http://istandardproducers.com/news/sonaro-2/
Interview by Premise
What’s up Sonaro? For our readers who may not know you, tell us how you got started as a producer and what sparked it all off for you?
What’s good, I am Sonaro and I’m a Beatologist [laughs]. I started out being around my brother Stack Bundles and hearing so much tasteful sounds of music that was given to him. I mean I always had a heart for music but when he introduced me to who Kanye West & No I.D was, I used to go to sleep listening to this one Kanye beat that never got released. And then he exposed me to Needlz who’s also close to Chicago near Micighan Lake, and who ended up in Brooklyn, NY. I love Needlz’ sound so much, I began to be an in-house writer for him doing hooks and I studied him and his sound. Actually, you can hear his sound in the track “Body Ya”; when I made that, it was definitely inspired by him with the tweaked sounds, etc.
That’s dope, Needlz is iStandard family for quite a few years now. You definitely produced the hardest tracks on Fab’s new release Soul Tape 3. I know you’ve worked with him in the past on multiple records, how and when did y’all first connect?
Fab is my family, I had it good, man. I watched Stack walk in the game and I watched Fab walk in the game and grew musically. Now did he ever think I was going to grow up and produce music for him? NAW [laughs]. I remember I used to wake up in the morning and go to the coliseum while they was shooting dice just to listen to them talk about what happened last night in the club and how the women flock around him; them stories used to be everything.
You had an inside track then, sounds like a lot of right place, right time, which is crucial in this business. So of the records you have done with Fab, which stands out most to you?
Honestly people still gravitate to “Leaving You” believe it or not, so I’m going to have to run with that one.
Solid pick though. From the looks of your site you play the drums too. Being a drummer, I feel you have more musical insight than the typical Hip Hop producer. When did you pick up drum sticks for the first time as a student learning to play? How often do you often incorporate your playing into the tracks you produce?
I’m really not a pro at it yet [laughs]. I got tired of using preset live drum waves. It stopped being real to me and I learned that when you play live it gives so much to a record, like very heart felt. It’s something that an artist can’t say no too. I like to copy off of The Beach Boys, The Mammas & The Poppas, Issac Hayes, Bob Marley & The Wailers. I can go on and on when it comes to crazy drum rolls that I like to snatch up.
Yo.. The Beach Boys though. My Father would be very happy to hear that there are Hip Hop producers influenced by their sound. He raised me in part on their music. Sounds like you’d like some George Benson too.
There’s a song you did for Lloyd Banks in 2011, “Young, Fly, Flashy.”. He’s one of my favorite rappers in terms of his delivery and his voice tone… Talk about that record, did you create it in the studio with him or was it completed remotely?
Banks always knows how to take me home musically. But no I wasn’t in the studio with him while it was being created, I always flood Banks’ email just for the hell of it and he pops up with records; that beat was smacked together already. I actually used that song in my documentary that’s coming up called “Road To Victory Lap” and I’m looking at early February to release, but no date yet.
Nice plug there. Make sure you send it to us when it’s done and we’ll get it up on the blog. In your opinion, who is the single most influential Hip Hop producer? Can’t give me more than one name!!
Well it’s my circle of producers right now: Me, Cardiak, Arrab, Vinylz & probably more.
No doubt, great company… I guess I’ll call that answer a single Mega-Producer then, like when a Power Ranger loads up [laughs]. Who are you working with presently (that you can talk about at least)? Any projects in the works?
I can’t really say right now besides Loso’s Way II, but I’m trying to score some pop and R&B records. I mean hip hop is always around so I’m really going to challenge myself since they be calling me the next Timbaland.
That’s some big shoes to fill right?! Where can we find you online? Anything to add for our readers?
Twitter, IG & Facebook : Sonaro or www.SonaroMusic.blogspot.com
