Why did you select this song as your current single?
I selected “Don’t Give A Damn” as my current single because at the time of ‘single selecting’ it stuck out the most; I wanted to choose another song from the record called “So Deep” however, the entire “HAIQEEM TEAM” was rooting for the named title; thus that became the lead single.
How does this single relate to the rest of the Album, EP or Mix-tape?
The single relates to the EP, and later on full length record- As a lyric from the named track “Don’t Give A Damn” that goes “Without My Permission” which is the name of the record in itself. So in a way, the spirit of “Don’t Give A Damn” wholly encompasses the record.
What was the writing process for the song?
I originally recorded a demo for this track that contains 80% of its current lyrics and played it for a couple of friends to critique and left it at that. However when I was finally in studio with producer Murray Yates in Vancouver, the words came flooding back to me instantaneously. No, “Don’t Give A Damn” was not the first song officially ‘recorded’ for the record; but in chronological order it was the first track “composed” and the melody that I’d come up with deeply enticed the producer of whom I worked with.
What do the song’s lyrics mean to you?
“Don’t Give A Damn” to me is not a mantra of apathy, rather empowerment to keep your chin up and not obsess about negativities that exist to hinder. Hence the chorus goes: “Personally I don’t give a damn, about what you think I am. Do you think I care what you want to do to me? Seriously? Without my permission? Will you decide it’s over now?”
Translation; it’s not my life’s purpose to decipher your inherit opinion of myself, as what you think of me is not my business. Plot and plan if you will, et tu brute, I am aware; which is the reason why I will not give you the power to act towards envy fueled feelings of sabotage, vengeance etc; Nonetheless I will pass the torch of maturity and recommend that you move on with your life at this time.
What would it be like to see you in person performing this song?
Currently in the live setting there are two versions; what I refer to as “the full band set” and the “acoustic version”; I use either one to promote the single. In the full band set, setting it’s a head bopping angst filled atmosphere that’s on the fringe of egging on some serious moshing. However in the acoustic version setting, it’s a calm thought provoking folk-rock ballad that makes one want to empathize. In the full band setting I find myself freer to adlib vocally then whist in the acoustic setting where each of the lyrics are more valuable to me then toying around in the third octave…
Could your fans summarize who you are as an artist by this song?
That’s a possibility. Despite the fact I have given my own translation of what “Don’t Give A Damn” means to me; it does not necessarily mean the same thing to everyone who learns the lyrics and listens to the track. Thus I may not represent the same figure to each and every person. I feel because of the path that I have created for myself; I am to be interpreted in various ways and am anxious to learn such.
Is there a video planned and or completed and if so, what was the idea behind the video?
Currently there is a video for “Don’t Give A Damn” in post-production. I have shot the first scene for such back in February, however I was not motivated to shoot the additional scenes because after reinterpreting my own work I’d been given so many more vivid ideas. I may or may not use the footage depending on how I feel once the single is physically released. However there might be a ‘unofficial video’ floating somewhere in cyber space soon. There is a ‘behind the scenes’ of making the video on MTV and CNN I-Report if you’d like to take a look.
One last question, what is your motivation behind your music?
Generally life is my motivation behind my music. I usually base my songwriting on several journal entries that are been musicalized; Experiences factual, present, past, proposed future and fantasy fiction of the ‘what it would be like to etc’. I don’t consider myself easily entertained but any thought provoking experience be it neutral, negative, or positive sparks the fire that kindles my songwriting.
Social Media:
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http://www.vevo.com/watch/artist/haiqeem
http://www.mtv.com/artists/haiqeem/