Lets kick things off with a little introduction of yourself..
My name is Donnie Valdez, I currently live in San Diego, California. I make tracks and DJ under the name EshOne, I also write for Big Up Magazine (http://thebigupmagazine.com) and represent Dataset Clothing (http://feeldataset.com). As far as labels, I'm currently involved with Roguedubs (http://www.roguedubs.com) and Eight:fx (http://www.eightfx.co.uk).
How long have you been producing music for, and what first attracted you to it?
I've been into playing music for as long as i can remember, but I first got into drum n bass (to me jungle is included in dnb) when I was in high school. I went to a few parties and subsequently learned to DJ, playing both dnb and hip hop. I started learning to produce a couple years later, and have been making tracks for about 6 years now. What attracted me to dnb was the sub bass, the dirtiness of it, and the variety of breakbeats and endless combinations you could place them in. It was exactly what I needed after being into "live music" for so long. Being able to produce all of the musical elements as one person and not having to rely or work with others all of the time was incredible to me, and still is.
What was your first experience of 'bass music', be it dubstep, drum and bass, garage etc..?
Well I already told you about my dnb times, but around mid 2006 is when I started listening to what you could call dubstep. I fell in love it for the same reasons, of which I felt dnb was seriously lacking at the time. In San Diego, we didn't have much going on with that type of music. I had attempted to integrate some dubstep tracks into a dnb monthly that a friend Misk had started in one of the local bars, but the neighbors weren't having the bass, and we were booted from the residency after only a few months without being able to give it a real go. It wasn't until a bit later when Misk got in touch with Osal8, Puppy Kicker, Dr Nickels and a few other locals who were doing a weekly bass music night at a bar called Kava Lounge. I'd say outside of the living room and a few scattered attempts, that's where it really all started for me.
The Tijuana Bass teaser on your Soundcloud has some really interesting ideas in it, what's the story behind that?
Well, I've been exposed to Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Mexican music since I was a baby. My grandparents loved the big band and latin percussion sounds, and loved to dance. Because of that, I've always been keen to the likes of Perez Prado, Tito Puente, well - just about any salsa, cumbia, big band and even mariachi music.
The samples used don't sound like your typical 'Tijuana Samplepack Volume 3!' sort of things - did you have to put a lot of time and effort into sourcing them and finding the 'right' ones?
Even though I'm calling it Tijuana Bass, it's a lot more Cuban influenced than anything. I just live near Tijuana, and one side of my family is from there, and that's how I was exposed to the sounds. A lot of them are sounds from records I've been handed down over the years. Most of the vinyl is pretty used and isn't "production quality" as far as sampling is concerned, so I bought some of the music on CD and started sourcing some sounds from there. I've also been digging through African and Cuban percussion comps for a while, because the drums are really where it's at in latin music. Mmmmm… I also pitch my voice and do weird shit on the tracks as well… gotta keep it fun, because that's what this is all about, haha.
Is there anyone else on a similar vibe where you are at the moment? Are there any collaborations on the cards?
Well, I'd have to say, the track that started it all, Cambio, was a collaboration with Misk. He's been busy working on a lot of live stuff, but I know he's secretly making some TJB over the past year. Also, FSTZ is due for a few remixes, and hopefully some original tunes. He may live in Kansas City now, but he can still mash a lobster burrito with the hottest of hot sauce with the best of us.
What are your plans for the coming year music-wise - could there be a live element involved with this?
When you asked me to make a mix for this feature, I was gonna just throw down the dubplates, but I wasn't around any decks… So this mix I'm giving you is actually a live mix of lots of different stuff I've been working on. The first third or so is Tijuana Bass, and the rest is just a mixture of 140 stuff I've made lately. Live percussion? Wow. Live guitar and vocals? Now you got me thinking… I'll keep you updated on that! Other than that, I'll just keep cutting dubs and continue my night in San Diego called Dead//Technology. No digital formats allowed there, just vinyl and acetate! I'd like to get some dates on the east coast as well this year, as of now I've been limited to the western half of the country.
What sort of stuff do you get up to when you're not behind the buttons?
I'm a freelance web developer by day, and I'm lucky to have some fun projects that I'm involved with. Other than work, I enjoy skateboarding a lot. Of course I listen to a lot of music, and I've been trying to push myself to get back into painting and drawing lately. In California, you can pretty much make anything fun as well. So if I said I ran errands and tried to be productive for fun, it might not make sense to the outsider. I'm addicted to espresso.
Tell us one thing about you that not many people know..
Even though I was born in San Diego, I grew up on a ranch in New Mexico up in the mountains. I can brand and rope cows and all that shit.
Any final words of advice for the producers out there?
I don't feel as if I'm established enough for people to take anything I say seriously, but if someone out there does, then my best advice is to have fun with what you are doing. Make your music different. There are already so many people doing the same old sounds… Add some spice. Any time someone tells me my music is fresh, I have to take it as the biggest compliment, because I'm inspired by a lot of other people, and if I'm making my own sound, then I'm achieving my goal.
