Tell us who you are and what you do?
My name is Marcus Alexander Hunke; I do market research 9-5 and produce music as a hobby in my spare time. I've been doing my music thing since 2010, when I downloaded and started to teach myself Fruity Loops. I also dabble in graphic design - check out my SC (soundcloud.com/hunkE) and Instagram (instagram.com/mhunke) for some of my work!
How did you come up with your name?
I have a somewhat unique and strange last name so I figured I'd roll with it, and add a little emphasis to help people pronounce it right.
Tell us about your studio set-up/space
My set-up is minimal: a personal Dell desktop computer and a used M-Audio 49 key midi controller that I picked up just over a year ago. No studio monitors. All my music is created, mixed and mastered with either my old Logitech UE 600 or my new T-Jays Three in-ear headphones (in-ear monitors FTW!!).
How did you become a music producer?
I've been really, really into music for as long as I can remember, and a few years back my brother told me about a free internet radio station (Last.fm) that allows you to create a profile that tracks every song you listen to, and then creates charts and recommendations based on what you listen to. Sooner than later I became hopelessly addicted, as I was discovering massive amounts of incredibly dope music (ie: UGK, Statik Selektah, Z-Ro, Inverse, Reks, Nappy Roots, CunninLynguists.. the list could go on forever).
Anyways, what really struck me, when using this site, was how good even the most obscure music could be. And moreso, how underground music could be so much better than mainstream, especially with respect to Hip-Hop. For instance, I'm sure one or two people reading this may recognize the group G-Side, and they put out better music than most mainstream rappers - lyrically and sonically. This inspired me to dig a little deeper.
I'm a huge Little Brother fan, and I always knew that 9th Wonder produced with Fruity Loops, so one day I decided to download an unlicensed version and mess around with it. When I first opened that baby up, it was massively overwhelming. But little by little I figured things out, and after a while, with the help of YouTube videos (s/o to nfxbeats!!), I was making crappy little beats! To this day I would guess that I know how to tap maybe half of the program's potential - it's all about learning bit by bit and never stopping.
Since then, it's been a steady grind of finding good quality drum packs, soundfonts and VSTi's, iGrinding, and experimenting. Before I had the opportunity to collaborate with anyone, I was fitting acapellas to my beats and teaching myself how to mix, chop and strech vocals. Most of these aren't on my SoundCloud anymore, and to be honest the mixes are garbage. But experimentation is the name of my game, and it's how I cultivate my style.
Who are your biggest influences?
The Block Beattaz. These guys are perhaps my favorite producers, and they are criminally slept on. They've worked extensively with the Alabama duo G-Side and have made some incredible music. Their style - a spacey blend of electronic and bass heavy dirty south - has influenced me more than any other producers'. Statik Selektah and Charles Hamilton are up there too.
What encourages you to carry on with music?
There are times when I'll listen to other producers (particularly of the electronic variety) and think to myself, "wow, you really suck compared to this dude. You'll never get to his level!" It's times like these that I have to consciously tell myself that no, I really don't have unlimited potential, no matter how much I like to think so. And I just force myself to accept that. I truly find this very difficult, and I'll admit that really do think highly of myself.
But months back, I read a quote on Facebook that's really stuck with me: "comparison is the thief of joy". Since I've been making music, comparison - and jealousy - too often diminishes my enjoyment of other artist's work, especially as I get better. It's something I constantly struggle with. So I consciously remind myself to appreciate what I do - that I'm incredibly lucky to collaborate with guys like Jabari Kiongozi, and to be able to build the relationships that I have. It's something that I take for granted today, but would've heard the tracks we've made before I started producing I would have been over the moon. It's funny how that works.
How would you define your progression through music, from where you started to where you are now?
Growing up, I first got into rock (grunge, post-grunge, hard rock, nu-metal, progressive rock to be specific) listening to the radio. Linkin Park and (old) Nickelback are still two of my favorite bands. My love for hip-hop didn't begin until I was 16 ("All Eyez on Me" converted me) and, by the time I went to university it was my genre of choice.
Then, about a year ago, I fell head over heels with EDM after a good friend of mine took me to see Sander van Doorn and Benny Benassi live. What really struck me was the incredible difference in the energy and atmosphere of Hip-Hop vs. EDM performances, especially in Alberta, where the rap scene is abysmal and the EDM scene is bumpin'. Lately I've been getting into dub-step especially (trance-step in particular) - artists like Adventure Club, Gramatik and Seven Lions.
In both cases, what allowed me to embrace these new genres of music was taking them seriously. I didn't like rap until I began to experience and appreciate Hip-Hop culture, which I believe is rooted more in struggle, poverty and being a victim than skin color. And my love for Vocal Trance didn't occur until I stopped thinking it was cheesy (the best cure for that is going to a show with your significant other).
What have you been listening to recently?
Lately I've been listening to a ton of Seven Lions. That dude makes me feel so ridiculously inadequate! His music is not just on another level, but another stratosphere. Also that new Macklemore x Ryan Lewis album. I can't tell you how much I love the realness of the lyrics on that album. That's the kind of music that could actually make the world a better place (especially records like Same Love, Make the Money, Thrift Shop and Wing$).
What is your next big project, any big plans coming up?
My next project will be my third solo organized/produced cypher. For those who don't know, I started doing these online cyphers when Ben Z asked me to produce a beat for one of the cyphers he was doing. After observing the process of how he managed the project, I decided to leverage some of my relationships on SoundCloud and give it a go solo. That was almost a year ago, and since then I've done two themed cyphers - Struggle and Escape - and teamed up with Iconic on a two-part cypher remix of Above & Beyond's "On My Way To Heaven".
Another project in the works is a collaborative EP with DrtySFX (soundcloud.com/drtysfx), look for that one early in the new year.
What is your biggest personal music achievement?
I'd have to say landing a beat on Planet VI's (formerly known as Rock City) latest mixtape "American Nightmare", and having that record ("There Will Be A Time f/ Scolla") listed as a highlight on the XXLMag review. I've been a huge Rock City fan ever since I heard their PTFAO: Independence Day album.
If you could work with any artist, who would it be?
That would be B.o.B. I'm a MASSIVE Bobby Ray fan, especially since his B.o.B vs Bobby Ray tape. The way he defies genres on that Bobby Ray half is absolutely astounding.
Any last words?
I'd like to thank anyone and everyone who has listened to, downloaded or shared my work! Also, to every artist that I've been lucky enough to collaborate with: thank you, thank you, thank you! It is the ultimate compliment when artists choose to work with you when there are practially unlimited alternatives available. I'm honored every time.
HunkE
