Life & Work with Corin Liall Douieb AKA The Last Skeptik of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corin Liall Douieb AKA The Last Skeptik.

Hi Corin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started off making music when I was about 11, and through my many tumultuous years I’ve ridden the wave between being a rapper, music producer, touring and club DJ and now actor and screenwriter. Being a multi-hyphenate used to be seen as proper cringe, but I think at my grand old age I’m starting to realize there really arn’t any rules when you feel like being creative is therapy and a desperate need. There isn’t a choice when you feel like you have to do it, or just not exist. Sounds dramatic, and mostly because it is. I was born and raised in Finsbury Park, North London and now live in L.A – mainly for the sunshine and tacos, partially because I grew up listening to exclusively West Coast rap, and a little bit because the grass is literally and metaphorically greener always.

The very beginning of it all I wrote lyrics because I bloody loved 2pac. Then beats from Dr Dre, DJ Quik, Daz and Battlecat made me want to experiment with how the hell to do what they did. I spent years DJing around the world in sweaty clubs and at festivals, producing music for other artists, bands, singers, and commercials and theatre, supporting everyone from 2Chainz, Childish Gambino and Damon Albarn to Charli XCX on US Tour. I was making bonkers instrumental music featuring incredible musicians and i loved it. My stage show was a mini orchestra, but it wasn’t quite working. Then in 2019 I decided to just rap. I had too much to say. It was then that things made sense to me, and I think things clicked for my audience too. Millions of streams on my break-up album ‘See you In the Next Life’ came from pivoting and taking a big, painful swing. And now I am doing another big, painful swing – and entering the world of film. There is probably some more inspirational pithy things to say, but I’ll get in to that later

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think any road that is worth anything is smooth. It’s the hardest pill to swallow when it comes to learning. No decision I’ve ever made has come from a place of peace – which is a shame – but I think my real interest is untangling and making sense of the various traumas I’ve experienced in life. I know the question is about career and creativitry, but I feel like they are so intrinsicly intertwined. Every single bump in the road, side road turn off, roadworks, random moose stepping in the way, and ice across the path has caused a detour – and I think the more I get deeper in to writing, the more I realize that the detours are the interesting bits. They are where the real gold is found. The strange adventures where you do something you never dreamed, and because of that you enter a room you didn’t even think had a door.

with regards to specific struggles – I think being able to just be creative is a great privilege, so I cannot complain. But being of working class descent, with an Arabic last name, Irish first name, not a nepo baby – I can definitely say everything I have done has come from sheer brutish determinism. And that means I’ve had more “no’s” than you can imagine. And even more than “no’s” i’ve just been ignored – by industry, by peers. And honestly, I used to be more agressive about my response to it. Now I’ve just learnt that if you come to it from a place that you are doing this because you literally have no other choice – and accept that – then you can’t really lose. You can take as many No’s as they’ll give ya.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At this stage I think I’m most known for my music. I had a big song called ‘I Like That’ that has hit nearly 4 Million streams indepdently, I’m very proud of it. A lot of folks have heard my Thanks For Trying Podcast which has had guests like Taika Waititi, Ed Skrein, Asim Chaudhry, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Sinead Harnett and many more. And a lotta people worldwide know me as that bald guy that makes you shout along to Too Short Blow The Whistle at a party when im djing.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My good friends Ed Skrein and Doc Brown have consistently inspired, encouraged and boosted me along the way, I wouldn’t be here without their voices in my head when I’m doubting myself. My pal Complexion consistently calms and boosts me when I need it. And ofcourse my family for not thinking I’m an absolute *d**t for rapping or writing about my feelings as a career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tinyromances.com
• Instagram: thelastskeptik
• Twitter: thelastskeptik
• Youtube: TFTRecords

Image Credits
Jeff Lawrence
Nimbo Prime