With productions ranging in house, bass music, and more, this versatility in genre and composition is a reflection of the many influences that MUZ has grown to appreciate over the years. Starting out playing keys and producing hip-hop beats for fun at a young age, his passion and career for songwriting, mixing, and mastering have converged to form a constantly evolving work of art. As a well-rounded musician, DJ, and sound designer, MUZ has been steadily gathering support throughout various parts of the globe and has been released on G-Mafia Records (Brazil), Kiwistage Music (Netherlands), The Undergrowth (US), and more.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey MUZ, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Hey there! I first got into music by listening to a ton of classic Bollywood music while watching movies with my parents when I was a kid. Eventually I got into listening to hip hop and house music around the age of 9, and just fell in love with music in general. I also used to bump the Charlotte radio station Power 98 in my bedroom and on the bus on my way to school. Other than this, the first instrument I picked up was the flute, and eventually the guitar (just to name a couple). Playing these instruments inspired me to produce my own music.
Are there any musicians who inspire you? What qualities do you admire about them?
I'm most inspired by artists like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Charlesthefirst, and Avicii. I also really love Neon Indian, Casa del Mirto, Tame Impala, Washed Out, Toro y Moi, and a ton of other artists that would take me way too long to name right now. All of these artists make epic music and I look up to them as musical role models.
Your latest track is 'Mirage'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
Honestly, I was trying to go for an ethnic sound that would encompass my own culture and background. I thought to myself, "How exactly would Indian flutes combined with tech house bass and drums sound?" I've found recently that the more I convey myself within my music and try these experimental ideas, the better reception I get from my listeners.
Which skills have you gained that help you perform effectively as a musician?
Being able to talk to people and hyping up the crowd by knowing what to say really helps a ton. At the end of the day, you can be as good of a producer as you want, but if you don't know how to perform, it will take a lot away from your image as an artist.
What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?
My favorites by far would have to be hip-hop and house music. I also listen to a lot of bass music and have a ton of friends who are crushing it in the bass music scene right now. While I can't really dislike any music, I don't listen to much country (although I do respect it for what it is).
Describe your creative process when you write new music.
I try to keep it pretty simple when I start. I use a template that I created for all of my projects that already has basic routing set up (like my sidechain already set up) and a basic arrangement laid out. From here, I'll fine-tune the drums and make sure I'm using the right samples, and then write the bass. Then, I'll usually lay down some keys or just start playing on one of my synthesizers for inspiration. I always use a reference track from the genre I'm trying to produce as well, just to make sure I'm making my track sound right.
What are your long term goals?
Long-term, I want to be well-known as a producer in the United States. My goal is to eventually win a Grammy award for one of my productions. I wouldn't mind if it was for a hip-hop or electronic song.
What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?
Writing and producing music are truly some of the only endeavors that I'm 100% passionate about. The feeling of sharing with an audience or your friends a fully-produced track that you made is really like nothing else. The community and the culture fuel my passion more than anything.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
The internet has effectively given us artists more opportunities to get heard. At times, it may seem like there's so much information that you could get lost. However, if you know where to look and how to communicate with people effectively, you can learn everything you need to know and get connected with everyone you need to be connected with.
What are your plans for the future?
I'm actually planning on dropping a banger of a remix for some pretty well-known artists before the end of the year - stay tuned on my Instagram (@muzofficialmusic) for more details! I've got a couple originals that I'll probably put out before the end of the year as well. Since Mirage, I've already dropped another track 'Faraway' that's gotten a massively positive response. Other than this, I'm planning on producing a few new beats for my friend & colleague Tracy Lamont (@iamtracylamont). He recently dropped a new project as well titled Does Anybody Make Mixtapes Vol. 2 that I mixed and mastered. You can find that on his Spotify as well, along with a 4-track EP called 'Roses Over Rice' that we collabed on.