MATTY G / NICK ARGON
Interview by Ric Baker
“I’m currently trying to take it back to the soul, to try and represent america’s art form a little better.”
How were you first exposed to dubstep?
Nick Argon’s brother is really into grime and has followed it for awhile. He started playing Nick some grime beats, as well as some dubstep that was coming out… tunes like Horror Show and Roll Dat Shit. He then played them to me, and I was diggin’ the tunes as well. After that, I started checking Barefiles, to listen to radio shows, and got a better idea of what the sound was all about. Dubstep Wars on Mary Anne Hobbs’ show sealed the deal though
What’s the signifigance of the title “Take You Back”
There’s a song on the “Rocky” soundtrack of a street corner group singing “Take You Back, do-do-do-do, Take You Baaaaack.” I thought it’d be a dope intro and title for the album ‘cause I draw from some oldschool influences. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up using the sample, but I stuck with it as a title.
Is there any concept or message behind the album?
Nothing that was intentional, except that I wanted the CD version to be for fans of dubstep, who aren’t DJs. I guess, that ultimately affects the songs on vinyl, but I wanted to have a track selection, that wasn’t too dance floor, or too deep. Something to bump in the car or your walkman. I didn’t want the intro’s/outro’s of songs to be too long, and I put little silly skits and stuff in between some of the beatz to make it fun, and keep the listener’s interest.
How did you approach working with different singers/MC’s?
I just tried to do the best with each individual situation. Juakali was on the East coast, and sent me acapellas he recorded over the beats. Luv Fyah was recorded over a beat, that I did, by a friend of mine, without me even knowing it. The beat already had lyrics for it though, so I made a whole new beat for Nuff A Dis, once I heard the lyrics. I sought out Audio Angel ‘cause I’ve been wanting to work with her for awhile, and we just recorded some on the spot stuff at a friends house. After that, I did the mixdowns at home, and tried to do them all justice.
Did you write your tracks with these specific artists in mind?
For the Luv Fyah tune, I crafted a beat to fit the lyrics ‘cause he recorded on a tune, that already had vocals for it. Juakali was given the pic of some beats and he wrote to those. I wanted to get the right vibe for Audio Angel, so I especially kept her in mind when making the beat for Jazzy Ways.
Did you play any of the instruments on the record?
Only some synths on the tracks… strings, pianos, vibraphones, clavichords, those kinda things. I would like to incorporate some live instrumentation into future projects, and maybe try to rent some studio time for musicians and vocalists.
Where would you place “Take You Back” in the scope of your personal career and development as a musician? At the top right now. It was such a long process, with lots of learning along the way. It’s something that I never thought I would achieve in my lifetime. As far as development, I’ve lost some of my technical ability as a classically defined musician, because I spend all my time in front of the computer, instead of playing instruments, but I’ve broadened my abilities to compose songs by having full control over all of the elements. I used to play guitar in a hardcore band, and it was tough to compromise with others about which direction to take the music. Being able to do whatever I want now is very self-fulfilling, but can also be tough. When you work by yourself, it’s only your ideas being examined by people. I’m excited and nervous to see, how the album is received. I do miss the spontaneous creativity that comes from working with others though, which is why I’ve done some production and vocal collaborations on the album. These experiences definitely brought some wonderful vibes, and helped me expand as a producer. Mixing vocals has definitely been the largest challenge so far though.
What influence has Hip-Hop had on your work?
For me, hip hop is the most accessible form of music, so it definitely plays a big part in what I create as a musician. I grew up for a long time in a rural environment, and was really turned on by hip hop in the 90s. The groups I listened to like N.W.A., Wu Tang, Tribe Called Quest, etc… were all very funk and soul-based. This style of production has really left a mark on me, and is the fashion in which I create songs. A lot of people build their own songs from scratch, playing all the synths and basslines.
I like to hear something, and try and flip it. I love a loop, a sample. Some of my songs sample reggae, and have some old school scratch record samples in there, but I’m currently trying to take it back to the soul, to try and represent America’s art form a little better.
What other styles and artists influence and inspire your music?
I’m a huge fan of dub and reggae. Funk and soul of course… RIP Isaac Hayes. He’s definitely one of my favorites and epitomizes the sound I would love to make… soul, but orchestral soul. It’s got that southern funk, with beautiful string melodies. Electronic music is a big part too. My whole introduction was through house, and although I didn’t get fanatical about it (I only know a few artists), it’s definitely an influence. Jungle and hardcore are huge influences though. By the time I got into it, it was already drum and bass. I didn’t initially have any friends, who were into it, so it took me awhile to realize I couldn’t buy records that had the sound I was looking for, because they weren’t being made anymore. Jungle is all about basslines, and I love that. I also loved, how it flipped other styles like R&B, funk, hip hop, reggae and dancehall, and made them work within the framework of jungle. As much as I love all that stuff, I have to say though, that No U Turn shit is the best for me. They still sampled a bit, but it was sparse, and rugged as hell. Old Ed Rush, Trace’s Lucky Spin tunes, Ruffige Kru, all that stuff have had a huge influence on me… even though it might not seem like it… haha.
