The name DJ Fredones ring bells with a lot of people in the NY underground hip-hop scene. As a graf artist, DJ, producer and the owner of TME Studios in the Bronx, NY. Fredones constantly stays busy engineering sessions or producing another banger for reputable artists. As I sit down with my good friend Fredones, he discusses his remix EP he produced for Just-Ice and Krs-One, his trip to Russia, Peasant Podium, giving back to his community, and his love for hip-hop.
Sincere: What's Good Fredones? When did you start putting out music?
DJ Fredones: I put out my first record with Sonic Sum in 1998. Our first single was called "Downtown Maze" and the album "The Sanity Annex" was released in 1999.
Sincere: Who were your musical influences growing up?
DJ Fredones: Hip-Hop was really essential to me growing up in terms of my musical style and what I listen to mostly. It was a lot of the guys from the old school. I was a big Run-DMC, Whodini, and an Ultramagnetic fan. Basically, I was a fan of everyone that was coming out during that era. Reggae and Pop music were a big influence on me as well. Jazz didn't become influential until I was older like in my High School years.
Sincere: I see that you are a musical dude as you have mentioned pop music, were you a fan of artists such as Duran Duran?
DJ Fredones: Yeah, I am a fan of Duran Duran, Stray Cats, Hall & Oates, Casey Kasem with his Top 40 countdown. All that stuff was real catchy but not bland and soul-less as some of the pop music today.
Sincere: When I hear your music you take certain elements of different sounds and put them together. What equipment do you use to bring your creativity to fruition?
DJ Fredones: I use the MPC2000. I first learned how to make beats on the ASR 10, my man Omar put me on to it. There was a time I was working on tracks with the MPC and the ASR together. Now I just use the MPC and I sample ONLY records. I have never used an MP3 to sample and I rarely use CDs to sample.
Sincere: Is there a reason why you refuse to sample from a MP3 or a CD?
DJ Fredones: The fidelity sucks and the MPC2000 isn't the greatest machine to sample into anyway. You should try to put the most grit and guts into the signal going in. If you have an MP3 or a CD they usually sound weak. In my opinion, vinyl sounds a lot better.
Sincere: Graffiti legends such as Lava 1&2, Kay Slay, Dondi & Futura to name a few have made a huge impact to our culture. What made you decide to get into graffiti at an early age?
DJ Fredones: Graffiti influenced me a whole lot because it's a very expressive art form. It was something that I thought I could do since I already know how to draw. I liked it because it has a lot of colors, it's very expressive and it was doing something that wasn't done before... painting outside on walls with spray paint. Murals had been around forever but graffiti murals was something completely new to the art world.
Sincere: So you did a lot of graffiti when you was living in Chicago?
DJ Fredones: I did most of my graffiti in Chicago. The graffiti I did in New York was mostly walking around bombing. I wasn't doing pieces. I did most of my pieces in Chicago and I received a lot of recognition because I was from New York and I had whole style of writing that was different from the Chicago style.
Sincere: You have traveled to Russia several years ago working on some graffiti murals and was spinning at some local clubs. The individuals over there took a serious liking to your work. Can you elaborate on how that deal was done and how is the hip hop scene in Russia?
Mural created by Fredones in Russia
Sincere: Ice-T and Co-Co came through to film "The Art Of Rap" in your studio a few years ago. I am pretty sure it was an honor to have a legend like Ice-T come through to the studio. I was told Grandmaster Caz and a few other artists came through as well. What was the atmosphere like?
Fredones and Ice-T (Photo courtesy of TME Studios)
DJ Fredones: It was real cool. Ice-T is a very humble and down to earth guy. Coco was also very cool and down to earth. Their whole team were very respectful. They bought Busy Bee and Grandmaster Caz. Ice-T was also interviewing Just-Ice. It was a fun environment and the cameraman were very professional. There was a session going on with L.I.F.E Long and Masai Bey and they wanted to shoot the movie inside the studio but I had a session going on and I told Ice-T give me two minutes so I can bounce the song. By the time it took me to bounce the song they already started shooting in the main room. At the end of the day, it got cut from the movie. They were very respectful and came through with Spartacus the dog and all. Ice-T listened to L.I.F.E Long's and Masai Bey's music and gave his honest input on what he thought of their project. It was dope.
Sincere: The "Memories Remix" EP featuring Just-Ice and Krs-One has been in stores for a minute. The "There It Is" (Remix) is the first single from the EP which is getting some burn from DJ Premier, Evil Dee, DJ Eclipse and other hip hop shows and blogs. The constant grind really pays off when you're hard at work. Do you feel you are getting the recognition that you deserve?
