MDL CHLD is a truly unique artist. I met him at B side lounge's open mic on a Wednesday night. B side is probably my favourite open mic to attend. The sound in the bar is amazing and the people are so nice. MDL CHLD is a rap artist who does sign language while he performs. The result is truly beautiful. He is passionate about making music and art accessible for the deaf community. Here is my interview with Chris aka MDL CHLD.
MdlChld [00:00:01] So my name is Chris Corsini and my sign name is that and my artist name is middle child spelt M D L C H L D and I was born in Hamilton but I grew up in Landcaster with my family there just like an hour west of the city.
Elke [00:00:21] How does the music scene there compare to in Toronto?
MdlChld [00:00:28] I really I don't think there is a music scene there.
MdlChld [00:00:32] I typically would go to like Hamilton where they would have like more like clubs or like concert like halls and we would be like involved in that. Watching like shows but really growing up I focused more on actual theater like stage, I did a lot of like competitive dancing and stuff like that. So that was more like my artistic outlet and then music didn't happen until I actually moved to Toronto when I got into it. So comparably, I would say like in Lancaster there's really no music scene or anything like that, really. Yeah families and stuff.
Elke [00:01:08] How would you describe your style?
MdlChld [00:01:15] A few people asked me that before and I really don't know how to answer that because I'm just sort of like a product of my environment like growing up my brother would listen to like Jay-Z and like Biggie and stuff like that really like 90's like rap hip-hop and then my dad was more focused on like that sort of like dance I'm trying to think like you do you, This might date me a bit but there's a song that was like dee dee da da da dum dum da da da da da da da da. So that's sort of like dance style music is involved and then it's like mixed with like rap and hip hop but then I'm also like gay so I have like sort of a sassy like. I don't know, gay vibe to it. That is mixed with like the darkness of like D entword from like South Africa. If you know who that band is D entword I like really unique and sort of like dark rappy dancy. So like my style is a mix of like Eminem meets Britney Spears meets like dance gay like Beyonce. I don't know it's like a mix. but then I rap right and I'm signing. So like a lot going on. Yeah.
Elke [00:02:40] Tell me about what you're signing. What inspired you to do that?
MdlChld [00:02:45] I started using sign language in high school because they had four deaf students and like their interpreter set up a sign language club. So my friend was like oh we should join. We can like cheat on task and life like talk shit and like no one will know and I was like I'm down so I joined. And then I picked it up really fast and their interpreter was like oh my god like what are you doing after high school. And I was like oh I don't know. So they told me about George Brown and then I applied. There's a screening process and I'm a man and there's like really not a lot of male interpreters. So they sort of like accepted me. I obviously had like potential to grow into like a good interpreter and like now I am like a good interpreter. But at that time it was sort of them just being like. I think there's something here. So they let me into the program and then I started studying that for four years and graduated and then sign language just like involved in everything really since then. But yeah the signing just started in like high school just happened.
Elke [00:03:47] What is your experience with the language as someone who can hear as well?
MdlChld [00:03:56] Yeah really now I feel like eight years it's like being really involved in the community and like figuring out like how they do things and like their approach and their culture and like the actual structure of the language is totally different. So now knowing what I know and by no means am I like an expert but like I really do have a good really good grasp on the language and it's beautiful just in comparison because like ESL is all like 3D spatial structure concepts that you're referencing. It's like you're painting this picture visually in front of you with the space you're using whereas English is very like he went to the store like. ASL Looks like like boy you like set him up so like if it was a man. Man there and then like that person so man go to the store. And then like touch finish or something which would be like that guy went to the store and he's done. Like. So I'm I like the creative aspect of the language because like growing up dancing and I'm Italian so I like gesture a lot and I just like I'm a super creative person that like using their language now when you're communicating is really like painting this visual representation of something as opposed to just being like following a structure of the word order. So it's just a creative outlet too which is really nice to see once you've clicked into like how to think like a deaf person and how to experience their language and of course like I'm hearing so my perspective will never like match theirs perfectly but like now that I've like socialized with them so often and included them in my projects and so many things I've just been so exposed to like so much that now when I, what I'm signing like I think I think my brain processes like theirs in a sense where like I don't have to think anymore. Oh say boy first and then the store and then you go you know I mean it's just like store boy go store or whatever. That might been a wrong example but you know what I mean it's like my brain is like wired to just present it like that now and I really enjoyed the idea of like their language and not having so many like limitations and rules and like their poetry is beautiful because you can just like like it can be a bird and that bird can fly just by like like this is the sign for bird you can sign a bird and then like the bird chirps and like dissipates or so you know what I mean like they don't have that sentence phrasing so you have to like show that sort of bird can like chirp and I can become like a dark sky and then the sun can come up to be like it can be this beautiful motion like. You don't even have words that match that concept. But as a deaf person or another person who understands ASL they're going to watch that and be like Oh my God I was beautiful like the bird chirps and then it was dark and then like the moon came up so like oh obviously it's like night and the bird just went to bed or something you know to me it's like this really expressive playful language and I think that's why I was so. That's why I was so drawn to it immediately. And then there's just a creative. Like worked right into it. You can express yourself through movement which is really cool.
