Walrus the Human "Andretti" review
Beautifully flawed and a party in every track; Walrus the Human’s project “Andretti” gives high energy, in-your-face instrumentals that are married with even higher energy and animated vocal performances from the B&E- based artist. Walrus the Human shows his vocal range in “Andretti” with not only having intense, fast-paced flows and stacked rhyme schemes, he also shows off his skills in harmonizing and singing deranged, but creamy bridges, choruses, and backing tracks throughout the album. “Andretti” mirrors what it’s like to be an unhinged emcee trying to eat their fill.
“Andretti” comes out swinging with the title track; the chaotic instrumental burst through after the first few measures of rattling percussion that perfectly embodies the chorus, “welcome to the show.” “Andretti” is one of my favorites on the project with some of the most flexing bars from Walrus just introducing himself and the album. There’s many lines on this track worth mentioning, but a few of my favorites are: “These rappers remedial, I eat em’ like cereal-- Cheerios/ Saying I don’t got it is like saying that a cheetahs slow,” and the line that slyly explains the album name, “I don’t think they ready, Andretti on the track.”
The next three tracks keep the momentum going, especially “Gimmicks,” and “Pompeii.” “Gimmicks” gives a spacious guitar riff and drums that remind me of 2011 Ant of Atmosphere. “Pompeii” stills keeps the fast pace, but it provides more conscious bars about being an artist and how Walrus and his crew rep at their shows. Some of my favorite lines come from this joint like, “Going any slower is the wrong pace,” and “Been to hell and back like I’m Dante.”
With the thick of “Andretti” comes a change of pace and mood with the track “Idiot.” Walrus takes an introspective route on this track singing his sorrow about a former lover leaving. The raw emotion Walrus gives encapsulates what it feels like to not receive love in return: “Just an idiot.”
This change of speed doesn’t last long with “Saturn” throwing us back to the party. This experimental and aptly spacey track is my favorite instrumental on the project. The track “Jankins” hosts a feature from B&E label mate Skydro. Walrus and Skydro double team the the dark -piano-sampled-trap-drum influenced banger. The second to last track “Misty” is my favorite track on the album. This track combines two of life’s best things: Sex and Pokemon. Walrus uses Pokemon word play to tell a story of a sexual encounter. Every line cracks me up; one example being “I wanna Gravler, handle her/ had to get up in that Magikcarp make her Squirtle.”
“Andretti” ends as powerful as it begins with “Annubis” (which features Konsept the Emcee) following the formula of a party in every track. Walrus gives a project full of tracks that are not only fun, but also fortifying the skill and passion this B&E emcee brings to the table.
(Melodic Noise) How’s your day going?
(Walrus the Human) Going pretty good, Got to sleep in. Had a show last night; Minnerapolis. Shout out to Logan Michaels for that.
(MN) Name?
(WtH) Walrus the Human AKA David Overstad.
(MN) Members?
(WtH) Walrus is just me. Before it was just Walrus, I/O and I had a group, still do, but we have our own solo stuff now. He’s one of three producers in B&E and mixes all his own solo stuff. Very talented artist.
(MN) What is your origin story?
(WtH) I was making music for a lot of years, then I started to do more hip hop, more rapping and what not. It was the next stuff in lyricism for me, honestly. I didn’t have name, and we had a show coming up in like a week and we need something for the flyer. I was drunk at Evan’s place stumbling around knocking shit over and he shouted, “YA BIG DUMB WALRUS!” Papa Squat helped me add “the human” layer.
(MN) Are you a Walrus Expert too?
(Wth) No. Not at all.
(MN) Genre/Sound?
(WtH) It’s just me. I have a lot of grunge influence especially from 93X and the early 2000’s. I started making music in Punk and Metal band. I’m a big Alice n’ Chains fan which was my first inspiration to get into a band.
(MN) Label?
(WtH) B&E. We produce, record, mix, master, make beats for all our members. We have producers, rappers, hosts, people to shoot videos. Hit us up if you need recording by the way.
(MN) Let’s talk about “Andretti.” How’d it start?
(WtH) ”Andretti” started on house arrest. Last summer I had thirty days. I couldn’t go out buying anything, so I just bought a really cheap studio set-up and started mapping out my verses I had and the beats in the B&E drop box, and “Andretti” started coming together.
(MN) Tell me about Church. What is it?
(WtH) A lot of people get confused when I talk about church like, “Church on a Monday? Is it AA?” *Chuckles* But, we have a lot of artists and it’s good to keep everything organized. So every Monday we meet up and discuss projects, upcoming shows, go over sets, ect. We all just together and collaborate.
(MN) How many beers have you had since the interview started?
(WtH) Counting this one I just cracked? Three.
(MN) What stands out on the album, did you go in a new direction with the “Andretti?”
(WtH) No, it’s just me evolving as an artist.
(MN) Like a Polished Walrus?
(WtH) Like a Polished Walrus… A Polish Walrus?
(MN) What do you hope people take away from the Album?
(WtH) Human experience. I try to incorporate elements of human existence. I try to capture life… And honestly it’s just therapy for me. I want as many people to hear it as possible, but in the end I made for me.
(MN) Is there something that connects the songs together?
(WtH) I pieced it together as i went, but then I rearranged it to become more of an experience. [All the tracks] mirror some things in my life. Basically, if I can help people-- that’s the cream dream, baby.
(MN) Where are you from?
(WtH) Well I swam out of the Pacifc. That was about 83-84 years ago, then I met a man named Hitori and he taught me how to crap blood… I don’t know where I’m going this; I grew up in Stillwater. Live in New Brighton now.
(MN) Influences?
(WtH) A lot of artists like I said earlier. A whole melting pot of different artists; Jurassic 5, Tech N9ne, Immortal Technique, Prof, Atmosphere. Busy Bonez specifically.
(MN) Favorite Twin Cities Artists?
(WtH) Nur-D, Carnage the Executioner, Ackronem, Logan Micheals, Capaciti, Early Birds, Mookie the Magician.
(MN) Favorite Venues in the Twin Cities?
(WtH) Part Wolf, where we played out last show. Palmers, Ziggys in Stillwater. I’d love to do 7th St/ 1st Ave.
(MN) What do fans expect when they come to a show?
(WtH) Not what they expect now. Promise you that.
(MN) Craziest memory playing a show?
(WtH) When I accidentally smoked mushrooms before my set. I thought it was a bowl of weed. It was a dark car.
(MN) How’d you perform?
(WtH) Not that bad from what I remember. Definitely felt a little weird.
(MN) Dream tourmates?
(WtH) Carnage the Executioner, the B&E crew for sure, Mosiris, formally Uncle Slump.
(MN) Do you have other hobbies?
(WtH) Been trying to figure that out. Lately I’ve been watching a lot of Star Trek.
(MN) Favorite Part about living in the Twin Cities?
(WtH) It’s not so small. Everything is around. Not the same old townies anymore. It’s a lot bigger world.
(MN) Favorite place to eat in the Twin Cities?
(WtH) I haven’t eaten too much around the Twin Cities, but one of my favorite places to eat is Phil’s Tara Hideaway in Stillwater. Best prime rib I’ve ever had.
(MN) Day job?
(WtH) I cook at a country club so I’m around the rich white people all day wondering why they spend their money this way.
(MN) Plans for the future?
(WtH) Just put all the time I can to make music and record before it’s too late.
You can catch Walrus the Human’s album release show tonight at Can Can Wonderland, along with Minnesota Cold, EssJay TheAfrocentricRatchet, Intelligent Design, Bonaphide, and Prime & PM.