Interview: Ypsilanti, MI Artist/Producer Drew Graham Talks About His New EP "Wide Awake Dreamin'"
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“Being my own producer, it always starts for me with a sound, which usually comes from a feeling. I get in zones where I just make beats all day, and then I’ll be working on one and I just know. Like, I have to use this for myself. ”
What are some things, people, and places that inspire your creativity when songwriting and producing beats?
I think that changes depending on the season of my life I’m in. Some days I could just go outside and look at nature. Sometimes it may be a family member, my lady, a situation a friend is dealing with. I would just say life in general, the things going on around me.
While I was working on “Wide Awake Dreamin’” I took a trip to New York. A trip like that inspires me because I could feel all of the greatness that was and is rooted there. It definitely gave me a spark, a new hunger you could say.
Speaking of the EP, congratulations on the completion and release of this new project. How would you describe your creative process for the development of its 7 songs?
Thanks, I appreciate it! Being my own producer, it always starts for me with a sound, which usually comes from a feeling. I get in zones where I just make beats all day, and then I’ll be working on one and I just know. Like, I have to use this for myself.
A few of the verses on the EP are old to me, but never had the right beat until now. This project was just a matter of putting pieces together.
It all started to make sense around July; I had 2 songs done, about 10 concepts I was working on, and a handful of beats I was cycling through. That’s when I got the idea to make it a visual album. I narrowed it down and ended up finishing the music about mid August.
How did you connect with Will Fairbanks, and what is his role in the creation of the music videos of the EP's songs? Also, have you decided the specific order for which the videos will be released?
I’ve known Will since I was in high school, I’d say 2010ish. That was the big homie though. He used to be in a rap group “Metal Apes” with my guy Obie, they used to throw legendary bangers in Ann Arbor.
Will ended up going to film school in Ohio, but we always kept in touch. Once he finished I was seeing his work and he told me he was ready whenever, so when I thought of the visual album I had to hit him up. He directed, shot and edited all of the videos. He would drive up for a weekend and we’d shoot 2 or 3 videos and he’d go back home.
We will continue to premier 1 video per week on my IGTV at 7 pm est. We are coming up on video 4 this week.
What software/hardware do you use for producing beats, and when do you know that a beat you are working on is done?
I produce on Ableton. This was all midi production, a few shakers here and there. I definitely want to add a live band to my arsenal at some point, hopefully soon.
But as far as finishing, I think it’s just something you get a feel for after a while. It’s easy to “over-produce” but I always just go off of the feeling.
Who is your all time favorite artist/producer in Hip-Hop and why?
I would have to say Kanye. His production alone speaks for itself, but his first 5 albums are classics.