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Monday, January 15, 2018
The Stereotypes Share Their Story, Give Advice to Aspiring Producers
The Stereotypes at work in Santa Monica, CA. (Photo source: Wikipedia)
Jonathan Yip and Ray Romulus, members of the Grammy-nominated production and songwriting team The Stereotypes, recently told the group’s story on Randy Jackson’s podcast.
Best known for working with Bruno Mars and Far East Movement, The Stereotypes are up for three Grammys this year. They’re nominated for Producer of the Year (Non-Classical), and Best R&B Song and Song of the Year for Bruno’s “That’s What I Like.”
The Stereotypes’ most recent productions include Bruno’s “Finesse,” Pitbull‘s “Jungle” featurng E-40 and Abraham Mateo, and KYLE‘s “Sunshine” featuring Miguel.
How they overcame their “down period” after achieving success with Far East Movement:
Jonathan: “… we really were struggling and we needed to figure out how we’re gonna survive. And so, where we went, we went to [South] Korea. We stared doing K-Pop. … They accepted us because they knew our resume and they knew that we were the guys who worked with Far East Movement.”
Working with different kinds of artists:
Ray: “That’s why we created and worked on that Pitbull record, ‘Jungle,’ because we really wanna collab with a bunch of different artists. Putting Pitbull, E-40, Abraham Mateo, like you would never would think to put those guys [on the same track].”
How they also want to work with new artists:
Ray: “Everyone’s trying to shoot for like the biggest artists that are out right now, because honestly, every producer and writer is trying to shoot for that. And what better to do than to make your own [artist].”
Advice to aspiring producers:
Ray: “Going back to the Bruno sessions, it didn’t feel like we were making music. It didn’t feel like we were working. It just felt like friends together making something that we love. … So, surround yourself with people that are just like-minded and have the same goals and that want to go in the same direction. … And don’t only just be concentrated on the creative side. Be on top of your business …”
Listen to the interview on iTunes or PodCastOne.
Related: Watch Pitbull and The Stereotypes’ ‘Jungle’ Video Feat. E-40 and Abraham Mateo
