Interview withEpic B

Interview with the artist

You’ve created a wild production with a lot of lasers. Can you please tell us which genres you’ve combined to create this track?

To combine this track I used the style that I have helped pioneer called FDM (Flex Dance Music), alongside Dj Lag’s African house style called Gqom.

Where did those genres originate, and what’s their story?

FDM (Flex Dance Music) originated in Brooklyn and was created from a dance style called Flex’n to compliment the dance competitions. FDM stemmed from a mixture of 90’s Dancehall and modern day hip-hop, trap, and other global sounds. What started out as being just for dance battles slowly made its way into the club scene.

Tell us about the collaboration: how did you guys meet up and make this track together?

Dj Lag and I met near the end of 2017 during his visit to New York, he was staying with a mutual friend of ours who was eager for us to meet. We ended up sitting and showing each other our styles of music and right away spent the next hour working the track that was then released and submitted to you guys.

Are there any production tips you’d like to share with other producers? What are some of your favorite techniques and hacks to make music?

As simple and as basic as it may sound, being labeled as a pioneer came from me experimenting and mixing sounds I love or created to come up with something I can now call my own, so I always encourage producers to be open-minded so that they can find their unique sound. One hack I use is Ableton’s ability to pull in channels from previous sessions, so if I get stuck on a new idea I can Frankenstein parts from old sessions to create something new.

Working quickly, in an hour, takes a lot of preparation work beforehand. How do you organize yourself and be able to produce a track this fast?

Honestly working fast comes from knowing your DAW and understanding the importance of shortcuts. Also having good starting points come from sites like Splice with ideas you can build around with many kits available from genres all across the globe. Being able to start from a skeleton and build the body.

What are some classic tracks from those 2 genres that you’d like to tell us about? Help us learn more about those genres.

I can’t speak too much on classic tracks from Gqom, but as far as for FDM ( Flex Dance Music) a track I released called ‘Apollo 2.0’ has been used in many dance competitions and also used for promotional purposes at The Met Gallery. A fellow pioneer Uninamise released a track called ‘Goosebumps’ on our Boiler Room compilation.

Do you think this genre has a chance to become the next sound of electronic dance music?

Yes, I definitely feel like both genres can be the next up and coming sounds because it has inspired and influenced others to want to also create within the genres. They also grab the attention of others who hear it for the first time.

What are your personal goals as a musician and a DJ?

My goal is simple, I want to influence others and to make music that lives on long after me.

If you could collab with anyone, who would it be?

Without a doubt I would collab with Timbaland. When I actually started paying attention to the music I was listening to, most of it was produced by him. He was using sounds and samples that weren’t common and in his own unique style.

Do you have any tips on overcoming creative block, and making great music?

The first tip I can give is living life and creating experiences, the more experiences you have the more chances you have to be influenced by them. Another major tip is collaborating, an idea you may be stumped by sometimes just needs the help of another and can also show you how to complete music in the future. Lastly, don’t overthink things, in the past I would constantly think I needed more or that something else was needed, but what may sound simple to you can actually be more complex than you think.

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