Andre Ramone is a total team player. And he's getting his name and music out there one step at a time. If anyone deserves to make it big, it's this dude.
Tell us your name and where you are from?
What up? My name is Andre Ramone and I am from “The OC” Cali. I was actually born in Columbus, Ohio but moved to Anaheim, CA at a very early age and spent the first half of my life there. The other half has been spent in various cities in South OC, which is somewhat like what you see on TV whereas Anaheim is more down to Earth.
When did you first hear about Warbeats and what do you think of the site?
I heard about Warbeats back in 2006 and I have been a huge fan ever since. At the time I stumbled upon the site I was pursuing a career as a self produced MC and I had someone mixing my tracks for me so I’d handle the creative side and this other cat would tackle the technical aspects. As I focused more on becoming a producer I realized that I would need to step my mixing game up and Warbeats and some of your personal advice has helped me to accomplish that. I’ve told you before that I consider you a mentor to me and so many other young beat makers and producers and I am grateful for the service you provide.
How did you get started in producing and when did you start taking it serious?
As I mentioned, I was an MC first. I started rhyming when I was a child, 10 years old to be exact and I became fed up with trying to find beats to rock so I started making my own. Initially it was just for that purpose but that all changed back in 1992 when I was 12 years old, sitting in my room listening to the radio and I heard the song that would forever change my career aspirations; Dr. Dre’s “Dre Day”. I used my Casio Sk-1 (with the 3 second loop sampler) to try to duplicate the sound of the Moog Synth Dre used in that song and came as close as I could with a sample of my alarm clock. You know that gritty sort of grunting alarm clock sound? It was obviously a poor man’s Moog, but it made me think I was doing something.
You're the guy that opened my eyes to the importance of a management team. Can you tell me what having a management team means to you?
It’s everything!!! My management team is called Team Business LLC and is headed up by Kyle B. Jones out of the Harlem, New York. My management gives me the support and guidance I need to really turn music-making into a successful career as a professional artist, musician, writer and producer. Working with a team that has a vested interest in my success allows me the freedom to concentrate a lot of my effort on the actual music and production side of things. Having said this, one of the best pieces of advice I could give is to always “co-manage” your own career and don’t get fooled into thinking that someone is going to do everything for you, even if you’re signed. A lot of managers have multiple clients, but there is only one of you, so you need to always look out for yourself and take a proactive interest in all aspects of your career, from the music to the marketing. When a manager or management team gets involved they take the lead on some of aspects of your career but it doesn’t mean you are no longer involved, you just let them sit in the driver’s seat while you ride shotgun. If you can find someone who sees and believes in your vision and is willing to step out on a limb with you, then you are well on your way and that’s exactly what I have in Team Business.
What are some accomplishments that you are most proud of in the production game?
I am most proud of how I have been able to take control of my career. I have set specific goals and have been accomplishing them as planned. Three years ago I decided that I was going to go hard as a producer and get in the game first by providing music for TV and film and I did that. I signed a deal with an international music publisher and the projects started coming in shortly thereafter. Most recently I have worked on 50 Cent: The Money and the Power for MTV and I’ve been getting it in on T.I.’s Road to Redemption also on MTV.
My wife Sarah and I recently became parents of a healthy and beautiful baby girl so I now plan on getting some song placements with major artists to help me get this college fund going.
Who are some of your regular collaborators, if any?
I am a part of a production duo called, The Drumline and my partner is a really talented cat by the name of Blake Brandes aka DJ. Decryption. Blake is currently producing for a talented singer-songwriter named Ana Free, who’s making some waves overseas in Europe, and they are both regular collaborators of mine. We have a lot planned for the next year or so, but I can’t go into too much detail.
