DSF Q&A Sessions 4: Jack Sparrow (closed)

[Disco Nutter]

Heavy duty beats and atmospheres coming straight outta Leeds. For all the non-believers - check his MySpace and get to know yourselves. Six tracks uploaded and I didn't have to skip a single one while writing this and collecting photos and information.

As resident at the norths premier dubstep night ''Exodus''owned by the legendary Simon Scott. Ryan has travelled all over the world with the night and gathered influences for his music.

Ryan's ecletic influences include dub,techno,garage,hip hop,drum and bass, from artists like ltj bukem, portishead, richie hawtin, 4 hero ,nightmares on wax to name a few.

Under the alias J.Sparrow Ryan didn't want to stick to one style of dubstep, but to make a variety of sounds that would hopefully appeal to all listeners from every background.

Ryan saw his first release in 2006 on leeds based label ''Senseless Records'' since then he has released on Mrk1's label ''Contagious'' and the next release is due on Dj Pinch's ''earwax'' with a following album in 2009 on Earwax and other remix project's that are forthcoming throughout 2009.

He appears on releases from Senseless Records, Earwax, Contagious Recordings, XMAG, Heartbeat Records:

• Spam Purse / Blackout (12") Senseless Records - 2007
  For Me / Lights Off (12") Earwax - 2008
  I And I / Preditor (12") Contagious Recordings - 2008
  Smash (CD, Comp, Mixed, Promo, Car) XMAG - 2008
  12 Planet "Smokescreen" J.Sparrow remix due shortly in 2009
  Ekelon track - J.Sparrow remix due shortly in 2009
  XXXY "Rain" J.Sparrow remix due shortly in 2009

And, besides all that, he is working on a highly anticipated album, which is going to be released through Earwax! For those who missed his free dubs pack he gives away - you can read about it here.

Jack Sparrow @ MySpace

This Session is OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. It will officialy begin when the previous one ends.
You have to thank pdomino for making a lot of this possible!
Be aware that Sessions will run officialy for one (1) week per producer. After that it's up to the producer if he'll continue answering questions. So don't make silly faces if your question is left unasnwered after 1 week passes

[Disco Nutter]

Soooooo, once again

Thanks for taking part in this!

What's your studio like? Software and hardware-wise? DAW of choice? And how do you typically go about making a tune?

Cheers,
Jason

[legend4ry]

Spam Purse / Blackout (12") Senseless Records - 2007

^ Thats one of the best 12"s in dubstep in my opinion... Love that to death .


Firstly, any obscure pieces of software/hardware that you use when out of ideas?

Secondly, whats your favourite part about making music? From the first idea to playing it out.

[ELLFIVEDEE]

Do you have any pets?

Sorry couldn't help that one after the last Q&A.....

But honestly, Do you come from any sort of musical background? Like has it always been electronic or did you previously (or still currently) play any instruments? If so, what are they?

And also, What inspires you most to produce?

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

Talented dude!!!

[jack sparrow1]

Big up the production forum a great idea and thnaks to domino!

My setup contains a macbook and a desktop pc,i run logic 8 and acid 6 with load of vst's and fx

I use a turntable which is plugged straight into acid 6 which is pretty old skool but it gives me freedom to create atmospheres which is key for my sound.

logic 8 is a recent addition and im still learning everyday and i rate it highly,much easier than producing in just audio.

I have a few pieces of hardware including synths,vocoders etc

I cant say i have a routine for making a tune but when i sit down i usually have a cup of tea and some snacks...no weed i dont smoke it

[jack sparrow1]

Spam Purse / Blackout (12") Senseless Records - 2007

^ Thats one of the best 12"s in dubstep in my opinion... Love that to death .


Firstly, any obscure pieces of software/hardware that you use when out of ideas?

Secondly, whats your favourite part about making music? From the first idea to playing it out.

thanks bro!

If i run out of ideas i take a break and go on the punch bag in the garage to get my energy levels back up lol

the best bit about making music for me is the fact something you make can reach other people who are on your wave lengh.

that and playing something out on a big system is amazing

[jack sparrow1]

Do you have any pets?

Sorry couldn't help that one after the last Q&A.....