Elke [00:07:20] And how does it feel to be speaking two languages at once?
MdlChld [00:07:24] So yeah like Sim coming. Like trying to speak English and sign at the same time is not bad. What I do personally is try to like sign properly with their like proper structure and syntax and everything like that can be a little bit confusing because of that person watching English like on the hands come out in English word order is not going to be as clear as like their language should be set up. Like I would never say store go to a store. Yeah I mean but I wouldn't want to say I want to go to the store because they don't use like two that they don't use those I think those prepositions they're called. They don't use those they are just like store go. So what I'm saying to you like oh I want to go to the store but I'm signing I want to go to the store. I actually just signed store go want which is proper the proper language structure for them and they would immediately understand store go wan English I have to say I want to go to the store. I enjoy challenging myself to leg wrap while signing and hope that like both languages and both people are totally understanding and although it's being presented in two separate forms simultaneously accurately like there's a lot going on.
Elke [00:08:50] So cool.
MdlChld [00:08:53] Yeah. And then on top of that you're like in front of the crowd of people watching you while you're rapping. So it's like I'm rapping. It's a lot. There's a lot going on. Yeah. Which is why I always include other deaf performers and artists because like for my pride Show that I did I was in the centre stage like rapping while signing but then I have two other deaf performers on either side of the stage and they're just signing.
Elke [00:09:16] Right.
MdlChld [00:09:17] And then while they're signing I have an interpreter a hearing interpreter in the crowd so that they have a reference so they can see that they're on time with what I'm so I'm rapping because we're all facing the same direction right. So I rap facing forward an interpreter It's interpreting what I'm rapping into sign language. Facing the stage. So my deaf performers know where I'm at in the song so they can then express in their own native language and their own art form what they're understanding my art form to be in a different language right. So like deaf people watch me and have this connection with the artist while I'm like rapping and signing and I like that's my language or my language and he like really understands it and that's awesome. And there's like this connection there. But then if there's like something that's not really clear because I'm doing like so much processing I have two deaf people on either side of me that they can be like oh well they're peripherally catching the real ASL and piecing it all together and then behind me my dancers are also dancing with like ASL movement. They're like wait that's like like I'll teach him a whole sentence. And they just think it's choreography. They don't even have to wrap their logical mind around trying to reverse the language they just do the movements. But it's like totally sign language that's accessible. So it's like I have a deaf coach who comes in and helps me. Choreograph with my lead dancer. So yeah it's cool. There's a lot going on and there's a lot of layers to it but like at the end of it it's like this super accessible showcase that is like so seamlessly integrated into like such an incredible experience for both like hearing and deaf people. And like deaf people have never had that before which is why I feel so special and so honoured to be able to give that to them because like I've interpreted like panic at the disco, Jay-Z concerts. And while I'm interpreting these concerts I'm like off to the left and Jay-Z on stage. So they're sitting here watching the interpreter because they want to see what the lyrics are and really get that English in their own language for possibly the first time ever but there's a disconnect because they're going they're playing like a tennis game with their head they're like interpreter, Jay-Z, interpreter, Jay-Z. So with me for the first time ever like a deaf person can look at a hearing performing artist who also understands how to communicate fully with them. So it's just seamless for them to like watch this artist and have access to the same entertainment that the rest of the hearing world has access to but not through an interpreter through the actual artist. Now hearing people are paying attention to deaf people because there's a hearing person that's really and I work now with another deaf super talented videographer named Alexa. And the two of us created this company called We move music. Basically interpret music into sign language through dance and eventually like Beyoncé or pink or somebody is going to see this and be like. I can create an entirely accessible showcase by just including these people in the process of choreographing my dancers. So like bring in like me and my deaf team of like two people and we work with like. Beyonce's choreographer and now Beyonce's entire concert and North American tour is fully accessible to the deaf community just by her dancers interpreting the music and the Beyonce being there performing as herself. And then it's like you don't need interpreters on stage you don't need people looking back and forth. They're not missing the show now they're part of the show. Like so this vision is going to blow up into this huge thing that's going to like change accessibility and showcasing music and arts and the like. We're just now sort of starting to expand which is like literally over the last two months as this all unfolded. That was like my second open mic that you saw me out type thing like this. So this is all growing in the process but that's like the vision and then all of it really.
