It might need come as a shock when it was introduced that S.P.Y, the elusive DJ, producer and now label boss of DARKMTTR Records, could be taking on the legendary XOYO in London for the entire of November. The Brasil-born mega DJ usually solely picks the gigs he’s actually enthusiastic about and, along with his launch schedule, each label and private, many followers may surprise how S.P.Y might make time for 4 Fridays. Turns out it was a easy resolution for him.
With the well-oiled machine that’s Weird Science Promotions operating most D&B gigs at XOYO (they’ve additionally acquired the likes of Grooverider, Andy C and the entire Kool FM lineup slotted for December and early 2024), and a ready-made lineup at his disposal, the primary three gigs have gone off with no hitch and the collection nearer, happening this Friday, guarantees to be an excellent sendoff for S.P.Y and firm. The likes of Calyx, MC GQ, Etherwood, Lowqui, IAMDOOMED, Alley Cat, Voltage, Kyrist and Flava D on the roster, each week was as beautiful and vibey because the final, with an excellent blowout for the final date (learn on to search out how who the particular visitor will probably be tonight).
We don’t need to yammer on an excessive amount of in regards to the different stuff we chat about, as a result of S.P.Y gave masses of glorious solutions, however suffice it to say in case you had been trying for ideas and methods from a grasp producer in addition to how he does his A&R, that is the article for you. Per his title, S.P.Y normally retains his secrets and techniques shut so YEDM feels very fortunate he was so open on this article and we admire his taking the time. Now learn on and take pleasure in spying on S.P.Y.
As a producer who appears to dwell within the lab and who solely does the gigs you actually take pleasure in, what made you resolve to do a residency at XOYO?
XOYO is such a legendary membership, so I felt fairly honored to be requested to host a residency there. It’s an incredible alternative to curate my very own lineup and share with folks, the DJs and producers that I actually admire and respect. Funnily sufficient, it’s really acquired me spending much more time within the studio as I’ve been busy finalizing new tracks to play on the residency. I do know that everybody who’s coming all the way down to XOYO are there as a result of they like my sound, so it’s actually rewarding to have the ability to drop some unique new tracks and mixes simply for them.
We’re nearly midway by means of the November dates (at time of interview); what have been some of your observations in regards to the gigs? What are you trying ahead to within the upcoming gigs?
I can’t consider we’re already midway by means of! The crowd on the first two nights has been completely unimaginable. They’ve been so up for something and have actually been vibing to all of the DJs, it’s such an excellent feeling to get to play to such a responsive crowd. It’s additionally been nice to get to see the opposite DJs play. Usually I’m so busy touring that I’m in and out and onto the following present. For every night time of the residency I’ve been there from begin to end and have gotten to take pleasure in everybody’s units and actually take advantage of of the night time. Each night time of the residency has a completely completely different lineup with a unique sound, so I’m trying ahead to dropping some extra dubs on the subsequent two nights. I’m additionally actually trying ahead to going again to again with Bladerunner and Flava D, that will probably be particular!
How did you decide the lineups for every week? How did you resolve to work with Lowqui as your MC?
While it looks as if it could be very easy to curate a lineup, it was really actually troublesome as there have been so many individuals that I wished to e book. I used to be fortunate that the ultimate lineup had everybody that I actually wished and every night time has come collectively properly. I wished to make every night time distinctive, so the 4 lineups mirror that. I take heed to a very wide selection of drum and bass so I felt it was essential to cowl all of the completely different sounds that I take pleasure in.
I actually like working with Lowqui, he’s acquired an excellent vibe as an MC, he’s a mad hype man and he at all times interacts properly with the gang. It’s additionally been nice to work with another MCs through the residency too, like Inja, Stamina and SP:MC, they every have such a singular fashion and add a unique taste to my set.
Coming off XOYO for a bit, you’re on yr three of your DARKMTTR label and it appears curation is essential to you, and that you simply’re not trying for large names to launch however it’s extra in regards to the sound. How would you characterise the sound of vibe you usually go for? Is it solely you on A&R, or have you ever introduced in some assist?
The sound of DARKMTTR is de facto diversified. The label releases all the things from darkish and minimal, to moody and musical, though I really feel like all of the releases appear to have a deep, heavy undertone to them, even the extra atmospheric tracks. I at all times knew that once I began a label I didn’t need it to be pigeonholed into only one sub-genre so I actually wished it to mirror my style in music. It is barely me doing the A&R for the label and I actually take pleasure in doing it. I exploit a DJ-based strategy to A&R and the very first thing I ask myself when deciding on a observe is, would I play this in my units? Every observe that I’ve signed to the label is one which I’d – and do – play myself. I’ve at all times wished to do A&R and it’s one of my favourite elements of operating a label. It’s actually rewarding to find new music and assist producers work up their tracks in order that they’re able to launch.
What are some belongings you’ve discovered over the primary three years of DARKMTTR about operating a label? How has it measured as much as your expectations if you began it?
