Please tell me about yourself. Give me a brief bio about you and your music producing experience. Describe your style? Who you resemble as a famous producer? (If anyone) What makes you an expert in producing?
I go by the name Loftee Beats and I started producing music in 2004 when I discovered a program called Fruity Loops. I used to make beats using nothing but a computer mouse on some cheap computer speakers.
I bought my first midi capable keyboard in 2005 and that is when I seriously started making beats. I moved onto using Reason in 2005 primarily to make beats and finally settled with Cubase in 2006. I have produced a full album for Perth Hip Hop artist JR that was released in 2008 and since then have produced a Mixtape for Perth Hip Hop artist Trooth. Big name artists that I have featured on my tracks are Kool G Rap, Young Noble and Speech from Arrested Development.
My style is influenced a lot from Dr Dre, Scott Storch and ex Aftermath producer Focus. My style has changed a lot in recent years and I would say that the most famous producer I resemble is Scott Storch (musically of course). I wouldn’t exactly call myself an ‘expert’ as I could name hundreds of producers that are better than me but I can say I am quite knowledgeable in the field. Making beats and producing (although very different art-forms) are areas that almost anybody with some creativity and technical skill can get good at.
I have spent sooo many hours reading and practicing techniques, learning music, listening to others music and listening to my own music. Some people get music naturally and some have to work harder for it, I would like to think that I had to work quite hard to get to the level that I am at. The best advise I can give for an upcoming beat maker is to learn your equipment. I only use a small sound library (that I know like the back of my hand) and it saves so much time when making a track.
1. Sampling. How important is it in producing music?
Sampling is very wide area of producing music that should not be ignored. I wasn’t really exposed to sampling in my music until 2 or 3 years ago and now I am just addicted to it. There are very valid reasons why people won’t sample on tracks but unless they are going to effect you I say “Sample anything you like”.
2. Where do you see new producers making mistakes?
Putting out their work too early. I did this as well when I first started. Sure it is great to get your work out there but it took me until around 2008 to realise that my beats weren’t the hottest beats in the world and that I should have held out until I was really ready to make some good impressions. I put my beats out there before they were really ready and I guess I have been pigeon-holed into a style. It isn’t the end of the world to release something bad but if you can help it make sure what you are putting out is really up to scratch (deep down I knew I could have done better).
3. What software do you recommend for making beats? And why? And what do you use?
The software I recommend for making beats is anything really. Pick something, learn it, stick to it and don’t add too much extra. Every DAW out there is very capable of making commercial quality recordings and it is important to understand WHY you need something before you add it. I use Cubase 5 at the moment (changing to Reaper at the end of the project I am currently working on) as my DAW host and my go-to instruments are my Yamaha Motif XS sound module, Kontakt, Vanguard, and Geist. My favourite plugins are Sonnox EQ, Inflator and Limiter, PSP OldTimer, iZotope Nectar, Cubase inbuilt delays and reverb.
4. To all those new aspiring producers reading this learning to produce music / make beats, what advice can you give them starting out?
To keep it short and sweet the best advise I can give is to get some basic speakers or a get set of headphones, a reasonable PC, a good selection of sounds and get practising. If you have friends that produce music cling to them like a leech and suck up every little bit of knowledge that you can. I was never lucky enough to have friends into hip hop let alone beat making so I know the pain of having to teach myself everything.
Don’t add anything to your set-up unless you know exactly what it does and why you need it. Don’t spend too much money on hardware or midi controllers, make sure you have more than 25 keys (I produced an album on one of these and it wasn’t easy). Don’t worry so much about the business side of things or “getting placements” and don’t get into it for the money. DO get into it for the FUN and excitement, the positive feelings you get when you succeed in achieving a goal, the GREAT friends you will meet that share similar interests to you and the awesome music YOU will make. Don’t underestimate the local scene and try to get involved as much as you can.
5. What are the 3 most important steps to making beats?
Don’t force a beat to come along, make sure you have a good selection of instruments or samples and have fun with it.
6. Very few producers make it to the top of there career as a world famous producer. What’s the difference, in your opinion, between a famous producer and one who can’t seem to it? What do the ones that make it do that the ones don’t ?
I think it is all to do with the current situation with the music industry. Top tier beat makers are a dime a dozen and I think almost all of us would have made it to the top if we were making these beats 10 years ago. I think there is a lot of luck to getting a big placement and I don’t think it is worth chasing. I can’t make enough money off making music to live off it but I get enough to cover my equipment. I have had great success locally and to me I feel that I have made it. I realise that I don’t need to make #1 pop hits to make good music and I am very happy making the hip hop music that I do.
7. Which do you prefer new producers start with when learning to make beats: Hardware or software? And Why?
This is probably situation based. I would recommend software as it is cheaper and just as capable as any hardware device.
8. What makes a quality beat? What must it sound like? How do you know when your done?
Again depends on the situation. A beat by itself is just a beat, to me a TRACK is only completed when the beat, vocals and any extras have been recorded, mixed and mastered.
9. Should I go to school to learn more about music?
I don’t think school is important when it comes to beat making. Unless you feel you are really going to make some money out of this industry save your money. You can buy so much with those school fees that will teach you more. Instead of paying fees buy a new computer, software, midi controllers and tutorial DVDs.
10. Any final thoughts or advice to aspiring producers?
Do what YOU want to do, enjoy it and have fun. There will be tough and frustrating times but it is worth it in the end. You will never truly learn how to be a beat maker as there is ALWAYS room to improve. Never limit yourself and your abilities and try to make the most of every opportunity. DO NOT ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do something and remove any negative aspects of your life. A lot of big name beat makers/producers are easily contactable through social networking and are very friendly and willing to help. If you are going to contact somebody that is likely to be quite busy make sure you do as much research as possible beforehand.
