Pyro Interview

What inspired you to start creating music? How long have you been creating music for?

What really inspired me to start off, honestly, was video game music. I was heavily inspired by Zelda back in the day, growing up on those types of games and the music and the compositions really stuck with me. That's what made me want to grab my first Casio and just doodle around a little bit. My brothers were doing mixtapes in high school, and that inspired me as well. Those would be my main inspirations, and I've been doing it for about 12 years.

Do you have any placements? If you have had any placements, who have you had them with?

Through B Club, I had placements with HBO Max, Body Armor, Red Bull, and NHL promos. Then, I had some stuff for Currency and Chains placements that landed me at number two on the Billboard Hip Hop charts. So, those would be just a few of those placements there.

What samples do you normally like using when creating your own beats?

Honestly, I love analog keyboards. I have a Poly D that I like to do a lot of soundscapes on there. The Korg Triton is another great keyboard, an older one, but you can tweak it to make it sound modern. Then, I use a Roland Sc880, which has some great sounds in there - synthesizers, pads, and a lot of things you can do sound design with. That's what I like to start with in my production, but then I have a lot of plugins too, like Omnisphere and Serum, that I tweak and use in my production as well.

What vibe were you trying to achieve with the sound pack?

I really just wanted to bring something to inspire the producer, something that's different from your normal loop pack. It's very moody, with darker tones, heads, keys, and a lot of melodic stuff. I just really wanted to do something to inspire. When they hear it, it's something to give inspiration to the producer.

How do you see other creators and producers using a sample pack?

Honestly, just being able to have song starters or have things that they can chop up right away just off the first listen. I create it from my point of view and how I would use it in my production. It's very simple and straightforward, and the loops can fit into Logic, Ableton, or Pro Tools, so they're intuitive. That's how I would use these samples and loops.

Have you used any of your own samples or loops in any productions or anything yet?

When I can, I'll throw in a Serato sample and just throw it in there. That's the best way to build your own catalog with your own stuff, using your own samples, but being able to be unique with the sounds as well, not just using it for what it is. Being able to spin it in different ways is really cool.

Do you have any specific tips that you would recommend for creators when using this pack?

Honestly, for creators who aren't proficient in piano or keyboard, and want something straightforward where you press play and get some heat, I think this pack is perfect. It's layered with multiple samples, allowing you to easily add drums and create full-sounding tracks. That's the approach I would recommend for other producers to use it.

What advice would you have for other creators?

My advice to producers is to have fun with it. Try to create your own sound, and the energy you have when you're creating will translate to the listener. If you're just doing it for the sake of doing it, they will sense that and not really connect with the vibe. But if you're genuinely having fun and striving to create something you believe is great, it will show.

Who are the top three producers of all time?

Timberland, Kanye West, and Quincy Jones.

What is your favorite studio snack?

Rice Krispie

What's your dream collaboration?

My dream collaboration would be with J. Cole and Jay Cole. I love J. Cole's work, and his music has gotten me through tough times. Collaborating with him would be fulfilling. Another dream collaboration would be with Jake Paul. I think it would be crazy.

Interview by Sean P. Jones

You can check out Pyro’s sample pack here.