Hello people! Today i’m bringing you an interview with a great Hip-Hop producer by the name of Breezewax. I’ve been listening to his music for quite some time now after discovering his work on youtube a few years ago. I found that I enjoyed the meditative hip-hop instrumentals that he was creating and it has been quite interesting to actually hear his music evolve over the years. Many of his pieces are almost like stories and reflections on places that he may have visited during that time. His Aeroporto project is infused with a lot of lush Brazilian flavor and features some wonderful samples that really capture the mood of the beautiful country.

At the time, I knew nothing about some of the small online music distributors like Bandcamp so not only did his music introduce me to this service, it really showed me how the online, self-made indie label/producer scene was really starting to explode. I love to see talented artists really spread their wings and have a place to showcase their talents. So i’m proud to be able to present an interview with England’s own, Breezewax.

Prox: For starters, tell us about yourself. Where are you from and how did you get into music production?

Breezewax: I’m from England. I was primarily a guitarist and was in a few bands. I got into production really because I couldn’t find anyone at my university to form a band with who wanted to make the same kind of music as me at that point. I decided to give production a go so that I could be self-reliant. Once I got going it really opened up a new world for me – almost became my drug.

Prox: What is the significance of your production moniker?

Breezewax: There’s no deep and meaningful story behind this unfortunately! It was a play on the word ‘beeswax’. The sounds I was making when I began coming into my own were sort of easy and breezy, and having ‘wax’ in the name worked because I often sampled from vinyl. It just seemed to work.

Prox: What equipment and VSTs are you using?

Breezewax: It has changed over time. I have my guitars: one electric, one acoustic and a bass, a midi keyboard and Akai MPD as my studio setup, then I use FL Studio and often Ableton. I won’t give away the VSTs I use as I like to keep it unique.

Prox: Were you heavily influenced by Nujabes, Fat Jon, and the other Samurai Champloo production members?

Breezewax: I’ll be the first to admit that I wouldn’t even have gotten a copy of FL Studio if it wasn’t for Fat Jon and Nujabes. Their sound was exactly what I wanted to hear at that point in my life and I wanted to be able to give listeners the same kind of feeling and sentiment that their music gave me. It was great to be part of a community that was inspired by that movement but after a while I began to distance myself from it as it became very heavily saturated. While the music of Fat Jon and Nujabes was my catalyst for production, I have many, many influences and tastes and my own sound and my own stories to tell so there came a point where I wanted to stand alone and not be lumped into a cateogory of ‘Nujabes-like’ artists. 

Prox: Who are some of your other inspirations? Musically or otherwise.

Breezewax: There are many but if I had to name a few that have had a profound effect on me it would be Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Silverchair, Red Hot Chili Peppers, A Tribe Called Quest and a lot of video game music/compositions.

Prox: What are some of your favorite genres outside of Hip-Hop?

Breezewax: Jazz, soul and RnB, alternative rock, funk, fusion, scores and symphonies, trip-hop and electronica… the list goes on and on.

Prox: My personal favorite from your catalogue is Bright Lights. Can we expect to see more Drum n Bass or Breakbeat from you in the future?

Breezewax: Never say never. I kind of just go with the flow and make things depending on what I’m feeling in the moment.

Prox: The music video for “We’ll See the World” is breathtaking. What was the inspiration for the song and how was the video produced?

Breezewax: Glad you like it – it’s one of my favourites too! I basically put that video together editing together other video clips to the song so I can’t claim much there. It’s essentially telling the story of the Native Sun album from which the track is from. I love to travel and was after a sound that crossed cultures and was reflective of the great things in our world that bind us.

Prox: Traveling seems to play a significant role in the flavor of your projects. They are almost like travelogues or a kind of musical diary. How important is seeing the world to you and where is your favorite place to travel? Dream destination?

Breezewax: That is often the case– probably most notably on the Aeroporto collection. So far Brazil and Japan have been my favourite places. I would like to go to visit African nations in the future as it’s my cultural motherland. I think that will be special when it happens.

Prox: Which song and album from your catalogue would you say are your favorites? What sort of memories do they invoke?

Breezewax: I have a few favourite tracks. Some of them might not necessarily be technically sound as they were early days material, like Winter Children and Sea of Stars, but they’re special to me because I remember where I was at and what I was feeling. Native Sun is my favourite solo release as so much work went into it and it was kind of the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Love Sounds Like, Luna and Luna II and Cascade Meditation off the top of my head are tracks that I really hold dear.

Prox: If you didn't produce music, what else would you be doing for a living?

Breezewax: To be honest music making is a hobby rather than my actual career. I’m just a guy who happens to love music and have just carried on making the songs I’d like to hear when I have the time to do so. That others have enjoyed it and been kind enough to support me is a bonus.

Prox: Favorite hobbies outside of music?

Breezewax: I read a lot and write fiction, I’m quite sporty and love being out on my bikes. I still rollerblade too!

Prox: What can we expect from your next album?

Breezewax: If it happens, just something very different again. It’s all about growing, evolving the sound and pushing yourself.

Prox: Final Thoughts?

Breezewax: Thanks again for reaching out and for listening to my music. I appreciate it.

You can purchase all of Breezewax’s amazing music here.