Featured Artists, Songs and Posts

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Sbeady:
I never thought about my music in genres or at least subgenres, because it's obviously hip hop, that I make most of the time. Nevertheless, I would never limit myself to a genre. I'm influenced by everything that hits me and gives me emotions in whatever mood. But to be honest, currently I'm all into this lofi hip hop and chillhop thing. I really began to love this sound and I want to dig deeper into it, while keeping and pushing my own unique style and recognition value.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Sbeady:
I started in the early 2000s after I were exposed to music production through a friend of mine. I was a huge hip hop fan, listening to non Phixion, Necro, Mobb Deep, Nas, Cage, Beatnuts and many others all the time, but also German acts like Kool Savas and Azad were running through my headphones frequently.
Over the time, the love for music got bigger and bigger. I made beats 24/7, skipped school to make music together with my friends which used to rap. We hung out and wrote songs as a crew in our own self made studio. Seriously the best time of my life. From time to time, I worked together with other underground acts. For example Millionadi, Peat38, Favourite and Casper. The last one became a bit more known some years later.
As time went by, the old crew drifted in different directions, people lived their own life. We stopped making music together. I took years off from music.
In 2016, I decided to make a beat album. Some turbulent private stuff came along, I needed a break again, so that I eventually finished it at the beginning of 2020. The kind people at the independent label "Vinyl Digital" gave me a chance, agreed to release it in May and I signed a contract there. To work with them is great and uncomplicated (Shout out to Julius).
Only after all that, I really came in contact with lofi hip hop and now here I am!

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Sbeady:
The first real connection was in my early days as a rug rat. Hardly able to walk, my favourite thing to do at home was putting my dad’s headphones on and listen to his vinyl records. We lived in the former GDR - East Germany - and my dad used to buy his records on East Berlin black markets. He collected music, you normally couldn't get there, because it was forbidden. Blues, Rock and Metal bands were his favourites like Canned Heat, Deep Purple, Genesis, Metallica, Motörhead and Scorpions.
Since I was a small child, I loved to listen to these vinyl treasures and I still do to up until this very day when I dig samples out of the crackling and warm sounding records from the good old days.

Nagamag:
How do you aproach a new Song? Do you start with a beat or do you come with melody first and how do you go on from there?

Sbeady:
I always always start with the melody. Regardless if I start from scratch, have something in mind and begin to write some chords into the piano roll or if I listened to some vinyl records, found a lovely sample, chopped it and played around with the slices on my Maschine MK2. I always start with the melody or chord progression. Then I would add synths or other instruments and the bassline of course. The drums are usually the last thing I write into the song. I know many producers out there that start with the drums, but I never did because I have to feel the vibes the melodic parts give me, before I play the drums. Sometimes I write the whole song arrangement before I even choose the drum sounds.

Nagamag:
Would you ever consider having a feature on one of your tracks?

Sbeady:
As I used to produce beats for rappers and singers for many years and just started with lofi hiphop in 2020, I’m excited to work on my own and don't have to wait till vocals are written and recorded. I can just write the song, finish it on my own, produce the sound design, and release it whenever I want. I enjoy this freedom. But of course, when an artist catches my attention and we have somewhat of a connection, I'm happy to work with him. No matter if it's a rapper, singer, beat producer, pianist or other instrumentalist. If we click, we will rock!

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Sbeady:
Journey "Don't Stop Believin' "

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Sbeady:
Turnawai "honeymilk"

Photocredits: George Tatakis

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Lumiere:
I believe that my music style moves constantly inside a square the 4 tips of which are a) Modern classical b) Minimalism c) Indie d) Electronic

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Lumiere:
Apart from 3 years of piano lessons when I was in elementary school and some lessons of sax some years ago, I am basically a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and composer. I formed an indie rock band ("Serpentine") when I was studying Physics in the University of Patras in the early 00s and later I released a couple of dream pop albums through 2 independent Greek labels. Since 2016, I am focused on composing instrumental music, releasing my debut album as Lumiere in 2017 and now looking forward to the release of my second album, "Phases" on the 18th September 2020.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Lumiere:
I think the first album that I really loved in its entirety was "Morning Glory" by Oasis, being also one of the first albums that I bought, in my teens. Listening to that album tens of times made me want to write my own songs.

Nagamag:
How does the new album display your growth as Lumiere?

Lumiere:
In my new album, for the first time, I have used extensively percussion and generally rhythmic structures along with the melodic elements for which I have used strings and brass. Apart from that, in almost half the tracks, there are drums and electric bass, creating a music combo of orchestral and indie elements, which is something I have never tried in the past.

Nagamag:
Was there an inspiration behind the rhythmic nature of “Doppler”?

Lumiere:
The Doppler effect in Physics is the change in the frequency of a wave in relation to a moving observer. My inspiration for the music of the song came from this natural effect and as a result came the pulsating drums, marimbas, and the beating of the horns (representing the waves) and the bending notes of the strings (representing the change in frequency).

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Lumiere:
Piero Piccioni "Right or Wrong"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Lumiere:
Per Störby Jutbring "The Thief Bunny Society"

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Mark Sutton:
Spiritual
Orchestral
Easy Listening
Cinematic
Nostalgic

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Mark Sutton:
My family are mainly all musicians and music and theatre were encouraged growing up. I've not played live too many times, but one of my highlights was accompanying a ukulele player for the Cheltenham Jazz Festival a few years back.
My main aim is to get my music distributed to as many ears as possible. The positive feedback I receive about my tunes always spurs me on to do more.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Mark Sutton:
When I was around 10 years old I remember starting to play the piano. I started creating some small tunes and my parents decided they would send me to have some piano lessons but after 6 months the teacher decided she could not teach me as I played by ear and once I had the tune in my head all the fingering was wrong.
Elton John, Scott Joplin and James P. Johnson were all great inspirers for me growing up.

Nagamag:
How has your music progressed over the years?

Mark Sutton:
Over the last 15 years in particular, my music has more or less been channeled. I sit at the piano and literally tune into my higher self and the tunes seem to flow from my fingers. I've also dabbled with orchestrating my tracks using Logic Pro and these seem to have been widely well received, although my first love and inspiration is from the piano.

Nagamag:
Do you favour a particular type of piano?

Mark Sutton:
At the moment I play a baby grand K.Kawai GL-30. I love the tone and speed of the notes from the way the keys are weighted, they seem to encourage me to play. I've had quite a few pianos over the years, Yamaha, Kaps and a Kemble/Mozart limited edition. All of which have played their part in helping me do mine.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Mark Sutton:
Supertramp "Logical Song"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Mark Sutton:
Randy Newman "God's Song"