Elke [00:13:17] That's brilliant.
MdlChld [00:13:19] And it is brilliant and I'm like so ok to accept that now. Yeah I've been so scared to like. I have this like fear of success and this fear of like well when I get there what do I do and do I deserve it? Like we all have a lot of like insecurities and childhood trauma and all the shit that we have to work through which is why like. Side note I run a meditation workshop, Reiki healing, tarot card, energy work like business that like. Then once the, Then once the accessibility feature takes off and if that takes off first then somebody on Beyonce's team will be like Wait you're also an artist like so we could do what we're doing with Beyonce's team but with you even more connected because you're actually the artist. Oh and your music is great. It's like perfect. And then once that blows up, now I have like an accessible team that's entertaining like deaf people hearing people and everybody's come together and then separate from that as I'm gaining all these fans I can be like oh go take a meditation workshop and learn how to like break through your childhood traumas that. I've learned all these techniques over the last ten years.
Elke [00:14:23] What made you finally decide to go full out with this project?
MdlChld [00:14:26] Because it's been so long where I've been like don't want to do this I don't want to do is I don't know how to do it and I'm just like. No one else is doing it. And really I've met a lot of people and not that nobody else can do it because we're all like unlimited. I really believe like believe that. But there's so many people that have like set up these limits within themselves and I'm like you just can't take it on you can't right now and maybe later you can. But like. I've been waiting to find this perfect person who just like is going to be able to take on these projects and expand with it and I'm like Oh. I guess I'm the person that I've been looking for. I might as well just do it myself for ones like write music for other people and stuff and I'll just.
Elke [00:15:03] Tell me about your creative process like your songwriting process.
MdlChld [00:15:09] My creative process has definitely changed over the years because a lot of the ways that I was processing just emotion at the time and you'll hear this through a lot of my music, was like either drinking or drugs or sort of that immediate fix to like escapism and then I sort of noticed that even when I was trying to like I'd get really drunk and I come home and I end up like writing music like just wasted or whatever and then I'd wake up I say Oh that sounds really good. So like that's a dangerous cycle to get caught in because you don't want to have to like drink a bottle of wine before you write a good song you know what I mean. Right. So at first it was literally like therapy like I was going through so many like really serious traumatic like experiences that just shook me and changed me as like everything I was. And in that came a lot of dependencies I feel like on like I said booze and drugs and whatever. So it was like me just sort of figuring out how to get that out and that just came out through music. And now it's more so like yeah sometimes I'll smoke a joint and like write a good song like that's cool but now it's more so just this like vibe a flag me being in the right room at the right time and just hearing something.
Elke [00:16:35] Thank you!
MdlChld [00:16:37] Thank you for listening to me ramble.
Elke [00:16:40] Here's Christian with his original song, Pretty PPL Lie. An accessible music video is coming out in June. Thank you for listening to The Underground Listener, I'm Elke Whitney.
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