Ed Dundlow A.K.A, E-LOW is making his dreams come true one beat at a time.
HC: Where did you attend school?
Ed: “I attended the J.P. Knapp Early College in Currituck, N.C. While I was there, I did two years of general education at the College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, N.C. Since graduating high school, I attended the Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology (F.I.R.S.T.) in Orlando, F.L. from 2012-2013, and graduated (on my birthday) with a certification in audio engineering.”
HC: Where is your hometown?
Ed: “I come from a town called Knotts Island. It’s a very rural, small area located on the very top of Eastern North Carolina, and is actually split on the border of North Carolina and Virginia. I went to school in Currituck, N.C., where I rode a ferry to get there, every weekday, for about 6 years. Being so close to Virginia Beach, I often found work in that area, and have a lot of friends and family in the Norfolk/Tidewater area.”
HC: What was your first experience with music like? What song/band sticks out the most to you from your childhood?
Ed: “I remember my mom told me a story of when I was about three or four years old and the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony song “Tha Crossroads” was really big on the radio. She said that I called it the “Boom Boom Song” because, I guess that was the first time I had experienced bass like that in a song. I look up to Bone Thugs a lot, technically speaking, and I think it’s safe to say that experience probably helped boost my love for them subconsciously in some way. Besides that, I grew up around a lot of different music. Country was big in my hometown, and I honestly do have a soft spot for it… especially after a few beers. Until I was about nine or 10 I listened to a lot of ‘90s-era rock bands like Nirvana, Sublime, Rage Against The Machine, etc. Hip hop has always been my favorite, though. I love beats. I love lyrical wordplay and storytelling. Once my young-self found the works of artists like 2pac, Tech N9ne, and Jay-Z, I was addicted forever.”
HC: Where did the name “Rhythmic Intelligence” come from?
Ed: “I have been a writer since I was at least 10. When I was 15 I started writing actual raps with my cousin. We formed a group called ‘Rhythmic Intelligence Over Taking (R.I.O.T.)’ because I have always had political/spiritual undertones and high energy in my music. Once I started taking music seriously at the age of 18, and wanted to establish a name for a brand, the first thing I thought of was “Rhythmic Intelligence,” of course. “E-LOW” is just the combination of the first letter of my first name (Ed), and the last three letters of my last name (Dundlow).”
HC: When did you begin experimenting with different beats/technical/electronic music?
Ed: “I began making instrumentals when I was 18, while attending F.I.R.S.T. Instantly, I fell in love with the whole process of composing songs. I was told by several teachers of mine that I had a very unique ear. Editing, for me, has been a breeze since the start because I am a perfectionist and love to work meticulously. Making beats is my favorite thing to do to pass the time and I love to experiment with new styles and sounds.”
HC: When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in the music industry?
Ed: “My entire life, I have wanted to give something to the world that was undeniably great. I feel like no one looks at the world the way that I do, as cliche as that may sound. I think the first moments of realization, where I finally realized I wanted to do music as a career, was when I attended F.I.R.S.T., for Music Production, in the Fall of 2012. Stepping into the studio for the first time felt like home, and behind the boards I felt extremely comfortable, even when I didn’t really know how any of the equipment worked. As I learned the ins-and-outs of sound, music production, and the industry itself, I felt myself falling more and more in love with the idea of making this a full-time job. Although it hasn’t quite gotten to that point, I feel it’s only a matter of time, especially in the era we live in, that will I succeed in making it happen.”
HC: What can listeners expect to hear from the music you make? (What message/feel are you hoping to get across to your listeners?)
Ed: “They can expect to hear the unexpected. I like to surprise my audience, and I don’t mind going out of my comfort zone. If the music speaks to me, I will do it the way I think it should be done. I have no limits when it comes to genres or styles, and try to infuse as many different sounds as possible into my work. My goal is to make Rhythmic Intelligence a universal source for all different types of music.”
HC: Describe your music in three or four words (genre, mood, tone, etc.):
Ed: “Authentic, independent art.”
HC: Musically, who inspires you the most? (This can be another artist, family member, religious figure, etc.)
