KRADDY INTERVIEW

I first got down to Kraddy when Jules posted his sultry Wrecking Ball remix back in January. He continues to impress with tracks like the Flosstradamus remix that I posted last week and his new album Be a Light, on presale today! Give the first single, The Prestige a listen on SoundCloud and check out the interview below: https://soundcloud.com/kraddy/the-prestige

Summer
First off I just have to say that your set at the April A~Bun~Dance was awesome and I’m really enjoying the Flosstradamus remix. Super stoked for your set at Lightening in a Bottle this weekend as well, (Saturday night, 11pm- 12:30am at the Bamboo Stage) and LIB in general, the line up is so insanely good!  

Kraddy
I’m really glad you liked my set and the new remix. Thank you! I’m very excited for LIB too.

Summer
Which bands and/or producers do you consider to be your musical influences?

Kraddy
So many. It’s impossible to list them all but here’s a start – Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Aphex Twin, Tipper, Si Begg, DJ Premier, Public Enemy, Pink Floyd, Pixies, Sepultura, Black Star, Rick Rubin, Meshuggah, Mono, Phish.

Summer
I’m very interested in your merging of live bands with electronic music. We are definitely seeing heavy electronic influence in pop and rock. I feel that when it comes to electronic music, resistance is futile. 

Kraddy
I agree.

Summer
What are your thoughts on the future of traditional live music?

Kraddy
Traditional live music will always exist. But it’s quickly morphing with electronic music. Most music will be a hybrid but there will always be an interest in musicianship and the skill of playing an instrument well.

Summer
I’m eager to discover more hybrid genres, the blending of traditional genres with electronic as well as the merging of electronic genres. The possibilities are endless, it’s exciting. 

Kraddy
Agreed.

Summer
What are you looking forward to in this realm and how do you plan on contributing if so?

Kraddy
I like what the XX is doing. I want to hear folk music with a simple electronic beat. I want to hear jungle metal. I want to hear dubstep love ballads. I’m contributing by making all of those styles. You can hear that on my upcoming album Be A Light. iTunes pre-sale starts May 20th [ TODAY!  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/be-a-light/id869689436 ] and includes the first single for free. The full album comes out on June 3rd.

Summer
I read that you advocate listeners obtaining music for free. (Torrents, piracy arrrg) To quote you: “[Piracy] It didn’t necessarily kill the industry; it hurt the infrastructure that was already pretty much weak.” Assuming that this is correct information; I agree and I’d like to know exactly what you meant about the infrastructure being weak in the first place.

Kraddy
Mp3 and the rise of digital music wasn’t sudden.  Everyone saw it coming and the major record labels completely slept on (or ignored) the changes happening in the industry.  That is what I mean when I say that piracy didn’t kill the industry, it just hurt the an already angling and outdated system.  Major labels are so far behind when it comes to music innovation – they’re dinosaurs. The real taste makers are indie labels like Fools Gold, Mad Decent, OWSLA, Alpha Pup… The record labels are looking to these indie labels to try and find something cool because they have no idea what cool is anymore.

Summer
When did you start producing music?

Kraddy
I started writing music when I moved to SF in 1996. I was an intern at a studio called DataStream Studios. I learned to DJ and produce music at the same time.

Summer
Do you prefer remixing or creating an original track, and why?

Kraddy
Both are very fun. I like remixing because I don’t have to start from scratch.  The idea is right there and I only need to manipulate it. But I love writing original music because I’m always surprised by what comes out when I sit down to write. Its invigorating to come up with something thats fresh. Its like a magic trick and I don’t even know how it works.

Summer
That’s awesome. Do you have a particular work flow to which you stick in your creative process, or is every track different?

Kraddy
I have a flow I try and stick to but I don’t always stick to it.  I try and lay out the basics of the track right at the beginning.  Intro first verse, chorus etc…  I make myself do that before I even pick out sounds.  Its like building a frame for a house.  I like to see if a track has the basic elements that make it worth continuing to work on before I put too much time into it.  But sometimes I do just write an epic drop/chorus and then try and figure out the other parts after.

Summer
What software do you use?

Kraddy
I use Logic Audio and sometime Ableton.

Summer
Why do you prefer it over Ableton?

Kraddy
I think the low end sounds better.  And I really like all their built in plugins.

Summer
Any new software/tools or tech emerging that you’re excited about using in production or live shows?

Kraddy
I’m thinking to going back to good ‘ol playing instruments rather than bringing more tech on stage.  At some point after the album release I want to do a show with a full band and play a set of all my music live.

Summer
Wow, I really look forward to seeing that and can’t wait to check out the new album. See you at LIB, thanks for your time!