But honestly, Do you come from any sort of musical background? Like has it always been electronic or did you previously (or still currently) play any instruments? If so, what are they?

And also, What inspires you most to produce?

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

Talented dude!!!

i have a staffy but she lives with my mum now as its not fair to keep her in the house 24/7.

basically i have never ever learnt how to play anything or been trained in any way i started on here like most people.

back in the day there was a few of us living together in leeds and the main person that got me into music production was rusko,he did amazing things with acid 6 which is what i use now more often than logic.

I was in a group of friends growng up that listened to music and smoked weed on weekends and not much else,i look at my music now especially the album tracks and see exactly where my influences came from.

i take it as research all those years listening.

[xxxy]

How do you get your hair to look so sexy?


Do you still love me?

Have made your subs warmer yet?

[jack sparrow1]

How do you get your hair to look so sexy?


Do you still love me?

Have made your subs warmer yet?

this is serious rupert!

[xxxy]

Sorry Ryan.

ok how's the album going? Will there be any kormastep on there

[Disco Nutter]

How do you proccess your drums

[jack sparrow1]

How do you proccess your drums

I resample a lot of drums through a focusrite voicemaster,its not intended for that but its really nice to add warmth.

depends on the style of track really.

dancefloor stuff need a good layer of kicks and snares and sidechain.

where as vocal stuff or more melodic tunes need rythm and less harsh drums so i warm those with the focusrite

[jack sparrow1]

Sorry Ryan.

ok how's the album going? Will there be any kormastep on there

ive done around 30 full tracks in 6 months and started 304 lol i checked yesterday.

out of those 30 will be nailed down to 13-14 tracks

[legend4ry]

Sorry Ryan.

ok how's the album going? Will there be any kormastep on there

ive done around 30 full tracks in 6 months and started 304 lol i checked yesterday.

out of those 30 will be nailed down to 13-14 tracks

Those 16-17 what do not make it on the album should be zipped up and sent to me

Nah good news though!!


So how did you approach making the album? Did you have a theme for it or just started making tunes?

[pdomino]

lmao @ XXXY

Whats your favourite piece of hardware and favourite gadget? ... you look like a gadgety type of bloke ..... all fingers and that ha !

[jack sparrow1]

Sorry Ryan.

ok how's the album going? Will there be any kormastep on there

ive done around 30 full tracks in 6 months and started 304 lol i checked yesterday.

out of those 30 will be nailed down to 13-14 tracks

Those 16-17 what do not make it on the album should be zipped up and sent to me

Nah good news though!!


So how did you approach making the album? Did you have a theme for it or just started making tunes?

I approached the album with extreme care because you kinda leave yourself open to a lot of abuse if all the tracks sound samey or there's not enough home listening stuff or bangers etc.

I've done full original vocal tracks and bangers and some home listening stuff to give variety that is what an album is to me.

No doubt some of those shelved tune will see the forum lol!

[jack sparrow1]

lmao @ XXXY

Whats your favourite piece of hardware and favourite gadget? ... you look like a gadgety type of bloke ..... all fingers and that ha !

I have got to say that space designer in logic 8 is mega nothing touches it for quality the reverbs are best quality ive ever heard.

the korg ms2000 i have has a vocoder and that can produce some really interesting stuff when you put bass guitars through it or rhodes etc.

i fiddle lots

[djake]

big up for doing this


what advice have you got for new/up and coming producers/djs?

[jack sparrow1]

big up for doing this


what advice have you got for new/up and coming producers/djs?

id say there is no urgency to write the next banger or massive tune so perfect your style and stay true to your sound,dubstep is gunna be around for a long timeif not forever,dont rush.

i found that weed clouded my head and made me lazy so i quit and only smoked when i had finished a tune. so maybe if you find yourself getting frustrated when building a beat try stopping it for a bit.

for dj's id say just burn some mixes onto cd as mp3 no higher than 128kbp and give them out after nights then people can go home and listen to them,include your details etc.

[__________]

how dare you? djake doesn't smoke DRUGS when he makes music. stickly baccy

how much time do you reckon you spend on each release-worthy tune?

+ edit: could we see a screenshot of one of your tunes in the sequencer? that's always interesting!