How did you get into footwork originally?
I stumbled upon the Vatogato (Knxwledge alias) & Cakedog collab tapes when I was in my biggest Knx phase in 2021. Fell in love with those tapes immediately but after slowly discovering more I learned those weren’t the clearest representations of the genre. As I imagine it went with many outsiders to the genre upon first encounter it became a struggle/search to understand what was going on.
How is the footwork scene in Portland? Do you get to see a lot of it live there?
I wouldn’t say there’s a footwork scene here - if there is I haven’t found it, and I have asked around a little. Some great one-off DJ sets - DJ Manny and DJ Swisha have come to Portland and DJ Earl is coming soon. I think Seattle has some dancers that footwork but are more multidisciplinary than footwork focused. People have definitely been starting to show more of an interest in it over the last few years though.
Your most recent project, “Know what I mean,” dropped on the 22nd and it’s so dope! I’m especially a big fan of the wobbly, off-kilter intro track, “She fine” and the super ethereal “Pause right now and say” towards the end. When starting a project, are you typically coming from a particular place of inspiration and have a concept of what you’d like it to sound like, or does it come together throughout the process?
Thank you! It almost always comes together as I make music over time. I’m always just trying to emulate or kinda iterate on my biggest inspirations at the time. For the last few years I’ve been primarily making stuff around 160 so the projects come together more quickly.
Have you ever visited Chicago?
Once as a kid and once as an adult - I went to Lollapalooza in 2021. I need to get back out there ASAP. Shoutout to my friend Malcolm Mackey who lives out there and is the lead designer for Sur Le Lac - very cool clothes and events.
I feel like your percussion is even more varied than in a lot of footwork I hear. Do you pull your sounds from drum machines, or do you have a pack specifically for footwork?
I just have some sample packs I’ve collected over time online. Yeah I love exploring new rhythms. Sometimes I feel like my stuff is only related to footwork in the sense that it's 160 and syncopated - I’m definitely experimenting with and stretching “accepted” juke and footwork rhythms often. I try to gauge by this standard: if this were to come on in a juke party or at a footwork battle, would people think twice? Often the answer is yes but it still sounds good. It’s something I’m thinking about a lot, how honest I’m being calling my stuff juke/footwork - I kinda avoid doing that and it’s part of why my new project is called “Know what I mean”. The rhythm stuff is also kind of an ego thing though - I don’t really like to make stuff that didn’t take a little technical chops or sounds like someone else could have made it. I have to get over that.
What are some examples of non-musical media that you are inspired by?
Nothing I’m not inspired by if I’m in the right mindset. I’m not super knowledgeable about film or other visual art mediums but the more I engage with art that I love in general the more I’m inspired to create. I need to start messing around making videos that aren’t memes again.
There are some pictures on your Instagram of you playing guitar and synth. What does your overall musical background look like? How often, if at all, are you incorporating real instruments into your footwork tracks?
I was in middle school band and used to rap and learn songs on the uke when I was a kid lol but started making hip hop beats when I was 16. I wanted to sound like 9th Wonder. I studied music for a while in college and picked up a few instruments but I’ve had a long term wrist injury that’s kept me mostly off of them for almost 5 years. I was kind of a theory nerd in and coming out of college but it’s hard to write when you can’t really play. I don’t incorporate live instruments in my footwork stuff.
Do you have an album you can pick out that jumpstarted your love for music? Or for making music specifically?
Honestly I’d say Mac Miller and Chance the Rapper’s early stuff really got me into making it when I was in high school. Then in college Kiefer’s Kickinit Alone changed everything and I was just trying to copy him for years.
Top 3 albums/tapes you’ve listened to recently?
Let’s Meet at June’s - dolo2000, They Won’t Understand - YhapoJJ, #BARS II - SELA.
How do you reset when you aren’t feeling inspired when making music? Or do you always feel inspired?
Going on a walk or to the river & reminding myself it always comes in waves. I’m inspired way more often than not but sometimes the flow is just not there.
How long does it take you, on average, to get a track from start to finish?
I’d say like 4-5 hours. I need to spend more time on my tracks and learn to love mixing.
How do you think your inspiration has changed since the release of your earliest music on Bandcamp?
Mainly the combination of finding out about footwork + injury keeping me off my instruments. Also been listening to a lot more dance music in general since then.
What other artists in the scene are you working with, and what does collaboration look like for you?
I rarely collaborate - I think it’s hard to find connections that really click. I can be lazy and also a control freak so I don’t make it easy. Most collaborations I have are either someone sent me a loop and I ran with it or I sent someone a loop and they ran with it. Mostly collabing with username and auntie - I love sending my demos to user and watching him expand them into gems.
Would you ever consider doing track breakdowns on YouTube?
Honestly no, only cause I don’t want to set it all up and talk to the camera. But shoutout to the people who do - I think it’s generous.
I’m a big fan of your vocal sampling style. Do you listen to a lot of classic footwork/juke (and is that an inspiration of yours) or do you draw mainly from more modern stuff? I’ve been really into the sound from you and username with a lot of modern rap/R&B samples.
Thank you - I definitely want to get closer to the source in vocal sampling style as I keep making this music, but I just listen to a lot of modern rap and R&B so naturally I find lots of samples there. I’m definitely inspired by classic footwork/juke sounds - I think I’m more inspired by classic stuff from juke/ghetto house sides of things, and my favorite Footwork proper tracks come a little later. DJ Elmoe is my favorite footwork producer.
Favorite place you’ve gotten to DJ?
Barn Radio in Portland, but I’ve only gotten to DJ a handful of times - most of my performances have been beat sets. I have some fun gigs coming up in New York next month tho.
If you had to pick a sample you were proudest about pulling off in a track, what would it be?
Maybe the one in my track “Free YSL” from a pure chopping/reinvention standpoint. The source of the instrumental sample on “She fine” on the new tape is really funny but I will not be revealing that.
Are a lot of your friends into footwork?
Definitely more now than a few years ago! I wouldn’t say many of my friends that don’t make music are into it but a few have taken some interest for sure.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music?
Running, going to the river, cold plunging, hiking, thrifting, hanging with my cat Spencer.
Any shout-outs?
Josh Murray, Hunter Reed and Malcolm Mackey have done all of my artwork - big shoutout to them. Check out Josh’s music under “Stating the Obvious.” Shoutout SELA. too cause my music certainly wouldn’t sound like this if I didn’t find his work. And s/o all my producer friends in Portland I don't want to leave anybody out but there's really so much talent here.