Up-and-coming electronic producer and DJ Inside Out Boy is gearing up to release his second EP following his critically acclaimed debut Gargoyles EP this summer. The Shrewsbury born, Sheffield based musician is currently completing his final year of university before turning his attention to music full time. Having sent Kmag some of his latest unreleased work, we caught up with him to discuss his career to date.

How did you get into making music?

I started making ridiculously bad remixes and stuff when I was like 14, but I was about 16 when I started taking it more seriously. When I was young I used to listen to such a diverse range of stuff - rock / metal that my dad used to listen to, indie rock that my brother introduced me to, to hip-hop, and obviously electronic music.

But my love for electronic music is what really sparked my interest in music overall, its diversity, and the whole idea of emulating instruments and music electronically really drew me in. And yeah, from there, I bought a keyboard and started to learn the piano, bought some software and started making music!

Who are you influences?

A lot of different things inspire me when in terms of music production, a diverse range of music to film to photography. I know its quite a cliché, but I listen to such a broad range of music, and I think this is evident from the music I make and the whole 'Inside Out Boy sound' : a mixture of melody, a classical structure, aggression and a general club-friendly feel. In terms of producers who have influenced me, definitely Daft Punk and all the subsequent work of both Bangalter and De Homem-Christo have produced and been involved in.

When did you first try your hand at DJing and producing?

I started with the production rather than taking the DJ route into music making. I still above all, see myself as Inside Out Boy 'the musician / producer', rather than a DJ. I love djing but definitely my main passion lies in the production. But yeah, I see both aspects as quite distinct things regarding my whole involvement in electronic music.

How do you go about producing your music?

My approach to the production varies, it can sprout from either an idea, a sample, or a synth I've created. My computer is rammed full of ideas channelled into tracks started and never finished! I find that my creativity and the situation I work best in, comes from spontaneous ideas and occasions, rather than making myself sit down and get something done.

What's the best piece of musical advice you've ever had?

I can't remember who said it, but it was something along the lines of 'never let anyone or anything get in the way of the music you want to make'. Although not said direct to me, I remember reading the A-Trak quote that really stood out to me, and represents exactly how I feel about the music I want to make: 'For certain people, if you eliminate the fun, make it darker, you become the underground elite. Me, I like fun music'.

What was the last album you bought?

The Magnetic Man album, it's just an amazing record, being able to make popular music that doesn't sound so generic and awful, but still maintain an individual brilliant sound is phenomenal and hard in the industry we're part of. Favourite track is 'The Bug', the vocals do crazy things to my head, man! Oh and I bought, the Bring Me The Horizon - There is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There is a Heaven, Let's Keep It a Secret album the other day. Check it out, the production on it is brilliant.

Who would you like to co-produce with?

I've been lucky enough to work with producers who I admire so much, from Barcelona, to New York and London. But in the future, as a slight realist, I'd love the opportunity to work with some of the up-and-coming US hip-hop artists, such as Wale, Donnis, and also some of the great producers out there in America such as Needlz, T-Minus and Count Justice. Not so realistically, I'd love to work with Stuart Price (Zoot Woman / Les Rythmes Digitales) and Alex Ridha (Boys Noize), just to learn their production secrets if anything!

What do you have to offer that's different in the scene?

I'd like to think I add versatility to the genre, I try to maintain that every track I do sounds different, and try not to get tiresome of the same sounds and keep myself away from the constraints of 'I make electro house' or 'I make dubstep', which I think restricts the freedom and whole process of creativity.

What's next for you?

I'm in my final year of university, so bare academic work! But still loads of stuff going on, I'm almost finished my next EP, and I just had a two-track single signed last weekend to an exciting label, and recently I returned from a trip to Croydon working with one of my idols, but shall keep you in the dark about that for the moment! Yeah, then plenty more remixes, just finished a remix of Sky Ferreira which is a filthy, disgusting piece of music that should be surfacing soon! Then after this year who knows...

Finally, you have 30 seconds to tell our readers why they should check you out...

I want people to love the music I make. There is definitely something for you, whatever you're into, in the Inside Out Boy catalogue!

 

Inside Out Boy will be taking on the challenge to build a new beat in 90 minutes on Forge Radio tonight (October 19th) at 21.30.

Inside Out Boy was speaking to Sam Moir

 

Free Inside Out Boy Downloads

 

Toys Noize (Inside Out Boy 'Playtime' Rework) by Inside Out Boy

 

The Medusa Stare by Inside Out Boy

 

• Enora - The Wolves (Inside Out Boy 'Midnight Massacre' Mix)
• Young Money ft. Lloyd - Bedrock (Inside Out Boy Orchestral Version)
• Inside Out Boy - Gargoyles (The Sonixx Remix)
• Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Dance The Way I Feel (Frankmusik & Inside Out Boy Cover)

 

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