Sounds 4 the soul.

INTERVIEW.

1. You’ve got a stunning style. What do you love about music?

I appreciate the acknowledgment! I really do enjoy and take pride in expressing myself within my unique selection of sounds. I must say that music has been the most consistent and dependable love within my life. Music has never done me wrong. The thing that I love most about music is that it is universal and it brings people together. I am all about love and connecting people to one another. Despite language barriers, music such as certain sounds and rhythms do not need any language to understand. Waking up and starting your day off with the right soundtrack can definitely influence your mood and day into a positive one. Music is genius.

2. What non-musical influences come into your music?

I would say networking with the right people, personal life experiences, art, photography, education, and world issues have all been major influences for my music. I discovered who I was at a young age. Because of this I was able to find a love for something such as music. Being able to present music in an artistic way while simultaneously educating people all over the world on unknown artists, and helping those see my perspective on what I think quality music sounds like has been key for me. The biggest influence thus far has to be all the constant compliments I get from people all over the world. I am humbled by people’s words and stories regarding how my mixes have changed their lives and helped them think. It definitely keeps me going and I have met some of the most innovating and like-minded people just because of my music collection and talents.

3. What if anything do you hope people take from the sounds of JOEKAY?

After listening to my art-expressions, I hope you can pause for a few moments and realize that there is so much more out there than you will ever know. There are so many talented individuals out in the world that it is ridiculous and mind boggling to even comprehend. I really recommend that the listeners copy and paste all the artists and track names from my playlists that they like into google and do some research. There is an infinite amount of music available that will make you lose your mind. It is a domino effect, one artist and track leads into another artist, record label, event, and life style. Trust me.

4. You’re from Los Angeles, probably see some amazing shows yah? What have been some of the most memorable concerts you’ve been to recently?

Ahh man, I have been to hundreds of events! There are so many good ones, but if I had to highlight the most memorable ones, I would have to say back in 2008..there was this one Low End Theory event in particular where Kutmah, Samiyam, The Gaslamp Killer, and Flying Lotus all performed. This was when Low End and Flying Lotus we’re really starting to blow up. This was the first time I had seen Flying Lotus live. I remember just being blown away by him and the rest of the crew. I have seen them all perform at least about 8-10 times, but I think that was one of their best performances as a group. The music and energy was just organic and very raw. Kutmah is one of my favorite DJs still to this day. The Low End theory is a must experience event. Another memorable event was Mochilla’s Suite for Ma’ Dukes! J Dilla has been the biggest influence in my life so it was great to experience a tribute by other influential musicians such as Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, De La Soul, Dwele, Karriem Riggins, J Rocc, and other greats.

5. Any projects in the making?

I have a few projects in the works right now. Myself and two other partners (96 & Andre Power) have come up with a vision/label called: SOULECTION. A personal friend of mine is currently building a site from scratch that will allow my partners and myself to post our vision. SOULECTION will represent a Music/Art/Life-style blog/Radio Show/Events/Future Record Label. Basically anything that is ill and innovative will be posted on our site. In correspondence with the build-up of our site, we are wrapping up a compilation album for the launch of our website. The compilation will consist of about 27 artists (mainly producers) of pure quality sounds from all over the world. 96 and myself handpicked the artists who we felt have been really innovating over the years. And no, it is not just “Another Beat Tape”. It is deeper than that. The whole sound of the compilation is really deep, soulful, and eclectic. And the best part about this compilation album is that it will be downloadable for free! I am hoping to reach a massive amount of people and looking for this compilation to be a soundtrack for people’s lives regardless of their musical depth. SOULECTION and our compilation should be dropping right on the New Year or possibly before.

6. Words for all the young producers reading this?

The beat movement is at a point where every one is making beats and releasing beat tapes now a days. That is all well and good, but if you want to really surpass the typical sound and stand out you have to do something that hasn’t been done yet. You don’t want someone to say, “Another Beat Tape?” We all know you (the artist) are talented, but it is more ear-catching when you can create something that no one has heard of yet. Stay true to your sound, but expand to places you’ve never been before and do it from within instead of doing it for the currency. If you do things out of love, the currency will come automatically if you do what you do well.

http://soundcloud.com/joekay

http://www.joe-kay.com/

http://www.facebook.com/JosephKayIV

http://twitter.com/j0eKAY

– DJ Phantom (now Jimi Jaxon)

Moar music, moar music! This interview is from a few days in the past..music is spacey and nice. Give it a go..

Milk Shots 2 by CL◉SE

Strawberry Scantron by CL◉SE

INTERVIEW.

1. Hey Close! How’s the day going?

Yoooo. The day is nice, just got back to Florida from having Thanksgiving up in Michigan with my family.

2. What got you interested in producing?

A number of different things, nothing specific that at one moment made me go “YEAH! THAT RIGHT THERE! THAT IS FOR ME!” Listening to music growing up, and listening to it critically even at a young age, like breaking down instruments and picking apart production techniques was always second nature to me. Luckily the majority of music I was exposed to during this early stage of my life was classic 90’s hip hop, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang, De La Soul, The Fugees, all that.

