Author:
Jay Carter
Read 828 Times Since
Posted on 2007-09-06
24: How long have you been producing for and who or what inspired you to start?
Devo: I have been producing since about 2000, and I was a DJ before that, but I still DJ. I feel like most DJ at some point of there career ventures into producing and making beats and that’s how I got started.
24: Some people out there may not know that you and Kanye produced "Diamonds Are Forever" tell me about the making of that beat?
Devo: I found that record on the street where I live on St.Marks here in New York and I was listening to it and I heard the sample which had the "Diamonds are Forever" part and this was around the time with the drama surrounding Roc-A-Fella with Jay and Dame, etc. I had the sample loaded up in my keyboard and I spoke to Kanye one day and he was working on "Late Registration" and I was asking him what’s going on over at the Roc-A-Fella because I was thinking I could make this beat for Beanie Sigel or another artist over there and it would make sense. I played the sample for him and like 15 minutes later he’s over at my spot. He mentioned that he needed this type of energy for his album, so he gave me 3 days to finish the beat and if it’s hot I’ll take it and if it’s not I’m going to take the sample and flip it myself. So about a day or two later I sent him an mp3 file with the beat and he liked it and that’s basically it!
24: In a short period of time you have created some timeless music with artist like Common, John legend and Kanye West so who are some of the artist you have been working with lately?
Devo: I’m on Nas latest album, Common new alum (Finding Forever), Aretha Franklin up coming album, working with Britney Spears, Cassie, Consequence (of G.O.O.D. Music), GLC, Ryhmefest, Nas up coming album along with a bunch of new artist.
24: Describe your Production style if you could because from Kanye West "Diamonds Are Forever" (Late Graduation) to Common’s "Misunderstood" (Finding Forever) I feel like both beats have a certain emotion to it?
Devo: I try to make beats that will connect to the listener compared to the single or the club record even though I do have club records. I think at the end of the day the fact that you just mentioned that emotion in my production and when you connect to the listener that is what actually pushes record sales compared to a club record. For example I spoke to Alica Keys manager not too long ago and he told me they sold about 16 to 18 million records around the world without a club anthem. John Legend is a superstar and has never had a club record and look at Yung Berg situation where he had a big hit with "Sexy Lady" and sell’s 19,500 records in his first week.
24: Your definitely right because I feel the same way about Kanye West latest single "Can’t Tell Me Nothing." I think some people might think the video or song was a little dark compared to "Gold Digger" and probably wanted a "Gold Digger Pt.2" and he went against that and what everyone else was doing?
Devo: I feel like the people are really reacting to that song also, like when I get some money you can’t tell me nothing! I grew up under Kanye so I do get a lot of influences from him.
24: Which do you prefer sampling or just using a keyboard, live instruments and sound modules?
Devo: I mostly sample but I’m trying to start to get out of that and I just bought some new keyboards so I’m going to be using them a lot more.
24: Do you ever get labeled as Kanye West cousin and not as Devo Springsteen the producer?
Devo: All the time, I was recently looking at some reviews for Common’s new alum and it said produced by Kanye’s cousin. It’s really crazy! We have a lot of cousin’s and none of them are on these records or Britney Spears does not care you my cousin is she just wants a hot beat. Also Kanye or John Legend will not put any tracks on their album because of any family ties at all!
24: Is there anything you want to promote or say to the readers?
Devo: Check me out at WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DEVOSPRINGSTEEN and check out the new Common album "Finding Forever" along with the new Cassie album where I did the production on and it features John Legend which is crazy so look out for that. I’m making my run now so be on the look out!
