Quick Interview with D-Pro, you can catch him on twitter @DesmondPro
extra links on the bottom.
Where are you from?
I’m from, and reside, in Springfield, Missouri. Our hip-hop scene is extremely limited, unfortunately. If I stick with music through the end of college, I’d like to move to a place where I can be around like-minded people. Outside of the musical aspect, it’s a decent place to live.
How would you describe your music taste with the beats you make?
When I started out I was extremely inspired by people like Dilla, Hi-Tek, Just Blaze and the Blueprint era Kanye, so I started out doing soulful sample driven instrumentals. As I was working at getting better at that, I started making more pop inspired non sample tracks for some people I was working with. Eventually I kind of blended soul and pop together, which is what would best describe my beats today. I try to keep it fresh and switch things up as often as I can though.
What equipment do you use?
My set up is extremely basic at the moment. My beats are all made with FL 10 or Reason 5. I use a wide range of plug-ins to make up for the lack of hardware. I have a MIDI controller for composing, playing out chopped samples and triggering anything that requires automation. Lastly, I keep a condenser mic for miscellaneous purposes, mostly to add self made percussion.
How long have you been making beats?
I started making beats on a serious level in the summer of 08, my first experiences with it came earlier though. Back in the day my dad was really into DJing and would create some awesome mixes, then spend hours dubbing cassettes and distributing them to people. When you grow up around old vinyl and break beats it’s hard to not want to be involved in some way. So I signed up for band in school to get some kind of basic music knowledge and went from there.
Are you continuing your education on music?
I’m currently studying electronic media production. I have a few semesters to go before I get around to Audio Engineering and things that will directly effect my music, but in the meantime I’m learning a lot about video and radio production, which is just as interesting.
How often do you work on music?
At first my music schedule was completely unguided. I would go through consecutive days or weeks making music nonstop and then I would completely stop for weeks. That was a bad habit. I make it a rule to work on music in some form on a daily basis, whether it be by actually working on beats or just writing down ideas or searching for things to inspire me. In an average week I complete anywhere from 4-10 beats.
What other things do you like to do?
In my free time I like to get out of the house, chill with friends and connect with new people. On an average day I find myself too preoccupied to socialize outside of the internet, so it’s always nice. Every once in awhile I’ll go crate digging, nothing feels better than finding a dope sample on a random record. I also consider myself an amateur chef, so to ladies; I like long walks on the beach, I can cook and I am available
Is there a collab that you dream of?
There is no person on earth that I would like to collab with more than Elzhi. If I ever perfect the soul-inspired side of my production and get to that kind of godly level, I will personally show up at his doorstep every day with a box full of beat tapes until he accepts.
well, there you have it, check him out
http://www.facebook.com/pages/D-Pro/137053349670850
http://soundcloud.com/dprobeats
Source: dpro.bandcamp.com
Kuroisoul - Um Naw - Jazzy Hip Hop Mix PART 1 (by Bob42jh)
Our First Interview of the year with none other than Bass And Format Creator (website that just launched this year) & beat maker (some of you may have heard his beats by the name KUROISOUL)
So, kuroisoul was a name you went by in the past when you made beats, what name do you plan to go by now?
I have thought about this for a while and this will be part of an announcement I make soon on the Bass & Format website and YouTube channel.
What inspired you to make beats?
The feeling of infinite. Hip hop has that feeling when it is done right. It’s hard to put into words but that feeling is in the essence of certain tracks that could go on forever even though they might not have the most complex arrangement. They never get old no matter how many times you hear them. A great example of a producer who does this well is DJ Premier. He can take 3 or 4 sounds and make it the most addicting thing you’ve ever heard. It has always been my goal to make something at that level and I won’t rest until I do. I want at least one track on that level.
Do you remember the first hip-hop album you heard?
I don’t remember because I mainly just listened to what was on the radio or I would buy a cassette single from time to time. The first album I ever bought with my own money was Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death. Unfortunately, it was later stolen by someone.
Is there an album that you can listen to from beginning to end without skipping any tracks?
I have never done that before and I think it might be impossible for me. I constantly skip and go back and forth just to hear a certain sound as my mood changes whenever I listen to anything. If I get bored for even a second I’ll change the track. Now that I think about it, this listening behavior of mine might be something that influenced the Bass & Format music player. Before I designed the player, I had always wanted to be able to hear tracks with only a certain instrument, or style, or sound.
What equipment did you use and do you plan to experiment with any other type of equipment?
