The Self Production Process

Written by Oviyan Paul

Everyone tells me I’m way too picky. One of the biggest gripes I get is that I’m too picky of an eater, and I seem the type to go to a restaurant to only order chicken tenders (which is not true).  When I think about it, however, I am picky. It’s not only the food I eat, but it’s also the clothes I wear, the places I go, or the music I listen to that I’m picky about. All in all, one could describe me as a very picky person. Despite all this, what I would say I’m the most picky about the music I make. Especially, when producing beats.

It all starts with an idea. An awesome chord progression from a song I’m listening to, or just me jamming out on my piano. When that spark lights, I drop what I’m doing and rush to FL Studio. If I’m out and about, I write it down in the notes app on my phone to remember later. Taking this into consideration, the vibe I go for when making a beat is very dependent on the course of my day. It’s important to note that the music I listen to corresponds with whatever I’m doing at any given moment. This can be seen when I’m caught listening to exclusively smooth R&B while driving, or Taiwanese rock while running. This, in turn, builds on the idea of what I want to make.

I would categorise my production style as an eclectic amalgamation of dancehall, R&B, and contemporary rap. Over the years I’ve spent working to perfect my craft, I’ve developed an unwavering process, which evolves each time I boot up FL Studio. These processes are like ritual, and as I’m laying down my first chords, I feel as if I’m a Muay Thai fighter entering the ring. 

I have faith in my system. 

The setbacks in my processes are not lost on me however, and for every good beat I make–three end up scrapped. It’s not only trial and error, but the events which led up to the moment I decided to produce. If my day is too good, or too bad, the vibe won’t be right. There’s an equilibrium to be found.

I favour deep organs and heavy pianos when engineering chords. There’s a melancholic undertone to it all. Dark bells and pads get stirred into the mix, but only serve as a backdrop to the low bass lines I frequent. For me, these bass lines work in conjunction with the chord progressions implemented with my melody. On the contrary, all my drums work against my melody, disrupting the established status quo with the intent to create rhythm. I finish it off with my signature tag, and like wrapping a bow around a gift, export it. 

There’s a certain sanctity to my process. Producing to me is not physically creating, but instead the build-up. In this regard, I’m picky because it allows me to leave every element of my work perfectly crafted. I fine tune the sounds I make, and this zealous pursuit to create oftentimes leaves me with more questions than answers. My process cannot be rushed, and there’s a certain balance I’m always chasing–the mix between obsessiveness, and allowing my creativity to spin the stories I weave.