Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
BeatKnoxxx: I’ve seen your twitter accounts tweets, and other artist on twitter Retweeting you. And once I started looking for good ways for up and coming artist to get a exposure it just started to make more and more sense to me to use this platform that’s being offered to artist.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
BeatKnoxxx: I’m a music producer from southern California. I grew up in a different time, But that’s a story for a different occasion. I Took to song writing at an early age, begin with lyrics and then merging them with melodies. Once this interest grew into more than a hobby I studied piano and musical composition. I was more of a troubadour in those times than anything else. Much of my music was inspired by love, women, forlorn, unrequited love and romanticism. But as I matured I wanted to continue to share those emotions but also express others. This is when I started doing hip hop and became and artist…BeatKnoxxx…and ultimately lead to make this style I call Synth-Hop and
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
BeatKnoxxx: It was given to me by the person who was a huge factor in getting me involved in the Hip Hop genre and culture. It was a play on words. He like my tracks, he would say “these beats knock” and it eventually turned into BeatKnoxxx. Knox being my last name.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
BeatKnoxxx: Online music sharing is one of those beautiful things for consumers and up and coming artist that bridges the gap between artist and audience. In the social networking age we want things fast, immediately. The more readily accessible something is the more like people are going to be to get it. I know initially it did hurt certain aspects of the music industry but it’s the byproduct of a world changing in a technological era. AND YES I do share music for free. Not all the time. But you have to create value in peoples lives with your art before you can ask them to invest in it. When you hear a song you like and truly resonate with an artist. You will show you support. But as artist we have to get that music out there and the best to get things out in the world is to just give them to people for free.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
BeatKnoxxx: Yea, network. Your network determines you net-worth. Music business is mostly business. Talent is a huge part of it, but so much of the machine that is the music industry is a business, the business of networking, the business of being a good steward of whatever task is at hand. And find ways to contribute people around. Not in a insincere or with a sense of bartering. Learning to genuinely give to others through your art and your lifestyle will cultivate an atmosphere of success and will set you life in a path where people want to help you because you’re contributing something positive to the world on multiple levels
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
BeatKnoxxx: Yeah I’ve made mistakes ranging from forgetting lyric or playing a piano lick sloppy…To just picking the wrong song for the promotion and venue. You have to push forward and never make the same mistake twice.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
BeatKnoxxx: Me and the other artist I work with have toured in California, with the way things are going we will definitely be getting out of state soon. haha but what happens on the road stays on the road. I will say we meet supportive and positive people every where we go and that’s exactly who I want to connect with through my music .
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
BeatKnoxxx: In terms of style and technique, I learned a lot from old school soul and rock and roll. But I think in general musical theatre and much of the work by Billy Joel laid the blueprint for me wanting thematic music and concepts based musical projects. There’s something about tell a story and evolving a theme through more than one song that is truly beautiful. Not just a compilation of songs but a real theme explored and brought from though to musical. As for my process. ahaha I don’t have one besides showing up everyday to where ever my tools are. You can’t control when inspiration will strike but you can control whether or not you have your tools when it does come. I make sure to do the work. Set in the studio and load up my DAW and start working on something. Lots of days nothing sticks, but when those genius moments of inspiration strike I’m always where I need to be and I catch lightning in a bottle.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
BeatKnoxxx: yes you can go to BeatKnoxxx.com Youtube.com/BeatKnitty I share music on soundcloud, reverbnation, mixcloud etc Just search BeatKnoxxx 3 A.M.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
BeatKnoxxx: haha embarrassing? I’m not to embarrassed at what I listen to, But some shockers would be the random musicals. Gavin Degraw, Artic Monkey, I LOVE THE STROKES
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
BeatKnoxxx: I pay all my parents bills, start building a better studio and work on music. NO DAYS OFF MUSIC IS MY LIFE
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
BeatKnoxxx: Nothing planned just desired, I do the music production at home. Having a treated room is the real goal. A clear audio reference point. While I do record live musicians playing onto tracks I mostly work “in the box” I’m currently using Presonus Studio 1 ver 3 as my DAW and a host heavenly vst’s I’ve been collecting and acquiring over the years. I used reason for 3-4 but man Presonus is one hell of a beast.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
BeatKnoxxx: Doing a little bit of everything. Online, hard copies. Paid promos are dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing and what too expect but there are SOME good one for indie artist on a tight budget. But sharing music for free and connecting with your fanbase helps a lot. as well as teaming up with other artist .
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
BeatKnoxxx: It would be either James Blake or Tyler the creator. I pick those two because I feel both musically and live we could do next level things together. James Blake has a 3 piece he plays with and Tyler the Creator is super high energy I can do a lot with both of those. And creatively it seems like something new not retro or throwback.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
BeatKnoxxx: YES YES I’m not sure when this will be published but on 8-8-15 3 A.M. will release FOR FREE if you just want a copy to listen to. It’s the first of a trilogy I’m doing. IT’S THE FIRST SYNTH-HOP ALBUM. Synth hip is music from the future. It’s the culmination of HipHop/EDM genres. Everything from both sides. Boom Bap to Trap- Dub to chill wave. These sounds have evolved to something new and something different. The album has both instrumentals and full length songs. It will be on most websites that allow mixtape uploads. including ones in the EURO market so please check it out and follow me on twitter @BeatKnoxxx if you like it.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
BeatKnoxxx: Running a casino, Which I will do one day.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
BeatKnoxxx: I think I was one of those 12 cd’s for a $1 thing they use to do. hahah I felt like a kid on christmas. So much music. it all felt so ecstatic. good times
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
BeatKnoxxx: It’s hard, It’s pretty much committing yourself to something great and understanding the inherent sacrifices that come with that. Everything cost, even not pursuing what you love. So if you have to work hard it should definitely be on something you love that contributes value to the world around you.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
BeatKnoxxx: MORE SYNTH HOP. Artist have a hard time making something new. I’m a creative and I want to give new sounds to the world, there’s nothing like first time and this is the first time the world is getting to hear synth hop. And I have some other artist and producers as well as writing teams I’m working with. So your favorite artist may be on a Synth Hop track soon.
