Elaquent Interview

Elaquent is a upcoming music producer from Canada who´s bringing a fresh new angle to sample based hiphop. His new, mostly instrumental album called "In Colour vol 2 -dirtier loops" ranges from chilled out piano and rhodes bangers with a dillafied touch to a crazy chopped out Sega Megadrive sample track which , for sure, brings back a lot of memories. With no nerdery in sight the dude is dope and I wouldn´t interview the man if I wasn´t sure that he´s on some next level shit.

Elaquent -The Recluse Sessions Interview
By DJ Staffro for Recluse Sessions

The basics:
- To start things off, can you introduce yourself?
Eq: Whats good? The name's Elaquent, which is a combination of my name and the word 'Eloquent', obviously. I'm from a small town called Guelph, nearby Toronto, Canada. Ima beatmaker/producer/whatever y'all wanna call the title...but most importantly, im just a guy who loves to make music.

- How long have you been producing?
Eq: Hmm..well, the first time I ever made a beat was right before the 9th grade...which means that was in 2000...but I didnt start to take it seriously until about mid 2003...so its been roughly 5 years...or 8 depending on how you look at it.

- Who are your musical influences,artists and groups and the producers who influenced you?
Eq: On the hip hop side of things, I love all the usual suspects haha. Dilla, Pete Rock, Primo, Rza, all those guys inspired me bigtime on the come-up. Big big fan of WuTang, Nas, Tribe Called Quest, etc etc, I could go on...but if u came up in the 90s and made that raw, real hip hop in the golden era, chances are I bumped at least a few of their tracks. On the non-hiphop side, I love Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Ennio Morricone, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald...love me some old soul and jazz. However, as of late, ive been put on to some of the more alternative hiphop with a lil more electronica influence; such as the likes of Flying Lotus or Samiyam...

The Scene (local & global):
- You´re from Canada, worldwide hiphop heads have propably heard of Saukrates and Choclair, but what´s the current hiphop scene like over there?
Eq: Hmm, good question..Saukrates is the truth! the hip hop scene here is a mixed bag in my opinion...there are lots of great artists putting in work and moving on the low who are still making great music...yet I feel like there are lots of artists coming up who are just trying to emulate whats on TV and in clubs. And thats cool, do you, im not going to hate on their grind or style of music, but as far as the music that I like to listen to and vibe to, its few and far between. So it leaves something to be desired..but there are definetely some beasts doin their thing in Toronto. I feel like outside of Kardinal Offishall, Moka Only, K-Os and a few other cats, Canadian Hip Hop isnt taken as seriously as it should be south of the border. As far as within Guelph, the scene is much much smaller, especially as far as beatmakers are concerned. but cats are trying to make a movement, and its up to the younger guys to follow through with it.

- What about the indie scene in Canada? Any small underground labels or artists pushing their material out there, that we might not even know about?
Eq: I´m sure there are some underground labels putting in work, but I personally havent kept tabs on many of them, mainly because i'm focusing on my own grind. A lot of cats are getting into starting their own labels. But I kno a few Canadians are starting to make some big moves...Shad K is a cat making real music who is finally getting some recognition for instance. So i'd say that the future is bright. Whats important is that Canadian hip hop regains its identity, rather than just mimic what Americans are doing.

- Is there a respectable market for a hiphop producer in Canada especially one such as yourself, who´s making sample based hiphop?
Eq: Truthfully, i'd say not really. I mean, to make it big, a lot of cats gotta do the synth thing, which is cool, but its got to do with sample clearance laws. Furthermore, the radio in general doesnt really cater to the type of sample-based hip hop that I make, so outside of my circle and a few dope heads doin it, I try to move my attention to working with cats in the States and overseas, where theres a bigger market. For example, lots of the biggest boombap producers (Marco Polo for example) had to move to NY to really get it poppin. And I dont wanna sound like theres no hope because there is, but realistically, the numbers game is in favour of the US...far bigger market. Keep in mind that my opinion and views are simply relevant to Ontario; ive heard out west in Vancouver, theres a dope scene there..i wanna see it first hand.

- What about you and the artists you have worked with , do you have a special crew or bunch of artist that you rep?
Eq: I've worked with quite a few ppl, and there are quite a few artists that i've begun building relationships with. Im part of the Gill Breathing family...and when I say family, I mean that in a literal sense...Its comprised of myself, Es, Solar C, Mathematik and Brother B..shoutouts to all yall. I dont like to consider it a crew, cuz the relationship between a crew and family isnt quite the same. I try not to rely on a “crew” to get to where I wanna be, so I try to just do my own thing, while maintaining relationships. As far as artists, im working with a bunch of up-and-comers, like my ppls Ophrap and 5th P from LA..or my man Thesaurus Rex from Colorado I believe....but theres far too many to name. But anybody who's been following the moves ive been making will know. Most of my myspace top friends ive been working/building with, as well as a few potentially bigger ones that hopefully will still materialize.

- What are your plans as far as getting the music out to the people?
I think you can agree, that the so called underground hiphop scene is pretty diverse these days and the fans are based all around the world. For example your "In Colour - Dirty Loops" and "In Colour vol. 2 - Dirtier loops" have been received very well online, so

- Do you think the internet is a worthwile option for underground artists and how should they act to promote and stand out amongst the thousands of other artists out there?
Eq: You're absolutely correct; the underground hiphop scene has never been as big and diverse as its ever been. Before I started messin with myspace, I really had no clue there was soooo much dope hip hop all over the place outside of north america. Internet is crucial tho..especially given the fact that there is far more music out than ever before, and the fact that if your name isn't Jay-Z or T-Pain or one of those dudes, theres no guarantee that you can get a song in regular rotation on tv or radios, or see your album at a record store on the other side of the country. So the future for the independent artist really lies on the internet.

The In Colour tapes have been getting real nice feedback which i'm thankful for, but whats most interesting is where the responses are coming from..most of the response has come from abroad, which validates everything I sed before. Just the other day, I logged onto MSN, or maybe it was AIM, and a cat from Chile, who doesnt speak any English gave me props on In Colour 2...that shit is wild...hip hop is truly universal. So its in the best interest of all artists to understand how to take advantage of the online grind. Hell, im still trying to figure it out haha.

I think standing out is the hardest thing for any artist in any genre to do in 2008. for instance, ive been trying to find my own sound to stand out for a minute...while I like to think im doing fine in my quest to stand out, I get the dilla comparisons sometimes cuz my drums swing a certain way, and cuz I like being playful on the bass. I dont get mad or take it to heart, but its made me realize that standing out is much easier sed than done. I dont even need to mention all the Lil Jon/Scott Storch clones I hear. Lol.. The real way to stand out is for artists to think outside of the box; I think far too many artists are scared to try new things because theyre worried about what ppl may think, and stick to simply whats selling, or what everyone else is doing. Now im not going to try and sound “holier than thou” because everybody falls into that trap sometimes.


On Production:
The hardware vs. software?-debate that still puzzles a lot of producers in the game is still going on strong. You seem to be one of those who have mastered their chosen equipment to the level where youre confortable doing what you do and with great results.

- Can you talk a little bit about your process of making a Elaquent beat?
Eq: Man, I still cant believe that in 2008, there are still lots of elitist producers who continue to hate on Reason and FL Studio and the like. Compared to when I first to started really making beats, and around the time when people found out 9th Wonder uses FL Studio, software is a lot more accepted now than ever, but I think theres always going to be the cats who will continue to hate cuz they feel that using the MPC makes them feel more attached to the culture. I got nothin but love for the MPCs and ASRs, but if u dont kno how to make music, no equipment or program can fix that. Its ultimately up to the user. Thus, what a person uses is absolutely irrelevant...i swear, a lot of these ppl dont listen and enjoy music, they dissect and worry about everything OUTSIDE of the track itself..a lot of people assume I use an MPC, and I wont bother correcting them, because people will listen to your music differently if they kno how its made...which is WACK if u ask me....lol sorry for venting...

I wouldnt say that i've mastered my equipment...im happy with where im at, but literally every time I make a beat, I learn something new. As for my process, it is never the same..it varies according to my mood and the sound im going for, and all kinds of factors. The only thing I always gotta do first is search for samples. Once I find a dope one to work with, before I start chopping it, I lay some drums down to set up the framework. Everything from that point and onwards is just pure expression. Like Bruce Lee always said, use no way, as the way. Be formless, shapeless, like water. So needless to say, I dont like to go through a checklist to make a beat..Drums, check...sample, check...bass, check...lol kno what I mean? Let the moment guide you..and use/do whatever will work, rather than including sounds and elements just for the sake of it. and once it sounds good enough and passes my personal standards (which I try and set very high), then its time to export and see what happens with the beat later.

- I understood that you basically make it all happen on FL Studio and controllers?
Eq: Yessir, thats correct. Along with FL Studio, I also use an M-Audio Trigger Finger and a Korg K-25 Midi Keyboard. But like I sed before, it doesnt really matter what I use, just as long as I can translate the sounds in my head into your ears.

- Are you also using other software to mix and edit along with FL Studio?
Eq: I use Cool Edit Pro 2.0 mainly for sampling, chopping, and arranging at times.

- What about VST Instruments and outboard gear?
Eq: Yeah, I used to player hate on synths, but theyre essential to my setup now. I wont tell which ones, but just kno that I use em. I dont use any outboard gear..well, not yet at least. But anything can happen.

- Do you still think you would like to include any hardware machines such as SP-1200, ASR 10 or the MPC-series into your workflow?
Eq: I would absolutely LOVE to add an SP1200 or an MPC60 to the lineup, however, I would probably be more interested in those pieces of hardware more for their classic gritty sound and effects, rather than for their sequencers/workflow. Outside of the dirty analog sound, I dont think there would be any other real benefit to me personally, cuz ima always be using FL Studio...unless they ever come out with a way to get that sound on a DAW...something I dont see happening anytime soon.

- How about analog synths or new keyboards such as the Motif or Triton, which get a lot of use these days?
Eq: Well, the next piece of gear that im looking to grab is a Microkorg. Ive been playing around with some “analog” vsts, and I love the sound from them, so I definetely wouldnt mind having a microkorg, or even a minimoog, because those authentic analog sounds are difficult for a vst to properly emulate. Im not very interested in the newer keyboards, since I can already find a lot of the “newer” type of sounds through vsts.

On diggin´:
- The soul of many sampling producers sound comes from the records they sample and how they flip them.
Eq: Couldn´t agree more.

- Do you dig in the crates a lot?
Eq: Have to! I play a lot of different sounds on my beats from keys, to strings and all that stuff, but the foundation of 90% of my beats comes from the sample. Im not scared to get a sample from anywhere either, something which I think irks lots of elitist crate diggers, but If I can take something and turn it into something that gets u bobbin your head, I think its irrelevant whether I get it from vinyl, cds, tapes or mp3s. If I can hear it, and it sounds good, i'll use it.

- Do you have certain criteria you keep in mind while selecting records to sample or is it all up for grabs for you?
Eq: Well, I can theoretically sample anything and make a beat out of it, however, personally I like picking samples that are minimal on the percussion (unless im specifically sampling drums), and have a real ambiance. These days, I try to stay away from the usual soul records, in favour of other genres since EVERYBODY and they moms sample from them...lol...but I wont always discriminate...if it sounds good, it sounds good..and i'll make it my own. Thats the beauty of hip hop, theres no limit to the possibilities of flipping any given sample.

- What´s the most you paid for a record?
Eq: Hmmm...not very much to tell you the truth....i like searching for those cheap wack looking 99cent records found in thrift shops....u'd be surprised by what u can find in there..

- Do you have an absolute favourite old record that people should look for, that you can recommend?
Eq: I´ve got some fav records, however, i'd prefer not to state...mainly cuz ive made like 6 beats from it...haha


The wrap up:
- What´s up next for Elaquent?
Eq: Next up for me is just puttin in some work on these beats! Working with a gang of people...working on an LP with the homie Introspect coming soon..i wanna do another beat tape, this time with my man Stevo from Germany...building with the extended fam in the US and overseas. Ultimately, ive already started working on my first official album called After Midnight. I wanna try and get that out on itunes and hopefully vinyl.. i've never released anything professionally before, its always been a dream of mine. I wanna try and put it out in wax or CD overseas...**cough cough** labels get at me...for real!! haha

- Any shout outs or final words?
Eq: I wanna thank everybody for downloading In Colour vol 2 (and 1) and for showing the kid so much love, for real! I appreciate that. Shoutout to the Gill Breathin family first and foremost, and I wanna give a shoutout to Berg and the rest of the Guelph heads holdin me down..truthfully, theres wayyy too many people to shoutout, so i'll just shoutout all 40 of my top myspace friends and anybody who's ever given me a chance, whether y'all felt me or not....i wanna do it big, so keep on with the support! Be on the lookout for lots of upcoming new music in the next little while! Finally, big shoutout to Staffro for the interview...make sure yall readin check out BeatTreats courtesy of Staffro and the Recluse crew! (and no..he didnt tell me to say that...shit is dope!)

Thanks for the interview, Eq!
Eq:Thanks for havin me homie.

Check out Elaquents Myspace for more info and
to download In Colour vol.2 -dirtier loops!
http://www.myspace.com/elaquenthiphop