Do you have a favorite food spot in Chicago?
There are so many good spots out here I can't even think of just choosing one! lol
15 years ago you were featured on Bangs & Works Vol. 1, which was a breakthrough moment for you. This year, you put out your debut full album. What made you finally feel like it was time to put out an album on a label?
Well all thanks to Mike Paradinas and the label planet mu for giving me another opportunity. I just felt like it was about time. Definitely long overdue
Do you make all the artwork for your tracks and mixtapes?
For the most part yes i do check out the artwork on the 7.5.3 Code album lol.
Do you ever work with hardware or do you stick to FL Studio?
I have some professional hardware but nothing too extravagant, but yes, I use fl.
Your sampling is so creative and out there a lot of the time. When you hear something you wanna sample, are you hearing an idea right there in the moment or does that happen once it's in the playlist and you're chopping it up?
It's mainly made of what I grew up around in music. The melodies I catch in samples and sometimes the swinging rhythm when I'm in the moment, but once I get it in the playlist that's when I start to use my creative thoughts.
You've mentioned you have a background in percussion and got into making music through FL as a kid. Did you have someone showing you what was up or were you figuring it out on your own?
Yes, I have experience in percussion when I was in school. Some good old friends of mine used to produce beats and they kind of introduced me to Fl since then I learned how to do everything on my own.
Do you feel like your percussion experience in real life translates well to your programming and your understanding of rhythms or was it still a tough adjustment?
Yes, I believe that played a huge role in it, especially jazz bands. It helped me master my offset style.
In another interview you talked about Boylan being your chemistry teacher in high school. Do you still keep in touch?
Yes, every now and then i say what up to him still trips me out that he was my chemistry teacher till this day lol.
I was excited to hear you on the new username project recently, on the track "FUKK IT UP." I feel like I see a lot of names in contemporary footwork following each other on soundcloud or collaborating. How did that collab happen? And are you tapped in with a lot of the stuff that's dropping in the new footwork scene?
Jus want to spread love out to the footwork culture with all this gutta heat you know! I was very glad to collaborate with username after digging into his catalog. I had to create some fire.
I've always loved how chaotic some of the tracks off of Burn Up, Vol. 1 get at some points. It really sounds like you had fun making them. Sometimes the sample chopping and pitching is really unpredictable. It always works, though. Is there always a method or are you just going by ear sometimes?
I usually go by ear a lot, but it's definitely an unpredictable method I mastered at this point and Burn Up Vol.1 was fun as hell to make. I made that all in a day. lol
What are the top 3 plugins you're using religiously?
Parametric Eq2, Gladiator, and SoundGoodizer lol.
Where are you getting your drum sounds from? I've been trying to find a pack for footwork for the longest time and I feel like I'm missing something (I don't even have to include this one this is just a personal question lol).
I made a lot of my drums and some from older mpc such as the 2000 or 4000
What kind of music have you been listening to lately?
Mostly footwork tracks.
I love that your take on footwork is more laid-back than some other artists in the scene, but your drum programming is on another level. Do you ever mess around with making other types of electronic music?
Im passionate just as much as everyone else!!!, i just put it all into my music. I'd love to expand my horizon in other areas of electronic music, but I'd prefer to stick to my blueprint.
Do you have any non-musical art you're inspired by?
I'm inspired by the art of nature and the way the earth spends its life.
Do you remember the first footwork track you got really into?
The first track would have to be (Dj Solo -Smoke on Project Bustdown 2) one of the coldest tracks that has hooked me ever since.
I've been really enjoying seeing other footwork shows around Chicago lately. Would you or have you ever played your tracks live?
Of course I've played my tracks live and will continue to.! I just was locked in with more of the production side of things.
Anyone you want to shout out?
Shout out to the whole footwork culture in the world Especially my home Chicago. Also Shout out for the month of August is F.A.M. Footwork Appreciation Month! and Shout out to my crew (Gutta Kings "The Digital Band") . We have a collection of Intelligent producers that are very creative in the work we do. be on the lookout for our new project drop very soon yall gonna love this!!! Go Grab my Elmoe Album on all platforms from the label Planet Mu! and Burning Season 3. Album coming on October 21st!