SUM : Hello mate , thanks for taking the time to talk with us, What where you up to before doing this interview?
Ming : I dropped my two-year-old son Miles off at school and then put together some music for a commercial pitch.
Jumpshot: Hey, hey, thanks for having me. Before this interview I was meditating. Thanks for disturbing the peace.
SUM: Tell us how you got started in music individually How would you define your style and who/what are your musical influences?
Ming: Not to date myself, but when I started, my primary goal was to throw some nice parties and make great mix-tapes to trade with other DJs. It’s a different scene now and there’s a lot of money involved, but my goals haven’t changed that much: make great music and rock the shit out of any show I play. I have an eclectic style and I try to bring my hip-hop and rock roots into dance music.
Some of my early influences include people/groups like Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Iron Maiden, Run DMC, Slayer, The Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Howard Jones, Metallica, Africa Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fishbone, and Skinny Puppy.
I generally listen to reggae when I’m not making music. I listen to The Joint on Sirius XM radio and I’m really feeling some of the new roots revival stuff like Busy Signal’s – “Reggae Music Again” and the classic stuff from Capelton, Steven Marley, and Black Uhuru. I find listening to other types of music really helps keep my productions fresh and original.
Jumpshot: My parents got me into playing music at a really early age; I was taking music lessons and studying classical & jazz piano by the age of 5, and had written my first piece by age 7. From there, after being introduced to my first DAW (Cakewalk Home Studio), I began to transition into digital production with a focus on hip-hop. The rest is history.
SUM: What motivated you to work together as “Abstract The Ism”? are there any roles assigned specifically for each member, or how do you make it work?
Ming: We both have strong hip-hop backgrounds and this project was a bit of return to one of our favorite music genres. I think it freed us from some of the format issues of EDM and allowed us to just make some dope bugged out beats. I mixed and mastered the album but we both wrote and produced the whole thing.
Jumpshot: The idea behind ATI was originally Ming’s. With both of us coming from a grittier, broken-beat/sample-based hip-hop background, it seemed like the natural progression for both of us, especially since trap has taken the spotlight in the recent years.
SUM: What DAW you use to produce music?
Ming: Logic Pro. I haven’t updated to Logic X yet as I’m waiting for some of my plugins to be available in 64bit
Jumpshot: Our first album (Paper Dragon) was produced entirely in Logic Pro, but I’ve since moved onto Logic X and have also been tinkering with Ableton 9 recently, which I plan to incorporate into my workflow in the near future.
SUM: Tell us about your upcoming release in “Playing with Monsters”.
Ming: Abstract the Ism is an experimental hip-hop project that Jumpshot and I started over a year ago. The full length is called Paper Dragon. I had some dusted hip-hop beats lying around and Jumpshot heard them and thought they were dope. So he started working on some of his own and then we would trade sessions so that we both could add to the mix.
Jumpshot: Abstract The Ism is the collaborative effort of Ming & I. For me, it’s driven by the idea that good music comes first; the music industry is so saturated with the same sounding shit right now, with a few exceptions here and there. And I’m talking genre-wide. It’s finally starting to break and people are starting to create unique sounds again (think Yeezus, Pure Heroine), which is really reinvigorating. This project in particular is a downtempo/avant-garde hip-hop project that’s mostly instrumental (at the moment). We think you’ll enjoy. :)
SUM: Why do you think Trap music has become so popular?
Ming : Trap is hip-hop sans the bad rapping. It’s at a tempo and format that DJs can easily play with other bass heavy genres like Dubstep, so its adoption by Dubstep DJs probably helped the genre’s quick ascendance. It also has a really renegade and raw feeling to it that reminds me of the golden years of hip-hop.
Jumpshot: I don’t fucking know. It’s boring as shit usually.
SUM: What music do see yourself never producing it?
Ming: “Never” really isn’t part of my music-making vocabulary. I produce all kinds of music, from EDM to rock to hip-hop to pop and country. The most important thing you can do in production is stay true to the sonic quality of a specific style and spend time listening to make sure your production fits that particular genre. I get bored doing one type of music so I have to be good at multi-genre productions or music would get stale for me really quickly.
SUM: What part of the production process do you find the most challenging?
Ming: The most challenging – and rewarding – part of production is working with vocalists. I find it incredibly hard to find singers or rappers that have a special quality to their voice. I spend a good amount of time tracking and comp-ing the vocals to make sure I’m getting the right vibe. A great vocal can make a track huge but a subpar vocal can pull the life out of a production.
Jumpshot: Staying ahead of the curve and keeping ideas fresh, and not sounding like someone else, or more importantly, too much like myself. At the same time, it’s important to sound like yourself, and to create a brand experience or a package for listeners. Giving them mostly what they’re expecting, and some of what they’re not; staying familiar but not boring. That’s the challenge.
SUM: Is there too much choice in the music technology market nowadays?
Ming: Production styles have changed and the cost of production gear has gone down, which in turn has made producing and DJing more accessible. But regardless of affordability, you still need to be musical and have the talent to write and produce great music. There are a lot more flash-in-the-pan artists and producers these days, but I don’t really pay attention to that.
Jumpshot: I don’t think there’s too much, per se – variety is the spice of life. And the technology that’s (increasingly) available are just tools. The skill is in how they’re used, as cliche as that sounds. The best musicians made the best music on one instrument, and that technique worked for generations. New technology can definitely help the process become easier, but it can also get in the way of the end game which is to make good music. A lot of times you can hear the toys that are used in a record vs. the record itself.
SUM: So far what you think has been the highlight of your career?
