Your EDM Q&A: S.P.Y on His latest XOYO Residency, Two Years of DARKMTTR and His Recommendation for Producers
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 Information, could be taking up 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, together with his launch schedule, each label and private, many followers would possibly marvel how S.P.Y might find time for 4 Fridays. Seems 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 bought 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 and not using a hitch and the sequence 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 seek out how who the particular visitor will probably be tonight).
We don’t wish to yammer on an excessive amount of concerning the different stuff we chat about, as a result of S.P.Y gave a great deal of glorious solutions, however suffice it to say when you have been on the lookout for suggestions and tips from a grasp producer in addition to how he does his A&R, that is the article for you. Per his identify, S.P.Y often retains his secrets and techniques shut so YEDM feels very fortunate he was so open on this article and we respect his taking the time. Now learn on and revel in spying on S.P.Y.
As a producer who appears to stay within the lab and who solely does the gigs you actually get pleasure from, what made you determine 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 a tremendous alternative to curate my very own lineup and share with individuals, the DJs and producers that I actually admire and respect. Funnily sufficient, it’s really bought 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 only for them.
We’re nearly midway by means of the November dates (at time of interview); what have been a few of your observations concerning the gigs? What are you wanting ahead to within the upcoming gigs?
I can’t consider we’re already midway by means of! The group on the first two nights has been completely unimaginable. They’ve been so up for something and have actually been vibing to all 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. Normally I’m so busy touring that I’m out and in and onto the subsequent present. For every evening of the residency I’ve been there from begin to end and have gotten to get pleasure from everybody’s units and actually profit from the evening. Every evening of the residency has a completely completely different lineup with a special sound, so I’m wanting ahead to dropping some extra dubs on the subsequent two nights. I’m additionally actually wanting ahead to going again to again with Bladerunner and Flava D, that will probably be particular!
How did you choose the lineups for every week? How did you determine to work with Lowqui as your MC?
Whereas 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 needed to ebook. I used to be fortunate that the ultimate lineup had everybody that I actually needed and every evening has come collectively properly. I needed to make every evening distinctive, so the 4 lineups replicate that. I take heed to a very broad number of drum and bass so I felt it was necessary to cowl all of the completely different sounds that I get pleasure from.
I actually like working with Lowqui, he’s bought an excellent vibe as an MC, he’s a mad hype man and he all the time interacts properly with the group. It’s additionally been nice to work with another MCs throughout the residency too, like Inja, Stamina and SP:MC, they every have such a novel fashion and add a special taste to my set.
Coming off XOYO for a bit, you’re arising on yr three of your DARKMTTR label and it appears curation is essential to you, and that you just’re not on the lookout for massive names to launch nevertheless it’s extra concerning 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 absolutely diversified. The label releases every thing from darkish and minimal, to moody and musical, though I really feel like all the releases appear to have a deep, heavy undertone to them, even the extra atmospheric tracks. I all the time knew that after I began a label I didn’t need it to be pigeonholed into only one sub-genre so I actually needed it to replicate my style in music. It is just me doing the A&R for the label and I actually get pleasure from doing it. I exploit a DJ-based strategy to A&R and the very first thing I ask myself when choosing a monitor is, would I play this in my units? Each monitor that I’ve signed to the label is one which I might – and do – play myself. I’ve all the time needed to do A&R and it’s one in every 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 while you began it?
I’d needed to start out a label for years and I all the time knew it was going to be a number 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 just aren’t accountable for as an artist and should not totally perceive, however they’re important when operating a label. I’m grateful that I’ve a strong staff 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 determine which releases of your personal will go on DARKMTTR and which you’ll store different labels? Is {that a} troublesome resolution?
It’s troublesome. I launch most of my music on DARKMTTR, however typically as a result of scheduling I’ll search for different labels to launch my music. If I launched every thing 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 that you could discuss? Did the discharge schedule inform your resolution to do the residency?
The second evening of the residency was really the discharge day for “Take Me Up,” my new collaboration with IAMDOOMED. IAMDOOMED performed at XOYO the identical evening and it was like an unofficial launch get together. It was superb to play the monitor with him there and to see the group response. The discharge schedule didn’t inform my resolution to do the residency, nevertheless it was nice that IAMDOOMED might play on the identical day.
Speaking a bit about fashion and sound, in the previous few years you’ve been doing a number of deep and atmospheric stuff however not essentially melodic. What makes you impressed to alter issues up and the way do you provide you with your extra distinctive sounds?
Producing music is such an natural, inventive expertise for me. I can’t pressure a vibe or make myself produce a sure kind of sound. My music is an expression of how I’m feeling emotionally on the time, or what’s happening in my life. Relying 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 a number of time engaged on sound design which appears to offer me some fairly distinctive sounds. I even have a number of analog and modular tools in my studio and I attempt to not be too technical with it. Late nights within the studio, a little bit of sleep deprivation and a number of experimentation appear to mix to provide some actually attention-grabbing sounds. Principally I simply have enjoyable with it and see what I can create!
Having been within the sport for some time, how is it to create tracks with present strategies versus 15 years in the past? Do you utilize a mix of methods? What kind 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 maintain my manufacturing related sonically, however my methods 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 lots for all of my tracks, nevertheless now I create all the sounds myself. Studying extra about sound design has opened up a complete new realm creatively for me and it’s actually satisfying with 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 a few of the methods from different genres with my very own twist. I’ve been utilizing Abelton Stay since model 5 and I’m actually loyal to it, it’s a superb manufacturing device. I additionally use a Strong State Logic (SSL) desk for summing my tracks in analog, which creates a very nice heat texture for my tracks and naturally I take heed to every thing by means of my PMC audio system.
Is there the rest you’ve gotten arising in releases or gigs that we didn’t point out?
We’ve a launch arising on DARKMTTR in December; it’s a double launch: a collaboration I’ve completed with DJ Restricted and one other of his tracks which has a tremendous vocal. I’m going to be dropping the monitor at XOYO so I’m actually wanting ahead to seeing what the group assume! Rolling into 2024 now we have a bunch of recent releases and collaborations lined up for DARKMTTR, however I’ve to maintain every thing below wraps for now. Hold your eyes on S.P.Y and DARKMTTR socials to see what we’ve bought happening.
Any recommendation for brand new producers on the market?
I believe the principle piece of recommendation I might give is to by no means cease studying. Hold bettering your sound and your manufacturing, continue to learn new methods and watch as many tutorials as you’ll be able to. Additionally, I believe it’s fairly straightforward to surrender when you’ve submitted a couple of tracks to labels and haven’t had something picked up. More often than not, it’s simply that these specific tracks aren’t proper for that individual label, or perhaps you simply want a bit extra expertise, or it’s worthwhile to refine your sound. Don’t quit, maintain producing and maintain sending in these demos! One trick I can share is to A and B the monitor you’re engaged on with an identical monitor that has been launched to see when you’re heading in the right direction sonically.
S.P.Y’s final XOYO set will probably be tonight, November 24 at XOYO. For clips and data, test S.P.Y’s socials or Weird Science Promotions’ Instagram. For upcoming DARKMTTR releases and to listen to S.P.Y’s newest monitor with IAMDOOMED talked about on this article, click here.