#hypoetical

S&S:  How has your setup changed over the years or since this?

H: Early on, I made beats using only software and vinyl (think ghetto rigged PC with bootleg Windows 95). I moved on to various hardware samplers and drum machines, and now I’ve transitioned to a mix of both with mobile technology. For me, it’s the best of both worlds because I can make beats practically anywhere and if I wanna sit in the studio I can sample from the hardware I’ve accumulated over the years. I’m not gonna lie, I was in my “hardware snob” phase for a minute but I’ve gone back to my Silicon Valley roots and really embraced this new technology. Right now it’s about quality of life and efficient workflow, my new setup helps me achieve both.

S&S: Can you describe your creative process? Do you start with a vibe or sample or something else?

H: I don’t think I ever went into making beats with a blueprint. It usually begins with one of three things: a drum pattern, a dope sample, or sound improvisation. From there I just add layers and connect the dots with small pieces that I feel fit sonically. I don’t consider myself a composer, I really just enjoy simplicity and subtlety (I can listen to simple loops forever). My previous experience as an emcee was a heavy influence on how I craft beats. If the beat makes me want to drop bars, then I know it’s on the right track. I do, however, have an affinity towards mellow music.

S&S: What inspires you in your creative process/endeavors?

H: Probably the madness within my mind 😱. It takes some effort for me to stay in the moment, so the process of creating is somewhat of a sanctuary for me. Being able to flip some of those unnecessary mental processes into something tangible keeps me motivated to create stuff.

S&S: How much does your environment influence your art? You're originally from the Bay Area but are now based in Hawaii. How has that change affected your art?

H: Hawaii’s overall vibe is definitely more care-free than the Bay Area and San Jose where I’m from originally. Even so, there’s a lot of creative energy out here despite its notoriety as a fantasy land. The environment does have a calming effect and I feel it helps my productivity, but it’s that energy and drive from the folks I’ve met that inspires me to keep creating. It also helps we tend to get slept on out here so it’s motivation to represent Hawaii as a place that does have art worth checking out. Aesthetically, I noticed my tracks weren’t as dark as they used to be so I have that going for me :).

S&S: You also do motion graphics and VJ, how similar is that to your beatmaking process?

H: Funny, I never thought about it but my visual process is very similar. Unless I’m working with specific requirements from a client or collaborator, it’s the same arbitrary approach I have with music. There’s obviously a certain aesthetic that I’m attracted to visually so much of that is conveyed in the visuals I create. The construction of it all usually begins with random sketches or experimentation and eventually evolves into a finished piece with some kind of coherence.

S&S: What are some of your favorite records right now?

H: Currently I’ve really been vibing on Teebs and Odd Nosdam’s work. They’ve both been on pretty heavy on rotation for me recently. It’s hard to narrow down my most favorite hip hop record of all-time but Labcabincalifornia by The Pharcyde ranks up there real high mostly from a production standpoint. Ironically, some of my most beloved music only exists on tape – a lot of LA/Bay Area underground hip hop from ’95-’00. To be specific, cats like Controller 7, Log Cabin, Onomatopoeia, Megabusive, Esoin, The Dereliks, and Deeskee.

S&S: How about any movies or TV shows that you’re digging?

H: I’m addicted to documentaries, especially anything that involves the study of humanity and sociology. My favorite documentarian is Adam Curtis, pretty much anything he creates makes you question your own reality. The kind of movies I enjoy are usually in the “wtf did I just watch” spectrum, flicks like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Enter the Void, Requiem for a Dream, Run Lola Run, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 8 1/2. I admit that some of my favorite movies have no closure whatsoever.

S&S: Are there any favorite food or food spots you have either in Hawaii or California?

H: Maybe it’s the asian in me, but I can never have enough rice and noodles. My favorite local food spots are Tanioka’s for their poke bowls and The Alley in Hawaii for their mix plates. In the Bay, I make it a point to stop by Orenchi Ramen in Sunnyvale and Su’s Mongolian in Santa Clara. Personally, I feel the most slept on Japanese joint is Gombei in Japantown, San Jose. Their yakiniku-don makes me cry in yearning and Anthony Bourdain should’ve went there instead of Minato on his episode of Parts Unknown.

S&S: What about any books you'd recommend?

H: The majority of books I read are non-fiction and I’m about halfway into a book about the origins of the various human species called “Sapiens” which I’m really enjoying. I always have to recommend Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States” and “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield for my fellow creators that need a kick in the ass.

S&S: Anything else you enjoy or inspires you?

H: Not many people know this but I geek out hard on niche Japanese developed video games. Big fan of the works of studios such as Q Entertainment, Platinum, Treasure, Atlus, and Clover. I’d say a lot of my visual influences come from the styles of my favorite games and surrealist art.

S&S: And lastly, any shout outs?

H: Shoutout to my 3 favorite people ever Zona, Uni, and Baba - if we weren’t all on the same page this life wouldn’t be as fulfilling as it is. 

Swing Shift is now available on cassette tape at spacexsound.bandcamp.com and spacexsound.storenvy.com