In addition to the international projects I have underway, I always look out for talent from right here in my backyard, “the OC.” I’ve worked with local artists such as Da Skoutz, a Hip Hop group that’s been putting it down out here for over 10 years and also Anaheim’s own Skratch Lyriks, who’s been a regular collaborator of mine as well. I am featured on their album “Digging Upward” available online through CD Baby. I have also recently worked with an R&B artist and friend of mine named Hershel Abram from San Diego. I produced his latest single called "Chocolate Love", which has spent 4 weeks at number one on Blazin' 98.9's West Coast Workout Show. When I officially come off of "paternity leave" we are going to continue to collaborate on some more material.
What production software/hardware do you use most often?
I swear by FLStudio! It is user friendly, affordable and extremely powerful. When I first got my equipment, I used Acid and I plugged in my hardware through audio cables. Everything I made was based on a chopped sample or me playing and recording keys with no quantization. I had no idea about midi so I just made due without it. A couple of years later I discovered FL and I have been using it ever since. I'm learning Pro-tools and other industry software but sometimes I’ll still record vocals with my really old version of Acid. I edit vocals and chop samples in Adobe Audition which I love as well. Other than that, I just use plug-ins through FL like Albino, Superwave P8 and a few others.
What are your thoughts on the "Hardware vs. Software" debate? Is one better?
It’s all about personal preference. I don’t think one is better than the other,especially knowing that all hardware has some sort of internal software and all software is essentially digital hardware. There are elitists on both sides who believe that somehow they are more legit because they use hardware or they are more cutting-edge because they use software. I suggest learning a bit of both then decide what you like better and thenknock yourself out.
Do you sell your beats online, face-to-face or both? And do you have a preference? Why?
I don’t sell beats online per say. Sometimes people hit me online and want tracks and that works but usually people just get at me or my manager Kyle or my production partner Blake and request tracks. For TV and film work I am signed with a publisher who shops my tracks for me. I don’t have any accounts for selling beats anywhere or anything. If you need tracks you can holler at me through Myspace, Facebook, Youtube or you can holler at my manger Kyle B. Jones through those same sites.
What factors do you consider when charging for a beat?
I definitely consider the budget of the artist and whether they are just grinding on their own or if they have some sort of backing. Obviously if someone has some kind of label support they will have more to invest in their project and I would consider that in my dealings with them. Also, the production-style is a factor in that underground sample based tracks come together more quickly and require less time to make than danceable Pop tracks. I do work with all levels of artists though, and I do encourage everyone out there to reach out if they are looking for production.
Regarding your online presence, what works best for you? Myspace, Soundclick? Blog? Custom Site? Other? etc...
Myspace is my preference. I have my domain name (www.AndreRamone.com) routed to my myspace page which is kinda like home base for me. You can contact me there, hear my music or get to know a little about me,so it serves its purpose and Myspace is free which is nice. I do recommend getting a domain name though. It’s so easy to give out and instead of having to give out a long address with lots of dots and slashesI can simply say, “Check me out at AndreRamone.com”.
Any tips you can give us mixing a beat?
I would refer everyone to Warbeats for that. A lot of my tips would be things I’ve learned through your tutorials so the best advice I could give would be to become a Warbeats member and check out the tutorials.
Everyone wants their drums to bang. how do you do yours?
It starts with the samples themselves. Sometimes the sounds you are working with are unclean or distorted so first you should make sure they are on point. For an example of some clean samples you can download the “Andre Ramone Starter Kit” through Warbeats. Shameless plug, I know but I really did spend time perfecting the sounds and making sure they were clean,which is important.
Once you’ve got that out of the way you want to focus on EQ’ing. Make sure to cut off the super low inaudible frequencies on a kick drum yet boost the low end frequencies that aren’t too low. If you are dealing with sub bass you want to boost the low frequencies and taper off the higher frequencies in order to isolate the bass,which compresses it and gives you a harder hitting sound.
The EQing of snares and claps is important as well. They need some bass too,just not as much and you want to give them some "space" by adding some reverbbut be mindful of the fact that reverb is a lot like salt. Don't over-do it or you will drown out the flavor.
In your opinion, what types of things should the new/young producer concentrate on most to develop his/her skills?
