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 typically 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 find time for 4 Fridays. Seems it was a easy choice for him.
With the well-oiled machine that’s Bizarre Science Promotions working 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 with out a hitch and the sequence nearer, going down this Friday, guarantees to be a terrific 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 gorgeous and vibey because the final, with an excellent blowout for the final date (learn on to seek 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 glorious solutions, however suffice it to say when you have been on the lookout 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 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 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 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 in regards to the gigs? What are you wanting ahead to within the upcoming gigs?
I can’t consider we’re already midway by means of! The gang 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 a terrific feeling to get to play to such a responsive crowd. It’s additionally been nice to get to see the opposite DJs play. Often 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 profit from the night time. Every night time of the residency has a very totally 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 can 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 like it could be very easy to curate a lineup, it was really actually tough as there have been so many individuals that I wished to ebook. 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 hearken to a extremely large number of drum and bass so I felt it was essential to cowl all of the totally different sounds that I get pleasure from.
I actually like working with Lowqui, he’s bought a terrific vibe as an MC, he’s a mad hype man and he all the time interacts nicely with the gang. 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 on 12 months three of your DARKMTTR label and it appears curation is essential to you, and that you simply’re not on the lookout for massive names to launch nevertheless it’s extra in regards to the sound. How would you characterise the sound of vibe you typically go for? Is it solely you on A&R, or have you ever introduced in some assist?
The sound of DARKMTTR is admittedly different. 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 once 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’s only 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 deciding on 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 all the time 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 so that they’re able to launch.
What are some stuff you’ve discovered over the primary three years of DARKMTTR about working a label? How has it measured as much as your expectations if you began it?
I’d wished to begin a label for years and I all the time 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 extremely 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 will not totally perceive, however they’re very important when working a label. I’m grateful that I’ve a stable crew 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} tough choice?
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 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 speak about? Did the discharge schedule inform your choice 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 wonderful to play the observe with him there and to see the gang response. The discharge schedule didn’t inform my choice 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 couple of 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 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 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 offer me some fairly distinctive sounds. I even have a whole lot 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 whole lot 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 recreation for some time, how is it to create tracks with present strategies versus 15 years in the past? Do you utilize a mix of strategies? 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 undoubtedly 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 undoubtedly modified over the previous few years is my sampling. I used to pattern quite a bit for all of my tracks, nonetheless 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 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 hearken to a extremely wide selection of digital music and recreate a few of the strategies 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 an excellent manufacturing device. 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 hearken to every thing by means of my PMC audio system.
Is there the rest you could have arising in releases or gigs that we didn’t point out?
We’ve got a launch arising on DARKMTTR in December; it’s a double launch: a collaboration I’ve executed 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 suppose! Rolling into 2024 we’ve a bunch of latest releases and collaborations lined up for DARKMTTR, however I’ve to maintain every thing beneath wraps for now. Hold your eyes on S.P.Y and DARKMTTR socials to see what we’ve bought occurring.
Any recommendation for brand new producers on the market?
I feel the principle piece of recommendation I might give is to by no means cease studying. Hold enhancing your sound and your manufacturing, continue learning new strategies and watch as many tutorials as you’ll be able to. Additionally, I feel 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 explicit tracks aren’t proper for that exact label, or perhaps you simply want a bit extra expertise, or it’s essential to 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 engaged on with the same observe that has been launched to see when 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, examine S.P.Y’s socials or Bizarre 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.