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Friday, July 10, 2015
DJ Mustard Talks All Things Production
Pensado’s Place is one of the best YouTube channels for music producers and engineers. Since 2011, the show has featured icons like Young Guru (Jay Z), Noah “40” Shebib (Drake), Mixed By Ali (Kendrick Lamar), Mike Dean (Kanye West), Showtek, and many others.
Adding to Pensado’s impressive guest list is none other than DJ Mustard, a super producer who requires no introduction. The Los Angeles native recently sat down for a 50-minute discussion about all things production and was joined by his engineer James Royo, who also mixed Major Lazer and DJ Snake’s “Lean On.”
Watch the full interview below.
Here’s a breakdown of the topics:
Intro – 0:00
Tuning drum samples – 8:30
How Mustard begins a new song – 13:10
How Mustard’s background as a DJ has helped him as a producer – 16:25
Mustard’s musical influences – 20:25
Mustard’s current production setup – 21:40
How Mustard decides who he records with – 25:50
Mustard’s role in co-producing Big Sean’s “I Don’t F#ck with You” – 28:45
How Fergie’s “L.A. Love (La La)” came about – 32:35
Mustard’s preferred songwriters – 34:00
What Mustard looks for in new artists – 36:05
How the ratchet movement came about – 38:20
Mustard’s advice to new artists – 40:55
How Royo met Mustard – 45:50
How Royo and Mustard work together – 48:10
Royo’s role in mixing Major Lazer and DJ Snake’s “Lean On” – 49:40
How Royo makes 808 drums sound great – 55:00
Related: Meet Young Guru: Jay Z’s Sound Engineer and Tour DJ
