Biting wouldn’t be an issue if it wasn’t prominent. Proven methods wouldn’t last the test of time if they didn’t work. While the middle ground between pure biting and pure originality is where most fall, and perhaps where the new innovations emerge, it is the biting that kills promising trends, and makes something creative into something boring and repetitive. We all know the story how the labels live in worry, which causes them to latch onto anything popular and hit the repeat button as if it is the only button. It stems from fear, a fear that is a basic human element: fear of leaving one’s comfort zone. That fear holds people back in a variety of situations, from approaching a woman at a bar or party, accepting a challenging job in a new city, or, in a producer’s world, trying new sounds, all at the risk of possible advancement.
“If we didn’t take risks, music would never evolve”, says producer Jet Audio, who recently released his own compilation, The Stand Alone Complex. Sensing something new and original in his production, we sent Ashydakid to talk to Jet about his own risks and rewards, the meaning behind the title, as well as his own background and history. Check out the full RH First Look below, and also check back later in the week, as we’ll have some new music from Jet featuring Kardinal Offishall and Donnis coming later in the week.
RubyHornet: Let’s start with the obvious, where did the name Jet Audio derive? And do people mistake you for a group, or get surprised when they find Jet Audio to be a one man crew?
Jet Audio: Well as a nickname, my friends gave me “Jet” when I was a kid. It came about because I was the slowest in everything we played so they branded me “The Jet”. It eventually became just “Jet” and I’ve been rocking with it ever since. When I decided to pursue being a producer, I felt like I need another name attached to Jet so Audio came logically. About being a group, I get that misconception all the time. I really don’t understand how people come to that conclusion. Maybe they feel that one man isn’t capable of producing the sound I have created (laughs). So just to clear the air, Jet Audio is a one man band man.
RubyHornet: Off the bat I listened to several of your songs like “Stand Alone” feat. CurT@!N$, Mickey Factz, Danny! & Outasight and I noticed your sound. It almost feels like a trip into the future, or to space. If you could put a name to your producing sound what would you call it?
Jet Audio: I really wouldn’t like to classify it (although that in itself sounds cliche) due to the fact that people would box me in immediately. If anything, I would call it an evolution. We are basically living in the future we grew up imagining and loving. I’m just trying to create the soundtrack to the times. My sound is very unique due to the fact that it sounds new yet it still gives you that nostalgic feel. At the end of the day I’m just trying to pave my own way and be remembered as a pioneer to something amazing.
RubyHornet: Many producers play other instruments before they really start making beats. As a child did you ever find yourself dabbling with other instruments before you were introduced to an MPC or what you use to make beats?
Jet Audio: Music was a very big part of my childhood but I was introduced to instruments very late in my life. I picked up my first instrument in high school. I was basically thrown into an acoustic guitar class in my junior year. I did all I could do in my power to change that class because I really didn’t care much for playing music, but I failed. Unbeknown to me, I actually enjoyed every single minute of it. It was my introduction into the world of creating music and I loved it. At the end of the day, I can honestly say that class was a major factor into my decision of being a music producer. Learning notes & being able to read music made learning the MPC and other music software that much easier.
RubyHornet: With a sound like yours, that’s almost a Hip Hop techno/electro sound, what were some of the influences that help you compose your work? Has this always been your style, or have recent events guided your style?
Jet Audio: Well, this sound has pretty much been my style from the get. I love Hip Hop and I love that electro/lounge sound. I decided to combine both and run with it. To me, it’s the evolution of the sound of the golden era. It captures that same feel mixed in with this new/fresh electro sound. I really feel like it’s a style not yet fully discovered and I’m thrilled to be able to be one of the first to expose it to the world.
RubyHornet: With there being several unique types of artists out there, is there a certain type of artist or a certain sound that you go after for finding the right person to spit over one of your beats?
Jet Audio: Every producer has a certain rapper/singer in mind when they create music. For me, I would say that when I make a beat I always envision Lupe Fiasco rapping over them. His presences and delivery is bar none. So when I record with an artist, they have to bring some of what Lupe brings to the table, especially the delivery. Delivery is very important to the overall record because it is what people are going to hum and sing when they hear it.
RubyHornet: Many times today I find myself hearing some of the same patterns and samples in a lot of Hip Hop beats now a days. How important do you find it is for producers to take risks in their beat making?
Jet Audio: Of Course! We as producers are in control of what you hear. We are the ones responsible for music as a whole. It is very important for us take risks. If we didn’t take risks, music would never evolve. It would sound the same as yesterday. A perfect example would be the re-occurrence of the same patterns & samples as you stated in the question. What separates a music producer from a beat-maker is the ability to dictate. The people that dictate such as Kanye West, The Neptunes, Miles Davis & Quincy Jones are not afraid of risk. Of course, you’re never going to get it right every single time but when you do, people will look at you as a genius. They are able to introduce new styles for others to follow. There are very few dictators in music, and my goal is to be able to reach that potential.
RubyHornet: What is a Stand Alone Complex? How does a producer develop such, as the producer always needs an emcee, and an emcee always needs a producer.
Jet Audio: Lots of people are getting the mean of Stand Alone Complex wrong. They think its has a lone wolf connotation behind it, but it isn’t that. A Stand Alone Complex is a generated copycat behavior with no initial originator. In other words, it’s a mass hysteria of people following something and they have no idea where it came from. I chose it as the title of my project because I’m a fairly new producer. I’ve recorded with some really great artist but why? What did they find in a Jet Audio beat? Why are all these other artists following suit? Who was the first? I just thought it to be a really dope concept and it fit really well with where I was at in my career.
RubyHornet: What has the response been like thus far for the project, it dropped a couple weeks ago.
Jet Audio: The response has been very overwhelming. Thank you to everyone that took time to download the project. I really haven’t heard of a bad review yet. The one thing that I’m very proud of is that everyone I have spoken to or reviewed the project has had a different favorite song. That was one of my goals with the Stand ALone Complex. It was my intention to give different variations of my style and it seems to have worked out very well.
RubyHornet: The Stand Alone Complex featured “I’ll Let You Know” featuring our homie, Naledge of Kidz In The Hall. I love the record, and the sample, was it the sound of the sample or the meaning in their words that attracted you to use it?
Jet Audio: Definitely the sample. It’s funny how I came about that sample. I’ve had the album to where that song is from for a while but I never paid much attention to it. It wasn’t till they played it in the end credits to a “Entourage” episode that it really caught me. I guess it must of been the visuals that lead to the credits that attracted me. Visuals can do funny things like that. Once I gave the record another listen, I guess I struck gold (laughs).