I try to use as little equipment as possible and if anything, I want to get rid of some things but I am already at probably the bare minimum. If you want to know what I use you can see a picture of it in a post I made at Bass & Format. I’m basically using a laptop with FL Studio and Cool Edit, M-Audio monitors, a Technics turntable and a Mackie mixer. I would love it if there was something that could provide the same functionality in one device because I can’t stand all of the cables under my desk.
What do you like to put out on your beats, the feeling of them?
I make all of my beats from experimenting while I am making them. I know there are some producers who say they “hear things” ahead of time as if the beat was magically created in their head - and maybe they do, who knows - but my mind doesn’t work like that. I have to experiment with the sample and figure out what I’m going to do with it. I have gotten better over the years at recognizing samples that sound good, but might just be a waste of time trying to convert to hip hop, and samples that will let me be the most creative right off the bat. I think about everything. What tone will I make the sample? What parts will I use? What BPM? Sometimes I’ll make different versions of the same beat and argue with myself about which one is better. Sometimes I will be working on something for hours and then completely change direction and make something entirely different in the end. There have been a few beats that originally started out as 6 or 7 other forms before I got to the end result. It’s tiring but when you finally get to the beat you are satisfied with and you have recognized what you’ve done… that is the time I most enjoy the feeling of making music. One thing I also like to do is pick a bunch of samples and start working with all of them back to back. I do this to test my creativity. The one that I feel is turning out the best with the most feeling is the one I pick and I forget about the other ones. My mind is very all-or-nothing, good or not, no grey area so if it isn’t good, it isn’t good. I want to be able to review my own tracks and not have to skip music in my own catalog in the end.
What was the hardest beat or set of tracks you worked on?
Those are now long gone so I can’t give out any names, but I have realized that the true difficulty usually arises when picking a sample that is too hard to convert to hip hop and not realizing it until it’s too late.
What do you enjoy the least about making beats?
Early on, when I was trying to improve my drums there are some days where I would sit listening to thousands of drum sounds from morning to night. I would spend my days off doing this because I was so frustrated about what I had for sounds at the time. I didn’t enjoy it because it was boring and tiring, but it helped me out and eventually people started to tell me my drums improved. Sometimes I would play tracks and people would ask me “What Dilla track is this?” and that’s when I knew it was worth the time to sit around all day picking drums. Also, I don’t know if other beatmakers admit it a lot, but digging is not always that fun. It’s fun when you find a great sample, but other than that there are downsides to it as well. I would procrastinate digging a lot in the past because of various reasons. Sometimes you can go hours without finding anything decent depending on how strict you are and I have only become more strict with time. Usually records are old and dusty, covered in bacteria, and it will upset your allergies or cause you to get sick.
What do you like to do for fun?
Right now the only thing I am doing for fun is working on Bass & Format with Masato Takahashi and occasionally I will go out with friends (not so much anymore), or I’ll collect Japanese dramas to watch with my girlfriend. I don’t have much time these days for anything but work, but I made it that way.
Are you currently working on anything?
I will announce that on Bass & Format soon.
How much of the Japanese culture do you take into influence on your beats? lifestyle?
It’s not something that I can judge myself musically, but from the things I have released in the past I can say it’s about 50/50. As for my lifestyle, I can call myself black because that is how the world sees me, but I am actually a very mixed person. My own personal culture has always been all over the place. I am mixed with at least 5 different nationalities, so I just learn from other people what I can and apply it to my life however I want to. I feel like we are all human beings and we can take on whatever influences we want into our life. When it comes to Japanese culture and how it influences me, I think there is a lot of influence because I have grown up in mostly Asian communities my whole life and my particular hometown has a very large Japanese community. I can remember all the way back to 1st or 2nd grade having a lot of Chinese and Japanese friends and they introduced me to all kinds of things like food, art, media, customs, etc. I actually think Chinese culture was a bigger influence on me in my elementary days and Japanese culture came towards then end all the way up until now. It was a big deal for me back then to be able to tell apart Asian cultures because I was going to schools that were 70%+ Asian and I was nearly always one of the few people of color in the school. If you messed up, you got messed up! There are times when I talk to people and they literally say to me “I feel like I am talking to an Asian person.” That has happened to me so many times. I don’t know what to say about that but I have to admit I am influenced. So yea, I wouldn’t say Japanese culture is the only culture influencing me as an individual but I can say that it is responsible for a lot of my development.
Is there anything you would like to say to someone as passionate about hip-hop as you regarding your new bass & format website?