DJ Fredones: I don't work enough to get any recognition. Once I start working enough then I would be able to answer your question. I am a career underground guy and if you know about Fredones then you know about some rare shit. The "Memories" EP is the first thing I have done in awhile.
Sincere: How was it working with two legends such as Just-Ice & Krs-One? I am hoping that the three of you will go back to the lab and record again. Are there any plans that this may happen in the near future?
DJ Fredones: No plans in the future. It was amazing working with Krs-One and Just-Ice. I work with Just-Ice a lot since I'm his DJ and that's always been a blessing. Just is a professional in the booth and knows his music very well. It can be tricky working with Just-Ice. He is alpha male supreme but that's my homie. A complex person to say the least. Just is very multi dimensional. In regards to Krs-One, it was an honor working with him as well. Anyone that you work with from that era you will realize they know how to rap and perform. I work with emcees in the booth everyday. Everyone goes in the booth to do what they do. When you get someone like a Krs-One who knows what they are doing it changes the whole game.
DJ Sincere: When Krs-One was in the booth. How long it took to do that one song?
DJ Fredones: He did 5 songs in an hour and a half. There weren't full songs, it was like 2 verses, hooks etc. But he definitely put his heart into it. It was interesting to be part of the recording process. The one thing I like about Krs is he always sounded live.
Sincere: What was the concept behind the "Memories" EP cover?
DJ Fredones: That is the shelter where Just-Ice and Krs-one met for the first time. They also met Scott Larock and Castle D there. When Just left the shelter, he was the first one to make a record from the crew.
Sincere: You have worked on an R&B project with Preacherman a few years ago. One of the joints that caught my ear was "Steady Dreamin". I can tell you were using more instrumentation instead of using the sampling route. What direction you wanted to go with this project?
DJ Fredones: We're hoping to finish that project soon. I want to get Preacherman back in the studio. Preacherman has been doing his solo stuff with the Revival. They have been performing at Shyne in Harlem. Hopefully, we can get back up and get some momentum going with that project. That project included my production, a singer and getting a bunch of musicians to come in to add on to the beats. I'm a producer who bangs things out. I'm not a pianist but I can play stuff on the MPC. I have a lot of respect for musicians. So I thought I do a project with the live musicians and have a bigger feel to the beats. That's what we did. We have bass players, flute player, sax player, percussionist and cellist come in. My homie Skila also collaborated with me on the project and wrote most of the songs.
Sincere: You're the official DJ for "The Art Of Lyrics" event that showcases underground hip hop artists which Guerilla Republik and SoloVibesMusic sponsors as well. I think this is great idea since there aren't a lot of indie showcases as they were 15 years ago. How did you get involved with that project?
DJ Fredones: Danny Kodak works at the Point and I was introduced to him by my wife Kellee who also works at the Point. Danny and Rhino came through to a club in Brooklyn where I was spinning. I was playing underground hip hop and they were definitely into the stuff I was doing. Rhino and Danny knew a lot of the joints I was playing. They wanted to do a showcase night at the Point. I told them I would definitely get behind it 100% and you don't have to pay me or whatever. They still paid me, which is good, and it's great to have that venue for known and unknown talent as there isn't a lot of venues like that anymore.
Sincere: The Peasant Podium crew not only work on showcases but run a record label. You have Rhinocerous Funk and Danny Kodak who is also a part of that. Who on the label is signed to Peasant Podium? I know Silent Someone has a project coming out on that label as well?
DJ Fredones: Just and KRS was the first project we put out. Just is not signed to Peasant Podium, Akbar's project was released through Peasant Podium but he isn't signed to the label.
Sincere: Would you label yourselves a distribution label?
DJ Fredones: No I would consider ourselves like a one off type thing. I mixed Akbar's record and we had a lot invested in it. He had the vision and we helped him finish that album and improve how it sounds.
Sincere: Akbar also has a record that is out called "Good Food" and you also directed that video.
DJ Fredones: Yes I did. I have been directing a little bit. I have directed two trailers for Silent Someone and I'm working on his third trailer and getting ready to direct Silent's video for the graffiti song "LAB 82"
Sincere: Silent's new LP "I Have Company" has a lot of guest features. When will his new project is going to drop on Peasant Podium?
DJ Fredones: It's going to drop in the fall. There is no definite date. John Robinson is on the album along with Emskee, Dave Dar, Oktober Zero, El Da Sensei, Akbar, Yahzeed, Sadat X, Tame One, Mazzi and more.
Sincere: You have contributed your time to the youth at the Bronx H.S. for the Visual Arts teaching a course on sound engineering. In my opinion, it's a cool way to give back to the community. I saw firsthand on how you really enjoy working with the children. Are you still involved with that program?
DJ Fredones: I am still working with the kids on the after school programs etc. I am getting ready to start an after school program at the studio where we teach kids how to make beats using their phones. A mobile beat production class that will all start in late October.
