Sometimes you uncover new music in the most obvious of places. While hunting for new material at Amoeba in Hollywood the other night, I stumbled into a conversation with Doc Allison, who just so happened to be going through CDs in order to be shipped back to the distributor. After an album recommendation by yours truly (The Power of Soul tribute to Jimi Hendrix, a must listen for all) and a conversation about Bon Iver, I discovered that the gentleman I was chatting was not only a musician, but a talented one with an interesting story at that. That being said, here’s what we discussed.

Daniel Kohn: When did you start playing music? Were you forced by a family member or did you simply have a hankering for it?

Doc Allison: Well you know I used to play around with a lot of instruments in my crib growing up. My pops was a musician and played multiple instruments. I hated practicing growing up, but with pops being a musician and all he was really on me to practice.

DK: What instrument did you start out playing? Why was this so?

DA: I started playing cello. My school had an orchestra and my dad recommended that I play cello, so I’ve just kind of been stuck on it.

DK: Are you originally from L.A.?

DA: I grew up in in Jefferson Park the real L.A., the hood.

DK: How long have you pursued ‘the dream’ of becoming a professional musician?

DA: I started pursuing my dream about 3 years ago. I started writing songs where I rapped, or sang while playing the cello, and cats dug it. I love performing and people were feeling that I was doing something different so I was like “Fuck it, lets do this”

DK: What instruments/gear do you play/are trainied in? Would you ever consider adding other elements to your sound in order to make it more complex?

DA: I’m trained in playing my cello, and also taught myself piano and the bass. I also started using Native Instruments’s Machine to  make drum beats to get a different vibe musically. I’m all about adding anything to make the listener FEEL. I’ve even been arranging horn parts and playing with keyboard synths. All in the name of good music.

DK How did you start playing the cello, it’s not an instrument that man people would tackle without some serious thought.

DA: I didn’t go for the cello at first. I wanted to play violin but the school I went to was out of the instrument. When my pops told me to play the cello I didn’t even know what it was. Even when I asked him his response was “It’s a good instrument” so I just went with it. I didn’t think much about it. I just wanted to play something.

DK: How would you describe your sound?

DA: My sound is raw. The meat of it is on a visual level tho. To see a young good looking black guy on stage, playing the cello, AND rapping or singing, or playing piano while rapping or singing, is like “word?”. You’re hooked. It appeals on a popular level. Its got something for the heads who want lyrics, the hipsters who wanna dance and look cool, the snobs who only listen because there’s a cello in it, and the suits who want something that sells. I call it Hip-Pop.

DK: What types of music are you digging at the moment? Has this helped shaped the sound you are trying to attain?

DA: I’m loving my man Kendrick Lamar right now. Section 80 goes in for all the cats who grew up in the hood in LA, who didn’t bang, like me. He’s speaking from a seldom seen and heard point of view. I also got turned onto Washed Out and dig their mellow sound. Other than that I listen to me on repeat while I record. I don’t like too much outside influence when Im creating.

DK: When can we expect to hear some new tunes. Why has it taken so long for you to put out some more material?

DA: I arrange, produce, and perform all of my music during recording so its a patient process.  I started playing live cello while rapping and the spectacle caught people’s eyes and ears. I needed to make it translate onto a record. Live I can get you, but I needed something to get cats if they just hear it on the radio or online or whatever. Especially since so many people may not be aware of a cello or the sound, I had to be really conscious of making them go “I like this” so that when they see me perform this time around they’ll go “WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING!?” I’ve been making sure that the record gets people before the visual does. Crack music. You can expect new music in the near future. Recording is happening now!

DK: Who have you been writing/recording with lately?

DA: I’ve done strings with LA producers Fisticuffs, Prince Charlez from Def Jam records, Greyson Chance on Geffen to name a few. I don’t wanna do too much name dropping tho.

DK: What are your goals for 2011?

DA: To finish the new EP, and perform again for real.

Be on the look for Doc’s new material coming and soon will be highlighted here on Bestnewbands.com