Interview with Soohan
So how did you get into mashups?
When I was a freshman in college a few years ago a couple of my friends showed me Girl Talk and I loved it.
How did you learn how to make them?
Basically, I just wanted to get into making music. I realized that if I could find out the BPM of all the songs in my iTunes, then I could mix different songs that had the same speed.
What software do you use?
I used GarageBand for the longest time until last year when I got Ableton. I have a midi controller but I don’t use it that much.
There was a point where you slowed down on mashups and starting making club music. What the story about that?
Well I was making mashups and then I discovered Baltimore club music and fell in love with it. I’ve been listening to club music ever since and it’s kinda like my new thing, I’m trying to make some more club music.
Because you like it more, or like making it more?
Yeah I just like how it sounds more.
Favorite mashup artists? Club artists?
Well definitely Girl Talk…and as far as club, Diplo, DJ Sega, Rod Lee.
How did you get into club music?
Well I go to University of Maryland so I’m near Baltimore. So I just heard it and was like Oh Shit this is like the best music ever…
What goes into choosing your songs in your mashups?
Honestly, I would just sit there for hours and just try a bunch of different songs together. Like I’ll put four songs that I think might be cool together into the program and just try. I never really know what it’s gonna sound like. For every song I would just drag different songs in and mess around with it. I never really plan it out…more trial and error really.
What are some of your favorite songs you’ve made?
Drop Bombs and Fly Away is probably my favorite one. Let’s see…High in the Andes is one of my favorites too.
So once you got into club music, how did you get back into mashups?
Well yeah there was the period where I wasn’t making too many mashups and really just club music, but then once school started again last year, I got really into them and would just sit in my dorm room and make them. You can tell when I made them because the newer ones I made last year have much better production compared to the ones I made two years ago. I also got into DJing a lot and started meeting people in the scene that school year.
So you started playing live a lot?
Yeah, when I came back to school, me and my roommate put our money together and bought turntables and Serato Scratch Live. Scratch Live was $500, but it’s amazing. It is an interface that allows you to scratch mp3s on your computer. I had no idea how to use turn tables but the program really helps you. So once we had equipment, a lot of people wanted us to DJ their parties since people always want DJs at their parties. So we did a lot of frat parties, and played a couple bars in the area. We played at this one bar called the Santa Fe, and there were like 300 or 400 people just going crazy there.
So have you been DJing a lot now?
Yeah, my music production has slowed down a lot because I’ve been DJing so much. I’m still trying to figure out my next step, whether it’s DJing or making music. I don’t just want to be that kid who makes mashups. So I’ll probably stick with dance music and club.
So do you think that mashups just don’t have a career behind them?
Well mashups are kind of a fad, you know? Especially in the DJ scene, where if you talk about them, people are pretty much like “Girl Talk has that covered”. But I love making them so…
So are mashups not big in the DJ scene just because Girl Talk already has it covered? Is it really just a fad?
Umm, I don’t really know. I mean the internet is overflowing with mashups right now. I think people are just tired of sifting through them because most of them suck. I don’t really think it’s a fad…it’s just that a lot of regular people are doing it and popularizing it that way. Girl Talk is just stiff competition.
Isn’t it possible that mashups are the next stage of DJing? I mean, club music could be considered mashups in some ways when they use two songs.
I feel like mashups are just the starting point. So people who are trying to break into the scene use mashups to get their name out there. It just shows people what you can do in terms of production.
So is it like a junior DJ kinda thing?
No not really…it’s more that mashups are so underground and there isn’t really an authority on them. It’s an underground movement that’s just getting into the professional scene. I mean it’s mostly just kids in their dorm rooms who love music and love making music. And it’s just spread by random people on the internet.
Do you like that about mashups?
Yeah, I love that. I feel such a strong connection to all the kids listening to my music. It’s really cool. People can relate to it because they like the songs. And all of it is really under the radar. You can only find it on myspace and purevolume. You really have to search to find good mashup artists. It’s not official or anything. It’s just a bunch of free songs on the internet. And it only spreads by word of mouth really.
So any tips for aspiring mashup artists?
Well you gotta enjoy it, because it’s so much fun. And don’t take it too seriously. And it’s not so hard so don’t be intimidated or get discouraged.
Any other comments?
I dunno, I just really appreciated all the support. It’s been unreal…to have people listen to your music and be like “Is that you?”…it’s really cool.
Favorite pizza topping? Favorite candy? Favorite color?
Extra cheese. Sour Patch Watermelon. Blue
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