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 Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from and how old are you?

My name is Freddy Tejeda aka John Locs CEO of Freshside Records and producer of The Tykoonz.  I’m  22 years old and I’m from Humboldt County, CA. I’m all about music and family. My goal is to be among the next generation of super producers.


How did you and your group the Humboldt Tykoonz get started?

I started messing around with music when I was 13, bumpin’ Too Short – “Get In Where You Fit In”  (that album is still hot).  It wasn’t till I was 17 that I was able to make a good beat. Ever since I was young I noticed that I would only listen to the beat and it was like the lyrics weren’t there. Most people memorize the lyrics but I memorized the breaks, the drums, and melodies in the beat. In the beginning it was just me and Angel, I made some beats he was more about the lyrics. I was forced to start listening to lyrics so I could write and be on the songs. You can’t have a song without nothing to say so it pushed us harder plus we had no one else at the time. As the years went on, Angel & I studied music while producing songs  and we started Freshside Records.. Freshside Records  is a record label that holds many artists who are mostly in the Humboldt Tykoonz.  Angel, Young Cash, Dolo Brown, Dub Luv, Calibar and myself.  Every artists brings something to the table, and they got their own individual fan base.


Warbeats has members from every corner of the world. Have you ever collaborated with any of our members here?

I actually have! We actually live in the same area and we collaborate all the time.  His name is K-Rob, a producer I respect a lot.  It’s interesting too because I know tons of rappers and almost every single one the moment they hear the first drum or snare in a beat, they already thinking what they’re going to say or what this song can be about.  Nothing wrong with that it’s natural.  But a fellow producer will actually listen to the beat and appreciate the small things that go into producing. Here’s a video in which K-Rob and I collaborate. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYbmWxPo9RU)


How did you get started in producing and when did you start taking it seriously?

I started off using a program that would have samples and you would put them together to create a beat.  But then in 2000-2001 my friend’s cousin (J-Sin) hooked me up with Reason. I started taking it seriously early on because I absolutely love it. I started training myself by listening and breaking down the classics, the hits and just any beat that I heard.

Do you have a manager, and if so, is having a management team an important part of the equation for you?

I believe it’s very important. It allows the artist/producer to concentrate solely on the music and creativity, the manager is all about the business side. The manager also serves as an inspiration to get the artists off their ass.The manager gets a percentage of what the artist/producer sells so they work hard to get you out there.I take care of my management team,it’s hard to do everything  yourself. My manager is DJ MuizqLement. Him being a DJ helps a lot because he’s in touch with a lot of other artists and promoters. I got to give him props too he’s got good communication skills. Put it this way, he can talk a cat off the back of a fish truck..ha


What are some accomplishments that you are most proud of in the production game?

I’m very good at expressing emotion through my beats. Most of my beats are made according to how I’m feeling at the time. Of course it’s also the writers job to really make the emotion come out but the beat serves as the base for the topic. I really look up to the  oldies and classics. Which most of them now are sampled in many hip-hop songs. One of the hardest things in producing is coming up with your own style.  I’ve also learned how to keep a listeners  attention longer. It helps a lot switching the beat up and having new instruments, not to the point where you over whelm them, but where it musically unites.


What production software and/or hardware do you use most often?

I produce with Reason 4. I record with Sonar 7 Producer Edition.  I have a Korg Kontrol 49 midi keyboard, a Behringer Mixer, Presonus External Audio Pre Amp, and of course a set of M-Audio Monitor Speakers.



What are your thoughts on the "Hardware vs. Software" debate? Is one better than the other?

When it come to making good music I think they’re both the same. It doesn’t matter if you have a 5,000 dollar studio or you have a 500 hundred dollar studio, if you don’t know music than you’re the one complaining.  The ideas are in your head and fingers(keys), software/hardware just help you express them and turn them into music. It’s really just preference. The only thing I think that can be affected is quality but if you have a good ear you can take care of that.



