E.D. Erratic/Audio Reign – I’m Eric Dufour

Check out the new song from E.D. Erratic/Audio Reign – I’m Eric Dufour

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Exclusive Interview

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
I was raised in Brockton, MA, but now I live on the Taunton/Raynham line. I miss Brockton. If the city was cared for more I’d want to move back. I lived there for most my life, people used to call it ghetto but now its gotten pitiful. That city needs to be cleaned up.

I make music with my crew Audio Reign, which consists of me and my homies Pix, Blackout, Truth, BZ Rox and a couple more artists I’m not as acquainted with.  We’re an independent group/record label, actually they are from New Bedford and they checked out my music, met with me, and I instantly felt part of their family. So, I got here from working my ass off and using my insomnia to get better at my craft while everyone was sleeping – literally. I’ve had help along the way from my boy Kash n A-tak, mostly A-tak, and I also got a feature with Dizzy Wright and possibly Dee-1 from Louisiana and A-1 from San Fransisco in the Bay. They’re dope artists, go check them out!

Tell us more about the current song you are promoting to everyone.
My current song called “I’m Eric Dufour,” it’s an aggressive track.  It’s a blunt message about the type of person I am. How I have an evil image, yet a positive influence that I’d like to spread.  The game has been watered down, I just like to voice my opinion.  I’m a very smart individual, which you’d never expect witnessing the way I talk and act.  There’s a lot of things that people assume about me but it’s contradicting because I’m far from their accusations.

Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?
Well, any independent artist will tell you there are numerous challenges you’ll face in the industry.  It’s very monopolized and materialistic.  Overall the materialism is the biggest challenge I face.  I like to make my music for a purpose, not to brag to the listener about what I have and how they aren’t on my level because they don’t have those things. In actuality, I don’t have much at all. I’m a lower middle class teenager, in debt, going to college, had my fair share of screw ups and got no money – but I have the most loving family and friends supporting me that I’m happy with what I do have.

Despite that materialism being one of my challenges, I’d also like to add intelligence and wisdom.  It’s very hard to attract the majority of listeners with songs involving big words and advice on how to better yourself.  I’m not one to make party music and that’s what this generation has been brainwashed with. That’s the big challenge.

Also just a little side note, another challenge is that I record in my walk in closet because our equipment at the studio needs repair.  So recording, editing, mixing, and mastering all by myself is definitely a big pain in the ass. But I have to work with what I got.

What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
My biggest set back is happening between now and the next month.  Like I said, I’ve had my fair share of screw ups.  I’ve made many mistakes driving, so much to the point that I might be getting my license taken away for awhile.  If that happens then I will have to take a break from music to join the military, most likely the Army.  The reason I’ll have to do that is because without my license I can’t get to college, to work, or even the studio.  Like I said before though, I’m very smart. I’ll find a way to bounce back if it all falls down.

What are some things artists need to be careful of?
Their messages in their songs.  Music is art and plenty of big name artists have forgotten that.  When a majority of your songs are influencing the youth to make bad decisions, you are failing not only as an artist but as a human being. It’s a damn shame, getting paid is not a good reason to act like a fool. A majority of the radio is brainwashing kids to “roll up” or drink. It’s fun to enjoy yourself once in awhile, but where is the guidance and direction?  In my song “I’m Eric Dufour” I say, “My music is for a purpose, not only for your amusement.”  Making a soundtrack for partying does not interest me, bettering my generation and convincing kids to go to school, get a job, be involved in politics, know current affairs, go to college and be civil and humane does.

I do a series on YouTube called “Poetry Over a Beat” aka “P.O.B” where it is literally my poetry to a beat. Like I said, music is art, so I put my poetry over a hip hop beat. The content in the series is just some real subject matter.  I address my flaws, what I need to work on, my opinions, my future, my emotions, and struggles and much more.  They’re my favorite tracks to do because it’s sort of like “my thing.”  It’s not just a normal song, it’s part of my soul.

What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
Know yourself.  I’m not saying “be real,” I’m saying know what’s important to you.  Is there a goal you want to accomplish with your music? If so, stick to that goal.  Work day and night to come up with cleaver ways to spread that message.

What is one of your favorite ways to promote yourself and your music?
Well I’ve done my first show about a week ago and my set went extremely well. People seemed to love me, a couple people took pictures with me, got my name and number – it was mad cool, I loved it.  But I don’t have any help with promotion so doing everything myself is once again a pain in the ass. Yet Facebook and YouTube are awesome and crucial marketing tools that every independent artist needs to take advantage of and use to the fullest.  Technology is another thing my generation is glued to, so using it to promote and market myself is going to be one of the most efficient ways.

Go check out my YouTube account below, keep up with my progress. Subscribe and be updated so you can listen to my new tracks when I drop them.  Thank you for the interview, the last thing I want to say is support good music. Be an honest fan and when a favorite artist drops a whack song, don’t support that song.  Just because the song is from a certain artist doesn’t automatically make that song good.  One more thing, be an individual, not a clone.

-E.D. Erratic

Where can people visit you?
www.facebook.com/E.DErratic
www.facebook.com/eric.dufourinfgang
www.youtube.com/erraticmusick
www.twitter.com/eric_dufour
email : ericrdufour@gmail.com