I would tell them to join Bass & Format and do what they can to help us grow as a community. If you are truly passionate about hip hop then you will be able to see that what we are doing is real. We are going to try our best to do what seems impossible and change the industry for the better.
Links to Check out
http://bassandformat.com/
Source: youtube.com
HeadNods FLOYDCHEUNG Interview (last interview of the year!)
How long have you been making beats?
first started my proper first beats around 2 years ago, i was uploading onto youtube but it wasn’t going to well so i got souncloud around 1 and a half years ago and focused more on that, i dont think the hiphop on soundcloud was big back then, it was mostly electronic and dj sets so that was good
how did you get started or what got you inspired?
yeah i never used to listen to hiphop like i do now, i was a proper metalhead, you know all that screaming, heavy distortion and blast beats. also got into drum and bass and dubstep, you know the rave scene,and i think the two got me into dirty south beats with the electronic sounds as well as the aggressiveness of it, and from there i found that sampled oldskool hiphop sound !! dilla , 9th , pete rock, it just amazed me how you could listen to one loop over and not get bored, it didn’t make sense , i try to recreate that sampled stuff, 70s 80s soul funk jazz ,
i used to absolutely hate r&b , now i love it, its a strange thought
What did you use to make your beats on? equipment? Have you done any collaborations?
at school we’ve learned to use protools and logic, but personally i like to use reason 5
as for collabs ive done one with the boss NegroSaki ! and also hopefully an upcoming one with Nefarious whom i also dig a lot
ive done collabs with rappers also, mostly from the US such as
Jetpack Jones (Venom)
K Sparks
Mr Mannish
Young Jess
Trakz
Shamir & Nyce
Jonez Maguyva
2nd Nature
check em out ther cool
ive done some with uk and hong kong rappers aswell but nothing as big yet
wanna get a singer on my tracks sometime !!
oh so you took some school for it?
yeah we learn stuff about sound engineering, recording bands etc, microphone techniques lol kinda nerdy but its fun
what do you like to do for fun?
for fun? i really dont do a lot at the moment i used to actually go out and do things but the past year or so ive been focousing on music / networking, expanding my knowlege , watching shit on the internet lol
i like discovering new (good) music ( especially to sample ) and i fucking love video games!!!! www.minecraft.net
http://soundcloud.com/floydcheung
http://floydcheung.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/FLOYDCHEUNG
https://www.facebook.com/floydcheung
Source: soundcloud.com
Late Night Groove Session #2: Been in the Lab [Tryezz] (by Tryezz)
HeadNods Tryezz Interview
click here for his verison of jazzy hip-hop
I’ve been following your music for a while now, you have many styles, is there one in specific that you enjoy more?
Hey Wussup,
Mmm…not really. I have my phases that I go through.
It’s more about the mood and vision of the particular song. I pull from anything and
everything.
However, there are core constants that I make sure I put in every song I make, in emphasis, the groove. ;)
I see, is there any style of music you haven’t tried? One that you look forward to?
There are a few, but the reason being is that I doesn’t fit my overall style.
As far as one(s) I’m looking forward to starting…I do plan on making more Kraftwerk/Planet Rock/Egyptian Lover type tracks in the near future.
These days, I’m finding myself gravitating towards breakbeats and atmospheric type sounds (more atmospheric than usual…haha).
What got you into making music?
Well, I think it was something in born. I started playing the piano since early childhood (3 years old)….on a cheap, hand-me-down Casio SK-1.
I was fascinated with the sounds that it made. One thing led to another, and I’ve been doing it ever since.
I’ve always been a creative soul. It was just there from the beginning.
What equipment have you used?
Haha…I’ve used all kinds of keyboards and midi instruments. I’ve used FX mixers…I’ve used a guitar and bass…a lot of stuff.
However, my current setup consists only of a midi keyboard and a computer, and a recorder to record live sessions and small vocals.
Occasionally, I might use a guitar or bass. Over time, I’ve learned what my style is and what works. Sometimes, it’s best to keep it simple.
How did you come up with the name tryezz?
I actually came up with this name primarily for dancing. Back in the day (03’),
I was heavily into b-boying, and I wanted a name that would stick. I wanted a unique name that represented who I was.
So I sat in my room for a good while and came up with it.
Musically, I didn’t always call myself Tryezz.
For a good while, I was known as “The Tyrezz Project”, or “Tyrezz” (just switching the “y” and “r”). This was between 04’ and 09’.
