DDDDj Clockworkkkk
Whord to ya muthaz eerbady. I am known as Dj Clockwork and I produce mostly techno/trance/house and hiphop/rap music.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
I used to be known as "Denise" in my old school 10th grade rapping days. I produced my first album in 2002, called "4 Plays For a Dollar", then later produced my second, called "Chaos Theory" in early 2004. I used to call my label "Lagger Records", but now it's known as "Bullz Eye Records".
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I've done two gigs: one at my aunt's birthday party and one at the Norwich Ice Rink, near my house. I made business cards and tried to get my name out in the clubs but it seemed to fail miserably.
Your musical influences
All the old school rappers like Run DMC, Mos Def, and Tribe Called Quest. Even if a song technically isnt't old school, if it doesn't sound like todays hiphop/r&b garbage, I like it. On the techno side, I'd consider myself greatly influenced by Paul Oakenfold, Sasha, Oliver Boloski, and any trance or techno music with an "anthem" sound to it (Darude's "Sandstorm", Eiffel 65's "Blue", Zombie Nation's "Kernkraft 400"). I like heavy, synthy sounds like that. I'm also into synthesized vocals, and any housey music with jazz influences. I'm also really into the Vengaboys. Forget all about "ambient" music; only music that sounds like music will find a way into my record collection.
What equipment do you use?
I have 2 Gemini PT-2000 turntables, a Gemini Technomaster PMX-200 Mixer (it's not the new pmx-200, that costs only like $20, it's different), an American DJ Pro DJ1 cd player, a Yamaha SU700 sampler, the Soundblaster MP3+ USB soundcard (not exactly professional recording equipment), and an old Compaq Presario. I use a guitar amp with the gain all the way down and the volume all the way up for my studio monitor. I use Soundforge 6.0 for my effects, Fruityloops for my beats, and Acoustica Mixcraft and the SU700 as sequencers. There's a picture of my studio on my site at www.angelfire.com/hiphop3/djclockwork/index.html
Anything else?
Some advice for people new to music production:
Don't buy everything you think you need all at once; buy one piece of equiptment, and once you feel you really need another, then pruchase it. I made the mistake of buying tons of expensive gear and then finally learning how to work it all about a year later. There is also a lot of stuff out on the market that's expensive that you dont really need. A compressor? Forget it and just download some cheap program for free that will compress and filter your sound for you. Also, you can use a lot of programs with fully functional demos to really help you out budget-wise. Often you can have a studio that costs hundreds less than somone else's and make music that sounds just as good. Most gear in music catalogs and in online stores are only worth their money to people at a very high professional level, not amateur home recording artists. Only pick gear that has quality, basic features without all the little nonsense addons and that is worth what it costs.
