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Kavet The Catalyst
I was struck with anticipation and glee when I got the call to interview Sean Payne. I thought of all the jurassic analog equipment I could dabble with, the one hundred and one questions I would ask about skateboarding for major companies like Think and Enjoi, and what it was like growing up on the North Shore of O‘ahu as a skater, not a surfer.
When I called up Sean, he said he wanted to meet up at his studio in Downtown Honolulu. Bummed that I wouldn’t be able to see the house that Payne built, the first question I asked as we talked on the phone about setting up a time to meet was, “You got any machines there?” Sure enough a few weeks later as I walk into his studio I see a Roland MV 8800, Akai DPS 16 and a used skateboard deck that had been laid to rest on top of a crate of records, which he uses as a seat. Sean’s North Shore house may have been miles away, but it felt like I stepped into a quick reflection of what it would be like.
Kavet: How was it going to school in Kahuku, which was predominantly Samoan?
Sean: Oh, it’s chill. They were all super cool. The people that were the biggest dickheads, which I probably shouldn’t say […] were the surfers.
When did you first get sponsored and by who?
I think I was 15 when I met Chuck Mitsui (owner of 808 Skate) and he pretty much did everything. I rode for 808 and through that I got flowed shoes and stuff.
How did you meet Chuck?
He actually met Mako and Shringy. They were hitchhiking one time and he picked them up randomly and I guess they told him about me.
Did they know Chuck was the 808 guy?
No, they didn’t. I don’t think the shop was actually open yet, but he was about to open it and he told them he was opening a skate shop. Through Chuck I started getting other sponsors like Split Clothing. Chuck got me on Think Skateboards. One of the dudes was out here and we met up, took some photos; that’s how I got on Think.
When did you decide to move back to the mainland?
After high school, I moved back there so I could skate for Think. They told me if I move out there they would start paying me. They didn’t want to pay me in Hawai‘i ‘cause there ain’t shit to do, skating. I mean you can, but it’s hard. Everything is going on up there and it’s cheaper than flying back and forth between Hawai‘i.
Back then did you ever think about going pro or were there plans to turn you pro?
I was asked to turn pro, but I never really wanted to do it. It’s fun, but I never wanted to feel obligated, to go here and there. Traveling is fun, but it’s not like you’re on your own trip, everything is set.
Was there a point where you felt like you were over the skateboard grind?
Kind of, I rode for Enjoi after that too. It’s just hard making money skateboarding. Your job title is “independent contractor.” You have to watch all your taxes.
Do a lot of pro skaters get into tax trouble?
Some of them. That’s why a lot of them have agents and tax people. It’s hard to deal with all that
and skateboard.
So what made you come back to Hawai‘i after riding for Enjoi?
I don’t like the cold. Skating in the cold is the worst thing ever. The beach. We live right by the beach. I like to skim board. I like being in the sun and not bundling up, not freezing to death.
So you started making beats at the same time you were skating as an amateur?
It was around ‘98–‘99 skating all day and messing around with beats the rest of the time.
Did you start digging for records in the mainland?
At that time I didn’t have a record player so I would sample whatever I could get my hands on. I would sample the radio. I didn’t care. I actually would sample the radio by clicking on my sampler and later see what I got. I also sampled from tapes, too.
Word is it that you came up on some beat machines at Salvation Army, flea markets, and swap meets. How did that come about?
It started when I moved to San Jose and I was looking for furniture and a record player. We started finding stuff randomly around the city. We would start collecting stuff, “Oh this is cool,” and keep it around for a minute. Then we’d end up having too much shit so we would go to the swap meet and sell some of it. We ended up making some money at the swap meet. Then we started looking around the swap meets and that’s where I found keyboards, ADAT recorders and MPC’s.
What was the best piece of equipment you bought for cheap and ended up making money?
The Eventide effects processor for 40 bucks and sold it for $900. I found a Roland 909 at the Oakland Swap Meet for 100 bucks and sold it for $900.
Damn! That’s the come up! Big ups Sean.
ショーンペイン
元プロスケーター。10歳の頃からNorthShoreに住み高校を卒業してからスケートボードの為にカリフォルニアに引っ越した。スケート業界に不満を持ち今はNorthShoreに帰ってきている。今はヒップホップのビートを作りながらスケートボードを楽しんでいる。
