Most people don’t realize how many people are involved in the making of a hit single. One of the most important in the hip hop genre especially is the Music Producer. A Producer wears many hats and is integral in the success of a particular song. Many of the top Producers and Beat Makers are now achieving celebrity status on their own. Some that started out producing beats include Kanye West, Dr. Dre, and Timbaland. You may have heard of those. There is also a very large wave of celebrity DJ’s who produce beats for today’s superstars and create their own hits like Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta, and Avicii, to name a few. One of our favorites is DJ Pain 1 who works with our artist Slyce (album soon to be released-stay tuned!)
At the basic level, a producer/beat maker becomes a partner in an artist’s success. A Producer manages all of the recordings and mixing sessions and many times produces beats tailored to a particular artist. Of course, a good Producer must have a profound understanding of music theory relating to the composition of a song. But, there is more to it than that. A Producer takes on great responsibility to invent, create and mold a piece of music that fits with the artist’s abilities and strengths. He/she also coaches the artist to make the best possible recording. The Producer/Artist relationship is important. A Producer needs to have a good understanding of the artist’s vision and achieves that through building rapport and active listening.
At 10,000 Hours Music, we have high standards on the Producers/Beat Makers we work with. When we find one that takes the time to understand our artist and works with them to make a successful recordings, we like to highlight that individual. We are glad to have Trendz as part of our team and would like to introduce you to him through this Exclusive Interview. He has worked with all of our artists and we are big fans. Keep an eye on this one. He is going places.
Trendz Music
How long have you been producing beats?
About 11 years. I started at age 14.
What inspired you to get started?
I would listen to songs on the radio and think of ways that I would have redone the song if I was involved.
Tell us about some of the most exciting projects you've worked on
I just finished working on the single for an artist that I recently began working with, Lord Talent. The song is named “285” and features one Atlanta’s biggest up and coming artists, Sy Ari the Kid. It was a fun process because the entire song was written, recorded, and mixed in the same session. We felt Sy Ari would sound great on the song and reached out to his management. They liked the song and the feature was done in a week.
Is there a genre what you feel is your specialty?
Smooth/melodic Hip Hop and RnB.
How would you describe your sound preference?
I like anything that is organic and soulful. I enjoy when an artist is brings something new to the table and does not follow trends from other artists. My some of my favorite artists/producers are Pharrell, Kanye West, Nas, 50 Cent, Drake, Mary J Blige, Erykah Badu, and Just Blaze.
How did you learn the art of beat making and what advice would you give to newcomers who are just starting out?
I began making beats early in high school and was introduced by a classmate. After being taught the basics, I taught myself by trying to mimic what I heard in some of my favorite songs.
Give us the lowdown on equipment. What do you have and what would be in your dream studio?
I currently use FL Studio 10 with a Korg K61 Midi Controller. I use the Korg to play all of my instruments and percussion. The plugins I use the most often are Omnisphere and Kontakt 5. I also sample a lot of my drums and vocal hits. I use Pro Tools 10 HD to record and mix. In the future, I want to get into using more hardware (MPCs and synth keyboards). I also want to explore some other plugins.
What are your plans for the future? What would you like to accomplish?
I want to open a commercial recording studio. I also want to become more active with scouting new artists that fit well with my production style and developing them into more defined artists.
If you could give advice to artist's that want to record and are heading to the studio what would you tell them?
It is important to work with engineers/producers that genuinely like your music. There will be better chemistry and they will have a better idea of how to present your music.
What are some of the biggest mistakes producers make? And how can you avoid them?
A big mistake producers make is that they do not develop a signature sound. Sometimes producers will try to create music that keeps up with what is currently hot. While doing that, they never get a chance to have their own unique sound, which is what retains clients. It is important to try to do something new or unique with your production style.
About Trendz Music:
My studio is currently located in Atlanta, Ga. I am open for recording sessions, listening sessions for beats, and mixing/mastering. My contact information is below:
Julian Mims (TrendzMusic)
Instagram: TrendzMusic
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