Ed: “Life inspires me. Music inspires me. Society and politics inspire me. My family and friends definitely inspire me. I draw inspiration from a lot of sources, which is why I rarely ever get writers block. I don’t exactly believe in a religion, but if there is a higher power, I thank them for that blessing. I always have a subject to talk about, someone to talk to, or something to say to, and/or about this world. As far as who inspires the mold of this independent record label, I have to give a big thanks to labels like Rhymesayers, Suburban Noise, Funk Volume, and Strange Music, for proving that you don’t need to sign to a major label to succeed. I’ve personally watched the career of Tech N9ne explode over the past 10 years, and seeing him do it completely independent, while continuing to release high-quality work, is only something that I can hope to accomplish in my career.”
HC: What do you think your “biggest break” or “greatest opportunity” has been so far in your musical career?
Ed: “I don’t think I have had what many would call a ‘break’ yet. I do, however, believe that living in this time, where the internet can be used as a helpful tool in this industry, that I am very fortunate to have several platforms to use to my advantage and release my music on a global scale. That is the biggest advantage for artists in this era. I plan to use my resources to my full advantage, so it’s only a matter of time before something great comes of this.”
HC: What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Ed: “My biggest challenge thus far has been my internal battle with self-consciousness and anxiety. It’s hard for me to perform in front of people, especially knowing that what I am doing is so different from the norm. Finding my voice was a challenge for a long time, as well. I feel more comfortable recording as time goes by, but sometimes I get stuck in my head. When that happens, I will take a break from music to recollect myself. It doesn’t last very long, but when I am really stressing over a project, it becomes more frequent.”
HC: Have you ever entered a talent contest, or auditioned for a talent show (“The Voice,” “American Idol,” “X Factor,” etc.) of any kind? If not, have you ever thought of doing so?
Ed: “I have entered a few contests on the internet, for fun, but nothing too serious. I love shows like “American Idol” and “X Factor,” but I just don’t see myself doing that. I’m more comfortable creating the music that I make on my own terms. I feel like the end-goal of a lot of those shows is to be signed to a record label, and that’s not a road I really want to take, personally.”
HC: What does your five-year plan entail? What are your goals, and where do you hope to be?
Ed: “I want to register copyrights/trademarks for all of the work/images that I put out under this label. Within five years I want to add one or two other artists to Rhythmic Intelligence. I want to fund a tourand create merchandise for us, as well. I am laying the foundation for my own live set with my two all-original projects, the MC² EP, and my most recently released EP, E. I also have a pretty stacked back-catalog of beats that I am planning on using for myself, and other artists in the future. The main goal, for me, is to just stay focused on grinding as hard as possible, for as long as possible. By being consistent and putting out quality work, I feel that everything will come to fruition in time.”
HC: Tell me about any collaborations you’ve been working on:
Ed: “I was the only person who worked on my first EP, and that includes production. With my latest EP, I introduced my cousin, Raza Blade, on the song “PSYCHOTIC”, and plan on producing a project with him in the near future. As far as other collaborations, I have a few names in mind for my next project, but you’ll have to wait and see who I work with.”
HC: Have you been involved in any type of benefit performances or fundraiser performances/events? If so, what was it and how did you become involved?
Ed: “I have not, but I would definitely love to be a part of anything for a good cause. Especially if I could help by using my music.”
HC: What is next? Are you currently working on something?
Ed: “I just released my second self-produced EP, E, on Halloween of 2016. I am constantly working on music, and plan on releasing another project sooner rather than later. I’m thinking May, around my birthday, would be a good time!”
HC: What would you say is your favorite part of being in the music industry?
Ed: “My favorite part of the music industry is being able to have a platform to express myself and connect with other artists. Music is a universal media that can bring different people together in so many ways. It’s a beautiful art form.”
“My least favorite thing about this industry, however, is how corporate it is. Ninety percent of our media is run by the same six companies, leaving little room for independent artists, like myself, and so many others, to shine on major media outlets. One of the goals of my career is to remain independent and still manage to break the glass ceiling into the mainstream.”
HC: Who is Raza Blade? How long have the two of you been working together?
Ed: “Eddie Allen A.K.A. ‘Raza Blade’ is my cousin that I first started rapping with when I was a teenager. We plan on getting his project out as soon as possible. He lives back at home in North Carolina, while I am currently living in Gainesville, F.L., so recording his music hasn’t been something conceivable at this point. By this year, the world will know about the oh-so-mysterious Raza Blade, though. Don’t even worry!”
HC: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
Ed:”Both of my self-produced EP’s, MC² and E, are available to stream on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, SoundCloud, and BandCamp! Follow me on social media, and use the hashtag #RHYTHMICINTELLIGENCE to spread the word!”
Follow Ed on Facebook and Twitter; find his music on Sound Cloud.