MicFreak’s music has been released on labels including NuSoul, Nervous, Fogbank and the Quantize & Unquantize imprints, among others. He released his debut album ‘Feelin’ It’ in 2019 on DJ Spen’s Unquantize label, and has released many chart topping remixes and productions on Quantize Recordings, working with big names including Crystal Waters and Barbara Tucker and many more. DMC check’s in as he releases his exciting new long player ‘Everything’.
A huge welcome to DMCWORLD MicFreak, where on planet earth are you and how’s your 2021 going so far?
Hey DMCWORLD! Thanks for the love here! Right now I’m currently holed up in Baltimore in the US. 2021 has been good so far, even with Covid. I got myself busy and wrapped up my album and I’ve also been busy with streaming on Twitch and have built a lovely community over there.
What is the best piece of new music you have heard recently?
Not new music, but right now I can’t stop singing ‘The Way You Love Me’ by Ron Hall and the Muthafunkaz. That Dimitri from Paris remix is such a killer!
You grew up in the Philippines, what music did you listen back then and when did you first start making music?
I played in bands growing up so, after rehearsals I’d go to raves with my band mates. That’s where I discovered dance music. It was also the time when radio started accepting dance music into the mainstream, so I heard the Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy and Fatboy Slim regularly there. What blew me away was when I saw ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ by Stardust on MTV Asia. That opened my eyes and ears!
What instruments do you play?
I play the keyboard, the guitar, bass and drums and a bit of cello. I actually started learning the cello because my daughter has been serious about it and we’ve been jamming every now and then!
So you’ve been living in Baltimore for a long while now, how did you first get involved on the house scene there and link up with DJ Spen?
I’m more active in the DC scene than I am in the Baltimore scene here. I did get my house music education by attending those Deep Sugar parties hosted by Ultra Naté at the Paradox club here in Baltimore. I met Spen through a good friend Dave Sherman aka QuantizeDJ Groove, who discovered me DJing at a local Baltimore radio station WEAA. He asked me to send over demos for Quantize and was signed eventually. That’s how I got started.
What inspires your music?
Life inspires my music! Love does, as well! Faith! 2 years ago when ‘Feelin’ It’ got released I was battling cancer. My wife kept me going and brought my DJ and production gear into the hospital while I was doing treatments for days. So I learned how to make music like there’s no tomorrow.
You’ve just released your second artist album ‘Everything’, which features some of your most recent singles and remixes, along with some hot new tracks and collaborations too, please tell us a bit about the release and who is involved?
It is 15 tracks that includes my work with legends like Crystal Waters, Eddie Amador, Roland Clark, DJ Spen, Karizma, Sheila Ford, Thommy Davis, Barbara Tucker, Cornell CC Carter, Shaun Escoffrey. Along the way I’ve made friends with some amazing people who became collaborators like Abco, Lee Buxton, DJ Strobe and Masmin! This one showcases the things I really enjoy doing; being a DJ, a remixer, a producer and being a musician (I played keys and guitars here!). Then to top it off I did a DJ mix to showcase all the tracks! Hopefully you’ll enjoy the album as much as I did creating it!
What’s your favourite track from the album and why?
I really have no favourites here. I believe each track has its own story for me personally and would work on different types of situations in a DJ set.
How does ‘Everything’ differ from your last album, ‘Feelin’ It’ and how do you think you’ve grown as an artist?
‘Feelin’ It’ was more of a solo effort. Kinda like my introduction into the world of house music. I’ve grown as an artist the last couple of years and have been blessed to work with a lot of artists that I never would’ve imagined I’d be working with. I’ve also made lots of friends that are very talented and have done some awesome collabs! So Everything pretty much showcases the body of work I’ve done as a producer, remixer, songwriter, DJ and as an all round music guy. I’ve learned that no man is an island in this business!
You’ve been releasing on DJ Spen’s Quantize Recordings and Unquantize labels for a while now, and you’re now an associate producer for the labels, what have been your most successful / highlight releases?
All my releases mean a lot and I value them all equally, but to be able to work with the legends is a dream come true, so these are my top 3…
‘Party People’ with DJ Spen & Crystal Waters, ‘Acid Love’ remix with Thommy Davis & Sheila Ford and ‘Think (About It’) with Barbara Tucker.
Please walk us through a typical MicFreak production process?
There is really no process for me as far as making music goes. I do however like that whatever idea I have in my head, I can translate real quickly in Ableton. It’s a mental practice that I’ve really worked hard on and I think that has helped me produce tracks at a quicker pace. So if I have a beat in mind I can get into Ableton and lay down those beats quick. Or if I have a piano idea or a bass idea I can quickly record those to get me started and build a track from there. Sometimes I’ll be chatting with my friends on Zoom and I have an idea, I’ll fire up Ableton and start working on a track!
We come to raid your record collection, which embarrassing record do you chuck out the window before we arrive?
I don’t have a lot of records, but a few months ago I bought my wife the Rick Astley Best of Album! HAHA
I love Rick Astley too though!
What records make you say ‘damn, I wish I made that’?
Hercules and Love Affair – Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)
Barbara Tucker – Beautiful People
Jasper St Company – Lift Every Voice
Name 5 new house tracks that we need to listen to this week.
Talk To God ‘Bout It (Dj Spen’s Sunday Re-edit) – Ron Hall
Mattel – Masters At Work
Strut Cho Phunky Stuff – Mike Dunn
Oh Honey – Angelo Ferreri
Really Luv House Music (DJ Spen & Reelsoul House Anthem) – Niledge, Barbara Tucker, DJ Fatman
And finally, what else have you got coming up in 2021 that you can tell us about?
More collabs are coming! And I’ve started working on album 3!
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MicFreak ‘Everything’ will be released on Traxsource Promo April 9th 2021 / Full Release on April 23rd on Quantize Recordings
