CONCHANCE
If I were in Omaha tonight, no doubt about it, I’d be at the Slowdown listening to Conchance perform (and according to Facebook he’s been on for about 15 minutes now). In a city where listening to the croon of indie rockers or pulsating to the currents of electronic DJs is by far the norm, Brenton M. Walstrom Gomez is leading the local hip-hop scene, opening up the city to a whole new form of entertainment…and simultaneously calling people to action. He’s notoriously known for playing late night house shows in environments where there’s no separation from friends and fans, where beer and cigarettes and sometimes even paint are all adulterating with the sweat of the crowd. Now you’re most likely to catch him on the bill of some sort of benefit show at one of Omaha’s larger venues.
I caught up with Conchance, asked him what his deal was and I’m pleased and honored to announce that this interview is the start of a brand new series, on Natural Disaster, where I’ll be interviewing up-and-coming creatives that have heart, GUTS and soul.
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Natural Disaster: The first couple times I met you…you were introduced each time by different nicknames…Woozy, Uncle Conny…etc. How many nicknames do you have and how and when did you become “Conchance?”
Brenton M. Walstrom Gomez: I go by Brenton, Brent, Walstrom, Gomez, Conny, Uncle Conny, Woozy, Boom Boom, and Conchance. I started going by Conchance when I first started writing rhymes and also writing on peoples’ “stuff.” I wanted something at the time that meant something I stand for and also a name that was simple but classic — kind of corny, old school hip-hop-ish. It just stuck I guess. That was about eight years ago. Damn.
ND: How long have you been making music and who do you perform with currently?
BMWD: It started with my buddy Kento aka Klassic. We started playing with words over eight years ago. It wasn’t until about like six years ago I started doing shows around Omaha with friends like Sam Martin and Greg Elsasser. Currently I have a few people that do production for me. My friends Greg and Sam make beats, my good friend Kethro helps me out too, and my friend Johan out of L.A. makes beats for me as well. They’re all very different but beautiful people. The production goes from really low-fi beats to super-produced tracks. It is a gumbo of production. I also have a band I have been playing with for the last couple years — they go by my “Step Children.” The band includes James Maakestad, Aaron Markley, Matt Owens, Sean Pratt, Robert Cook, Daniel Ocanto and Willie Karpf. I have three DJs I rely on to do all my shows, depending on their schedules, and they are Really Real, Nater and Kethro. I love all of these people dearly.
ND: You’ve always spoken about social change and you tend to support causes and participate in shows that give back in some way. What ignites that passion?
BMWG: Social change is embedded in my family. It’s embedded in my friends and their families. I try my best to incorporate as much knowledge and perspective as I can to explain my outlook of this world. My outlook sometimes can be inappropriate but at other times it can justify a situation one witnessed on the bus earlier that day. I try to touch society through all outlooks. My mother and my grandparents taught me what to see and understand.
ND: Does that also fuel the inspiration for your lyrics?
BMWG: Yep. Everything I see, I write. If something makes me angry, you will hear about it eventually through a song. I constantly take…make, my lyrics line up parallel with my life or parallel with the lives that I have witnessed living!
ND: Tell me more about your creative process?
BMWG: My creative process is my city, a city, a book, a conversation or a walk down the street. I love to experience, and the more I experience the more I can put what I’ve read, seen or imagined into words I agree with.
ND: You won an OEA award for “Best Hip-Hop” at the beginning of the year…what would you say is the present state of the hip-hop “scene” in Omaha and how do you contribute as an artist?
BMWG: I think Omaha’s rap scene is growing. We need more community here. I feel that most people want to get their 15 minutes of shine and be OUT. But, the truth is that we need to support each other and set a standard in Omaha for its word work. There are talented people here from north to south, west to east. There’s a guy here in Omaha named Josh Ginsberg and he has been setting up these shows downtown that showcase a lot of emcees and I feel that it’s super good for the city. My contribution is my words and my integrity. People who have spent time with me know that my words are a piece of me. I believe integrity’s words are science.
ND: You used to perform late night shows at Hotel Frank…how has the end of that era affected you?
BMWG: Well, I miss Hotel Frank so much. It was where we took over the world for a few hours a night. I do not know if it is the end of the era because I know that place always starts back up again. BUT, what Frankie and all the boys and girls made that place into while I was there — it was a piece of Heaven. It does bum me out not having it in my life anymore. It is really sad hearing frat dudes chanting in the palace we use to create things we loved in.
ND: Do you have any upcoming album releases or notable shows/tour dates?
BMWG: I do have an album that has been sitting stagnant for too long due to money and lack of support. It will hopefully be out by fall. Also tour…there are no dates but once the record is pressed I will be on the road. October might send me to do some shows the 7th through the 15th. I don’t know yet.
ND: If you weren’t in Omaha, where would you be?
BMWG: Denver probably, if not in a barrio in L.A. Possibly Guadalajara, Mexico as well. South America…too. Inside the earth? Maybe.
ND: Where do you ultimately hope your work will take you?
BMWG: I hope my music will make someone nod their head. I hope my music will create ambition in an ambitionless person. I have been affected by so much music. I would love if my music caused movement with people. It does not matter if the movement is social or just physical. I would prefer social but music that makes you content with riding a bus to a job that pays your bills in order to let you create, I will be content with that as well.
ND: Anything else significant that you want to say or that I should know?!
BMWG: I believe everyone in this world should read books and listen to music they enjoy. Do not sleep! Make change. There are two things is this world that are consistent. Those two things are change and death. Why waste your time sleeping when you could be bettering the people.
*Big C: Thanks for being ready for me, even if I was a year late. You're so ruthless in all ways opposite of the definition. Let me know when you’re in NYC. -XO, KFlo
Think you know someone who should be featured in this series? Leave me a comment or shoot me an email at kathflood@gmail.com. Thanks for reading.
