Str8HipHip

SHH:  Finatik, to start things off tell us a bit about yourself?

Finatik: Well I’m a 20 year old DJ and Producer from Western Australia and I started deejaying back in 2000 when I was 13. I started out by winning heaps of DMC and ITF DJ battles back in 2002 and 2003. Over the years I’ve done gigs all around Australia as well as toured Asia and deejayed alongside many of my favorite deejay and artists I look up to like DJ Premier, Redman, Method Man, Beatnuts etc. I recently signed with Rebel Rock Entertainment over in Miami which is a record label founded by super producer Jim Jonsin which is under Atlantic Records.

SHH: Your interests gradually seem to have diverted from deejaying to producing… why is that?

Finatik: There is only so much I feel that I could do as a deejay, I’ve been making beats since I was 15 but it wasn't until I was 16 when I bought my first MPC and started getting into the production side of things heavy.  First I started out listening to the music then I got into playing it at the clubs and then overtime I became interested in making my own music.

SHH: What can you tell us about your production deal with Rebel Rock?

Finatik: Basically I have been signed to Rebel Rock Entertainment as a producer, for those out there who don’t know who Jim Jonsin is I can guarantee you have blasted his beats in your car or danced to them in the club before.  He’s produced tracks for Danity Kane, Pitbull, Jamie Foxx, Pretty Ricky, T-Pain plus heaps of other big artists.

SHH: How did the contract come about and what can you tell us about the record company?

Finatik: Around June back in 2006 my manager Trac was sending beats to a dude named Rocco in Miami who works with Jim Jonsin and at the time Jim was working Pitbull. We were told Jim was really feeling the music we were sending them so they asked to hear more so we just kept on sending them beats and coincidentally at that time Jim was just started up his own company ‘Rebel Rock Entertainment’. So eventually they asked if I wanted to sign to the label as a producer and I have always been a fan of Jims work so this was huge to me. One reason why I signed to the label besides the fact that its Jim’s label is because I respect how they called it Rebel Rock Entertainment not Rebel Rock Records, because this way Rebel Rock could branch out into anything so there not just pigeon holing themselves as just a record company. The Label has signed producers as well as staff musicians so there are big things in the works for the label so keep an eye out!

SHH: Who else is signed to Rebel Rock?

Finatik: At the moment they have an artist named B.O.B who straight out of Decatur, ATL. The dude is crazy; he’s got a hot mix tape out with DJ Smallz. He’s a young dude as well and he’s been doing it for years, the reason why I really dig his music is because he is real. A lot of rappers try to be hard and everyone can see through that but B.O.B is crazy because he’s got his own style and doesn't sound like anyone else out there right now so he is definitely doing something different. You can download the mix tape in one of his blogs at www.myspace.com/bobatl, check him out for yourself.

SHH: What happens from here? How much longer is Finatik officially Australian for?

Finatik: I’m an Aussie for life but as far my residence goes we are planning to make the big move overseas early 2008.

SHH: How have the people at the label seemed to react to you and your music so far?

Finatik: So far things have been great and there only going to get better, I definitely have my own sound that you will hear through my music and I think the guys at the label must of seen that otherwise they wouldn’t of signed me because they could of easily signed some other dude who tried to sound just like the next dude.

SHH: In your opinion where do you see the sound of hip hop going?

Finatik: I honestly see a lot more fusion between hip hop and electronic based music. I’ve always been into House, Electro, Breaks & Drum N Bass to which is a plus for me as a producer because it gives me inspiration and ideas that I can incorporate into my own music. If you sat down all day long listening to hip hop and R&B and then you went to make a beat 9 times out 10 you’re probably going to make something that sounds just like that. But if you are open to all genres of music you will most likely make something that sounds more original.

SHH: What are your future plans as a producer?

Finatik: To make a name for myself internationally as far as producing goes and inspire others to pursue their goals no matter where they come from. My goals at the moment are to work with as many quality Major/Independent artists as I can and help build the name Rebel Rock as one of the best labels that ever did it.

SHH: What artists have you worked with recently?

Finatik: I produced 3 tracks for Redman's artist 'Icadon' whose from Brooklyn. Ic is a crazy rapper, if you haven't heard his stuff then you gotta check him out. If you get the latest Redman album 'Red Gone Wild’ he’s on a few tracks on there and he killed it! His currently working on his album which is gonna be dope!

SHH: What’s the Scene like out there in Australia?

Finatik: It’s crazy; you’ve got a lot of dudes out here doing big things for the Australian scene. Of course you have got hilltop hoods out of Adelaide who are pretty much the biggest Australian hip hop act we have ever had, you’ve also got downside who represent my hometown Perth.

SHH: So what kind of style is your production and do you prefer sampling or original?
 
Finatik: I’d say that I sound like 3 producers. Me, Myself and I! ha-ha I've always looked up to DJ Premier so
when I got into making beats I was always sampling and chopping up samples on the MPC.
Over the years I stocked up on keyboards and racks so I’ve gotten more into less sampling and playing
my own stuff... I really enjoy playing my own stuff and working with Live Musicians,
that’s what I have been doing heaps recently.

SHH: What equipment do you use?

Finatik: At the moment I beat my bitch real hard! ha-ha my MPC 4000 that’s my big bitch, Motif, Fantom, Protools and I also work with a few live musicians.

SHH: Any last words?

Finatik: I definitely want to send a big shout out to str8hiphop for the interview and you can check me out on www.myspace.com/djfinatik