LIVE WIRE BEATS: FEEL THE BEAT
Interview By Tachelle Shamash Wilkes
Tachelle: How did you come up with the name Live Wire Beats?
LiveWireBeats: Actually, it’s only LiveWire. I simply added, “Beats”, for people at myspace to know what I am about, when they come across my page. But I really got that name from my mother when I was a little kid. I simply translated the German expression of that term to English, to give it a universal feel. Other than that, it’s just me. I am very energetic and driven, especially when it comes to music.
T: Tell us about your background, where you're from and how that ties
into your music making.
L: I am from Berlin Germany, born and raised. I am of mixed origin. But I don’t really think my origin influences my music too much as far as the sound is concerned. I like to incorporate elements of North African music or Yugoslavian folklore into my compositions however; I don’t feel like I sound too much like either one.
T: What sparked you to become a music producer?
L: Ever since I was a little kid, music has been a major part of my life. I’m the product of a very musical family. My father is a big fan of Jazz and Blues with a huge record collection. We used to sit and listen to his records a lot back in the day. So it’s safe to say that it was he, who awakened my love of music. When I was still a toddler, my parents already noticed that there was something special about music and me, so they signed me up for music school and I just went from there. At the age of five, I had my first piano lessons, which I hated, because I simply could not relate to classical music as a child. Then I went on to play drums and some other
instruments. I have been doing this music thing for a minute. When I got into producing, I was 13. It was my father again who encouraged me to step my game up and take it to the next level. For my 13th birthday, he gave me some sequencing software. It was nothing special; a very basic 8-track software sequencer. I stuck with it for five or six years before I finally upgraded my equipment. I am almost twelve years deep in the game now. Progressing from being a consumer of music to the production side of it was a natural process for me. I never really thought about it, but I always felt the urge to create. I am a very creative person and need to
express myself through the arts. I need music for my mental balance, my
equilibrium.
T: What genres do you create?
L: Mostly Hip Hop and R&B but I got another project in the works right now; I would say is pop music with a little twist.
T: What artists have you worked with?
L: I have been working with a couple of German artists and everyone in my top 12 on myspace. The first artist I ever worked with was a femcee from Germany. That was back in 2001. She had a really hot single out at that time and I was fortunate enough to place a song on her sophomore album. By the way, back then I was still using the same old equipment I was using when I made my first steps at the age of 13. My favorite artist right now is “Rugged N Raw.” He is probably one of the most entertaining and original emcees in the game. There will soon be a Rugged N Raw exclusive on my page, so be sure to look out for that!
T: What production programs are you using right now?
L: I get that question a lot. To be honest with you, That is my best kept secret and I swore to myself to never give it away, so this is a Femmixx.com exclusive! I am using Logic and Garage Band. GB is great to quickly outline a song. I really love that program, because of its simplicity. Some of the songs on myspace were created using Garage Band. Logic is great to add that special something, that finishing touch to a composition. Other than that, I am using the M-Audio Ozonic, some average M-Audio monitors and a ton of sounds. I believe it’s really not as much about your equipment as it is about yourself and your originality. As you can see, I am still using average soft and hardware.
T: How can we get more female producers in the game?
L: I don’t really know if “we” should try to get more female producers in the game. I believe, if there were more women who really wanted to do this, they would take the first step themselves. I am very happy with the way it is, right now. In my opinion, the smaller the number of female producers, the higher the quality. If more women consciously decided to cross the border from being a listener to actually producing music, that’s cool! But I don’t see that happening any time soon. Females still have to get used to being in charge and playing a crucial part BEHIND the scenes. The entertainment industry is notorious for putting women up front to look good and thereby ensure some decent sales. Being a producer however means less visibility and being a nerd to some extent, which is rather far from being sexy/ feminine. Plus, you need at least some basic technical knowledge to work your MPC or whatever else it is you’re using. I guess that’s what really scares off most females. I only rely on my abilities to get ahead, never on my looks. Plus, I always make sure my shit is on point before I put it out there. If your music is hot, you will get proper recognition! It’s been nothing but love and respect for me so far. Originality speaks for itself regardless of gender. Missy Elliott is proof enough.
T: Do you have any projects in the works?
L: I am currently putting together a mixtape with another producer, who
goes by the name of Engineer Beats. We are still in the process of reviewing artists and collecting beats for the project. The mixtape won’t come out before spring 2008. I am busy with a number of projects right now. It’s a totally different genre, I am working on with a good friend of mine, Arp Decade. Other than that, I am always busy producing new songs and stepping my game up.
T: What's next for you?
L: Right now, I am trying to get more exposure and get my name out there…just like everyone else. I am shopping a demo throughout the industry and have been getting a lot of positive feedback so far. We’ll just have to wait and see… I am very thankful and couldn’t ask for more. I am blessed with a beautiful family, husband and friends. To everyone who has been supporting me and showing love, it’s nothing but love right back! To those who didn’t know me before, stop by my page and enjoy the music! Thank you!
Check Live Wire Beats at www.myspace.com/livewirebeats