Music is for life

First of all, thank you for taking your time and putting the pen on the paper for us. It’s a real honor for having you chat with us.

1. So, I’mma start with the begining. How did you get in this awfully congested music production industry? Like, do you have a past in music and what got you started?

Well the earliest memory i have of music is at the age of about 7 or 8, being in the studio with my father, who was a producer, and playing on the piano (by ear) a classical piece that i heard in a cartoon once. I always said that i played the piano as a kid, but i didnt really play it, i just liked the piano so i told everyone that i played it… lol. anyway, once i figured out how to play that first bit of the classical piece my pops came bustin in the door like “who taught you to play that?”. I was scared i thought i did something wrong. Then i found out that he was extremely excited and proud of it. Moments later he taught me how to play “Lean On Me”. And from there i knew that music is what i wanted to do. Although i officially began playing at the age of 12 because thats when i really took it seriously.

2. What about the present, everybody knows how big you’ve hit them up with the T.I. chart-topper and I know you got a “hot banger” – as Sha Money XL said – on 50’s upcoming album, “Before I self destruct”. How did you get into working with the likes of T.I., 50, Young Chris and is having a manager, an important part of this?

Man yo having a manager was a major part of all of this. I have all my connects because of my first manager. even tho he did some bad business and we dont talk anymore i still dont regret meeting and doing business wit him. Long story short, My ex-manager introduced me to Young Guru which lead me to Just Blaze. And he also introduced me to Sha Money who got me the Tupac, Gorilla Zoe, and 50 placement. And from there i met more people throughout the industry but it all really came from meeting Young Guru, Just Blaze, and Sha Money.

3. I had to flip a coin for this question, and here it is, what are you’re tools of the trade and as a request from our users, what are you’re felling on the most known sequencers on the market? (Reason, Cubase/Nuendo, Ableton, FL Studio)

haha. I dont mind answering that at all. Infact i have an online live stream where i show people how i work and the tools that i use. But to answer your question I use Logic Pro. I find this best for me because i produce, mix, and record. Logic is great at all. I like Reason alot but Reason does not support 3rd party plugins or audio channels, so you cant record and you can only use Reason sounds and effects. I started off using Cubase, which was cool, but then i went to protools which i found more efficient. I havent used FL Studio, Ableton Live, or Nuendo.

4. This has had to come, also from a user request. Tell us how did that magic happened with the “Live you’re life” (it would be cool if you could share the tools used to make that song, if it’s ok to you), a song that sat were the chart was hanged on the wall for many many weeks. As a P.S., I know Dan Balan, here in Romania is pretty damn happy on the money, but he must hate Chris Brown, cuz he didn’t mai ia heed on the Grammy’s stage:))

lol. Well that came from a simple thought from Just blaze one night while we were in the studio. Just decided to sample song, and then i added some other instruments on top. Just Blaze used the MPC4000 and a Fantom. When i did my part on the brass and synths i used a combination of Logic/Fantom sounds. When it came time for me to do the strings on the record i turned to Logic because i have a specific group of string sounds that i use that have now become known as “Canei Strings”. lol. people can pretty much pick them out when they hear them. So after me and Just finished the beat, he wrote the hook and we both sang the parts, I did the high notes that Rihanna sings on the song. And Just did all the other parts. In Fact, on the recording you can still hear both me and Just still on the record behind Rihanna.

5. What do you think that music is missing right now? And I’m not just saying hip-hop…

hmmmm.. i think music is at a pretty good place right now. I was a little depressed about music about 2 years ago. But now i think it is more balanced with the mixture of pop/rock/r&b and everything else. Although, i do think that classic hip hop is the missing element. Hip Hop has changed over the years. Most of the hooks you hear now are singing hooks, everything is much more commercial/pop, and there arent as many groups/movements. What i mean by that is… where is our 2008 Wu Tang, or Rocafella, or G Unit, Tribe, De La, Run DMC, Outkast. I like to see groups come up and start a whole movement and just take over for a minute. But it seems as if that hasnt happened in a while. For the most part there has been single artists like Kanye, T.I., Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Young Jeezy. I cant wait for someone to put out a group like Wu Tang, that can take todays music and turn it into a movement of a new sound. but thats just with hip hop. Im pretty comfortable with everything else. Except if i hear another pop song with a 1 word title, and the word just keeps repeating through out the chorus. like Umbrella, Halo, Womanizer, Diva, and a whole damn long list of others, i think im gonna throw up.

