Fade
The Beat Strangler
Administrator
illest o.g.
Using samples to make up the backbone of his smooth beats, Bugsy recently won the Beat This! Competition with his beat, "S.O.S.". I wanted to find out more about his beat making process and how he got into music production, so here we go:
Congratulations on your Beat This win, how did you put together that beat?
Thanks Fade, it's great being able to compete with such talented beatmakers and music producers. There were a lot of beats that were really great and that has always been a humbling and a learning experience for me. The sample I used came from a Moog vinyl album, covering ABBA. I found the sample, chopped it up on Maschine, laid down the drums, which got replaced later on, then the bass which I had to tweak a little bit. After that, the rolling snares, cymbals and risers I added in a heartbeat.
I noticed that your drums on that one but also other tracks you did, are really tight-sounding. How do you get them like that?
I definitely spend a lot of time mixing not only my drums but the other samples in my beats as well. I always tend to think of each instrument as a melody, that the pattern should sound good even when played by itself. I give every part the attention it needs in order for them to be presented well as a whole. Knowing what to add to make it sound better also helps decide on what the final product will be.
You tend to have somewhat the same vibe in all your beats, which is a great thing. Is that something you aim for or does it just end up like that?
I mostly stick to how the sample makes me feel, I might hear a sample but would feel the opposite of what that song would be portraying. But I definitely want to aim for a signature sound. I do believe that the vibe is the vital part of music, after all, we're making it so listeners would enjoy that certain feeling.
Where are you from?
I was born in Baguio City, Philippines. I'm currently residing in Sydney, Australia. Me and my siblings moved here about 2 years ago.
Have you worked with any artists?
I've worked with dozens of artists, I've learned a lot from them and its been a fun and exciting process to being able to bounce ideas and voice out opinions to someone. I'm definitely looking forward to more future collaborations.
I noticed you use Maschine. Is it the centerpiece of your setup?
Yes, Maschine is my go to gear, together with my MIDI keyboard. I've been wanting to upgrade to the MK2 or the Studio, mainly for the VST's but I don't see that happening just yet as im still trying to master what I have before introducing a new piece to my workflow. Plus a simple basic setup makes it easier to get ideas out.
Yes, having a simpler setup forces you to be creative. What kind of setup did you have when you first started out?
I started out on Virtual DJ, just grabbed what I can loop from MP3's and mixed them all together. Funny enough, I found a couple of beats I made when I first started out and I still find myself nodding to it. My first real setup was Ableton and an Akai MPD26, where I started locking myself up in my room and just made beats 24/7.
What's your current setup?
I'm using a Technics SL-1200 MK1 with a Vestax PMC 05 PRO for sampling, or my Traktor Z2 for scratching. Then the sample goes to Maschine where I chop it up and pretty much compose the whole track, then dump everything on Ableton for mixing and mastering where I use my Mackies and ATH-M50X. Nothing fancy, but it works for me.
How often do you work on beats? And how long does it take you to finish them?
I always work on beats when I'm not working my day job. Everytime I get home from work or on my days off. It helps having a good work ethic, it rubs off on everything else. The longest time I've worked on a beat would've been about 30 hrs in total. I found that those beats or tracks get more attention or plays from listeners. Even then, I'm still not a 100% happy with it, I feel like there could've been something I could've tweaked or changed to make it better. Sometimes, the best ideas come after you've released a track, but I guess that's natural.
When did you first get into music production? And what got you interested in it?
CeelotheKingpin a producer from my hometown, initially sparked my interest to get into music production, after watching him create a track at work. I finally decided to start everything out after meeting Mokii Mcfly and Fuwowoy from the group Kunebreh, based in the Philippines. They were playing with samplers and were getting into turntablism. Being able to play and make music out of anything is what made me stick to it.
So apparently you work in a casino. Are you one of those guys in the back room that breaks hands of cheaters?
Haha I wish, but I don't look intimidating at all. I work there as a dealer, I started about 5 months ago, I've met awesome people there and it's been pretty exciting.
What can we expect from Bugsy in the near future?
I've been planning to form a group/band, and do beatmaking videos for a while now, I'm just waiting for the right people to do it with but it's definitely on the way. I got a couple of beats on mixtapes and EP's coming out soon. I got tracks I've been working on with a few artists. So definitely keep a look out for those.
Thanks for doing the interview. Any shoutouts you'd like to give?
I would like to give a shout out to my family and friends, especially my Mom, wouldn't be anywhere without their ongoing love and support. Shout out to the people in my hometown, the artists that I've worked with and the people that inspire me on a daily basis.
More Information About Bugsy