Interview: Sims (of Doomtree)

By Melissa Bordeau

photo credit: prentice danner

Minneapolis-based indie hip-hop collective Doomtree will be in town this Friday, December 21st to play Metro ($17, 18+, tickets here). In advance of the show, Windy City Rock had the opportunity to talk with Doomtree's Sims about their recently released album No Kings, their DVD Team the Best Team and their favorite pizza place in Chicago.

“Doomtree Bangarang, all these rappers sound the same, beats? sound the same, raps? sound the same,” goes part of the chorus of "Bangarang" off No Kings. Doomtree’s influential verses and their perfect blend of pulsating and sinister beats make them a group unique from other rappers on the scene. Each of the seven members--Sims, Dessa, Cecil Otter, Paper Tiger, Mike Mictlan, P.O.S., and Lazerbeak--is also a solo artist, making their own music and playing their own shows, but the individuals always manage to make time for Doomtree. One has to wonder what the creative process is when the seven strong individuals come together to make an album. How do they manage to make everyone happy? Well, find out the answer to that question and others below and then be sure to catch Doomtree live on Friday.

WCR: Can you explain what Doomtree stands for?

Nothing Really

Well, how did you guys come up with the name?

Well, my favorite thing about P.O.S. is that he is always saying random things; it was one of the random phrases that came out of his mouth.

Your Doomtree Team the Best Team DVD was just released; what are you hoping that viewers will take away after watching the DVD?

I hope people enjoy it, find it entertaining and humorous. It’s explaining what it’s like to be an indie musician, touring all of the time--that life isn’t necessarily glamorous, but it’s fun. It’s a story about being an indie musician and how it is similar to every job--there's parts you like, parts you don’t like. If you weigh out the up and down of your job and the up is better than the down, then it’s worth it. People have an idea that being a musician kicks ass all the time.