Spek’s journey is a hip-hop fairy tale with a global twist. Raised in Montreal’s east end, he joined the group Dream Warriors as a teenager, just as their jazz-infused hits, “My Definition” and “Wash Your Face in My Sink”, were shaking up the scene. After signing a record deal and spending time on tour, Spek shifted his focus to building the music industry in new territories. In 2011, he founded PopArabia, a company that played a key role in reshaping music rights in the Middle East. Now based in the UAE, he continues to bridge cultures and industries across emerging markets worldwide. His new album Voo Doo Kid is set to release June 25, 2025.
What’s your favourite part of the songwriting process?
All of it. Being in the studio with Brian – who I co-wrote and produced my upcoming album Voo Doo Kid with is my go-to happy place. Brian and I also produced my debut solo album Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff together. These days, when I’m writing, I really try to step away from anything else, so I can fully focus on the creative process, and experimenting musically. To find out what you’re creating exactly and throw yourself into the process. I don’t have a typical “sound”, I try to incorporate disparate musical influences in my hip hop sound, so every song is an exploration of influences to some extent. That’s the fun part.
What’s your biggest session highlight so far?
I wouldn’t say there is one specific session that stands out. In order to have the time to dedicate to some creative work I’ve begun booking days or a week off here or there with friends to make music and record. Last year, I spent a week making music with my bestie Kinnie Starr, and we ended up making a collab album together that we are just putting the finishing touches on. That’s a real source of inspiration and fun and I can’t wait for people to hear this sort of ramshackle old school hippie hip hop record we made. That should drop by end of year or early new year!
How much do current market and track trends impact your creative process?
Current market trends don’t feed into my creative process other than perhaps in the organic ways new music may inspire you. I haven’t made music that sounds especially contemporary for many years, maybe since I was putting records out with the Dream Warriors. Ever since I started putting music out solo, it’s been rather musically adventurous and thus – by definition – not chasing current market sounds and trends. My favourite era of hip hop saw all my favourite artists experiment with sounds and feeling quite dusty and dirty. I try to bring that to any new music I make.
Listen to Spek on Amazon Music, Apple Music or Spotify.
