SAF Interview w/ SlowRolla

On the Road & On the Airwaves

Your set at The Lot Radio recently made serious waves — can you walk us through what that moment meant for you and how you approached curating that mix? 

A: Thank you for asking -The nerves were kicking in and the paranoia was slaying but once i got on the decks I immediately got in my zone and told myself let's do this thing. Entering what feels like the temple of DJ booths was extremely humbling and exciting! A place where legends have played, felt like a dream, and I know I had to step it up and bring my A game! Curating the set: I had this deep thought that i wanted to pay homage to those that have played my music over the years and also influenced me so i deep searched my archive for those gems and energy to bring and showcased a grip of heaters that flowed so well together.   

What’s it been like touring with Amita, and how has that energy shaped your sets?

A: This is my first time doing a musician tour and the first time visiting the northeast coast so the "Been Like" aspect is a mix of emotions tbh. It's extremely exciting and fun but showing face in places I've never been was kind of chaotic. I come from the southwest desert and dropping in to mega metropolis city was a wild eye opening experience but so much fun nonetheless to experience these spaces and places (NYC,BOS,BAL). Sharing the stage and coordinating DJ sets with Amita has been a ton of fun! Each place we've had the opportunity to drop a set has been super exciting. Amita knows how to bring the good vibes to the function and build pressure with their underground sound. You can feel the energy and passion shine through their sets each time they play. Being around that energy has shaped my sets in a really fun way because you can feel we're vibing and influencing each other with the energy or discovery of music in the moments during the gigs. I was a guest on they’re monthly radio show Futago via HKCR - scope that if you get a chance on my SC.  

Origins & Influences

Before the 160 BPM era, what were some of your earliest musical influences growing up? Were there specific albums, scenes, or artists that planted the seed?

A: Before the 160 bpm discovery i was heavily into Leftfield Breakz, UK Funky, dark 4x4 stuff and Jungle but whatever i was making or buying "Then" i didn't realize i'd still be able to play now in my sets. The specifics come down to record labels like Nervous Horizon, Hyperdub, Different Circles, Black Butter Records where most of the music that come out of these places are basically timeless IMO but as far as influences go these are some of the sounds that have influenced me on the sonic and creative level.

Albuquerque isn’t always the first place people think of when they think of bass music. How has being from there shaped your approach to sound and community?

A: Little known fact that the 505 has a poppin scene! When Headliners come through it's always super high energy with the people. The definition of bass music here is filled with tons of Dubstep/Riddim and DnB. Being from here has shaped me to focus on doing my absolute best in evolving and growing as a music producer. Like others that are doing their best here - It's hard to make noise outside of our city because we're kind of  "unknown" for doing things like this in this area of the land but the ones that are doing the thing are very passionate about their music goals. So It's nice to be apart of a community that are doing different things in/for the scene to shine light here in lil ABQ. We're celebrating the creatives of the City at Somos taking place May 10th which will be my first silent disco. 

Sound & Studio Process

Your music blends footwork, jungle, techno, and breaks with surgical precision. When you’re producing, what’s your process for keeping that balance without losing the rawness?

A: When i'm in the process of a session and i get to a point where i'm satisfied with with the track i'm working on - If i can listen to whatever i'm working on 100's of times and i mean literally looping over and over then i know that rawness has been retained and it's something that could possibly resinate with the people IF they get to hear it.  

When you’re deep in a production session, are there any specific tools, synths, or techniques that feel like signatures in your workflow?

A: I feel like i've been stretching a variety of old school breakz in my tracks over the years so my go to would be the Amen, Think, or Apache break to get that classic touch that everyone loves but in a very SlowRolla way. Those are some of the tools i use to keep the signature consistent and fun. In my mind i'm like how many different ways and shapes can i manipulate these drums that i always use.

Do you see your sound as evolving beyond 160 BPM, or do you feel like there’s still more space to explore in that pocket?

A: I really love 160bpm as a whole for all the music i make right now. There's a multi-verse of exploration for anystyle of music in the 160 pocket and with the uptick in faster music attention there's a bunch of new styles or recycled styled music gravitating towards this tempo. Here and there i'll make something outside of 160 maybe 140 or 150 bpm area. Sometimes i'll start tracks at a slower BPM and test how it would sound faster so in that moment magic might happen and ill stay at 160 (i love these moments). Idk it's just a good place for my creative spark and fun aspect of this whole thing. If i'm not having fun with it then there's no point but for some reason 160 always feels fun for me so I leave it at that and hope the music is good. I do have a 140bpm remix that i made for Changyunflug off of Eclephsia dropping on the 8th of may so def scope that out. 

Recognition & Reflection

What was the moment you first felt like you’d carved out your own lane in the underground scene? Was it a track, a set, or something someone said?

A: This is a cool question because this one digs deep for the DJ side and producer love. As a Producer who also DJ's I think all of us ALWAYS have an extremely dope producer that we absolutley gatekeep for our sets. I have been told by dj's that they try to keep hush my tracks and knowing i'm apart of someones gatekeeper list carves that lane in the underground for me. It's weird but i get it at the same time so relating to that reason is what sets it off.  

You’ve had support from some big names across global stages and online radio — what’s been the most surreal co-sign or placement so far? 

A: To keep it short and sweet, to be real with you the top two for me is Sherelle dropping Acidface to what looked like a insane ocean of people and getting played on Vision radio while listening to their feedback of How U Work had me in proud tears moments. Hopefully more moments like this can happen again soon! 

Which artists — past or present — do you feel are kindred spirits in terms of genre-blending and boundary-pushing? 

A: The top three that always make it into my sets and are reconfiguring the game has to be Coido, Gaszia, and Bastiengoat. They Stay in there lane and do the thing all the way through and its always steady inspiring sonic brilliance every time. 

The Life & The Legacy

Touring, studio work, radio sets — what’s one aspect of this artist life that keeps you grounded and one that keeps you fired up?

A: Studio work surely keeps me grounded by knowing i'm still learning so much everyday. After every project i always walk away knowing something completely new so absorbing as much knowledge that i can apply to my workflow keeps me grounded for the most part. The one that keeps me fired up is knowing i get to grind and do the thing in the background and pop up from time to time to share some wild tunes!

Lastly, if someone’s never heard a SlowRolla track before, what’s the one track you’d play to convert them instantly?

A: I Would play Myn3 with Go n Jit (SlowRolla Remix) on double drop. (Drops Mic) 

Thank you friends :D

TRACKLIST Tromac - Camp Fire

Gaszia - Taste

L-Vis 1900 - On Tweeq (Carpainter Remix)

Tromac - Drone Footage

Kitto & St. Panther - Die 4 You

Wost - Banda

Loelash & George Bolton - 14hrs (Cardozo Remix)

Addison Groove - Big Tuna

Soft Clip - Soft Blip

Cardozo - Out of this world

Wolvie - Choccie Milk

Lamont - Titanic (Gaszia Edit)

Fixate & Sam Binga - Issker

Dismantle & Gardna - Regional Banger

ElBarto - Yehnaioui

aaee - peguei

Van Basten - smack the door

Fixate - Tocar

Dismantle - Illusions

Cardozo - d986 north

Machinedrum & Holly - Quasar

Violet Indigo - On The Low (Polo Lilli Remix)

Arnold & Lane - Stretch it out

Violet Indigo - Figure it out (Samurai Breaks)

Rich Baby Daddy (SlowRolla Edit)

Ghost. - Obvious

SlowRolla - Thr3 0 Thr3

Breathe (SlowRolla Edit)

Londis [SlowRolla Edit]

Island - Too Much (SlowRolla Edit)

SlowRolla - Myn3

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