INTERVIEW: Five Minutes With … FVCKDIVMONDS
U.S based DJ and Producer FVCKDIVMONDS has recently released his debut EP Give ‘Em Hell via MMXVAC.
Having garnered significant attention from some of the biggest names in electronic music, his production has gained a reputation for blurring the lines between modern house music and southern rap – making for a deadly combination. The EP fuses elements of music that have inspired him, encompassing the classic rave sound from the 90s, modern bass house, southern trap and UK grime. The result is an EP that is intimate while at the same time remains both raw and aggressive.
We caught up with FVCKDIVMONDS in the wake of his release for some insight into the new EP.
To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
Urban house music, wubs and gun shots.
FVCKDIVMONDS…. interesting name. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Well, some time ago when I started the project my friend and I were having a conversation about how diamonds are the most sought after thing in the world behind money, right? So the meaning behind my name is to leave the materialistic things at the door and be fueled by the passion to the create, don’t do it for the money, do it for love.
Where do you gather songwriting inspiration?
I listen to alot of rap music, but I also fuck with old D.C. Hardcore bands like Minor Threat, Black Flag. Classic rock also plays a big part, my pops raised me on Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Doors, all that.
Tell us about your debut EP. You mentioned that it “encompasses everything I love in music into a complete body of work.” Can you elaborate on this?
Yes, with the EP I tried to take every part of music that has ever inspired me and bring it into one cohesive project. So you have rap vocals in there for my love of southern trap music, bass wobbles for my love of the bass house sound, some fills that I found in some of my favorite rock n roll songs and remade. Really any type of music I’ve ever enjoyed was thrown into the pot and the result was the Give Em’ Hell EP.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting your music together?
Usually I like to get a solid drum pattern down then I build everything around that. Drums are the most important part of dance music so they should always be the main focus.
What do you usually start with when preparing for a set?
I’ll really only plan out the first 3-4 songs to set the vibe, then from there everything else is on the fly. Thank god for mixed in key so everything works well together.
What are currently your main challenges as a DJ? What is it about DJing, compared to, say, producing your own music, that makes it interesting for you?
DJing to me is taking your records on the road and showcasing them into a live set mixed with other records from friends/producers that you’re enjoying at the moment and bringing it all together as one cohesive set. The only challenge I ever face is forgetting my headphones, lol.
If you had to choose between never playing live again, or never being able to release music again… Which would you go for, and why?
That’s extremely tough honestly, because I do love both, but I’d have to choose never playing live again. I love creating, always have and always will. If I couldn’t wake up in the morning and work on some new records I’d probably lose my mind, making music is the most important thing in my life.
Follow FVCKDIVMONDS:
https://soundcloud.com/fvckdivmond
www.soundcloud.com/fvckdivmonds
https://www.facebook.com/FVCKDIVMONDS/