Sincere: We've had a discussion awhile ago about the "loudness wars". When I hear records from the 80s you can tell the difference when it comes to sound quality. You can actually hear each instruments in the background. Bob Dylan once said, "You listen to these modern records, they're atrocious, they have sound all over them. There's no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like--static." A lot of records that are mastered now are with increased loudness but it has no substance. As an engineer, I am pretty sure you're aware of this. What are your thoughts about loud mastering?
DJ Fredones: It's an unfortunate thing b/c its a competition between whose sound can be the loudest. The client/artist usually wants to win the competition. They are pushing the master engineer to do that loud stuff.
Sincere: It's not just hip hop. It runs across all genres of music?
DJ Fredones: It's probably everything. You have people mastering on their own and have no clue on what they're doing. Since we all have the technology and we're all doing it. What you're seeing is a lot of heavy limiting going. There is no dynamic to the music, it's just a big block if you look at these wav files. They are just big straight blocks and if you look at an old record's wave file you will see more dynamic in the wav files. They breathe better and have a realer feel to them. I play records every Thursday nights at the Bronx beer hall. I was talking to someone about how good the records sound compare to the mp3s. I was playing records from the 70s and the 80s and you can hear the dynamics to the music. The records of today are very clear, mastered very well but there are a lot of hard mastering involved. Technology is great but if you don't use it very well, it can work against you.
Sincere: I've heard some crazy stories in which some artists would try to "thug out" the engineer for whatever silly and unprofessional reason. Have you had an experience in which an artist you was recording was getting a little besides himself and you had to regulate?
TME Studios, Bronx New York
Sincere: These days producers and artists are emailing beats to each other and are not in the studio together like they use to. Do you prefer to work with the artist more closely?
DJ Fredones: Well i think that is one way where technology wins. If you're in California and you need to send me the vocals. By all means, send me the vocals and let me handle everything on my end.
Sincere: You have released "Phobia of Doors" on Ascetic Music in 2004. Are there any plans for another self-produced Fredones album similar to your last release?
DJ Fredones: I don't know how similar it would be. But there is something coming up in the works.
Sincere: If your children wanted to get involved with the music industry. Would you encourage them or would you deter them away from it?
DJ Fredones: My oldest son is playing drums. We encourage all types of expression.
Sincere: Do you have any advice for up and coming artists/producers who want to be involved in hip-hop?
DJ Fredones: If you're an artist just grab any opportunity to perform so people will notice you. If you're a producer, make hot product and you have to go out and be seen. You can't stay in the crib and hoard your music. You have to go out there and have a great work ethic, the drive and talent.
Sincere: You have another show coming up Sunday, Oct 6th, The Art Of Lyrics and performing will be Verse Essential, Golden of Young, Black & Gifted, Jose Nova, The Knowmads and a whole bunch of acts on the card. Do you have any words in regards to the show that is coming up.
DJ Fredones: We are going to rock the show just like every other show from the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. The one thing I love about the Art Of Lyrics it's a platform for underground emcees to come out and rock. Camaradas is great club, the staff is great and the sound system is good. That is a win win for everyone. To tell you truth, I never look at the flyer. Rhino books all of the acts. It's like a surprise to me every show. People would ask me who will be performing and I tell them I don't know. I look at the flyer for the image since Danny puts the flyers together. Once I peep the flyer, I go back to work, deal with my children and doing some other stuff.
Sincere: The Art Of Lyrics is getting bigger as word of mouth spreads. Will there be a chance to do the show three times a month?
DJ Fredones: If we do, it would probably be at another venue. I don't think we need to do it three times a month. Even though it's a great thing to do it is a financial cost. There are people that come out and sometimes we make money, then at times we lose money. Until it is extremely profitable there is no reason to do it three times a month.
Sincere: Before we wrap things up, I would like for you to participate in a word association game. If you can describe in one or two words the artists you have worked with. What would it be? Starting with Rhinocerous Funk?
DJ Fredones: Loud
Sincere: Wilder Zoby?
DJ Fredones: Groovy
Sincere: Just-Ice?
DJ Fredones: Louder
Sincere: Rugged N Raw?
DJ Fredones: Tenacious
Sincere: Mike Ladd?
DJ Fredones: Driven
Sincere: Creature
DJ Fredones: Driven
Sincere: Eddie Brock?
DJ Fredones: Committed
Sincere: Thanks for taking time away from your busy schedule for giving me the opportunity to conduct this interview with you. How can people get in contact with you if they want to book a session?
DJ Fredones: You can contact me on Facebook at Freddy E Sepulveda, you can call me on my business line 917-721-5772 and my email is fredonestme@gmail.com
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