Welcome to Part 2 of this two part conversation with Wrex Mason.
Today's guest is Wrex Mason, a Hip-Hop producer from Hartford, CT; currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. Wrex began producing at age 11, and for the past 13 years, he has released both solo and collaborative projects with a wide range of artists.
Above all else, Wrex prioritizes being a "perpetual student of the craft" and a stark advocate for creative independence.
His influences include J Dilla, Madlib, Flying Lotus, DJ Premier, Easy Moe Bee, 9th Wonder, and Pete Rock.
WrexMason.com is a one-stop shop for Wrex's discography, merch, and marketplace for artists in search of beats.
Welcome to part two of this two part episode with Wrex Mason.
If you haven’t already, I invite you to listen to Part 1 of this conversation, where Wrex shares his Sketchbook Mentality and his philosophy on how to keep good and bad days in perspective.
Today, in part two of this conversation, Wrex shares how he identified the grooves of his self-talk to improve his practice and his art. How he combines structure and free-flowing time to capture inspiration, and what producers can learn from the world of cooking. Wrex also emphasizes the prioritization of making music for yourself first.
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Top 3 Gems From This Convo:
1. SCHEDULE CREATIVE TIME THAT NATURALLY PLAYS TO YOUR STRENGTHS.
What works for others may or may not work for you.
Look for patterns in what has led to fulfilling creative sessions in the past and try to recreate those.
If you don’t know where to start, pick an approach or copy another routine and try it out.
Adjust for youself along the way, but keep experimenting. The idea is to stay in motion.
2. IF YOU CAN’T CREATE, CLEAN.
You’re in a creative session and nothing is happening.
Take this time to clean your studio while you listen to samples.
Re-organize your digital studio.
Listen and organize samples you have to set yourself up for a future session.
3. BE OPEN TO INSPIRATION FROM NON-MUSICAL SOURCES.
Wrex uses chefs and culinary arts as a model to draw on inspiration. What else interests you outside of music?
Maybe it’s sports, fashion, design, comedy, or something completely different?
Give yourself the opportunity to appreciate how others approach their craft.
Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
Tap in with toru:
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Tap in with Wrex Mason:
Instagram: @wrexmason
Website: WrexMason.com
To jump to a specific moment in the conversation:
0:00 Preview / Intro
2:02 There's A Yesterday...
4:12 How Wrex Discovered This Philosophy
5:45 Wrex's Routine
7:45 Saving Ideas
8:12 What Makes A Good Sample
8:50 Inspiration From Non-Musical Sources
11:40 Make Music For Yourself First. Inspired by Madlib
13:00 How Do You Develop Taste?
17:55 Surprising Sample Sources
20:15 The Difference Between an Artist and a Producer
22:00 What To Do When You Get Stuck
24:00 What To Do When You Are Overthinking
28:30 Upcoming Projects
30:00 Where To Get Beats
31:10 Quick Hits
38:23 Closing
Referenced:
Madlib Speaking on Making Music For Himself First (@4:02):
Brasilintime Documentary (Full Doc)
013. Part 2: You Are Not Your Good Or Your Bad Days. Don't Procrastinate. Don't Force It. Absorb Inspiration From Everywhere | feat. Wrex Mason