BEHIND THE MUSIC: ASTON RUDI
We had the pleasure of catching up with the multi-talented producer, Aston Rudi. While you may not recognise Aston by face or name, you've undoubtedly heard his tracks, as he's produced for some WE ARE SOUL favourites like Elli Ingram, Mahalia, Olivia Dean, and FLO, solidifying his status as a behind-the-scenes maestro in the music industry. Aston isn't limited to producing; he's also a prolific writer, engineer, and youth mentor, reflecting his dedication to nurturing the next generation of musical talents.
Aston's own journey into music started at the age of 13 when he first encountered DJing, sparking a lifelong passion. He found his sanctuary in the studio shortly thereafter. His eclectic upbringing, born in Britain and raised in Trinidad, left a lasting imprint on his musical tastes, with reggae, calypso, 90s dancehall, Bob Marley, and Steely Dan forming the backdrop to his early life.
Aston's approach to producing music is deeply intuitive. He begins his process with sounds that pique his interest, emphasising the importance of establishing a connection to the music. He believes that the most impactful songs are those that can evoke real emotions in the listener. Aston often layers his music with elements from everyday life. This often involves incorporating foley sounds, such as background conversations or the sound of zipping up a jacket. It is these textures or ‘mistakes’ that add character to a song.
Aston's dedication to his craft shines through in every aspect of his work. He understands that great music is about evoking emotions and creating a connection with the listener.
This commitment to emotional resonance is what sets him apart as a producer. He's not just making music; he's crafting sonic experiences that leave a lasting impact.
One of Aston's standout productions is ‘Ladies Room’ by Olivia Dean, a track that got him his first Mercury nomination, and a song he describes as a favourite of this year. Having worked together for quite some time, Aston and Olivia have become somewhat of a dream team. He explains how it is very important for him to develop a deep understanding of the creative process of those he works with, to really “get their sound”.
When describing the process of working on ‘Ladies Room,’ he says, "It was super fun! I was working super intensely on Elli Ingram’s album at the same time, so working with Olivia was a nice respite. We met every Monday for a month, along with another songwriter, Britten Newbill. I really looked forward to these Mondays."
If you've been on the social app X recently, you may have come across debates on the use of sampling in music. We decided to ask Aston about his thoughts on this issue. He offers a refreshing perspective, saying, "Haters have one particular idea of what sampling is, but sampling is everything. It is the fundamental of most music making. A lot of the drum sounds people use these days come from a machine. The 808s, the hi-hats, the bass. All of it."
Aston highlights that sampling is not a new phenomenon. Many iconic tracks, including some of Amy Winehouse's songs and Billie Holiday's classics, are covers or contain sampled elements. He believes that people who criticise sampling often have a limited perspective. He adds, "There's only a certain amount of notes on the keyboard. It's about what you do with it. How someone samples a piece can show the type of person they are and how their mind works. I think that's pretty sick."
This perspective on sampling is indicative of Aston's forward-thinking approach to music. He recognises that music is a constantly evolving art form, and sampling is one of the tools that allows artists to push the boundaries of creativity. Rather than dwelling on the past, he embraces the possibilities of the present and future, incorporating innovative techniques to craft unique sounds.
Aston has been a youth arts mentor at Hoxton Hall for almost 8 years now. So, when the opportunity came to work with Dr. Martens on a mentorship initiative, spearheaded by rapper Kojey Radical, Aston was thrilled.
As part of the initiative, five young people were given the opportunity to work with Aston at his studio and Hoxton Hall, where they could produce their own music with funded studio time, equipment, and tech support. His passion for nurturing young talents is evident in his advice to aspiring producers: "Firstly, I would say learn your craft! Learn the fundamentals of making music that feels and sounds good. Secondly, I would say don’t underestimate the power of people skills. As a producer, you need to know how to make artists feel comfortable. They are probably going to share personal things with you. Develop emotional intelligence to make them feel safe in the studio."
Aston's humility shines through as he expresses his desire to continually grow as a songwriter, producer, friend, and person. He hopes to create more music and be recognised for his contributions to the industry.
As he embarks on new adventures we can only anticipate more musical magic from Aston Rudi - creating music that evokes real emotion within his listener. Aston's journey is a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and a deep love for the art of making music.
