I’ve always been around music my whole life! Having the traditional “black family” growing up, I would always hear the great grooves by Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind & Fire, and Chaka Khan at all the family functions. It was drilled into me at an early age! Then I hit my teenage years. I wanted to know how music was created. It was naturally in me. I remember I got this little Yamaha keyboard one Christmas and this kicked off my producing skills early on. I stayed up hours practicing, learning notes and chords, which instruments sounded like what. I learned best from studying my favorite producers at the time. The more I learned, the more my taste for music grew. I always loved music that brought energy and attitude! The movements and feel of Rock, Funk, & Disco were always appealing. My love of Electronic based music began when I discovered such acts as Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, The Human League etc. I dug the futuristic un-conventional sounds they would produce. I try to transfer the same elements into today’s Electronic music!
Bn: What was your general direction/aim in creating this latest release ‘Twisted Youth’?
Certain Electro has a real sense of disorder and rebellion! It’s the new punk rock! With experiencing great shows and festivals within the past few years, I saw how kids would react and just go crazy over the energy the music brought. You can’t experience it until your in the center of 5,000 people and your all collectively jumping and wilding out too a Daft Punk track! That’s when I discovered “damn, this is what I want to do!” So Coin the term “Twisted Youth”. This is a reflection of our generation. Vigor, rage, protest and excitement! This also influenced my album artwork and mascot “The infamous Chihuahua with a red Mohawk”, music that just don’t’ give a F*! That’s why I tried to chose track names that described that attitude, “Radio Revolt”, “Detroit Riot Rock” “Driving While Intoxicated” and so on. I wanted to create a certain mood and atmosphere. I made this for all of those kids! This is to be played live and mixed into DJ sets. As Liam Howlett, (The Prodigy) put it, “Your little laptop speakers are cool, but this is intended to be banged!”
Bn:I noticed you got the ol’ Mr Vega involved, very awesome.
How did this collaboration come about and can we see more!?
I first got wind of Mr. Vega while I was working with a Finnish female pop vocalist named Kississing on a project called “Vodka N’ Cran” back in 2007. Me and her would create a sound I would call “80’s dirty disco”, which you could probably find floating around the net somewhere. I heard a mix of a track Mr. Vega created with her. I thought he had great music then. When I first started this project the first song I did was “We Don’t stop” featuring. Becci, who is an Australian female rapper that I collaborated with on other projects, look her up! I first sent her the instrumental, which starts with a bass driven, sexy moan- filled arpeggio synth lead. The song was complete, but I still had the dry vocal parts and reached out to Mr. Vega for a more “housey” feel, versus the more underground clubbish sound the song originally had. He was familiar with some of my work with kississings, so we made it happen!
Bn: Strong parts of the album? Any weak points that you wish to go back and re-pave?
Making music is all about feeling good, having fun and being inspired when you make it. I aimed for that when putting together “Twisted Youth”. I didn’t want to get too technical or focus on any particular part or song too much. Didn’t want to over analysis it. Ask any artists, there’s always a part in which they’d wish to go “re-do”. I can honestly say I had fun doing it and I feel good about it. I never obsess over creating music or how others will judge it. This could stop your creative flow! “We Don’t Stop”
Bn: Why don’t you tell us a bit more about yourself.
-Profession if any outside of creating music. Always fun if you’re stripping or selling dope on the side..we still like the music and that’s what is real.
No Stripping or selling dope here! Although strip clubs are great inspiration! I currently operate two recording studio’s with my brother. I am a studio tech nerd! Recording other artist music from hip-hop, gospel, radio commercials, and voiceovers Helps more learn way more then just creating the music I personally like. I attended FullSail (Media arts school) a few years ago, which I learned a lot about audio engineering, production etc. as well as the business of music. I also DJ clubs. Looking too tour this summer! Book me in your town!
Bn: Do you play any instruments. How many? Did you take lessons/ teach yourself, the works.
I play keyboards pretty good, as well as drums and guitar, which I sampled and processed certain grunge riffs on “Kurt Kobain is alive”. I always try not too limit myself and learn all I can. I’ll put on some Jimi Hendrix or Prince and try to groove along with it!
Bn: Nazz ‘The Hitmaker’ how did you come up with your name/what inspired it.
Producing for friends and artist when I first started. They would say “That kid has some “Nasty” beats! Also, Nazz was a term used on David Bowies “Ziggy Stardust” describing a hip magnetic being.
Bn: what’s your take on the independent artist? Meaning, the difficulties some have spoken about with Beatport, internet distribution, labels, management… what’s your experience? has it been good? difficult? easy?
I’ve learned it’s becoming more about hype, timing and support and less about quality of music, which is really just an opinion. There are pros and cons with the direction of “getting your music out” these days. For one the Internet is over saturated with music. This even makes giving it away for free hard for some artist, let alone selling it. But the Internet is always a great tool too niche-market your audience and really learn what people want. It also opens up a whole new world for people too discover their personal likes in music, not just what MTV or your local radio station shoves down your throat! That’s why Blog’s, Youtube and social networking sites are so great! Wink* BOPPERNATION! My advice would be too just flood as many relevant sites on the net as possible and leave your cyber mark! With enough buzz, distributors like Beatport, Traxsouce and Juno download will contact you to distribute your music. The key is the make them come to you! Also, because of the net, touring and live shows has risen. Altho
