MY PROCESS

MAKING MUSIC

DJ Zinc, the London-based dance music DJ and record producer known for pioneering new styles, has consistently redefined his sound. He jumps effortlessly between musical genres, and is one of few artists who can claim to have had genuine underground and commercial hits across house, breakbeat, UK garage and drum & bass, having sold over 1,000,000 physical records across his own productions and labels.

From roots in hardcore and rave, Zinc went on to produce some of dance music’s most definitive anthems, including the era defining ‘Super Sharp Shooter’, the colossal bootleg of The Fugees ‘Ready Or Not’, and ‘138 Trek’ which went on to break the UK Top 30. More recent chart success came in the shape of ‘Wile Out’, a collaboration with Ms. Dynamite. His latest releases on Rinse, Armada, and via his own label Bingo, include collaborations with Chris Lorenzo, MY Nu Leng, Shift Key and JackBeats.

"My Process" with DJ Zinc takes viewers deep into the art of music creation, and what for Zinc is the ‘perfect breakbeat’. He reveals the secrets of his signature style and how he combines leading modern technology with years of experience and old school know-how, citing how he created some of his biggest records with “just a laptop, a pair of headphones and a good idea". Zinc talks honestly about his approach to music making, with plenty of advice and tips for up and coming producers and artists.

Zinc shows how he creates authentic sounds – once made on expensive and cumbersome hardware during the rise of jungle and drum & bass – with a contemporary edge. Zinc believes that with the technology now available to music makers there are simply "no excuses".

BENJI B SAID: “I wanted Zinc to be a part of this series because he is a master of his craft. Not only is he a legend in his field but also in the years that I have known him he’s always shared the knowledge and experience of music production. In terms of mastery - learning how to chop up and process a breakbeat from the legendary DJ Zinc is like having a light sabre lesson from Yoda himself.”

DJ ZINC SAID:

“My Process" was an opportunity for me to sit back, reflect, and go a bit deeper on my approach to music production and career. I also wanted to get across how there are “no excuses” when it comes to making music now; that high barrier in terms of equipment and studio space no longer exists, and there’s no obstacle between inspiration and execution”

Nubya Garcia is the perfect artist to launch this series, not only one of the most prominent young players and contributors in the current London and worldwide Jazz scene, but an inspiring figure  generous enough to share her energy and insight, allowing us a window her process of how to compose for a  both for her own instrument and her ensemble too.

Nubya Garcia studied under pianist Nikki Yeoh at Camden Music. She was a member of Gary Crosby’s Tomorrow’s Warriors in her late teens, then completed her training at Trinity Laban. Her debut album, SOURCE, was released August 2020 under the iconic label Concord Jazz. Following her album release, the London-based jazz player debuted on NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, coming off the heels of a Pitchfork ‘Best New Music’ honour and a Rolling Stone ‘Album of the Month’ mention. The New York Times described SOURCE as “a life’s worth of experiences into an hour-long listen.’

She won both the Jazz FM and Sky Arts Breakthrough Act of the Year Awards in 2018, and the Jazz FM UK Jazz Act of the Year Award in 2019. She has made a huge impact internationally and in the UK, with her debut album entering the UK charts in the Top 30, a performance for Glastonbury 2020 which aired live on the BBC, a feature story in MOJO Magazine; along with mentions in 2020 Albums of The Year lists including Pitchfork (#25) NPR (#4), Esquire (#22), Jazzwise (#12); Rolling Stone, The Sunday Times and more. Garcia has toured extensively worldwide. Her reputation as a DJ is also burgeoning, and she currently helms a hit radio residency on NTS.