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The First 5 with Muneshine

Written by Justin Elgie. Published: Friday, March 5, 2010.

Muneshine is a Canadian hip-hop artist that is signed to the Toronto-based independent label URBNET Records. He’s come a long way in this industry in a short amount of time. From growing up in a very rural Saskatchewan town (Dalmeny – Population 1,500), to acquiring his honors diploma in audio engineering in 2004, Muneshine has become one of Canada’s most revered and sought-after hip-hop producers/mix engineers, on top of writing and performing all of his own music.

While Mune has become quite respected and recognized in Canada, he’s also found great accomplishment overseas. Since 2005 he has dropped three major label efforts in Japan and his debut release reached #8 on HMV Japan’s hip-hop charts. With this popularity has come opportunity. He has collaborated with a number of genre heavyweights such as Pete Rock, Pharoahe Monch, Guilty Simpson, Rob Swift, DJ Spinna, Skyzoo, Little Brother and on, and on, and on.

Take a look at our First 5 with Muneshine below!

1. Tell us something no one knows about you.

I’ve seen every episode of Sex and the City and I’m not ashamed to say it’s fabulous.

2. What do you want people to take away from your music?

Even when music’s straight forward there’s a lot to be left to interpretation. A song will affect each listener a little differently. I just hope my music has a lasting impact.

3. What is one of your biggest regrets?

Spending 20k on school when I could have learned it all through experience. The only value I see in that diploma is how happy it made my family. This isn’t a big regret, I don’t really have any. This is what I came up with after staring at my screen for 5 minutes with nothing to show for it.

4. What’s one of your greatest hip-hop memories?

After collaborating with Pete Rock in 2005 I had the chance to see him perform a live DJ set here in Toronto. I hadn’t spoken with him prior to the show, but decided to go check him regardless. Near the end of his set he stopped the music, got on the mic and proceeded to shout me out, telling the crowd about our collaboration. Then he played our joint (‘Imagine That’ which had only been released in Japan at the time). It was overwhelming to both see and hear my mentor showing me love like that, it was a huge honour and incredibly inspiring.

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I will be here, making music. Hopefully I’ll have a little more money in the bank, ownership of my own home and possibly a family. Who knows!

For further information on Muneshine and his music, check him out on Twitter and MySpace, as well as his URBNET artist page. You can also pick up a digital copy of his latest project Status Symbol for just under $9 here (via BandCamp).

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