Ming: I’ve been doing this for long enough to have far surpassed a lot of my early goals. I’ve toured all over the world including DJing a rave on Mt. Fuji in Japan, DJing the first Coachella in California and opening for Sting in Bryant Park NYC. I’ve worked with incredible artists such as Big Mike (Michael Lynche) who finished fourth on American Idol. I’ve released four full length albums with Ming+FS; remixed Elle Goulding, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and The Black Eye’d Peas; and have multiple singles on a number of great labels such as Dim Mak, Om Records, and Ultra Records. I just take each success as it comes and try to take stock on how hard I’ve worked and how lucky I’ve been to be full time DJ/Producer.
Jumpshot: I co-produced Rev Run’s (Run DMC)’s debut solo album, as well as Joe Budden’s debut album, both released on Def Jam. These were 2 of the first pieces of professional work I’ve done.
SUM: What are your top 5 tracks at the moment?
Ming: These are my favorite recent collaborations and remixes:
1.- MING+Tom Enzy – Here We Go (Original Mix) (Phethouse) This track is coming out right now and is my first release of 2014. Its been getting a ton of amazing support.
2.- MING+Mr. Black – Drop Out (Original Mix) (Firepower) This trapcore tune isn’t out quite yet but Datsik has been playing it on his current tour and people have been going mad! I’m doing an EP for his Firepower label and this track is the one that got me the deal. Look for that EP in April.
3.- Abstract the Ism – Cadillac Rap feat. Nafis This is the first single from our Paper Dragon album. This tune is especially important to me, as we were able to feature Nafis who was on a couple of the old Ming+FS tunes. See CLS featuring Mack and Youngbloud (Nafis Mack).
4.- Adrian Rooz – Boom (MING Trap Mix) I know its only January but this track is so bananas that it’s going to be hard for me to do another remix this big in 2014. Or maybe I’ve just set the bar for a banner 2014.
5.- Sevyn Streeter – It Won’t Stop feat. Chris Brown (MING+Ricky Vaughn Remix) This big vocal trap remix is sure to be a staple of trap/hip-hop DJs all summer.
Jumpshot: Hmmmmmm…… let’s see: Fuego by Koan Sound & Asa; Steely Dan – Only A Fool Would Say That; Zamboni by A-Track & Oliver; Rikki (Instrumental Mix) by Blende; & Destinations by Gesaffelstein. That’s just a few though, and in no particular order. There is a massive amount of amazing music that’s been coming out lately, so it’s very difficult to narrow my favorites down to five. Also you should know, Steely Dan holds a special place in my heart. It’s your favorite foreign movie!
SUM: What is your opinion about Straight Up! Music initiative ” Free or Pay”.
Ming: It’s great. Ultimately, I’d love to get paid for my tracks but whether fans purchase or download the music I’m just happy that they’re into what I produce and hopefully it will mean more people coming to our live shows.
Jumpshot: I love it. For fans, it gives people who can’t afford to spend money on music a place to still enjoy music and not feel left out. For artists, it’s more exposure. For piracy, it’s great, too. If the music is available for free, it will discourage pirates to upload it elsewhere – if it’s already available for free, there’s no need to steal it.
SUM: What is your opinion about with those companies providing ghostwritten music for sale using mottos such as “We make the music you be the star”?.
Ming: Ghost production and writing has always existed in hip-hop and pop music. EDM is now pop music to some degree so it’s not surprising.
Jumpshot: Is this a rhetorical question? I’m a musician. That’s worse than those companies that measure out and prep a bunch of ingredients for a dish and then sell them to you prepackaged and sorted, and then calling yourself a chef. Or putting together an Ikea desk and calling yourself a furniture maker. Maybe those examples aren’t spot on, but you get the point. I think it’s terrible and anyone who participates in that type of thing should be hanged, drawn & quartered pronto.
SUM: Electronic Dance Music has now become mainstream music? a dream come true or a curse?
Ming: I’m just glad that EDM is finally having its day in the US and hope that producers can take advantage of this moment and create great music for a much larger audience.
SUM: What makes you unique?
Ming: We’re all unique in our own way but some of us just try a bit harder to create something original. I’m very good at finishing a project. And many people would say that finishing is one of the hardest parts of creating something new.
Jumpshot: I’m not doing anything that anyone else isn’t doing. I am writing music to fit within someone else’s genre. I’m not really sure I am unique. I mean, everyone takes cues from everyone else and learns from each other, and the world goes around. It’s 2014 – what musicians are doing something that no musician has ever done outside of pioneering new genres (and how often can you do that)? Not many. I guess to very honestly answer your question, the most unique thing I’m doing is putting notes together in the order that I am, and learning what I learn as I go along. Other than that, I’m designing to someone else’s blueprint. I hope people like it.
SUM: What makes you nervous?
Ming: Not much makes me nervous. Sometimes public speaking gives me butterflies.
Jumpshot: Used pornos.
SUM: Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
Ming: The melody of both songs starts off very similar but they diverge at “up above the sky so high…”
Jumpshot: Yes, as is “Ah, vous dirai-je, maman” by Mozart.
SUM: Did you just try singing the two songs mentioned above? if so, why? :D
Ming: Because…
Jumpshot: Nope. :P
SUM: Ever wonder why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?
Ming: No, but obviously you have. I think you need a hobby. lol
Jumpshot: Seriously? Constantly.
SUM: What is the nicest thing someone else has done for you?
Ming: My wife has done so many nice things for me that’s its hard to pinpoint just one. The most useful thing she has done for my music career was to buy me a new studio computer when my old one crapped out. It was a top of the line Mac Pro and I’ve produced hundreds of tracks with it. So in many ways she’s made the second half of my production career possible.
Jumpshot: My parents have loved me unconditionally, through times that I wouldn’t have loved me. It’s gotta be that.
