SAQIB, a rising talent in the world of house music, recently made waves with his release “So Cold, So Sweet” on the renowned Beats On Time label. Captivating listeners with his unique style and infectious grooves, Saqib has been making a name for himself in the vibrant music scene of Brooklyn. In an exclusive interview with HMWL, we had the opportunity to delve into Saqib’s journey, discussing his early encounters with electronic music, the influence of the Brooklyn music scene on his sound, and the creative process behind his captivating tracks. Join us as we explore Saqib’s musical passion and the captivating world of house music.
HMWL: When did you first find your passion for electronic music? And how has the music scene in Brooklyn influenced your sound and style as an artist?
SAQIB: I got into electronic music in 2009. At the time I was playing guitar in a death metal band. I went to see my childhood friend Talal, who was DJ’ing in Toronto with Carlo Lio at footwork. That was the first time I heard house and techno properly. blew my mind into pieces. I quit metal music overnight and started moving into electronic music. Right there.
How has NYC influenced me ?
Living in NYC has been pretty awesome. It really has the best of the best in North America – in terms of productions and artists that come through. I get the opportunity to go and listen to mind blowing music after being in the studio all day. NYC has treated me very well. I’ve been fortunate to have played at some of the best venues and events in the city like Brooklyn Mirage, knockdown center, house of yes, elsewhere, and the now closed output and cielo.
HMWL: How did you develop your unique style of music?
SAQIB: By making a looooot of tracks! And failing miserably. And experimenting. And then failing again, haha!
By making a looooot of tracks! And failing miserably. And experimenting. And then failing again, haha!
HMWL: Could you walk us through your creative process for producing ‘So Cold, So Sweet’?
SAQIB: A few weeks before the lockdown/ COVID started, I happened to walk into a bar in the lower east side of Manhattan where a jazz band was playing St. James Infirmary. I became obsessed with it. i tracked down the music score and started putting it together. It was the first project I did when the lockdown started.
HMWL: What was it like to produce music in complete isolation during the lockdown?
SAQIB: It was pretty crazy and in a way very freeing. I also work in healthcare and I saw a very terrible side of the early pandemic. it wasn’t clear if we would ever even be on a dancefloor ever again, or I would even live through the time! thought I was going to make very dark music but the first fifteen to twenty things came out very housey and grooving and fun. That was a surprise. I never really tried to control the direction of my output. The lockdown definitely did give me a lot more time in the studio. And made me realize how much time I waste in life that I *could *be making music!
HMWL: Can you tell us more about the meaning behind ‘So Cold, So Sweet’ and how it relates to the American jazz standard, ‘St. James Infirmary Blues’?
SAQIB: So Cold So Sweet is my take on the Jazz standard st. James infirmary. there are actually many different versions of the song with different stories/ twists/ variations in them.
The general idea is that it is the story of a soldier who comes back from the war to find that the love of his life is sick, laying in st. James infirmary. And then it’s his story and his realizations about his own mortality and how he imagines his death to be. There’s something sorrowful and beautiful about it that drew me in…
HMWL: As a Brooklyn-based artist, how do you see the local music scene evolving and growing in the coming years?
SAQIB: I think it’s growing a lot. Because there are just a lot more people listening to electronic music now and going to events.
I think Brooklyn is a hub of electronic music. And that’s why I moved here. It’s a nexus point. Like the future that is happening right now. I think it will continue to grow and blossom over the coming years and I expect nothing less of this fucking awesome place!
I think Brooklyn is a hub of electronic music. Like the future that is happening right now.
HMWL: You’ve released music on several labels like Abracadabra, Beats On Time, Maccabi House, Sol Selectas, Flying Circus,Lump Records, Camel Riders, Dream Culture, etc…. . How do you decide which label to work with for a particular release? And what kind of tracks do you prefer to release on your own Beats on Time?
SAQIB: I try to work with labels whose music I really like and want to see my own tracks associated with those. I also look for labels who are clearly dedicated to what they do. With a serious work ethic and that care about music and are psycho about it like me.
For Beats On Time I am looking for tracks that I would actually play in a set. Functional dance floor music with edge, attitude, and style. And a little bit off center, haha ! I think in terms of genre it spans a spectrum but it all has a common thread through it, which will make sense to you as you hear the upcoming releases!
HMWL: How has your musical background and education influenced your work in electronic music?
SAQIB: it influences everything I do all the time. I try to write dancefloor tracks that feel like MUSIC rather a looped beat and a bunch of breaks and drops…. I use a lot of conventional song structures inside of electronic music and try to find ways to make them work inside those “rules”. I think if you listen carefully to my rhythm you can also tell ; this person has a background in heavy metal!
As an adult I got into hip hop and jazz and I think these two exposures had a big influence on me the last years ; for example….. this release !
HMWL: What advice would you give to aspiring producers and DJs?
SAQIB: Focus more on your craft than anything else. Realize that you must fail, repeatedly and that’s ok. It’s part of the process. You will make a loooot of music before you find your sound. Because it takes time! Ok thanks for coming to my TED talk!