CREDITS:
Production Company - WE ARE SOUL
Photography and Interview by - Bethel Haimanot
Produced by - Sharnae Petgrave
Written by - Leonie Belle
Video Edit by - Hannah Harding
BEHIND THE MUSIC: ASTON RUDI
We had the pleasure of catching up with the multi-talented producer, Aston Rudi. While you may not recognise Aston by face or name, you've undoubtedly heard his tracks, as he's produced for some WE ARE SOUL favourites like Elli Ingram, Mahalia, Olivia Dean, and FLO, solidifying his status as a behind-the-scenes maestro in the music industry. Aston isn't limited to producing; he's also a prolific writer, engineer, and youth mentor, reflecting his dedication to nurturing the next generation of musical talents.
Aston's own journey into music started at the age of 13 when he first encountered DJing, sparking a lifelong passion. He found his sanctuary in the studio shortly thereafter. His eclectic upbringing, born in Britain and raised in Trinidad, left a lasting imprint on his musical tastes, with reggae, calypso, 90s dancehall, Bob Marley, and Steely Dan forming the backdrop to his early life.
Aston's approach to producing music is deeply intuitive. He begins his process with sounds that pique his interest, emphasising the importance of establishing a connection to the music. He believes that the most impactful songs are those that can evoke real emotions in the listener. Aston often layers his music with elements from everyday life. This often involves incorporating foley sounds, such as background conversations or the sound of zipping up a jacket. It is these textures or ‘mistakes’ that add character to a song.
Aston's dedication to his craft shines through in every aspect of his work. He understands that great music is about evoking emotions and creating a connection with the listener.
This commitment to emotional resonance is what sets him apart as a producer. He's not just making music; he's crafting sonic experiences that leave a lasting impact.
One of Aston's standout productions is ‘Ladies Room’ by Olivia Dean, a track that got him his first Mercury nomination, and a song he describes as a favourite of this year. Having worked together for quite some time, Aston and Olivia have become somewhat of a dream team. He explains how it is very important for him to develop a deep understanding of the creative process of those he works with, to really “get their sound”.
When describing the process of working on ‘Ladies Room,’ he says, "It was super fun! I was working super intensely on Elli Ingram’s album at the same time, so working with Olivia was a nice respite. We met every Monday for a month, along with another songwriter, Britten Newbill. I really looked forward to these Mondays."
If you've been on the social app X recently, you may have come across debates on the use of sampling in music. We decided to ask Aston about his thoughts on this issue. He offers a refreshing perspective, saying, "Haters have one particular idea of what sampling is, but sampling is everything. It is the fundamental of most music making. A lot of the drum sounds people use these days come from a machine. The 808s, the hi-hats, the bass. All of it."
Aston highlights that sampling is not a new phenomenon. Many iconic tracks, including some of Amy Winehouse's songs and Billie Holiday's classics, are covers or contain sampled elements. He believes that people who criticise sampling often have a limited perspective. He adds, "There's only a certain amount of notes on the keyboard. It's about what you do with it. How someone samples a piece can show the type of person they are and how their mind works. I think that's pretty sick."
This perspective on sampling is indicative of Aston's forward-thinking approach to music. He recognises that music is a constantly evolving art form, and sampling is one of the tools that allows artists to push the boundaries of creativity. Rather than dwelling on the past, he embraces the possibilities of the present and future, incorporating innovative techniques to craft unique sounds.
Aston has been a youth arts mentor at Hoxton Hall for almost 8 years now. So, when the opportunity came to work with Dr. Martens on a mentorship initiative, spearheaded by rapper Kojey Radical, Aston was thrilled.
As part of the initiative, five young people were given the opportunity to work with Aston at his studio and Hoxton Hall, where they could produce their own music with funded studio time, equipment, and tech support. His passion for nurturing young talents is evident in his advice to aspiring producers: "Firstly, I would say learn your craft! Learn the fundamentals of making music that feels and sounds good. Secondly, I would say don’t underestimate the power of people skills. As a producer, you need to know how to make artists feel comfortable. They are probably going to share personal things with you. Develop emotional intelligence to make them feel safe in the studio."
Aston's humility shines through as he expresses his desire to continually grow as a songwriter, producer, friend, and person. He hopes to create more music and be recognised for his contributions to the industry.
As he embarks on new adventures we can only anticipate more musical magic from Aston Rudi - creating music that evokes real emotion within his listener. Aston's journey is a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and a deep love for the art of making music.
CREDITS:
Production Company - WE ARE SOUL
Photography and Interview by - Bethel Haimanot
Produced by - Sharnae Petgrave
Written by - Leonie Belle
Video Edit by - Hannah Harding