Interview With Grammy Award Winner Brian Soko
We got a chance to sit down with Zimbabwe’s first Grammy Award Winner Brian Soko who produced Beyonce’s 2014 smash hit Drunk In Love. Brian has launched a production company called Anashe Media Group. Anashe Media Group aims at supporting and empowering upcoming African producers mostly. It mainly manages and markets producers.
How would you best describe Soko?
Laid back Zimbabwean kid with a passion for Music and Sports.
Where did you grow up and what were you like child?
I was born and raised in Zimbabwe and I lived all around the country. I moved the States during my high school years, as a child I was quite smart but I still got in trouble at school, sometimes.
Who was your childhood hero and why?
I’d say Peter Ndlovu, because he was a Zimbabwean soccer player that made it in the UK and established himself in the Premier League. He was the first African footballer to play in the English Premier League, this showed me that anything is possible.
How has your childhood influenced your music?
I listened to a lot of the Zim classics of the 80’s and 90’s and didn’t start listening to Hip Hop until I was about 9 or 10 so my first musical influences were African and you can hear it in some of my productions. Also I rarely ever make sad songs, most of the big songs where very dancy as a kid.
When did you realise you wanted to take music as a career?
I wanted to be a rapper since I was about 12 or 13 but once I started producing at 16, I knew I wasn’t going to a regular college, I had to study something to do with music.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I draw my inspiration from a lot of things such as movies, sports, the people around me and my environment.
What type of music do you most enjoy making?
I enjoy everything, but I must say lately Afro-Pop/Afro-Beat is really fun for me because I am new to it.
What’s your creative process like?
I don’t have a set process, I just usually go through sounds until I find something interesting and then I manipulate it and keep adding from there. If I get stuck I’ll send it to one of my ‘The Order’ production partners and see what they think of it. I rarely ever do the drums 1st.
What software do you use when making beats?
I use FL Studio to produce and sometimes Pro Tools to record other people’s vocals, I record my own vocals in FL Studio though.
When did you start dreaming about winning the Grammy?
I always had that dream since I started producing, it’s like the World Cup for us Musicians and now that I’ve won a few, I want to win it again!
Talk to us about your plans on the continent?
Thanks to my company Anashe Media Group, I have a vehicle to connect and work with producers, artists and brands across the continent. We are really looking at how we can bridge the gap and align the interests of creative professionals (producers/artists) with big brands and companies across Africa. I just want to do my part to ensure that being a musician becomes more profitable especially for young producers.
What is Anashe Media Group all about and what do you aim on achieving with it?
Anashe is my production company and the platform I am building to support and empower upcoming African producers mostly. We mainly manage and market producers. Through Anashe I have been able to help some dope producers get placements across Africa & in the US and overall trying to improve the business side of the music for us as producers.
How did you meet Cashtime Life, Chad Da Don, Tagz and all the artists you are currently working with in the South?
When i came back to SA in 2012 I went on twitter and got about 50+ SA artists emails and contact from there and I send everyone an email asking to work. KO was the only one that responded and he invited me to his studio and I’ve been working with Cashtime since. I met Chad through a good friend of mine Ahsley Valentine(AV GRand) he’s a dope producer from Cape Town and he did a lot of work with Chad so when I came to SA the 2nd time he introduced us. I met Tagz through a friend of my brother, we connected musically and been working ever since.
Where did the inspiration for the EFT hook come from?
I spent some time in Limpopo this past May and there are a lot of mines out there. I was in a small remote town on the GP/Limps border. Every morning before sunrise I would see everyone in their uniforms walking to work. This town was so small they only had 1 FNB with 2 atms, so around month end the whole town gets paid and everything is packed. There is a line at every store, I had to wait in line for like 45mins to use the ATM so I channelled the energy and excitement of the people when they get paid to make a payday song which is #EFT.
What is the most important lesson that you have learnt about the music industry so far?
Sometimes you have to sacrifice to get your foot in the door, you’re not always going to get your credit or the money you are suppose to but focus on the music the money will come.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I hope to have established my label Anashe Media as a power player in the Music Industry with a few major artists on the roster. I am also planning to go into real estate and business so we will see.
Top 5 SA Hip Hop artists?
In no particular order
1. Chad
2. Ko
3. Aka
4. Cassper
5. Ma-E
Top 5 African Producers?
In no particular order
1. Don Jazzy
2. Uhuru
3. Shizzy
4. Soko
5. The whole OrderUp (AV, Wichi, Thai, Kamera & Gobbla)
What do you do for fun?
I play soccer and golf, watch movies and spend time with my girlfriend.
What do you look for in a woman?
That’s a very broad question but to pick 1 thing, Intelligence. My GF is a chemical engineer, so she’s way smarter than me.
What have you learnt about pursuing your dreams?/What advice would you give to the up and coming producers?/Any words of wisdom to the youth?
Do what you love to do! Find your passion early and find a career in that field, because then it won’t feel like a “job”. If you love soccer but you’re maybe not good enough to make it professional, look at other jobs in that field, for example you could become a referee, a coach or even a talent scout, but follow your passion.
Where can your fans reach you?
Twitter: @beatsbysoko
Instagram my Facebook like page is https://www.facebook.com/beatsbysoko
I am also thinking of launching a personal website, but in the meantime go get my new single with Chad #EFT at www.IjustGotAnEFT.com
