Q&A: Anderson .Paak On Bringing Back His Paak House Event This Week

This Friday (May 12) Anderson .Paak will bring his Paak House charity event back after a year off. .Paak, and a surprise lineup of performers, will descend on the Ventura County Fairgrounds for the fifth annual show, benefiting children, arts education and other causes.

According to the organization’s website their mission statement reads in part: ” We aim to support and create initiatives that uplift, engage and support the community through access to the arts, supplemental education and unique experiences to expand the imagination.”

For .Paak, being able to hold the event again after a forced year off, and to do so at a place he grew up frequenting, is very special. I spoke with him about the events, his APES**T record label, having new artists on the bill and more.

Steve Baltin: Take us through the rising artist stage. It’s very cool you’re doing that. Because that’s brand new.

Anderson .Paak :Yes, it’s brand new. We’re always trying to do new things every time we do Paak House. And this is one I’m really excited about, just giving emerging artists opportunity to perform at Paak House on a stage where it’s finding new artists, which is one of the most exciting things about the business to me. Finding new artists, being a part of their journey and helping to break new artists, which is a big part of what I’ve been doing the last couple years with my label and getting our first artist off the ground, DOMi and JD Beck, who just got Grammy nominated last year. It’s one of the really rewarding things to be able to do is be a part of an artist coming up. We just want to share the opportunity this year and give people opportunity to see some of the new heat coming up. So, the emerging artist stage is gonna be sick.

Baltin: For you as you’ve been doing this the last couple years, are you finding that it also excites you musically because you’re seeing everything through their eyes?

.Paak: Oh yeah, for sure, man. It’s helped to be a source of inspiration for me. A lot of the artists who are a lot younger have different point of views and different people that inspire them and different ideas, and that’s what it’s all about, keeping it fresh. That’s partly why I wanted to do it. I think it’s just really rewarding and a lot of time goes into really breaking an artist and getting what the artist wants out of it. And that’s what it’s all about. And I think a lot of artists start labels and don’t have an understanding of how much time and attention that other artists need. And so they kind of fall by the wayside. And I don’t really plan on signing anyone that I feel like I don’t want to put a lot of time into helping in any way I can, providing my resources wherever I can. And artists that I’ve got to really care about it. I wouldn’t want to have anybody under me that I didn’t care too much for or I didn’t want to put any time in. And so I have an awesome crew and team as well that helps. And yeah, I guess you’re right. It can be a little selfish as well, but I think it’s really rewarding and if you have the right artist, they should inspire you and keep your career juices going.

Baltin: When was the last time you did Paak House? Because I know so many things were put on hold because of COVID.

.Paak: Yes, the last Paak House I believe was 2021. Yeah, even the last Paak House we had a lot of headliners that had to fall out because of COVID and stuff. So, we did have to take a little break and then finding a proper venue. So, we had to take maybe one year off and now we’re back on track and I think we’re gonna be bigger than ever.

Baltin: Who would be the dream artist to play Paak House?

.Paak: Oh man, my dream artist. I think a lot of them are up in heaven now. But I do have one of my dream artists that is actually gonna be performing and that will be the only hint that I’ll give. But I actually was able to lock in one of my all-time favorites for this year. And I’m super excited about that. I think it’s actually two of my all time favorites. So, yeah, this year’s gonna be super dope.

Baltin: You mentioned finding a proper venue, so talk about the venue and where you’re doing the show.

.Paak: Yes. The last venue we did was, in Oxnard. We got like Oxnard College campus, which was really awesome, to do it in the hometown. And that was our biggest one. And I think this one is gonna even be even bigger because this year we’re doing it at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, which is huge for me. That’s a place that means a lot to me growing up, every summer, going to the fair at the fairgrounds. And I feel like this is where the whole county comes every summer. So, to be able to lock in the Ventura County Fairgrounds, they were been really cool with us is amazing. And I don’t think it would’ve been possible to do it without, our partner this year, Haagen-Dazs who came through in the clutch, over half a million dollars donated. And this is gonna be the biggest Paak House because of it. And just like great music and great ice cream, happy families. It’s just gonna be great. I’m very excited about the venue.

Baltin: What’s your favorite Haagen-Dazs flavor?

.Paak: I think it’s the vanilla caramel, the new cookie comb, the butter cookie comb that they got. That and the coffee is like, it’s addicting. It’s fire, bro.

Baltin: After the year off how exciting is it to come back and do this?

.Paak: Yeah, no, it’s huge man. I’m just really proud of my city and where I come from. I just got a lot of hometown pride and a lot of people, that come from around, come from usually, and I got a lot of love for Los Angeles as well. But at the end of the day, I always rep Oxnard Ventura County and to have it at the Ventura County Fairgrounds is huge for me. And, yeah, like you said, there’s always something that happens, but I’m glad that we were able to get past it. It’s been a tough couple of years. But I think that’s one is gonna be super dope where everybody is fully can be outside and, we’re getting closer and closer back to normality. So this is gonna be awesome.

Baltin: If there was one person who would’ve put on something similar to Paak House, for you as a kid, who would’ve been the dream person to go see do an event like this?

.Paak: When I was youngster it would’ve been like Snoop and Dre, 2Pac, Ice Cube. It would’ve been like Pharrell, NERD, Jay-Z like the whole Rockefeller, Biggie. Yeah, it would’ve been something along that lines for sure. Coming up. Of course like, I would’ve loved, my folks were old school, Earth, Wind & Fire, Frankie Beverly and Maze. So maybe a mix of something that probably would’ve been something I would’ve really enjoyed.

Baltin: What do you look for an artist you signed to APES**T? What to you makes an artist stand out?

.Paak: I like artists that are captivating and I like artists who can play instruments or they can play something and perform, like artists who are confident in what they want to do and in their brand. And I like artists who are open-minded.

Baltin: The sense of discovery is like still the thing that’s most exciting in music. When you find someone that you’re going to follow forever. Who were those last artists for you?

.Paak: I mean a couple artists that have blew my mind have been like, Yves Tumor, Fred Again, recently Rattle, Jai Paul, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Doja. Yeah, those are just a few off the top.