Do you feel any of your production techniques directly affect your sound?
Definitely. My studio setup is an old iMac G3, and a bunch of records. I don’t have the processing power to go crazy, so that definitely limits what I can do. Having a sample-based style of production affects my sound as well. Usually, the melody consists of something I’ve taken from a record, and then I might build upon it with a synth, whereas other producers might use synths, or just a crazy bangin’ bassline for the melody.
What are your feeling on sampling?
I have a love/hate relationship with sampling. It’s an integral part of my style, and of styles I admire, but I struggle with it. I wonder if people question, whether I’m a real musician, because I use samples. I’ve been trying to do more completely original beats lately, but there’s something about sampling that makes the music process fun. I’m constantly hearing things I’d like to sample, and was doing that before I was ever a producer. In the end, it’s all good. I feel like I’m just participating in a style of
production that isn’t as prevalent in music anymore.
What do you listen for in a track? What musical elements are important to you?
Bass, drums, and melody. The bass and drums come first. I love being able to strip down a tune. When I make a beat, I make the busiest part of the tune, with all the elements going. Then, I’ll strip that down. My favorite part of a tune is when nothing but the bass and drums are left. If they don’t sound good by themselves, then there’s a problem. I do love a good melody though. It has to be there. That’s when the samples, or a little synth come in.
How do you approach your DJ set?
I used to plan it out when I was just a DJ. I’d be real into it, busting quick mixes and a scratch here and there. Now, it’s more on the fly. Sometimes I’ll drop an oldschool jam as an intro, and work my way up. I feel kinda obligated to bust some bangers, but I’d like to be able to take it a bit deeper than what I usually play out. It’s tough, because an hour isn’t a lot of time to experiment. If you kill the vibe with a tune that’s too mellow, it could take the rest of the set to get ‘em back.
Do you hear a difference between British dubstep and American dubstep? Bay Area dubstep?
There’s a difference between every producer out there, regardless of their country of origin. Some producers sound more similar than others. They might be using similar equipment, drawing from similar influences, or part of a crew that’s trying to push a certain sound, but for the most part I feel everyone has a pretty unique sound. That’s why I love this music, there’s so much diversity, and freedom to try new things.
What are your plans for the future?
Possibly starting a new label, another album, some singles, or saying fuck it to the whole damn thing and going back to school and getting married… haha!
- My wildest dream is to… travel the world making music… wait?!… But
seriously, I never thought this would happen. - My most played record Big Youth – Everyday Skank
- Big up to …all my friends, and Family. Big shout out to
Nick Argon, ‘cause if he didn’t believe in me, we
wouldn’t be doing this interview. Thanks to the
whole Big Up posse as well. Much love.
NICK ARGON
“I feel that I should give something back to the music that has give me so much.”
How did you come to be interested in music? When did you start djing?
I’ve always loved electronic music, and I purchased a pair of turntables during my first year at college. It was something I was just dabbling with at first, but quickly evolved into a very important part of my life!
How did you get interested in dubstep?
My brother introduced me to dubstep. From early on, I was really into drum & bass music. Early releases on Argon were in fact drum & bass. Nathan always enjoyed grime, but I could never really get into it. He then showed me some tunes that he called “dubstep” – I realized that these were very similar to the music Matty G was working on, and it all clicked.
What’s the mission statement for Argon Records? How are you approaching the ever changing music business?
I approach the ever changing music business by purposefully not having a mission statement! I try to have fun with it all! Dubstep music has taken me all over the world, and introduced me to wonderful people from all corners of the globe. I feel that I should give something back to the music that has give me so much, and that’s what I aim to do with Argon.
How did you come to know Matty G?
Matt and I went to college together. Back in my college days, I was throwing lots of parties around the San Francisco bay area. Matt introduced himself to me at one, and handed me a mixtape he had done. I was blown away! It was a mix of No-U-Turn style drum & bass, with classic hip hop! The rest is history.
Do you have any plans to release any other full length records?
Definitely! Matty G’s album is just the start! I can’t name name’s yet, but you can probably guess..
What do you listen for in a track? What musical elements are most important to you?
I don’t necessarily listen for certain elements in a track, but I focus more on whether I can remember how the track goes the next day after hearing it. To me, this is a sign that track has some staying power, and will stand out in a mix. It’s a quality of timeless music – something that will sound fresh for years to come.
