Your EDM Q&A: S.P.Y on His latest XOYO Residency, Three Years of DRKMTTR and His Recommendation for Producers
It may need come as a shock when it was introduced that S.P.Y, the elusive DJ, producer and now label boss of DARKMTTR Information, can 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 may surprise how S.P.Y may find time for 4 Fridays. Seems it was a easy determination for him.
With the well-oiled machine that’s Weird Science Promotions working most D&B gigs at XOYO (they’ve additionally obtained 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, going down this Friday, guarantees to be an amazing 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 can 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 a great deal of wonderful solutions, however suffice it to say in case you had been searching 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 revel in spying on S.P.Y.
As a producer who appears to dwell within the lab and who solely does the gigs you actually get pleasure from, 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 truly obtained 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 right 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 way of the November dates (at time of interview); what have been a few of your observations in regards to the gigs? What are you wanting ahead to within the upcoming gigs?
I can’t consider we’re already midway by way 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 the entire DJs, it’s such an amazing 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 following present. For every night time of the residency I’ve been there from begin to end and have gotten to get pleasure from everybody’s units and actually benefit from the night time. Every night time of the residency has a completely totally different lineup with a distinct 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 can be particular!
How did you decide the lineups for every week? How did you resolve to work with Lowqui as your MC?
Whereas it looks like it could be very easy to curate a lineup, it was truly actually tough 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 replicate that. I take heed to a very extensive number of drum and bass so I felt it was necessary to cowl all of the totally different sounds that I get pleasure from.
I actually like working with Lowqui, he’s obtained an amazing vibe as an MC, he’s a mad hype man and he at all times interacts nicely 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 novel type and add a distinct taste to my set.
Coming off XOYO for a bit, you’re on 12 months three of your DARKMTTR label and it appears curation is essential to you, and that you just’re not searching for massive names to launch nevertheless 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 actually various. The label releases the whole lot from darkish and minimal, to moody and musical, though I really feel like the entire releases appear to have a deep, heavy undertone to them, even the extra atmospheric tracks. I at all times knew that after I began a label I didn’t need it to be pigeonholed into only one sub-genre so I actually wished 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 method to A&R and the very first thing I ask myself when choosing a observe is, would I play this in my units? Each 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 among my favourite elements of working 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 realized over the primary three years of DARKMTTR about working a label? How has it measured as much as your expectations once you began it?
I’d wished to start out a label for years and I at all times knew it was going to be a whole lot of work however nothing actually prepares you for the everyday actuality of working a label. It’s been a very attention-grabbing expertise seeing the music trade 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 answerable for as an artist and will not absolutely perceive, however they’re very important when working a label. I’m grateful that I’ve a strong group 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 personal will go on DARKMTTR and which you’ll store different labels? Is {that a} tough determination?
It’s tough. I launch most of my music on DARKMTTR, however typically resulting from scheduling I’ll search for different labels to launch my music. If I launched the whole lot I’ve on DARKMTTR there can 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 determination to do the residency?
The second night time of the residency was truly 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 social gathering. It was superb to play the observe with him there and to see the gang response. The discharge schedule didn’t inform my determination to do the residency, nevertheless it was nice that IAMDOOMED may play on the identical day.
Speaking a bit about type and sound, in the previous few years you’ve been doing a whole lot 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 sort of sound. My music is an expression of how I’m feeling emotionally on the time, or what’s occurring in my life. Relying on what I’m feeling impressed by I can produce one thing completely totally different to different issues I’ve been producing currently. I spend a whole lot of time engaged on sound design which appears to present me some fairly distinctive sounds. I even have a whole lot of analog and modular gear in my studio and I strive to not be too technical with it. Late nights within the studio, a little bit of sleep deprivation and a whole lot of experimentation appear to mix to provide some actually attention-grabbing sounds. Mainly 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 employ a mix of methods? What kind of softwares or programmers do you employ?
To be trustworthy, I haven’t actually modified the way in which I produce. My sound has positively advanced through the years, and I attempt to hold 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 loads for all of my tracks, nevertheless now I create the entire sounds myself. Studying extra about sound design has opened up an entire 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 a few of the methods from different genres with my very own twist. I’ve been utilizing Abelton Dwell since model 5 and I’m actually loyal to it, it’s a superb manufacturing instrument. I additionally use a Stable 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 the whole lot by way of my PMC audio system.
Is there anything you may have developing in releases or gigs that we didn’t point out?
We now have a launch developing on DARKMTTR in December; it’s a double launch: a collaboration I’ve accomplished with DJ Restricted 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 wanting ahead to seeing what the gang assume! Rolling into 2024 we have now a bunch of latest releases and collaborations lined up for DARKMTTR, however I’ve to maintain the whole lot beneath wraps for now. Maintain your eyes on S.P.Y and DARKMTTR socials to see what we’ve obtained occurring.
Any recommendation for brand spanking new producers on the market?
I feel the primary piece of recommendation I may give is to by no means cease studying. Maintain bettering your sound and your manufacturing, continue to learn new methods and watch as many tutorials as you’ll be able to. Additionally, I feel it’s fairly straightforward to surrender in case you’ve submitted just a few tracks to labels and haven’t had something picked up. More often than not, it’s simply that these explicit tracks aren’t proper for that individual label, or possibly you simply want a bit extra expertise, or you could refine your sound. Don’t hand over, hold producing and hold sending in these demos! One trick I can share is to A and B the observe you’re engaged on with the same observe that has been launched to see in case you’re heading in the right direction sonically.
S.P.Y’s final XOYO set can be tonight, November 24 at XOYO. For clips and information, test 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 here.