One-man operation: “What’s unique about this album, I actually recorded it myself in my own studio. Of course, I made the beats, wrote and mixed and mastered it myself. This album was a complete, 100 percent, Issa production. There are very few dope artists and producers who do both at a high level. That gives me a lane that’s unique. Plus, I love it. I love making beats. I love writing rhymes. I love performing. They came up simultaneously and all work together hand-in-hand.”
Fluid evolution: “I started watching these little YouTube tutorials on how to mix and master to learn more about the process. I just needed to know the technical things like what plug-ins, settings and knobs to use. Once I figured that out, it was pretty much all by ear. I feel like I already have a natural ear as a producer. It was just time for me to do that part of it and I just basically kept making songs. I cut 20 or 30 songs off of it. It’s just in me. I can’t help it. It just always runs through me.”
Embracing the process: “I found my ears in every part of making these songs and, for me, that gave it more life. That’s kind of the nerdy part of it, in a way, but I enjoy knowing how to do it. I feel like it gave me a level of freedom I’ve always wanted in my expression of art and music. Now, I don’t have to worry about anything. I can put music out anytime I want.”
Contact this contributing writer at 937-287-6139 or e-mail at donthrasher100@gmail.com.
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