At the time, I wanted to have separate names for everything I did. Needless to say, that got complicated.
So now…I just do everything as Tryezz….
Where are you from?
I hail from Tennessee.
However, a lot of people who live in Tennessee ask me if I’m from out of town…hah.
What do you like to do besides making music?
I like to do visual artwork (digital illustration, painting, etc.), I also dance a lot (freestyle, bboying, popping, etc.). In fact, in time, I would like to be known
just as much for the artistry and dancing as I am for the music. I also like to observe things, study different environments. I spend a great deal of time thinking…wrapped up in thought.
I also really dig those late evening and night drives…excellent for maxin’ and relaxin’.
What’s your dream car for those drives?
Any ride where the windows and air conditioning works, runs smooth, and has a good sound system. =)
Perhaps something smooth and classy, but not over the top…like a BMW.
Ahh yess.
well, there you have it, check him out on http://www.tryezz.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tryezz his artwork
http://www.facebook.com/tryezzofficial
Source: youtube.com
(that’s a teaser from his latest release from last month) you can DL it on his bandcamp http://handbook.bandcamp.com/
Thanks for your time, so you are from the uk?
heyy, yeah i am. i’m from york, in yorkshire :)
Handbook, how did you decide on that name?
I came up with the name Handbook on the spot, after previously being “known” as Part Time Wolf. I saw the name was already taken and needed a new one fast. I guess I must have seen a Handbook laying around and gone with it. Seems to have stuck pretty well!
What was your first musical inspiration?
My first musical inspiration was an odd mix. I have always been into music, and can vaguely remember being an infant and listening to techno and classic rock (my Dad has a very eclectic taste in music, all quality though :D). These were my first insights into music, and have stayed with me a long time.
What made you decide to make beats?
I decided to start making beats when I started getting into J Dilla and Free The Robots. I heard their music, and knew it was made by one person. That gave me the inspiration to start making music, and making beats. Once I saw how it could be done, I knew that I could do it.
What equipment have you used, and do you have a preference on equipment that you use?
I used to program my beats using the MPC 1000. A greater piece of kit to get started on. This year I moved onto the Maschine. It’s incredible. Stepped up my game no end, its astonishingly intuitive. Besides from that, I use a MicroKorg, Ableton and my laptop (HP G56, for computer heads).
Have you done any collaborations?
Who would you like to work with? Over the years, I’ve worked on a number of collaborations with: Stephen Farris, Yahn Looke Picard, Languid, ManOnWire and RADICALEDWARD. Then I have worked with rappers such as: Cor Stidak, Slim Pickin’s, J.Hurt, Jetpack Jones, Broke/ and more. I’ve been lucky to work with so many talented individuals. As for people I’d wanna work with in the future, probably Teebs, Mecca:83, B.Lewis and rappers such as Stainless Steele, Actual Proof, Action Bronson. That would kick some serious ass.
What other things do you like besides music?
Not a whole lot really, I spend most of life making beats when I’m not making music or listening to it. I do enjoy my food an awful lot, and enjoy my job too (I work as a teaching assistant in a secondary school in York). I like to party, on occasion :D
What’s your favorite food?
PIZZA. I don’t know what it is about bread, cheese and tomato sauce, but damn it gets me. Every time. I got into a spell of having about three a week, but then I got chunky, so I cut down to one a week. It isn’t enough. I tried replacing it with quiche, and no offence to quiche, but it don’t compare.
Do you play video games?
Nah, I have not got the time :D
How often do you experiment with your beats?
Every day. Like, this weekend, I’ve cooked up a few beats, then made a house track, a garage/2step track and all sorts. Always experimenting in the “beatlab”
I constantly see a new upload on soundcloud, have you always kept that consistency?
Yeah I seem to have done. I try to upload once every three days, that’s my quota, unless something totally vibin’ is made, then I have to share. I’m childish like that. I can’t keep my beats a secret. I’m that kid who wants his drawing of an owl put up on the fridge, even though sometimes the owl actually looks like a beaver. I love to share my music.
Are you working on a new album with those tracks?
Some of them yeah. I use soundcloud to give away freebies, tracks that don’t seem to fit in any projects. Then I also upload singles from upcoming albums as some solid promo. I have two releases in the works, and some of the tracks on the soundcloud are going to feature on those releases.
well there you have it, check him out on here on tumblr, http://foundbeats.tumblr.com/
and around the web
https://twitter.com/#!/HandbookYork
http://www.youtube.com/user/jakebrownguy
Source: soundcloud.com
Nefarious! HeadNods Interview
I first heard of his work in “For The Night Time” DL it on bandcamp, music.thesouldojo.com/album/for-the-night-time
then i checked out thesouldojo.com
a few months later, here we are. Be sure to check out the beats he has for sale http://www.beats.thesouldojo.com/nefarious/
Nefarious! Where are you from and how were you influenced to start making beats?
I’m from the Bay Area and I actually started making beats out of necessity. When I was in high school I had a few homies and we made a rap group. We needed original beats because we didn’t want to do the soundclick thing all the time, so I decided I would start making beats and produce for the crew. Eventually, we realized we sucked… but I kept on making beats because I honestly loved it more than I did rapping. I quit rapping and started really getting into Dilla, 9th Wonder, Pete, Premo, etc. I haven’t stopped since then.
What equipment have you used?
As far as making beats goes, I have some basic KRK-RP5 monitors. The old boxy ones. I record into an MBOX 2 when I do my recording at home. I mainly use my Akai MPD32 to chop samples and do drums and my Keyrig 49 for instruments and keys and stuff. All of that and Reason 6.
What equipment do you want to use in the future?
In the future I’d like to have a few racks of dynamic and time-based processors. I’ve been looking at a few smaller consoles but it’s hard to afford right now since I’m a full time college student.
How did you start the soul dojo?
The Soul Dojo started out as the name for an album I was working on at first. I built a blog for it on Wordpress and bought the domain and everything to hype up this project I was working on. I picked out a few upcoming rappers I wanted to work with and sent them some beats and it pretty much just fell through. That, or I wasn’t really feeling the tracks. I didn’t want to rely on rappers anymore to get my own name out, so I started putting out beat tapes and posting other beat tapes on The Soul Dojo blog. A few years pass and here we are.
How do you get inspired?
The inspiration kind of comes and goes on its own. I get inspired to create when I’m around other talented musicians and artists and by going to shows and stuff like that. As far as the inspiration behind the actual music goes, I’m inspired by things that are going on in my life. Memories and experiences and relationships and things of that nature.
What has been your best collaboration so far and who would you like to collaborate with?
My best collaborations would have to be my work with SLik d or Amor Jones. And EPonym, too. I’m friends with them personally and as artists so I’ve always felt like our tracks were a little more personal than if I were to just send a random emcee a beat. In the future I’d like to work with more upcoming LA artists and musicians. As of lately I’ve been really into music that is recorded live so look out for a little of that in my next releases.
What do you like to do for fun besides making music?
I’m just an average 20 year old. I party with friends a lot. Indulge myself in various substances… I have a lot of fun with the way I’m living. However, I do have the most fun when I’m working creatively with other artists. It’s still always nice to take a break from it and just, for lack of better words, fuck shit up.
Are you currently working on anything?
Right now I’m working on my next project that will be released sometime next year. I’m also in charge of mixing Jansport J’s next instrumental album so I’ve been busy with that too. Soon I hope to drop a few EPs with the rappers I’ve been working with so look out for that too.
links
http://www.youtube.com/user/nefthedamaja
http://www.facebook.com/NefariousProd?ref=ts
https://twitter.com/#!/nefthedamaja
http://nefarious.bandcamp.com/
http://www.last.fm/music/Nefarious!
http://thecrushgroovin.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/TheSoulDojo
Source: youtube.com
NegroSaki HeadNods Interview TruthFinder (by HeadNodsEargasm)
http://soundcloud.com/headnods/negrosaki-truthfinder (download to listen)
http://negrosaki.bandcamp.com/album/truthfinder (download the album)
more links
http://soundcloud.com/negrosaki
http://www.youtube.com/user/Marcell2aG
Source: youtube.com
(weirddough-lovebump beat video)
Your Monday Just got better, Head Nods Weirddough Interview
Weirddough, where are you from and how did you come up with that name?
I am from a little farm town in Southern California called Oxnard. I will forever rep the 805 even though I live out here in Las Vegas. I came up with the name weirddough because honestly, at a mental standpoint, I’m not all there. The name just popped in my head one day, and it just stuck ever since. I use beats as an outlet to keep myself healthy. It’s my medicine.
What got you started into making beats? How long have you been making them?
I was a fan of Hip Hop since elementary school. I used to listen to 36 Chambers on cassette, and try to breakdance to Eric B. and Rakim when I was four feet tall haha. When it came to music in general, I was always drawn to the beat. Lyrics weren’t that important to me back then. No matter what song it was, if the beat was wack, I wouldn’t listen to it. When I was in high school, I found out about a lot of local artists that lived in that area like Madlib, Kan Kick, and DJ Romes. I also attended several events such as bboy, DJ, and emcee battles. Seeing true Hip Hop in action blew my mind, and I’ve been a head since. I always wanted make beats.
What equipment do you use?
In 2007, my cousin (hortron) showed me how to use Reason. I still haven’t upgraded to anything else yet. haha
How do you get inspired?
Sometimes it just comes out of the blue. Sometimes I get that feeling like “I have to make a beat”, and if I don’t, I’ll get withdrawals and get a migraine or something. I try to find melodies that I can actually feel. It’s more than hearing something pleasant, you know what I mean? It has to be connected to my soul somehow.
What do you like your beats to sound like?
Something that can ease your stress.
What do you like to do besides music? Any hobbies?
I was bboying for a few years before I stopped. I love to draw/paint. I rhyme sometimes, maybe you guys can hear it one day.
Who would you like to work with?
Rapper-wise, probably Scaramanga. Always wanted to know what it would sound like. Beat-wise, probably Kan Kick or Madlib. Huge influences and life-changers for me.
Are you working on anything at the moment?
Not particularly, just making joints here and there. EP sometime maybe? Idono. haha
links:
http://soundcloud.com/weirddough/
http://www.youtube.com/user/stalesteez
http://weirddough.bandcamp.com/
Source: youtube.com
We have our first ever emcee/producer interview today with Decypher, who also just released his Summer Soulstice EP (free download)
http://decypher.bandcamp.com/album/summer-soulstice-ep
Decypher, where did the name come from and why did you choose it?
I do a lot of thinking every day, every minute. I look into things, sometimes a bit too much. In high school and on, I really got into conspiracy theories and other schools of thought. I was greatly influenced by the fact that there is so much more to the information we are receiving at face value; it then eventually started to reflect in my lyrics. Even in the context of music, there are so many artists, genres, etc out there that people don’t even bother to look into. Don’t just take something at face value, decipher it from every perspective. As for the “y” instead of the grammatically correct “i” in my name “Decypher”, it is derrived from the term “cypher” in Hip Hop culture - such as a B-boy cypher, freestyle cypher, etc. That’s where I started, right in the freestyle circle, in the middle of the cypher.
Do you equally produce/emcee or is there one that goes over the other like what do you do mainly?
The emcee aspect definitely takes a majority of my craft, only because it is my primary craft. On Progress Report, those were all of my beats, except for one. On the Contrary was 100% produced by my homie Definit1, so my emcee side on that album obviously took control. I honestly started out producing solely so that I could have original beats for myself, as opposed to hopping on known instrumentals, and such. But, producing is surely an important side forsure.
What inspired you to emcee? What do you like to get out there as a message?
My uncle from the San Fernando Valley was a huge influence in my upbringing. He was an emcee from the Hip Hop group, “Main Ingredients.” Going to his shows and him giving me knowledge of the emcee culture and Hip Hop as a whole was truly inspired to pick up the pen and pad. I was writing poetry at the time (middle school) but never formulated them into song. The main thing that I would like people to get when they perceive my music is to maintain a positive outlook on life, despite the negativity that may surround you. Also, to acknowledge the human soul. We are all one, esp through music, love and art. It is from the soul that we are all intertwined.
Who do you look up to in the hip-hop world?
There’s so many to name! But in terms of my favorite and most influential would definitely have to be the Pharcyde. I believe they are the epitome of southern california hip hop, something that I enjoy and represent. As an artist, I definitely also look up to Black Thought of the Roots. From his lyricism to his delivery, his craft is on point. I’d take after the legendary Black, forsure.
So you made some of your own beats as well, do you use anything else than Fl studio?Have you made beats for someone else?
It’s basically just FL Studio and Synthesizer/Midi Keyboard right now. Personally, I’d prefer working with something more analog, such as an MPC. However, because of the lack of resources and cash flow, it’s gonna be FL Studio for a while haha. I occasionally produce beats from other artists in between projects, but I find it difficult at times. When I produce for another artist, I’m usually on the track as well, out of convenience. Also, because I produce for myself, it’s hard to spare some for others…and cause I’m pretty biased about my beats lol But I am definitely down to hook up with different emcees looking for beats!
What has been your best collaboration and who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
My best collaboration, and one of my very first collabs was with my man SLik d of Good Vibes. We did a track called “Picture Perfect” off his album “Summer Vibes” back in ‘09. That track definitely put some heads onto music, and I have SLik to thank for that. We also did a video to the track which makes it my favorite collab as well. In the future I would love to collab with anyone who share’s an interest in music. In particular, San Diego’s music scene is on the rise! Look out for myself and other artists coming from San Diego such as the Elevated Masses. Also, expect collabs with the 2nai fam very soon.
What else do you like to do besides music?
Music is my love and my number one, but besides that I enjoy playing basketball, skating, and I have recently started learning how to surf. I’m also attending nursing school which takes up a good majority of my time, so I guess that’s something I’d HAVE to like haha Other than that, I love just kickin’ it with the homies, spending time with my fam and just having a good ol’ time and enjoying life!
Check him out in these links
http://www.decypher.bandcamp.com
http://www.twitter.com/decypherthis
We have the honor of having Producer Trebles and Blues along with a little patience that paid off so here it is.
I first heard of him through the Hope in a Cold World track #17 in the http://wordisbond.bandcamp.com/album/hope-for-tomorrow Hope for Tomorrow Album by Word is Bond (free download by the way).
After that.. well, I did a little research and here we are now.
Trebles and Blues, how did you come up with this name?
In early 2009, I was taking production classes at this spot called Rehab / Scratch Academy over here in Los Angeles, which is run by a prominent local DJ named DJ Hapa. It was very basic, just teaching me the fundamentals of production and how Propellerhead Reason worked and so forth. At the end of the course, the students got to go up on stage and press play on some beats that they’ve made, and I started playing a few beats that I created while I was there. I looked up after a bit, and saw that the reception towards the beats was actually pretty cool! I saw people nodding their heads, giving that “woooOOOooo” noise, and the funny thing is, the beats weren’t very advanced or anything hahaha. Actually, you know what, I’m gonna send over one of the beats to you that I created while I was taking production courses there to prove to you that it really wasn’t that dope haha (some exclusive pre-pubescent shit!!). All the samples I used are from the Reason stock library, so if you use Reason, you’ll be able to find them. I named this one “Chillin’ After the Storm”, and I remember hearing this beat being played through the speakers while thinking to myself that this whole feeling I got when playing these things out the loudspeakers was pretty damn amazing.
Anyway, back to my name. While I was playing the beats, DJ Hapa came up to me and asked me what my name was. I didn’t have anything set in stone, and two words just emerged into my mind: “trebles” and “blues”. I just put them together and blurted out, “Trebles and Blues!” Haha, I think the name describes me both musically and personally. Musically, I like to incorporate very melodic sounds, and that could be represented by the treble clef. The “blues” portion could more so relate to the color of my aura. A good friend and I had a discussion a while back about people having specific auras and how they could also be determined by color as well. I like to think of myself as a pretty chill, laid-back dude that enjoys mellowing out, and I think the color blue would represent my aura pretty well. There you go!
How did you start making beats?
Although I took those production courses in early 2009 and I made a few beats before then, I really started taking the craft a bit more seriously in 2010. I wasn’t even aware that I had the ability to make beats; I just kinda tinkered around with it a bit here and there with loops and such, but it was only when I started delving more into Reason that the whole tradition really intrigued me. Originally I used it as an escape from work because I wasn’t a huge fan of the workplace and what I was doing there. Afterwards
I began making some beats with a good friend of mine and we would collaborate on stuff, but once again, wasn’t too serious about pushing the whole thing. It was only around 2010 when I linked up with Nefarious! and the members of The Soul Dojo that I started making beats with a bit more intent on releasing work out to the general public, and once I started chillin’ more with my creative director (Nam Bui) later on in 2010, that’s when making beats became more of a lifestyle for me.
What sort of equipment do you use?
My set-up is pretty minimal. I have a MacBook Pro with Propellerhead Reason/Record and Ableton Live installed (which are my two primary beat-making software programs). I use the MPD32 and M-Audio Axiom 49 as my MIDI controllers, and I have a pair of KRK Rokit 5 monitors. I also have a Maschine, but I haven’t messed around with it too much yet. That’s the next step in the whole process!
Who inspires you?
My family, friends, and overall community inspires me. Despite being Korean, my parents are fully supportive of what I do and they are genuinely happy that I have found something that I am passionate about. When you have the go-ahead from your parents to do what you love, there is nothing more that you can ask for. My younger brother is also very supportive of my craft, and all my friends serve as a great support network for me as well. A lot of my good friends are entrepreneurs and they know what it’s like to break out from the norm and do what you feel is right for yourself, so we share a lot of stories and continue to inspire each other in our respective realms of operation.
There are also many artists that inspire me, but one individual that inspires me greatly is 9th Wonder. I love what he has done for the beatmaking tradition and how he has helped open up this new generation of beatmakers that don’t require ridiculous set-ups to achieve a sound that listeners long for. To top it off, he is also a phenomenal educator and is always focused on leaving behind a legacy that is greater than himself.
What do you hope to deliver in your music?
I hope to deliver a thread of messages to all of my listeners with what I create. As cliche as it sounds, my music really is an embodiment of my mind, heart, and soul. I have been fortunate enough to discover music as a canvas to paint all my emotions onto, and I’m just glad that music is something that transcends distances and boundaries between cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and also has the ability nowadays to traverse distant lands in mere seconds/minutes. When I sit down to create, whatever emotions may be brewing inside of me come out, but the listener may receive a completely different emotion once they hear it. That’s the beauty of music. The product is there for everyone to hear, but it will always be interpreted differently depending on whose ears it reaches; this is especially the case with instrumental music. Regardless of its interpretation, I just want to provide music that sends messages of hope, love, and unity among all of us, because that’s what being blessed with life is all about.
What has been the most challenging thing about what you do?
Working on music full-time can be mentally and emotionally draining because you’re always creating, thinking of what the next idea should be, and trying to embody all your thoughts into concrete pieces that you hope a listener will be able to appreciate. I think the most challenging part about doing this is to constantly discipline yourself and realize that when there is nobody there telling you what to do, you have to be driven that much more to get shit done. Having worked in the financial services industry where everything is structured and there is a standardized way of doing everything, it was a pretty big adjustment I needed to make and am still getting used to now. However, once you are certain that this is the path you are here to take, then you end up just getting into the zone and doing what you need to do. It’s a hustle, but a beautiful one at that!
What has been the most rewarding?
The people, the people, the PEOPLE! I’ve met so many phenomenal people while working in this space, whether they are musicians or not. I’ve learned so much from being involved in the scene and also meeting the people that have influenced my work to this day. I also recently joined as an instructor for a local youth center here in Los Angeles called SIPA Sessions, which is led by the homie DJ Phatrick and his musical cohort, Bambu. If it weren’t for music, I wouldn’t be teaching production courses to the wonderful and hilarious students that attend this place twice a week, and this would be an experience that would have been lost in the crevasses of the “what if’s” if I didn’t choose to pursue this artform. It really is a trip, when you choose to pursue something you love, there are many risks that may come with it, but those tend to be calculated. The rewards, however, really are bountiful and unexpected treasures that you find along the way.
What do you like to do on your free time?
I like to play a lot of basketball (which I actually haven’t done in a while though…) and just chill and have a good time with my homies. Most of the friends I see when I hang out aren’t musicians, so we just talk about all kinds of random shit while having fun and coolin’ out. I also enjoy reading, and right now I’m reading Amir Said’s The BeatTips Manual and Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink. By the way, if you’re interested in beatmaking, The BeatTips Manual is REQUIRED reading. If you’re interested in what goes on in the subconscious mind within the first 2 seconds of meeting someone, pick up Blink. It’s a great read.
Are you currently working on something?
I’m working on quite a few things right now. I’m working on a full-length project with an emcee named P.H.I.L.T.H.Y. out of Michigan, which is set to drop some time early 2012. I’m also about to embark on a collaborative instrumental project with the homie Sinitus Tempo; more details on that later to come. I’m also working on my next full-length instrumental project, which I gave a little teaser to a few months ago when I released the track “Summer Love” on my Soundcloud page. There is also something else that has been discussed, but I’m gonna keep details on that wrapped up. However, if this project in question does indeed pan out, I’ll be absolutely THRILLED. Let’s just leave it at that!
Big shout out to Jessica for the thought-provoking questions, I had a lot of fun answering them. I still have a lot of work to do as a musician, but I hope that you all will continue to follow me throughout this journey! Thank you!
Thanks for the shout out
Links
http://www.treblesandblues.com
http://soundcloud.com/treblesnblues
http://twitter.com/#!/treblesandblues
http://www.youtube.com/settrippa7
http://www.facebook.com/treblesandblues