Rally Car (CL◎SE Remix) by CL◉SE

3. How would you describe your music, apart from genres?

This is perfect, because I don’t really like using genres, they have their place but I dislike how they tend to box things up. My music, from my perspective, is like an exchange student to the LA sound. I came of age on hip hop from my senior year of high school on, which is when I started making tunes. My musical diet consisted of nothing but MF DOOM, Madlib, and the late great J Dilla for at least a solid year and a half. Then I discovered Flying Lotus sometime in 2008. I’ve been pretty much emulating and attempting to expand the finer points of the LA sound with my own sound and niche.

4. If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and what would you make?

I would have to say J. Cole. He’s one of my heroes. I never aspired to rap or anything like that, but he gave me hope for what hip hop is supposed to be, and proved it can exist in a very true form in the present. I think it’d be a challenge, mostly due to the fact that I don’t make a lot of music with vocals, but I’d be inspired to make some classic grotesque ass basement rap beats with that dude. Either him or Nas.

5. What’s the electronic community like in your area?

I live in Orlando, and have for a year and some coins now, going to school at Full Sail University. The electronic community is healthy from a fanbase standpoint, but there really aren’t a lot of go-to type people who are out doing shows every week. Not a lot of venues or avenues for “weird” electronic music down here. Lots of house music fans though.

6. Any projects in the works?

Yeah I got some tunes with fellow SoundClouder Wrex Mason we’re finishing up for this free EP of ours. I’m also working on a whole bunch of tracks for a few EP ideas of my own. I’m big on making odes and remixes, so I’m probably gonna do a series of little “Ode” EPs since I have so many of those types of tracks. I also have tracks for my Milk EP that I’ve been trying to get together, classic Close tracks that I’m pretty excited about.

New Shoes (Ode to Mac Miller) by CL◉SE

http://soundcloud.com/alanclose

See ya on the flip side,

P

This guy’s been very excited to dish his music out to all ya’ll on Disco Droppings..I’m happy to introduce him!

Here’s a thick, textured track from Lockbox’s free album

Artist: Lockbox | Song: Trade Winsd by Disco Droppings

..and a link to the whole shbang..http://fograttle.com/leaf.html

INTERVIEW.

1. What got you interested in producing?

Hmmm, well I’ve always made music since I was a wee one. I got into “experimental” music when I was in sixth grade, so I tried to mimic the stuff I was hearing. I heard dudes like Lighting Bolt and Black Dice, and instantly felt a connection. .I got some distortion pedals, synths, trash cans, and just started recording stuff into garbageband. That stuff was terrible and will never be released haha. But I just kept experimenting and trying new styles. I had some rapper friends who wanted beats, so I made a couple and it ended up being what I really enjoyed making. Then I started chatting with Jeff (http://soundcloud.com/sumguh) and we started blogging together. That’s why I got really into production, because of all my soundcloud homies who are constantly challenging and innovating the standard Hip Hop sound.

Untitled Tape 3 by Lockbox

2. There’s a pretty big love for electronic in Denver right now yah? Do you have a group of local artists you enjoy seeing / playing shows with?

Eh I’ve found some cool stuff. My boy Dailon is dope, and so is .anansi and the whole New Sound Collective. But there are a lot of shit clubs playing shit hard house. Like with any music scene its about who you know. I cant stand that stuff. But it’s going to be the next LA for sure.

Hunting Magic by Lockbox

3. I like the weird loops you have going, has your music always come out like this?

I suppose so. I’m a drummer so I like lots of percussion. Its fun to layer as much as possible and have it sound good. I’m all about the textures. I like making shit that’s really short so I can squeeze as much out of it as possible. To me a one minute beat with seven thousand flowing textures beats any epic solo.

Untitled Tape 2 by Lockbox

4. With this year coming to end, how do you feel you’ve developed as an artist in 2010. Any new projects coming together next year?

2010 is the year that music went from being my casual hobby to being my passion. I got really involved with Fog Rattle and have made the coolest producer friends. I’m in for the long haul.

Damn, new projects. So many. I’m writing a comic book, doing Fog Rattle trading cards, writing an acoustic album, finishing up my VHS album, doing some freaky pop stuff, collabs collabs collabs. 2011 is the year Fog Rattle is going to blow the fuck up. Watch out haha.

5. What’s the best encouragement you’ve gotten as an artist?

I once talked to Black Monk for two hours on Facebook. It was awesome to have a guy who was there at the very beginning of all this dig on my tunes and give me advice. I’ve found most “big” producers are dick hats, but not him. He was cooool as hell. The support from my fellow beat heads is what keeps me going though. Too many to name. There wouldn’t be Lockbox without all those dudes.

http://soundcloud.com/monstre

https://twitter.com/DreamsNBeats

-P

SO. AMAZING.

Give it up by S∆VCLOUD

INTERVIEW.

