A lot has happened to Vancouver hip hop artist Kyprios since he was last in Lethbridge about two years ago.
He recorded a new EP, wrote a song to help out Vancouver's troubled downtown east side, is putting the finishing touches on a new full length CD and most importantly had a baby daughter.
“It means I can’t go on tour for three or four months without thinking about how it affects my family. But everything I do I do for my family,” said Kyprios aka David Coles who comes to Scores, June 1 with Whistler hip hop crew Animal Nation.
“ You talk to other people about love, but after having a child I have new respect for my mom and my wife, who I already had a lot of respect for anyway. It has been a very rewarding experience,” he said.
While he has been busy being a dad, he has also been busy recording new music.
He released the “Lapdog” EP in November last year, but is putting the finishing touches on a new full length CD “Mdnight Sun, which will includes some of the songs from the EP.
“It is about a month and a half away. We’re waiting for the video “Lapdog,” which will be the first single,” he said.
One of the most moving songs on the EP and on the new CD is “We Get Right,” which is about the troubles on the downtown east side of Vancouver.
“It’s one of the most historically important neighbourhoods in Canada. When people want to get high or drunk they go there. A lot of people just look the other way and don’t try to help. Or think it’s a tourist attraction. But it isn’t,” he said adding the gentrification of the neighbourhood is a problem.
“They don’t want a Starbucks on every corner, but you don’t want to push out the people who live there either,” he said.
“ I wanted to create a dialogue about it and I think I did,” he said.
All proceeds from the song were donated to the United Gospel Mission, Battered Women’s Support Services, Project Limelight and Directions Youth Services.
For the video, he and his band went down to the neighbourhood and helped raise money and food for the people with the help of Mark Brand who owns the restaurant Save-on-Meats and runs a tokens for sandwiches program.
“ I love this city. It is part of my DNA,” he said.
The song will be appearing on the upcoming album, but he didn’t want to write a whole album about it. The new songs are about what he sees and hears though.
“There is one I wrote with Moka Only called “ Bus Pass Cash” which is about we why we got into the business. It‘s bout not having any business acumen and just being excited about the creative process. About just being excited enough to make enough to make enough money to do downtown and get a new record,” he said.
Another of his favourites is “Better Miracles,” which he begins singing a capella.
“ It’s just me singing a cappella and then beat-boxing. Then half way through the song there is violins,” he said adding he was also excited about working with the band Mother Mother on another track.
“It’s like working with best friends,” he enthused.
He hasn't been to Lethbridge for about two years and is excited to return to Lethbridge.
“I haven't been there since I released my album. I love Lethbridge. I’m not just saying it to push the show. It’s long overdue. I’ve always had a blast there and I always have great relations with the crowd and there‘s lots of people there who are my friends,” he said promising songs from throughout his career including Sweatshop Union song , solo material and new songs.
“A lot of musicians hate going back to their back catalogue, but if people want to hear it, I say give it to them. So there will be Sweatshop Union songs, old songs, new songs and a few covers which show where I come from,” he said. While he often tours with a band, this time he is touring with a DJ.
Advance tickets for the show cost $20. The show is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m., June 1 at Scores.
