Introducing… Abstrakt Soundz

I’ve been following Abstrakt Soundz since I first heard his beats in one of our first remix contests; dude just has a really polished sound. Since his work on the recent Element album, I thought it was about time we got to know the man behind the beats. Hit the jump to learn a little more about the man known as Abstrakt Soundz…

Where you reppin:

Los Angeles Ca, Born n Raised

Introduce yourself:

Abstrakt Soundz, 1/2 of the duo Element & Abstrakt Soundz (obviously) and one of the official in house producers of Custom Made

Current projects we should be looking out for:

Awww man haha… Element & Abstrakt Soundz’ latest release A Long Story Short [download], a Los Angeles compilation I’m producing titled “History in The m=Making” (tentative title), a remix project titled “When Hip Hop was F.R.E.S.H.” followed by several beat/instrumental albums “The Recyclin Bin series,” “Cadillac Recordz,” “Abs First Symphony,” and “The 12th Planet.” Another mixtape series im producing is for “Speak Eaze”. Speak Eazy is a new clothing line that are going to distribute mixtapes every season with their new gear.

Other mixtapes that im workin on are Custom Made’s next mixtape titled “Hi-Def” a definite banger, Ivan Ives and D Twyce team up for a project called “7 Day Theory,” Compton Conscience MonD.o.E album called “The Hoodlum,” Akadimiks mixtape called “Nerd in a Cool Guys Body” and a few others… (sorry if i failed to mention you).
Last but not least, look out for “The Death Of Tempo” its a really cool film that I composed the score for. It’s written and directed by Jack Venturo (the genius) and starring David Haverty. You Have to watch out for “24/7 The Show”; it’s a web series im scoring also. It’s directed by Chris Hodge, and stars Jason Evans, Thomas Baily, and Brandon Williams. Check out the intro (which i did the beat for) on youtube at 24/7 The Show Intro.

Previous work that we should know about:

Custom Made

• Truth Be Told (Rawkus)
• Heavy Traffic
• Original Dynasty (Babygrande)

Element

• Great Expectations

Ivan Ives

• Icons Last
• Eat Pork and Cry

Abstrakt Soundz

• The Black Album Abstrakt (remix album)
• Abs Son (remix album)
• The Imprint (remix album)
• The American Abstrakt… Fuck A Gangster (remix album)

Main musical inspirations:

D Twyce, Element, Custom Made, Dj Derf Diggler, Dj Khalil, Free Will, Ivan Ives, Danimal, and any other musician or person who ever taught me somethin or gave me some words to keep me pushing forward, kind or otherwise.

When did you fall in love with hip hop?

haha.. y’all gonna laugh at me, but I didn’t start listenin to hip-hop til like 2001-02, after graduating high school. I remember talkin to Dj Derf Diggler (he designed the cover to “A Long Story Short” by the way) and he laughed at the stuff I was listenin to (I’m gonna spare myself further embarrassment and refrain from tellin y’all what it was haha). But then I forget where we was goin but he poped in “Train Of Thought” by Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Dj Hi-Tek) and it was curtains… I played that shit for like 2 months straight. Then that made me wanna freestyle. I asked him for more music like that and he gave me “Black on Both Sides” and “Black Star,” then “Like Water For Chocolate.” Same shit happened.. I was on those albums for so long Dj Derf Diggler got tired of me playin em and gave me “Gang Starr.” I wasn’t really feelin Guru too much but Premier was on some OTHER SHIT! It was somethin about the choppin of a sample, like the challenge of choppin the life outta a sample and recreatin your own piece of work. I sorta see it’s like breakin a glass bottle n try n sculpt a trophy outta the pieces you got… iono… but that dude got me wantin to produce… and here I am.

What’s your equipment setup like?

Let’s see… I got a pair of Bx5 studio monitors, a HP desktop computer, a Mackie 1202 mixer, Mbox 2 Pro, 61 key midi controller by M audio (I think the name of it is Oxygen 61 im not sure), a Roland Fantom xr rack, some Sony mdr-7506 headphones, a Numark turntable, Numark dj mixer, 3 milk crates, an acoustic guitar, