On the heels of Brandon DeCarlo's newest release "3 Sides To Every Story", I took a moment to find out a little more about our newest artist here on Zero Digital. He's been producing music for almost 2 decades, and during that time, has seen the evolution of electronic music and its respective scenes both in America and overseas. He's undergone his own personal transformations, in efforts to push the envelope and bring something new and different to an overly-commercialized society.
Pogoda: How long have you been producing?
BDC: I started producing Hip Hop and techno in 1992. In addition to techno, I produced Hip Hop with a couple of close friends of mine Muhammad and Hakim Bell (sons of Robert "Kool" Bell of Kool and the Gang) and then eventually stepped away from Hip Hop and focused exclusively on Techno.
Pogoda: Describe your studio. What kind of software are you using to produce?
BDC: I have a home based digital studio. Mac/Cubase (although I'm going back to Logic...), hundreds of plug-ins and hundreds of gigs of sounds.
Pogoda: Tell me a little about your history as a producer.
BDC: Hmmm... well as I stated I started doing this in 1992 and I'm still at it so either I'm crazy or glutten..lol... time will tell I suppose. During the nearly 20 yrs I've had quite a few high points (working with Lauryn Hill, recording at NYC's Hit Factory, working in Frankfurt Germany for Corrado Izzo & Marco Carola's distribution/licensing company ELP Medien, and recently becoming one of Kevin Saunderson's main artists for his Legendary KMS Records) and there have been TONS of low points (I'll spare you the details...lol)...but all in all you learn from experiences both good and bad and if your desire, persistence and commitment to hard work is strong enough eventually something good will happen.
Pogoda: What is the EDM scene like where you live? Are you actively involved?
BDC: I grew up in the NYC area and it was clubbing/rave scene there that hooked its claws in starting at around 17. Throughout the 90's I used to strictly perform live (i.e. keyboards, sequencers ...pre lap top/ Abelton stuff...) all of the NY/NJ/PA area things were getting exciting then 9/11 hit and basically destroyed the entire nightlife scene in NYC. I left for Germany in 2002 to work for ELP as a producer & sales person at their office. This was just about the time that mp3's started taking over as the medium of choice and it had a negative impact on ELP's business so after a while I decided to return to the states. After moving back from Germany in 2003 I decided to try living out west and it didn't take long before I hooked up with some promoters in Phoenix and was playing out on pretty much a weekly basis. Ultimately I grew tired of the clicks of (dj's, promoters, etc) trying to be local heros whatever, and all the "amateur night" games, so I decided a few years ago to only play a few select events (with the right promoters) out here per year and focus more of my time on producing. Having said that, Arizona is an amazing place and I've been lucky enough to play at some of the most unique events ever thrown, and the people are great. There is a large contingent of "Burners" out here and this is the crowd who I mainly identify with these days. From a music perspective, they are as open minded (or more) than people who live on either coast, and they have tons of energy.
Pogoda: What shows do you have coming up and where?
BDC: My next gigs are in Philadelphia and NYC in April, then possibly in Detroit at a DEMF after party w/ Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May and Juan Atkins in May, then a couple of gigs in Phoenix and out in the desert in June, from there its up in the air... I'd like to go back to Europe and to Puerto Rico and The Dominican later in the year. I'm in the process of searching for representation both here in the states and overseas so as soon as that happens, things should be pretty crazy (I hope).
Pogoda: How has your musical style evolved? What artists have been your biggest influences?
BDC: I try hard not to find my self copying stuff that I've done before which can be tough, but if we were to listen to what I've made over the years you probably say there's a certain feel in my music, but each track sounds different than the last, and I'm pretty proud of that. I also try hard to do "me" as opposed to follow trends of the day or whatever. As far as influences, there are so many. People like Joey Beltram, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, Jeff Mills, Richie Hawtin, Frankie Bones, Adam X and Heather Heart, Woody Mcbride, to house guys like Todd Terry, Danny Teneglia, Saeed Younan, Paul Johnson..so many more that I can't think of...
Pogoda: In what sort of setting would you expect to see these tracks played? (ie: rave, nightclub, lounge, elevator)?
BDC: Good question... I produce techno, tribal tech house, along with ambient/downtempo so depending on the situation.... all of the above. :-)
Pogoda: To what sorts of mediums would you like to see your tracks licensed to (ie: video games, movie soundtracks, commercials)?
BDC: Hmm....all of the above!!! Seriously, I'd love to do some commercials at some point down the road. Maybe even a movie soundtrack or two...
Pogoda: What do you hope to accomplish through your production and performance in the future?
BDC: All I want is to do my part in (as Derrick May would say) "saving the world from bad music". EDM has almost become fully commercialized particularly in the states, so if I can bring something different, that people aren't having force fed on them, and makes them lose themselves even for just a few hours on the dance floor or at home or in their car (just pay attention to the road please...lol), then that is more than I could ask for.
 |
| Add caption |
