Exclusive Noah D Interview
We’ve got a big interview for you today, with none other than Noah D; one of the biggest Dubstep Producer in America. He’s been in the drum and bass and dubstep scene for a decade now. His tune, “Seeeriousss” has torn up every dance floor on every corner of the world and became a full fledged Dubstep anthem in 2009, and is still being rinsed on most dance floors (not to mention the VIP!). We managed to get hold of Noah and ask him few questions…..
Names: Noah D
Age: 32
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
How long have you been proucing and how did you get into it?:
I’ve been producing for about 10 years now. I’ve always had a diverse palate for music. My parents always had music playing when I grew up and I used to be obsessed with the first boombox I had. Would just sit with it and record songs off the radio for hours. I listened to Hip Hop since first grade and plenty of other random stuff, then during high school starting focusing more on Rock and playing live music. After high school I started making beats but it was just casual and more on the experimental hip hop tip. Around 2001 I started trying to make drum n bass but didn’t know the music well enough so I took up DJing and put down the production for a few years. After only DJing for a while the itch to produce tunes again began to creep up and I also realized if I was to have any kind of career in music, I needed to make my own.
Clip of “Clash” from Mista Jam’s BBC 1xtra radio show by noahd
What other genre’s do you produce besides dubstep?:
I produced Drum n Bass before Dubstep and had a bunch of tunes released on various different labels including Trouble on Vinyl, Renegade Recs and Human Imprint. I’m currently working on an album and it consists of at least 3 different bpm ranges so I do like to venture out of the 140 zone a bit. Also planning on working on some Hip Hop and Dancehall projects soon.
Can you remember the first time you heard dubstep and why do you think you were drawn to it?:
The first Dubstep tune I remember hearing was Kode 9 & Space Ape – Kingstown. I was really into the dark and deep mood of it. I’ve always been more drawn to slow heavy music as opposed to fast heavy music whether electronic or not. Even when I made DNB I worked on a lot of 1/2 step beats so Dubstep was a natural progression for me. I definitely liked that it was more spacious and minimal and had so much more emphasis on the sub bass.
How do you start writing a new tune and what influences you whilst producing?:
I usually start with drums but every once and a while I’ll start with the baseline (Street Sound Ft. Roommate for example.) The process of producing usually gets pushed along for my by little hints of sounds popping out that aren’t actually there and I then actually make sounds to represent cool little things that I’m hearing in the beats. It’s kind of a natural flowing thing that way and helps everything stay in tune and connected. I also just hear melodies and riffs in my head and do the best to bring those out as accurately as I can. Besides that it’s often just a lot of experimenting and stumbling on cool stuff, then running with it!
Beenie Man Ft. Fambo – Rum & Redbull (Noah D Killsound Rmx) by noahd
What soft/hardware you use?:
These days I use Ableton Live and Reason, an Axiom 49 midi controller and Mackie HR824‘s with an Apogee Duet soundcard.
Who are you top favourite artists of all time?:
That’s kind of a tough one but here’s a few.. Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Led Zeppelin, Eric B & Rakim, Digable Planets, Photek, Calibre, Bob Marley, Capleton, Rage Against the Machine, Deftones…. I could go on and on.
What do you get up to when you arent busy producing?:
I enjoy good food, traveling, women, clothing, learning Flamenco guitar, watching films and making moves!
Are there any producers you want to collaberate with?:
I’m kinda weird about collabs, I don’t do them very often. I’d like to collab with Mensah again and maybe Joker sometime. Redlight would be sick as well but I’ve never spoken to the guy… hell, maybe I just want to collab with everyone from Bristol, haha! I’m generally more interested in collaborating with MC’s and singers though.
Follow Me Now Feat. Armanni Reign by noahd
What are you views on the future of dubstep as a genre?:
Hard to say man. But it seems that every genre goes through a similar life cycle. Dubstep will have it’s time in the spotlight and then it will pass but that don’t mean it will die, it will just fall out of the larger public eye. Hard to say what will become of the sound. I personally try to do my own thing within the general bpm range and I think if more people do that and ignore trends within the genre then it will stay healthy. Electronic genres are funny though, they come and go all day long. I don’t think it’s too important to spend time focusing on them, just make sure the music is good and has lasting value.
Top 5 Tunes at the moment?:
Stinkahbell – Something In Your Eyes
Noah D - Clash
Princess Nyah - Lose Control (DJ Wonder Remix)
Jakes – Pumpin
Noah D Ft. Armanni Reign – Follow Me Now
Are there any artists you’ve picked up on that we should watch out for in the rest of the year?:
Stinkahbell, Dark Sky, Kito and Monky
Shoutouts?:
Shout’s to everyone who’s keeping the sound musical, diverse and original.
Jean Michel Jarre – Statix (Noah D Remix) by noahd
http://www.facebook.com/noahdmusic
http://soundcloud.com/noahd
http://twitter.com/noahd503
http://myspace.com/noahd
About the Author (Ben)
Bass.