Do you sell your beats online, face-to-face, or both? And do you have a preference? Why?

I don’t sell my beats online but I’ve been looking into it.I take care of my beats I usually don’t let them roam around in the streets aimlessly. Ha I put a lot of work into them to do that.


What factors do you consider when charging for a beat?

It all depends of the bang beat has. If it’s unique, and unheard before.  A beat also gets its value from song structure, build ups, and transitions. You have to keep the listener interested.

Any tips you can give us mixing a beat?

I always start with my drums. I adjust the levels on my percussion and then my bass. I always make my beats “bump compatible”: they either bump on a little house radio or on a system in a car. I take care of my fellas who have stock stereo in their car and the ones that got sub-woofers. Make sure they get the most out of their systems. ha


Everyone wants their drums to bang. how do you do yours?

When you working on your drums you always got to remember that it’s not just on how they sound but it’s also the pattern. It needs to have bounce! I keep my drums up to date. If I make an old fashioned beat I still make sure I keep my drums 2008. Drums are so important, it lets the listeners know they’re listening to something brand new. Having new percussion and sounds are critical as well as making sure they bump in any stereo.


In your opinion, what types of things should the new/young producer concentrate on most to develop his/her skills?

I don’t remember where I read this but here’s  a quote I live by: “A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a  plan & a deadline.” You can be good at anything you want you just got to be able to dedicate the time to study it. They also need to surround themselves with honest people and be able to take criticism. People sometimes  say  “yeah that’s a good beat” just so they won’t hurt your feelings. You can’t be sensitive or else you’ll never know how your beats really are. Every producer always thinks there beat is hot, ha, no matter what. I try not to hype up or “sell” the beat to the listener (even though sometimes I can’t help it), but you have to be humble and let them come back to you. That’s when you get true feedback. You also got to pay attention 24/7 in what’s going on in hip-hop. Rappers/lyricists are constantly thinking of their lyrics whether they’re out in the club, the bar, or the grocery store, it doesn’t matter where, it’s the same with producers that’s the only way you get better . You have to catch your ideas outside of the studio and then bring them in.


One of the biggest challenges is promoting one's self. How do you do that and what advice can you give our readers on that?

You have to give yourself a professional image.Treat it as your business. If you have a weak website, no system to sell your beats, no identity…the way you treat your image is most likely how you treat your beats. You have to give that extra effort to find yourself a graphic designer. To be successful in business you need 2 things: a product and marketing right? A graphic designer should be able to visually communicate your image. Other than that, you also got to be able to give a little before you receive anything. You help someone out now, they’ll come back useful later.


Where do you think the music industry as a whole is headed?

Since CD’s are slowly disintegrating, it’s going to be all about the internet .


What genres of music do you enjoy listening to the most?

Well Hip-Hop is my main one. I also listen to some house techno and reggae. I like house because it’s all about the beat. I like their build ups and introductions to new sounds throughout the song. From a producers stand point, I can appreciate that more.


What other producers (mainstream or underground) are you feeling the most right now?

J.R  Rotem, Danja Hands, Storch, Mysto & Pizzi, Ryan Leslie! And of course Dre and Timb. And what you know about Ant Banks?


I know your name is buzzing in Northern California, do you have any work with big names outside the Humboldt County area?

I have fam in the Bay Area all day. We’re on the works with some big projects so stay tuned.


Do you have any upcoming projects you'd like to let us know about?

We have a new album coming out called The Distribution. We’ve gotten more in depth with our songs and have came harder in the production. I have the best rappers  in Humboldt county  working on this project so make sure you check it out.


And finally, before we leave you, where can we get more information about you and/or hear more of your music?

You can check my music out at www.myspace.com/freshsiderecords . I will soon have my own space on producing (myspace.com/johnlocs), so you could check that out and maybe you could check out some beats there. I’ll keep you informed but for now the Freshside Records MySpace is headquarters. (For beats/production/booking contact DJ MuziqLement at www.myspace.com/djmuziqlement)