1. Hello Hello. How is it in LA? What are you doing right now?

LA is the same old thing as usual, noisy and smoggy but everyone lives here haha. As for what I’m doing I suppose I’m out skating again as well as just learning as much as I can about everything, music, mastering and all that good stuff!

2. “Give it up” is so fucking groovy! funky house music hits a soft spot for me, what artists influence these sorts of productions?

Ah Thanks man , The truth is I LOVE house music man , French, Electro, Dirty dutch , you name it but I’ve been around the Indie hip-hop scene for a while so I tend to end up mashing some from the two together. there’s definitely legit house projects I have but as for when I’ll show the world those remains a mystery ;D.

3. Your sound is incredibly mature, how long have you been working at your music? How do you feel about where your currently at as an artist?

Feel by S∆VCLOUD

I’ve been working on Music for about 3 years now but it was really until about the last year or so that I’ve decided to actually sit down and create some stuff and put it out there, and as for me as an artist with all modesty I can definitely feel the progression I’m making especially with the stuff I haven’t shown the world and I suppose the maturity comes from just being determined with out being too serious haha . There’s always room for progression and improvement so it’s what I’m gonna stick to.

4. Who are some of your favorite artists at the moment?

I’d have to say Letherette , Mr.Oizo, Young Montana?, LBCK , and The Phantom’s Revenge To name just a few.

Good Girlfriend by S∆VCLOUD

5. Any big plans for 2011?

I’m having an EP released out on Cold Busted around which I’m pretty excited about.

6. Thoughts for all the young producers, upcoming producers out there in the world?

I’d have to say definitely learn as much as you can about anything involving music, nothing is too small or too large to figure out and just keep at it I suppose , you really never ever know where these things will take you.

Four Tet – Reversing (S∆VCLDremix) by S∆VCLOUD

http://soundcloud.com/savcloud
http://www.facebook.com/SAV1ER

XXXO

The recent posts have put me in a wonderful mindset. Hopefully, some of you are floating about as well…

Enjoy Soosh.

Bayán by Soosh

INTERVIEW.

1. Hey! How are things over in Glasgow?

Well, ive actually moved from Glasgow to BC, Canada a few months back. Hoping to be here for 6 months or so. So yeah, its a wee bit more chilly but my friends back home tell me we have a tonne of snow at the moment! Things are good here, enjoying the freedom of being away from home and all the new adventures that it brings. Really looking forward to exploring the snow and getting some boarding in. I do miss the music scene in Glasgow which is pretty good with the likes of luckyme and numbers reppin the city.

2. What got you interested in producing?

I was always into music in a big way, hiphop and drum n bass early on at uni and then into lots of different stuff. I got into dj’n about 10 years ago…..about 5 years later I got a cracked copy of fruity loops of a friend, got excited for a while and then really bored of sample loop based music. Two years ago I got back into it, I bought Abelton and some synths and NI maschine-which has been amazing. Lately I’ve found the process much more exciting, I can make most the noises I need myself and manipulate sample/sounds the way I want. I feel I’m actually creating the music now, as opposed to just sampling a loop and putting a beat behind as i did in the past.

Life in molasses by Soosh

3. How would you describe your music, apart from genres?

I guess in most of my music I try and capture a particular feeling. Atmospheres and textures are really important to me. Sometimes I wish I could just make a banging track but more often than not most my things come out pretty relaxed, loose and organic sounding. It’s not really intended for dance floors although with the right crowd I’m sure some people could let loose! I’m always getting into new sounds and I think you can hear that in my music.

4. If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and what would you make?

I haven’t done any collabs yet, mostly due to the fact I never thought my stuff was good enough…in the past year I’ve surprised myself that I can actually finish a tune to a level I’m happy with-that’s something I really struggled with before! As far as artists I love to work with, Nathan Fake-love his synths and warmth in his music. Zach Condon from Beirut, would be cool to do a folky-americano-ambient hiphop project! Mike Slott, who I know through a friend when he lived in Glasgow. I love his music. There’s so many, I’d also love to get some proper vocals in my music……Beth Gibbons are you listening!

5. What’s been your favorite Soosh song so far? What stood out about the process or finished piece?

rainbow hiccups by Soosh

Rainbow hiccups is up there and probably my most recent one Bayan, named after my nephew who arrived last week :). Process wise, I’ve just had lots more time since coming to Canada to be creative, sit down and really get some ideas down. I find I’m finally getting to a level where I know what I’m trying to do, and what’s missing etc. Half my tracks were half written over a year ago, and its been only within the last two months I’ve been able to sit down, add to them and be happy with the end result. Buying some new hardware has been inspiring and fun! You can never have enough gear!

6. Any projects in the works?

Ive got a dozen tunes on the go at the moment and intend to get a demo together over the next few months. I’m excited about music at the moment, and hopefully good things are ahead. Oh, and I need to get back home soonish to meet the wee man and get him ready for his music education!

Sleepy rocking chair by Soosh

http://soundcloud.com/soosh

I’ll be typing again soon, just you wait!..