White Noise Music caught up with the electro artist / music producer / DJ
Leonard T.
Check out the interview.
It's always good to start off with the basics of being a DJ first, learning how to catch beats and rhythms, matching BPMs, song-feel programming, chords blending, etc... These sensible elements help alot in developing your skills during the learning process of being a full-on songwriter, arranger and recording artiste. For myself, I started DJing for mobile discos in 1988 and only had my first real go at producing music in 1991.
It's a selection of my best collaborated projects featuring famous guest artistes from Singapore. I only selected the songs since 2002, not the early 90's (I'm just too ashamed of those early recordings of mine, they sound terrible today!)
Although my music production styles have always been varied (trance, techno, Eurodisco, breakbeat, funk), this time round I prioritized on compiling the more vocal-driven, radio-friendly tracks to best reflect the public's enduring taste for mainstream pop dance music. On top of these "greatest hits" classics, I've squeezed in 5 new songs which I recorded since my last album release in 2010.
To be honest, I'm finding it harder to work on new music as time goes by. My lifestyle has changed, my interests and hobbies have changed... plus my family is getting bigger! But whenever I can, I try to prioritize my music as it's always been my No.1 passion in life. I'm inspired all the time to write new songs. But 'Ultimate Collection 02-12' will be my last ever CD release though, due to the dwindling CD buying market. In future, it will just be sporadic single releases online, commercial work projects and remixes.
DJs? Be always in touch with the current music trends, not only the retrospective ones. Knowing how to technically mix song to song is not enough. Learn how to program your music flow and read the crowd; that is more important.
Music producers? Same, always keep in touch with current music trends as well as old ones. Listen to as many genres of music as possible, and absorb what you listen. That way, you progress and understand what works today because of how it evolved from yesterday. The old saying "be true to yourself" is subjective, it all depends on why you're making music in the first place and for whom. A more important statement I'd offer is "You got to always sincerely love what you do", otherwise you'll inevitably run out of steam eventually... both emotionally and idealistically.
