Gathered friends, welcome to another post by the Le-Koro Band!

Another week, another single and interview!

This week, while taking a walk through the arts district of Atero Nui, we came across Prunkaeilli, who was performing a BIONICLE^®-inspired protest-rap, “Betrayed,” from the second Ide’s Journey album to a group of disgruntled Agori and Matoran. The song is about how the Council of Atero Nui weren’t protecting their citizens properly, letting individuals go missing for no reason.

We were able to catch up with him after the demonstration to ask about his musical influences, the power of rap, and what makes good lyrics so hard to write.

So, gathered friends, and honored guest…

What’s the origin of your pseudonym?

It was a nickname I got in college. It started from friends intentionally mispronouncing my last name as a joke and it just spiraled from there.

When was your first introduction to the world of BIONICLE^®?

I had some Bionicles as a kid but I wasn’t aware of the story and comics etc. It was my friend Marcus that got me into the project and up to speed on some of the history.

How did you begin making music? How did you learn and develop your skills?

In high school I had a friend who was very good at freestyle rapping. We would hang out and play old school (90s) rap beats and have fun freestyling. I wasn’t very good at first but there was no pressure around friends so lots of practice led me to getting better. In college I had some friends that would make beats and I started trying to write lyrics. The rest is history, I kept at it and got better through practice and just making songs.

Who are some of your musical influences?

The influences that got me into rap were legends, we listened to all sorts of rap growing up. Biggie Smalls, Wu Tang Clan, Lil’ Wayne. Recently I’d say my biggest inspirations are MF DOOM and Kenny Mason. I think they are incredible and embody the spirit of getting creative with rap music.

It seems like there are so many different styles of rap out there, each based on the cadence and tone of the singer! Who are some of your favorites and why do you think their style sounds so good?

Similar to the last answer but MF DOOM is amazing not only for his rap but the sort of story and mystique he’s created around himself. On first listen his style may sound a bit grating to some, but for those who listen to rap or have tried writing songs you start to realize how incredible he is. I like when artists try to be unique and carve out their own style, be it the lyrics or rhythm.

Does rap have a particular form? Like, in classic rock there’s, “verse verse chorus verse chorus (bridge?) chorus.” Is there something similar for rap, or is it more freeform?

Many artists have a form they like, lots of rappers choose to approach it in different ways. I am kind of a purist and haven’t used many hooks in my songs, but I’m starting to realize the power of a simple chorus lately. It keeps listeners engaged.

What power does rap have as a music genre that might not exist in other genres? 

I think the sheer amount of lyrics said in one song is a blessing and a curse. It allows you to tell a full story or achieve a complex narrative, but requires a lot of effort in return.

Pivoting over to the song, “Betrayed,” what’s your process behind writing hip-hop/rap music? What’s the first step?

The first step for me is always finding a beat that I like and feel like I can rap over. I sort of mumble some different flows and ways I can rap on it then try to add lyrics to it. It’s kind of like beating your head against a wall until you break through lol.

What makes a good “beat” for hip-hop/rap? How do you find your beats?

There’s such a wide variety of beats in rap I think it depends on a persons style. I like more of a boom bap or lofi style beat with lots of instruments. But it’s just a personal preference. I listen to hundreds if not thousands of beats on YouTube haha, that’s usually how I find them.

What is the most difficult part of writing lyrics? What’s the easiest? Can you give an example from the song?

To me finding the flow or rhythm is the easiest part. The difficult part is definitely finding words that rhyme and are relevant to what you are trying to say. 

What makes good lyrics, in your opinion? Is it purely rhythm, rhyme, also telling a story?

When I started rapping I thought being clever and metaphors were the most important part. Many artists are witty and have good double entendres or play with words. More recently I’ve just been focused on having the lyrics sound good and not trying to force anything. 

What are some of your other songs that you’re most proud of?

I think New Man and Tanuki Dice are my favorites that I’ve made. Just felt very free rapping on those beats and I think the final products sound how I envisioned them, which doesn’t usually happen.

What other talents do you have besides making music?

I don’t know if I’m even talented at making music, but I enjoy playing golf, video games and working in the lab.

Do you think you’d collaborate with the Le-Koro Band again?

Absolutely, I’d love to.

Thanks again for sharing your creativity with us! What’s next for you, individually?

Time to finish this PhD.

Hell yeah. Best of luck to you! And thanks again for adding some (more?) good rap to Bionicle’s repertoire. You can listen to more of Prunkaeilli’s music on soundcloud: (https://soundcloud.com/prunkaeilli)

‘Till next time, fight the power!

If you’d like to join the band, follow the linktree below (https://linktr.ee/lekoroband), and feel free to reach out to chat in the comments, or wherever you find us!

Tune in next time for another single release and the next episode of “Tree Talks!”

–Sanso