Michael Larson doesn't want to talk about his latest album.
Larson, or hip-hop artist Eyedea, has moved past Eyedea and Abilities, which features him with DJ and longtime partner Abilities. The album is different from their debut First Born in that it's more of a battle record.
"I don't like to categorize anything," he said. "But that is what people do. I am really enthused about the solo stuff that I am doing right now."
Larson, 22, gained fame as a champion of countless freestyle battles. He is known for rapid rhymes and a voice that sounds like he is deep in a philosophical debate.
He has toured with Aceyalone and Ugly Duckling, and is close with Atmosphere and others in the Rhymesayers camp. He said he would like to jam with countless artists, but when it comes to actually making music, he likes to go solo.
"I have my own vision," he said. "Every time I try to share that with other artists, it never works. It's kind of a waste of time."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
He said he is concentrating on his voice and learning about different ranges.
"I am honing my instrument," he said. "I realized that I do not own my voice. There is a brick wall between what my head and my voice says."
He has been working with various artists to fine-tune his instrument, and the results are impressive. He said he can now rap, talk and sing in three different octaves.
He said in his latest work, his voice changes with each emotion.
"You should be able to go from the whisper to a scream mentality," he said. "There should be soft parts, and there should be violent erupted parts. There should definitely be change."
He said he wants to capture the human essence in his new work by sounding great live.
"If you are better in a speaker or a Walkman, you are not even a real person," he said.
Larson's first album was a concept album in which he delved into abstract theories of existence, among other things.
Young and without a college degree, Larson's themes are on a different level than most hip-hop artists. He credits his profundity to a lot of isolation as a child.
"If you are an ambitious person, you are automatically alone," he said. "You are lucky to meet 10 people in life who want what you want."
Larson met his match in Abilities.
"Abilities is the exact same way," he said. "It is lucky that we met each other."
He said his new stuff is on such a higher level than anything he has ever done before, and he doesn't care if it is released.
"I am not going to release another record until every aspect is amazing," he said. "It could be two years. It could be seven years. We are young, and we haven't known enough about music in the past to approach it correctly. This is the first time I have ever completely captured the potential of my voice."
He said he is just happy creating.
"I don't care if this music will ever come out while I am alive," he said. "It doesn't even need to be released. Just because it's released, doesn't make it great."
He said his music might even be released under a different name.
"Maybe that is a stupid career move," he said. "But no one cares about that around here. I am starting a new chapter in my life right now."
Larson is confident if and when his music is heard, the change will be evident. He said his current tour will exemplify some of his transformation.
"I sucked up until this tour," he said.
COMING ATTRACTION
Eyedea and Abilities
The Launchpad
Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.