Mixing is so important to me. I remember when I was younger, I always thought that if people just heard what I could do production-wise they would overlook a weak mix and just hear the raw talent I had. It doesn’t really work that way. You shouldn’t have to give listeners a disclaimer before they hear your track. It should be ready for an artist to record.
Other than that I would urge young producers to pay attention to the arrangement of their tracks. Be mindful of the length of your intro and leave the artist “room” for their verses and bridges. In other words, don’t just hand somebody a 4 minute loop. You have to provide artists or songwriters with songs; songs where an emcee can simply insert a couple of 16’s and call it a day. If you can write, go ahead and lay a hook down to your beat as well. If you can produce ill tracks and come up with a hook,that separates you from those who can’t. You want to be a one-stop shop if possible but if you can’t write I would suggest partnering with someone who can and let them come up with hooks while you bang out the tracks. You will go a lot further if you can produce records as opposed to just making beats.
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?
First off, if you do not have an online presence you should either quit or focus on being a producer for fun. If you plan on making a career out of music you have to be online! Period!!! Whether you get on Myspace, Soundclick, Facebook or you create your own website you need to promote yourself online and go hard at it too.
You also have to be professional in the way that you communicate. I get hit up by a lot of people and the ones who I respond to are the ones who actually know how to put a sentence or two together. If you hit me up like, “Hay lissin 2 my musik cuz” or my favorite, "Comment my sh!t" chances are I won’t but if you take the time to approach me in a professional manner, that goes along way and I suspect that’s the case for most people.
What other producers (mainstreem or underground) are you feeling the most right now?
The most versatile producer in the game has got to be my production partner Dj Drecryption hands down. If you know Ana Free’s music then you know how he gets down with the acoustic guitar based singer-songwriter type of productionbut then he can switch it up and create a synth pop masterpiece or flip some samples into the grittiest Underground back packin’, whack MC dissin’ Hip Hop joint you’veever heard. I respect the hell outta him!
Speaking of versatile,I gotta give a shout out to Mysto & Pizzi. I really respect their hustle. I dig all of their dance remixes and their original tracks as well. I think they are the next super producers to really take over the game. I’m trippin’ off of that Geico commercial. That was huge!
Also I dig The Runners right now. Their beats are so ‘big’ and full and they always tend to make these anthems and I love every aspect of what they do. “So Hood” is my ish and really everything they have done with Dj. Khaled knocks. When it comes to that Southern 808 style of production I think they are illest right now.
Other than those guys I would say 9th Wonder always amazes me, Nicolay is a musical genius who inspires me and Exile is crazy. He’s one of the illest cats on the MPC. I especially love 9th though, because I’m a huge Little Brother fan and he reps hard for Hip Hop cats who use FLStudio.
Do you have any upcoming projects you'd like to let us know about?
Most recently I have had some tracks featured in T.I.’s Road to Redemption. It was actually a pretty good show because he reached out to some troubled young people who needed a little push in the right direction. I respect what he did with that it’s a blessing to have been a part of it. I hope everything works out for the best concerning his legal matters.
Also keep an eye out for Ana Free. We are working together on something where I’m bringing out another side to her sound and I think we have captured something special.
Aside from production I have partnered with a group of individuals who have put together an online community for entertainers, producers, athletes, actors etc to promote themselves. It’s called Capacid (www.capacid.com) and it’s kind of like Facebook meets Youtube meets LinkedIn. We are just getting it started and it’s very exciting. I would urge everyone to come by and create an account. There will be a lot of resources there for members and I actually want to partner with you (Warbeats.com) in the future to promote your service to the members of Capacid and vice-versa.
Before we leave you, where can we get more information about you and/or hear more of your music?
If you would like to hear more from me you can check me out at www.myspace.com/andreramonemusic or just go to www.AndreRamone.com which will take you to the same place. I am also on youtube at www.youtube.com/andreramone. If you need tracks feel free to contact my manager Kyle B. Jones at kylebeejones@gmail.com. Thanks and God bless.
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