Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A Pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Cowboy Coder is a system analyst by day, hip-hop heatseeker by night. Currently, the Austin based artist is preparing to release the MC Lars-produced “Code Rage” coming 14 October.
1.) Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview! What should TGEFM readers know about you and your upcoming debut, Code Rage?
Thanks for having me on TGEFM and the Roll of Dice interview feature; I really like this format and am excited to participate in this unique and innovative style of interviewing. What I would like your readers to know about the “Code Rage” album is that it is a musical debut that explores the depths of coding and musical composition. The album utilizes coding as a metaphor for life and various challenges that we face in day to day life. For example, encountering an unexpected situation like a “Null Pointer Exception,” which is a song about making the best out of potentially frustrating coding moments. The album is also a story of evolution both thematically as well as musically. The first part of the album explores some very personal aspects of my background with songs such as “A Boy and His Medal” and “Llano Estacado” as well as shared human experiences with songs such as “Cryptos Go Pop” and “The Rona Blues.” Midway through the album the listener will explore many different aspects of coding and the emotions that go along with that, with songs such as “Code Rage”, “Linux Administrator” and “Cowboy Coding”. The last part of the album dives into more philosophical concepts such as “Infinite Time”, “3rd Generation”, and “Dreamscapes”. The concepts of time, evolution and the development of solutions is a core theme to creativity and one that can be seen illustrated in each of these songs. I hope your readers and listeners of the album experience the various emotions and thematic concepts present on the album and come away with a different perspective of coding and music creation.
2) I know you are a Texan and work in coding by day but I think your name goes a bit deeper. If my understanding is correct, a Cowboy Coder is a developer that has full creative control of the project. How important is autonomy to your musical endeavors?
There is a necessary balancing act between autonomy and utilizing frameworks to build or create anything innovative. A true “Cowboy Coder” knows the fundamental principles of solid programming, but does not let stifling methodologies limit innovation. This is also true within musical compositions, as it is necessary to adhere to various themes and modes of music theory in order to capture the true essence of expression. Having the freedom to explore various genres and styles (rather than emulating what is popular) has been incredibly important to my musical journey. I have been creating music combining styles that people don’t typically hybridize (punk, rap, country and even EDM). This has been challenging, but I am proud of the new record.
3) Aside from the obvious thematic connection to your writing, how do you balance out the two careers?
Balancing two careers has indeed been challenging in the past. I’ve had to block out entire weekends to dedicate time to songwriting and have exited technical projects to make time to record. I guess it’s about making time for the priorities that are most important, and music has definitely been a priority these past years for me.
4) Coding, songwriting, performing… if you had to sacrifice one skill from your repertoire, which would you least like to let fall by the wayside and why?
Unfortunately for me I would have to say coding. As much as I love its technical and mental challenges, it does not give me the excitement and energy that songwriting and performing does. In addition, coding can sometimes be incredibly frustrating when dealing with interfacing systems, which can oftentimes result in “Code Rage”.
5) This record is being produced by lit-hop innovator MC Lars. How did you guys connect?
My girlfriend actually went to college with Lars, and we would always connect whenever he would travel down to Austin, TX for SXSW. In February of 2020, he was in Austin before the COVID lockdowns, and serendipitously, we decided we would make an album together. Thankfully we had time and were able to collaborate remotely on this record.
6) What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
You should never be afraid to push the boundaries of your own perceived limitations. When we push up against boundaries, we know what we are capable of, whether mentally, spiritually or musically. “A Boy and His Medal” is a song on the record that talks about this. I’ve received this piece of advice from various philosophers, such as Aesop’s fables.
7) Nobody can deny the world has been changing drastically over the last few years. Where do you see the future of music, both for Cowboy Coder and the industry at large transitioning in light of these events?
I have enjoyed watching the music industry change these past few years. I’m passionate about blockchain technologies and how they can help artists find autonomy and success, but not necessarily via NFTs. I hope to continue innovating and creating music that connects with people intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. I am also excited to see people exploring the possibilities of web3. The next few years are going to be fascinating.
8) One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should?
When we were making this album, Lars and I listened to a lot of Ramones, Johnny Cash, Beck, Sublime and some of the nerdcore artists Lars had toured with. Lars and I both love Rush, but in terms of new music, Lost Frequencies were an influence, especially when we decided to revisit “Cowboy Coding” for the remix that became the bonus song on the record. We studied a lot of hip-hop though, looking at the idea that ontology recapitulates phylogenetic traits in music… which is basically just another way of saying that culture reinvents itself on a micro and macro level simultaneously. My favorite artists explore these themes.
9) Beyond the 14 October release of Code Rage, what’s next for Cowboy Coder?
We have in the works a unique EP that will feature more EDM style music from old-school legendary computer games, and an album about extraterrestrial life. I am always writing, and we have a spreadsheet of ideas, so stay tuned! Thank you again for featuring me, I really appreciate it.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
