B.Bravo

The sought after producer is making the west coast sound proud. A taste maker and a multi instrumentalist, he does not let any negativity get in the way. While on tour in Europe, he took some time to answer these questions.

N-F: I first discovered you through RMBA and you’re also an alumnus. So were you actively doing music before you joined the academy?

BB: Absolutely, I was playing in bands in San Francisco of it is The Bayonics, I was playing saxophone and sythesizers with them. I was also into beats and started working with Rojai and came up with my first project in 2003

N-F: So,what is your core instrument?

BB: My first instrument was saxophone, I grew playing it at school. I got into music because of my dad. Listening to jazz records like John Coltrane. I started on the clarinet and did it for two years and when I was twelve, I got my saxophone for Christmas and it was like the happiest day of my life. I was in a jazz band in school and we did some James Brown covers and I was like “Oh man, this is the best ever. I love this, this is so fun” I didn’t really know what it was, I just loved the beat. Then in highschool, I started playing the piano, learned different chords by myself and messed around with fruity loops in college.

N-F: How would you describe your music and what made you get into this kind of sound?

BB: I never really like to categorise my music. I do the sound that I like and because my earlier music influence was more soul, r&b and hip hop but I never sat down one day and thought “I want to make this kinda sound.” I would make music that – if I were to go to a record store, which one would I put a needle on the record. I just want to spread positive vibrations.

N-F: Speaking of record, how extensive is your collection

BB: I do have a recent amount of records, I don’t have a huge selection, but it’s all relative. I have probably around a thousand? I never counted but I do have a few IKEA shelves full.

N-F : A thousand? You might wanna think about insuring them.

BB : *Laughs* Maybe I should . You wanna know what’s funny? I actually had a dream last night and I dreamt that I was carrying these few records to the studio. And I was thinking “Why am I carrying them?”

N-F: Maybe there’s just someone out there that wants to take them away from you. Haha. Anyway, Can you name your top 5 albums?

BB: Anything by lonnie liston smith, Everybody loves the susnhine by roy ayers, Zapp 1 by Zapp and Roger Troutman, Funkadelic - not just knee deep and Funkintelecky

N-F: What is your recording session like? What do you before you get into the studio?

BB: I like to get exercise before work. I like to get outside, go for a run or do sports and do something that will get my mind off work. I can’t just wake up and get straight into it.

N-F: Tell me about the most essential items for your live shows

BB: Equipment wise? If im travelling, I would bring my ableton, a midi keyboard which control 5-6 synths and a vocoder and talkbox. So I would play the track, do the lead synth part over the top and use the talkbox and maybe use my own singing voice. Other wise I would bring my [Yamaha] DX100 which is fun because I could it use as a keytar. I really like that sound of that. If im performing with Starship, I would use the [Roland] JP 8000.

N-F: Do you prefer performing on your own or with a band?

BB: I love performing with Bayonics, but that’s a whole different sound. I love performing with Teeko and Rojai (Starship) and that’s the preferred way. It’s nice to have a dialogue in between and I guess it is more entertaining for the audience rather looking at only one guy doing everything.

N-F: Why do you think there aren’t many women who are doing the whole talkbox/vocoder and keytar stuff?

BB: That is a good question. I never really thought about that and nobody has asked me that. But i guess in general, there are more men who are producers and play instruments. I don't know. Maybe if you have a great singing voice, you don't really need a vocoder. But it would be really cool if we have more women doing it though.

N-F :Thank you so much for your time

BB: Thank you! It was fun chatting

Be on the lookout for B.Bravo's new videoclip 'Energy'