn't have to dictate who you hang with?

Shwayze: As a teen it's hard because there are so many different pressures to get you in a clique to have you join the 'cool club' but just do your thing and be happy with it. Don't buy into that negativity.  A lot of times people will get on you because you aren't hanging out with this person or that person.  When I was in school, I was always the cat that was friendly to everyone.  I didn't stay in one clique.  One day you would see me eat lunch with one crew or then the next crew.  I would just make my rounds and talk to everyone because that's how I am. You've got to be open to everything and don't be closed-minded.  I grew up in Malibu broke and around a whole bunch of rich Malibu kids and I guess you could be discouraged and go 'oh, I can't get with this girl because, I don't have any money' but it's about who you are, the person that you are that should determine anything in your life.

TeenMusic: Great advice. Do you guys feel like you've captured the California vibe for your generation like The Beach Boys did back in the day for theirs?

Shwayze: Wow if you want to bring us up in comparison with the Beach Boys, I'm not gonna be mad! I guess it is the California sound. That's what people say. It's funny because Cisco's dad Lou Adler produced 'The Mamas and the Papas' and people said that was the California sound. Cisco produced our record and people say that's the California sound so I guess I'm in the right alcove with Cisco. I think our music is for everyone though.  It doesn't have to be West Coast or California. We make the music we make and we're from Cali and love Cali.

TeenMusic: You and Cisco got together as friends in a weird way. You jumped on stage in Malibu during Cisco's Whitestarr gig. What was it about you that didn't piss Cisco off?  

Shwayze: (laughing) I was there with a couple of girlfriends and a little tipsy and I just hopped on there being really fearless. The bouncers tried to get me off the stage real quick and Cisco was like 'no, let him rock it'. Cisco and I had met a few times before but that was really the first time he'd seen me hop on a stage and be fearless and just rap.  So, weeks later when I came up to him at a party with like 'yo, I'm a rapper and I'd love to get in the studio with you. I've heard all the things you've done'.. blah, blah, blah. He was like 'all right. Let's do something'.

TeenMusic: Okay, I've listened to the new CD "Let It Beat" now.  Who is "Maneater" and who is "Sally"?

Shwayze: (laughs) It's all based on true stories. Like "Malibu Girls" are girls in Cali. It's not just one person. Sally is a rock chick one day, a hippy chick another day and 'Maneater", on the road or just anywhere, there are hungry maneaters that will just chew you up and spit you out and don't care about love. Girls almost behave like dudes nowadays. They're maneaters.  The guys are the ones getting heartbroken now. Like 'what?!'

TeenMusic: Now you dudes know what it feels like! What were your musical influences growing up and then in the last few years?  

Shwayze: You know that Snoop is on the record. I love Snoop. Growing up it was all oldies and rock like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin but lately I love Andre 3000 from Outkast. N.E.R.D. I was a big fan of growing up. I love people doing things their own way and not in the box.

TeenMusic: So are you up for more MTV or feature films now?

Shwayze: No MTV as of right now. Now we're working on our first feature film. Acting, maybe directing. It's a buddy comedy. We're shooting in January.  Can't tell you too much about it. It's called Get Jack's Ticket.

TeenMusic: You got your music on the Sorority Row soundtrack and did the "Get U Home" video. How did that happen?

Shwayze: Yeah, they came to us, asked us to partner up on that one because they loved the song. But we're definitely going to do more soundtracks; we'll do our movie Get Jack's Ticket and that will be like another record this year.

TeenMusic: The video with all the sorority girls must have been fun.  Did you know any of them beforehand?

Shwayze: That was an amazing shoot. Caroline D'Amore is a good friend of Cisco's and mine forever because she's a Malibu girl.  It was a great reunion on the set.  

TeenMusic: What was your darkest period before hitting it big and did you ever almost give up?

Shwayze: Yeah. Back before I met Cisco, I was like 19, I think and I tried to go to a couple of junior colleges because my grandparents were like 'you get outa high school and what's going on?' I had all these little odd jobs. I was doing things that weren't my passion, working at Starbucks or the market or studying things and knowing all the time I wanted to do music.  I went to San Diego get to get away and clear my mind.  I didn't have any money.  I was trying to form a band and it wasn't going on. There are a lot of obstacles in life but you get over them and think positive, then the reward is just that much more rewarding. Finally, after eight months in school I had zero credits but I got some party credits (laughs). I came back with a new focus and met Cisco and slept on his couch for a summer and we made like 30 songs and that was the start of Shwayze.

TeenMusic: How do you guys work together? Do you both write lyrics?  Who composes the beats etc.?

Shwayze: Cisco does the beats and usually comes up with the concept and the hook and then we write together.  I try to come in and put my character in it and interweave it throughout the story.  He's a genius when it comes to songwriting, beatmaking, all production.

TeenMusic: In the video, you are flashing some serious abs. What is your exercise routine?

Shwayze: (laughs) Oh thanks. I eat a lot but I'm trying to do sit-ups.  People always say heavy weights but just a couple of crunches here and there.  

TeenMusic: Which track on the new CD is most personal to you?

Shwayze: I love them all. I love "Heart and Soul".  It's a sadder song.  I love the melody Cisco sings on it, the beat is amazing. It's about how Hollywood can beat you up and spit you out.

TeenMusic: Now that you are getting well-known, do you find that it's hard to find a girl who might care about you personally and not bein' with you for your fame or cash?

Shwayze: It's always something you are thinking about.  Fortunately, right now, I have an amazing girlfriend. She knows me. We're always on the road traveling so it's hard to find a girl that is really independent and confident because she has to be able to trust you and know that she is holding me down and I'm gonna come back to her. Someone who is doing their own thing.  I guess it's hard to find that but maybe don't go looking for it and it will just happen.

TeenMusic: Who are you dying to collaborate with?

Shwayze: I would love to do something with Andre 3000. His music influenced me as a kid and I'd also love to work with Lady Gaga.

TeenMusic: Between you and Cisco, who would be the wilder one and who is the "we gotta get back to work" guy?

Shwayze:  I'm the wilder one in that sense. Cisco is the oldest and more focused.  I can be focused but I'm still having fun.

TeenMusic: Wildest fan encounter so far and the most touching or sweet one so far?

Shwayze: Well, if a fan comes up and is crying.  We get that in the airport or various places with people saying 'oh, we're such big fans of the music'. When the music touches them like that, that's what you always hope and dream for when you're a kid when you think about making music or entertaining. That's always the best. Then weirdest thing, I don't think we get that so much.

TeenMusic: What do you do to blow off steam when on a show tour?

Shwayze:  Oh it's the same routine every day.  You wake up in a new town, try to find food, watch a little TV series box sets.  It was "Heroes" first and now it's "Lost". We have three more seasons to catch up with. We do that and before you know it, we're eating and drinking a little bit and then we play, then showtime and go to bed at 2 A.M. to go to the next city.

TeenMusic: Which track on the new album almost didn't make it but you are glad it did?

Shwayze: "Down at the Motel". We made that later and it may have been the last song.  It's such a great jam, rock'n roll, groovy track.

TeenMusic: Give us a message for your fans.

Shwayze: If you want to do this industry or whatever you want to do, make sure it's something that you love and are passionate about.  If you don't do that, it's not gonna be worth it and life is not gonna be fun.