Tell us who you are and what you do?
I'm Ben Z from Madison, Wisconsin. I am primarily an emcee but also a producer, engineer, change agent, and all around creative mind. I'm 27, married, and have 4 kids.
Tell us about your studio set-up/space
I put up 2 walls in the corner of my basement that created a 9ft x 10 ft (2.74m x 3m) room, and put up office cubicle walls to cover the 2 cinder block foundation walls as well as acoustic foam on the ceiling and other spots to kill standing waves & echos. It looks ugly as hell, but it sounds great. I mostly run Logic Pro 9, but occasionally use Pro Tools 10. I'm not a fan of Pro Tools though.
My gear includes my MacBook Pro, a secondary monitor, KRK Rokit 6 audio monitors, Alesis iO26 interface, multiple Sennheiser HD280 headphones, a Shure KSM32 vocal mic, SM58's, SM57's, & plenty of other random gear etc.
You play many parts in music; Artist, producer, sound engineer.. how did this come about?
All out of necessity! I started off rapping 8 years ago. When I wanted to get a bit more serious with it, I had a hard time finding legitimate beats & beat makers. Additionally, I didn't know the first thing about audio or recording. My hip hop mentor at the time told me I needed to bring something besides raps to the table if I wanted people to take me serious. That's when I gave software like Audacity and Garageband a shot. After messing around with Apple loops and built in computer microphones, I knew I needed to step my game up. At this time, I was also offered a great opportunity to teach hip hop workshops for youth. The condition for the offer though, was that I learn another major hip hop related skill. I wanted to make some big moves in life...so I quit my job at the time and went to the Media Institute here in Madison.
I was there for 2 years and graduated with a 4.0GPA & a degree in audio engineering. While there I had the opportunity to study under engineers, producers, and record label owners who had worked on multi-platinum albums and owned large studios. One of my instructors worked on almost every Def Jam album that came out in the late 90's and the following decade. I gleaned as much as I could during that time and was prepared to set off as a freelance engineer/artist. In the 3 years since then, I have utilized my diverse skill set to break open doors and explore all kinds of dope opportunities.
Who are your biggest influences?
I don't have many gurus that I have especially studied or looked up to. My biggest influence is probably the never ending creativity that I encounter from all different types of people. I'm challenged everyday to dream bigger, push harder, and hold onto the things I love.
But, if you want a simple answer, I would say: Doomtree, The Simpsons, and Sphinx Guiliano/the Unfathomable. Sphinx would rap with me for hours on end back in the day. I credit him with helping me find my voice and style for sure. The Simpsons are the main reason I'm never too serious. Doomtree is just dope.
What encourages you to carry on with music?
I was always very isolated and solitary growing up and music was my only outlet. That connection to music grew even more when I started creating my own songs. This history I have with music combined with the support of followers and fellow artists keeps me going!
How would you define your progression through music, from where you started to where you are now? Ha! Really, really, really bad and disillusioned to pretty decent and still disillusioned.
What do you think about the music industry and independent hip hop at the moment? Where do you think things are going in the next few years?
Great question! I think that the web, but more specifically SoundCloud, has provided a way for independent artists to bypass the system and achieve things that even labels couldn't deliver just a decade or two ago. This means we have the power to find unlimited music we like. The wackness put on by labels is loosing power because the people of the world don't buy it as much.
For instance, I am able to go online and find 100 producers and 100 emcees that are better than every single one being played on the radio right now. We have a shot at breaking the propaganda machine of the major labels! I'm convinced that in the near future I will witness at least one fellow SoundClouder blow up on a major level. Hip hop, electronic music, and even rock came from authentic roots. Now we can bring the authenticity back.
What have you been listening to recently?
All of the amazing music on SoundCloud! Lately I've been digging Dessa's album “Castor, The Twin”. It's some of the dopest music ever!
What is your biggest personal music achievement?
Creating a SoundCloud account. No lie! Since then I have met thousands of amazing people from all over the world. That account has given me a passport to travel the world through audio and do things I would have never dreamed. Nothing I have done musically in the past 2 years would've happened if I hadn't created that account.
Tell us about your SoundCloud Hero role.
I promise I don't just talk up SoundCloud because I'm on their Heroes squad!
My goal as a SoundCloud Hero for Madison, Wisconsin is to connect local users to each other and the rest of the world through audio. I host local gatherings, organize online collaborations and projects, and get all kinds of dope stuff mailed to me from SoundCloud.
What is your next big project, any big plans coming up?
I have huge plans!
1. A new compilation album called 'my new mixtape' will be dropping this spring. It will be a follow up to my compilation album released last spring which was called “my mixtape'.
2. Via the SoundCloud Heroes program I will be organizing and hosting a series of hip hop EP's with other Heroes. Confirmed so far are “Madison vs. Shanghai” and “Madison vs. York”. Others may happen as well.
3. I'll be venturing out of my basement studio for the first time in 4 years to hit the local live scene in 2013 as well. Some bookings are already confirmed with more on the way.
If you could work with any artist, who would it be?
The down to earth artists on SoundCloud. I don't care to work with a big industry name at this point.
Any last words?
Thanks for having me! I appreciate everyone who takes time to read this as well...Now, GO TELL YOUR MOTHER!
Ben Z