6. Some words ’bout what you’re feeling at this time, producers, rappers, singers…

well, I feel like music overall is in a very good place. And this may not be the same for everyone, but for me i can listen to all types of music, so if i want to hear something with no Autotune then i’ll listen to some Alicia Keys, Musiq Soulchild (besides that song “Radio”), or Rock music. And whatever else im in the mood for im sure i can find it somewhere in the mix. The only thing thats slightly missing is some good ol soul sample or hardcore hip hop. Kanye just did a pop album. Autotune and all. and everyone else is dirty south for most part. Im looking foward to hearing 50, Eminem, and Dr Dre’s albums. When those come out then i’ll be satisfied.

7. Any tips that you can drop in how to make the mix sound better, make the drums more crispy and stuff?

yeah. First off. Producers all around the world… stop compressing your whole beat. It sounds terrible. lol. The problem alot of producers make is that they want there stuff to sound like its been mastered so they put a compressor on it and crush the hell out of it. it doesnt sound good. Also dont worry about having the beat super loud. This is another reason why they do this, to make the beat louder, but as long as you have a decent volume it can be turned up through the stereo/car system. A good mix is more important than a loud mix. remember that. There are a bunch of tips and tricks to making your stuff sound great but its there are so many things to mention. Thats why i have the Ustream show to teach people techniques. But overall, to make your stuff sound better, you have to have an ear for rich/well blending sounds to begin with. A mix engineer should clean up your song and blend it better, not reproduce your whole beat by transforming each individual sound. You have to start with good sound to begin with.

8. What’s your opinion on newbee’s? In the meaning of what they should do to get a good start on making music. Do you feel that musical and/or engineering education plays a important part of that?

I get this question alot. People always ask me how did i learn? what school did i go to? I didnt go to school for music or engineering and im just about completely self taught. As far as production and songwriting goes, music is not mathematical. When it feels good, you record it, thats how great records are made. The gift and curse of this business is that anyone can pursue a career in music. Thats why this industry is so congested. The bottom line is most of us will not “make it”, and some of us will be lucky and get in where we dont even deserve. For anyone who does take music seriously and is pursuing this career, know that school will help you when it comes to music theory, engineering, and knowing your equipment and how to use it, but creatively, you either have it or you dont. Going to school will help you build on your creativity and overall make you a better musician, But its either you have an ear for music, or you dont. It is the responsibility of the musician to know whether to make music a career or a hobby.

9. I had to ask this question and the next two. Have you heard of the Open Labs NeKo? (http://openlabs.com/). Whay a Mac and not this baby, wich does not have the issues of regular Windows OS?

Well i think altogether Mac has a great operating system. The major difference between the Neko, and having a macbook pro and logic is the size and traveling convenience. I cant travel all around NYC with a Neko on my back. Aint gonna happen. Also, i use Logic. Which is not compatible with Windows OS. Put it this way… you either buy a Neko, And keep it in your house, Or buy a Mac or PC (which might be a faster computer than a Neko) and a midi keyboard of your choice, which will still be less money than a Neko. And with a Mac or PC laptop you can use them for home use and everyday computer use as well. I just dont see why they made that Neko machine.

10. The virtual instruments are driving the world crazy. Some recommendations from your side?

I use alot of Logic stock sounds, but i also like Native Instruments sounds. The FM8, Battery, Kontakt, B4 has some great sounds. Also Applied Acoustic Systems makes the Lounge Lizard, Analog Factory, and String Studio which are all good. I use those more than anything else.

11. This is a question recently put into this kind of interviews. Sample or “from scratch”?

I prefer working from scratch because i like to have control over what i am doing. With a sample you might be limited to the chord arangement and rhythm of the original record. but when you do something from scratch you are unlimited. Although sampling will get you a feel that you wouldnt have been able to create by yourself. But, i am confident in my ability to create something interesting.

12. Thaks a very lot for your time and sharing of knowledge. Please drop some words on where can people find more about Canei Finch, his music, his awesome video blogs and where the hell can they get those drum kits that you make and whoom are pretty unique sounding.

No problem at all. Thank You! You can see my stream at www.ustream.tv/channel/caneitv
and here are my other links:  www.myspace.com/caneimusic
www.twitter.com/caneilive

Interviu realizat de Andrei “VST” Popa. ©2009, Kreuzet Blog.