Tell us who you are and what you do?
I'm just a simple beatmaker from Lithuania, Eastern Europe. I produce hip-hop instrumental beats, sampled and original ones. That's what i love to do. My name FoxaZ came from my surname which is Fokas. My friends have called me Foxaz since i was 11 or 12 years old, so it became my main name as an artist. I like that name a lot. I incorporated a fox in to my logo too, i think it gives it a professional look!
Tell us about your studio set-up/space.
It's just me and my laptop or pc depending on my mood! I have an M-Audio Keystation 49e midi keyboard and Propellerhead Reason 5. Sometimes i use Cubase 5, but it's not my main DAW. I usually chop my samples in Propellerhead Recycle, then add them into Reason's Dr. OctoRex device. I have ordered an AKAI MPD32, but i'm living in Lithuania, so after a month and a half, i still don't have it. It has to arrive from abroad so still waiting to reach the next level of beatmaking.
How did you become a music producer?
I first started as a rapper, and needed some beats to rap on. I started to make beats myself in 2003. My rapping career was not so successful so i ended it in 2008. I‘ve produced some lithuanian hip-hop tracks in my early producing career, and since 2010, FoxaZBeats reached another level producing tracks for rappers all over the world.
Who are your biggest influences and what encourages you to continue producing?
DJ Premier is my biggest influence. The way he flips the samples is golden! I also like The Alchemist, 9th Wonder, Pete Rock, RZA, J Dilla and others. They all have their own unique styles of beatmaking. The most encouraging thing is that a lot of people support what i‘m doing. That inspires me to make better beats all the time. Big thanks to all those people who listen to my work and comment on it.
What do you think about the music industry and independent hip hop at the moment and where do you think things are going in the next few years?
The hip-hop music on the radio and television is going the wrong way. Independent hip-hop is really growing and i love to see a lot of great beatmakers and new emcees from all over the world joining the hip-hop forces. One love! I think there will be more electronic sounding hip hop in the near future. More like dubstep hip-hop, dnb hip-hop, not that golden classic sampled stuff. Music is always changing and that‘s great.
What have you been listening to recently?
All the music that i‘ve been listening to recently is on SoundCloud. There are so many talented people from all around the globe who make damn good music. The main genre i‘m listening to is rap/hip-hop, but also dubstep, jazz, rock and other stuff.
Biggest personal music achievement?
I don‘t really know. Maybe that i have finished musical school where i played piano and clarinet, and now i use those skills when making beats. Also the moment when you‘re driving in the car, listening to a radio and hear the song produced by yourself.
What is your next big project, any big plans coming up?
I‘m always working with solid mc's, trying to produce better tracks all the time. I‘m not planning to release an album, mixtape, beat tape or anything else this year. I hope to do that one day. I would also like to make a beatmaking video and upload it to Youtube, but i‘m just too busy making beats at the moment.
Any last words?
Good luck to everyone in this game, everyone who knows me, who supports me, who loves hip-hop music, and who makes music. Big up and keep doing what you do.
Foxaz Beats
