Meet The Producers - Where are you from?
EQ - I am originally from NY but relocated to Houston 4 1/2 years ago.
MTP - Whats the biggest difference between the Houston and NY music scene?
EQ - I might get heat for this answer but, "I grew up talking that street talk--up in Harlem...down on Broadway" and as far as I am concerned there is no comparison in general. However, I respect Houston for showing the local talent as much love as they do and I also respect the groundbreakers i.e. UGK , Ghetto Boys and the likes that helped to catapult not only Houston, but other southern states into the mainstream.
MTP - When and Why did you start producing?
EQ - I have only been producing for about 2 years (not quite 2 yet) and the bug bit me after I spent many an hour and night in the studio with my then boyfriend now husband. The curiosity got the best of me.
MTP - What was your first piece of equipmenmt and what do you use now?
EQ - I learned how to "make my first beat" on an Ensoniq ZR76 keyboard (ole skool) lol. I have since graduated to software, i.e. Pro-Tools, Reason, Sampletank and a slew of patches. I have also had a VERY brief encounter with an AKAI MPC 2000 which I would love to get my hands on again.
MTP - Do you collect records and how do you feel about the diggin culture?
EQ - I do not collect records (anymore). My exboyfriend was a DJ and we had a basement full of records. But of course the curiosity again got the best of me. I have some DJing experience, enough to do a couple cuts here and there and mix a track or 2 lol.
MTP - Tell me about The Femme Fatale Producers..
EQ - Femme Fatales is my baby. In my early myspace days, I went looking for other female producers to get a gauge of how many of us there really were. Low and behold there are TONS of us. Some doing more than others, some making hotter tracks than others, but all a part of the movement. Hence I created the Femme Fatales to show love to us all. These days I don't have to look for my comrades, they come to me :)
Link - "www.myspace.com/femmefatalesproducers
MTP - Whats it like being in a beat battle?
EQ - WOW! I just participated in my first beat battle (in which I finalized) and it was the best experience I've had in a long time. It was nerve racking, but I stand victorious!
MTP - How can it help a producer?
EQ - Participating in battles is another step on the networking ladder. Friendly competition is the best way to learn where you stand in your craft. Do you have it? If not, what do you need to do to get it? Who will you meet? who will you beat? So many possibilities and opportunities present themselves in the battle arena. I strongly advise it for ANY producer but especially I advise my sisters to enter and compete in every battle they come across. It's the best way to show the men that we are coming for them and in many cases you get respect on so many levels that you will have a greater appreciation for your own skills. I'm proof of that!
MTP - Whats your thoughts on the whole keyboard vs.sample beat discussion?
EQ - Music is music. It doesn't really matter how you make it, just like money.
MTP - How do you feel about the beats that are used in music today?
EQ - I am old skool, but I appreciate all creative expression. while I may not be a fan of 93.75% of what I hear on the radio., I respect the hustle that accompanies getting the product out there.
MTP - What producers influenced you music style?
EQ - I can't say that I am "influenced" by other producers, but I can say that I am inspired by some of the concepts originated by the greats like Tim(for his creativity), Dre(for his fundamentals), Kanye(for his approach), the Rza (who is sooooo slept on by mainstream for his originality), Jazzy Jeff (for his vision and as the first official hip-hop rap producer to earn a grammy), Missy (for being the only female known mainstream as a producer, though she is not the only by far--big ups to Stoni! and official my most influential by far my husband Desiac for giving the chance to perhaps join the ranks of these greats one day!
MTP - What is the worst studio session you have ever been involved with?
EQ - WOW! Where to start? I cannot single out one "worst" session, but I can say that the most difficult artist to work with is a beginner. Not because thier ignorant to the process, but because it is difficult to get them to focus because so much is being thrown at them.
MTP - What projects are you currently working with?
EQ -Currently I have a spot on 3 projects:
Honesty (female rapper, North Carolina)
"You Can't Handle the Truth" mixtape
Track #20 "Put Your Hands Up"
K.D. of KRK Entertainment (rapper, Missouri)
"Patiently Waiting" album
"The Truth is Here"
Gorgeous Slim of B.A.B.D. Records (rapper, Mass)
untitled
"Baby Baby" and "Angelitos" (tracks provided)
Tha Kid MD (rapper, Maryland)
untitled
"Don't Waste Your Time" (track provided)
in works:
Lady T (female rapper, Houston,TX) affiliated with Beats by the Pound
untitled
"Ladies Are Pimps 2" (track provided)
and a million and 1 on back burner collabos--lol
MTP -Whats something the readers may not know about you?
EQ - That I started as an artist before I learned to produce and got a pen colder than my production...lol
MTP - Whats your contact info?
EQ - Management: Winfield Management Group
646-326-2118
Direct: Desiac Music
832-524-2700/832-524-6563
desiacmusic@yahoo.com
femme_fatales_beats@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/eqbkabigyella
www.desiacmusic.com
MTP - Any last words?
EQ - Mad love to my Desiac Music peoples...Desiac (El Capitan), Freaky Jason, L-Boogie, Kromatic, & Green Fingaz (ROBOTS TAKING OVER)--shout to Winfield Management, Ms. Re' & Boss Baby Entertainment, Fiya Works Entertainment, ALL of my Femme Fatales out there! Thanks to MTP for showing me the love and for the interview look ;)--Paz...EQ
EQ Track "Native"