I’d wished to start out a label for years and I at all times knew it was going to be so much of work however nothing actually prepares you for the day after day actuality of operating a label. It’s been a very attention-grabbing expertise seeing the music business from a label perspective. I’d solely ever seen it from the artist aspect so it’s been fairly a studying curve to see what’s concerned in getting a launch on the market. Scheduling, budgeting and A&R, they’re all issues that you simply aren’t accountable for as an artist and might not totally perceive, however they’re important when operating a label. I’m grateful that I’ve a stable workforce round me who share the imaginative and prescient of the label. It’s so rewarding seeing the label develop, I can’t consider we’ve had 21 releases already!
How do you resolve which releases of your individual will go on DARKMTTR and which you’ll store different labels? Is {that a} troublesome resolution?
It is troublesome. I launch most of my music on DARKMTTR, however generally resulting from scheduling I’ll look for different labels to launch my music. If I launched all the things I’ve on DARKMTTR there could be no room within the schedule for the opposite artists!
Are there any upcoming releases that tie in with the XOYO residency which you can discuss? Did the discharge schedule inform your resolution to do the residency?
The second night time of the residency was really the discharge day for “Take Me Up,” my new collaboration with IAMDOOMED. IAMDOOMED performed at XOYO the identical night time and it was like an unofficial launch occasion. It was superb to play the observe with him there and to see the gang response. The launch schedule didn’t inform my resolution to do the residency, however it was nice that IAMDOOMED might play on the identical day.
Talking a bit about fashion and sound, in the previous couple of years you’ve been doing so much of deep and atmospheric stuff however not essentially melodic. What makes you impressed to vary issues up and how do you give you your extra distinctive sounds?
Producing music is such an natural, artistic expertise for me. I can’t power a vibe or make myself produce a sure sort of sound. My music is an expression of how I’m feeling emotionally on the time, or what’s going on in my life. Depending on what I’m feeling impressed by I can produce one thing completely completely different to different issues I’ve been producing recently. I spend so much of time working on sound design which appears to offer me some fairly distinctive sounds. I even have so much of analog and modular tools in my studio and I attempt to not be too technical with it. Late nights within the studio, a bit of sleep deprivation and so much of experimentation appear to mix to provide some actually attention-grabbing sounds. Basically I simply have enjoyable with it and see what I can create!
Having been within the recreation for some time, how is it to create tracks with present strategies versus 15 years in the past? Do you utilize a mixture of strategies? What type of softwares or programmers do you utilize?
To be sincere, I haven’t actually modified the way in which I produce. My sound has positively advanced over time, and I attempt to hold my manufacturing related sonically, however my strategies actually haven’t modified that a lot. One factor that I’ve positively modified over the previous few years is my sampling. I used to pattern so much for all of my tracks, nevertheless now I create all of the sounds myself. Learning extra about sound design has opened up a complete new realm creatively for me and it’s actually satisfying having the ability to use my very own sounds. I’ve been having fun with sound design a lot that I’ve even began releasing my very own pattern packs.
I take heed to a very big selection of digital music and recreate some of the strategies from different genres with my very own twist. I’ve been utilizing Abelton Live since model 5 and I’m actually loyal to it, it’s a superb manufacturing software. I additionally use a Solid State Logic (SSL) desk for summing my tracks in analog, which creates a very nice heat texture for my tracks and of course I take heed to all the things by means of my PMC audio system.
Is there the rest you’ve arising in releases or gigs that we didn’t point out?
We have a launch arising on DARKMTTR in December; it’s a double launch: a collaboration I’ve executed with DJ Limited and one other of his tracks which has an incredible vocal. I’m going to be dropping the observe at XOYO so I’m actually trying ahead to seeing what the gang assume! Rolling into 2024 we’ve a bunch of new releases and collaborations lined up for DARKMTTR, however I’ve to maintain all the things underneath wraps for now. Keep your eyes on S.P.Y and DARKMTTR socials to see what we’ve acquired going on.
Any recommendation for new producers on the market?
I feel the primary piece of recommendation I might give is to by no means cease studying. Keep enhancing your sound and your manufacturing, continue to learn new strategies and watch as many tutorials as you possibly can. Also, I feel it’s fairly simple to surrender in case you’ve submitted a number of tracks to labels and haven’t had something picked up. Most of the time, it’s simply that these explicit tracks aren’t proper for that individual label, or perhaps you simply want a bit extra expertise, or you could refine your sound. Don’t surrender, hold producing and hold sending in these demos! One trick I can share is to A and B the observe you’re working on with an identical observe that has been launched to see in case you’re on the suitable observe sonically.
S.P.Y’s final XOYO set will probably be tonight, November 24 at XOYO. For clips and information, examine S.P.Y’s socials or Weird Science Promotions’ Instagram. For upcoming DARKMTTR releases and to listen to S.P.Y’s newest observe with IAMDOOMED talked about on this article, click on right here.
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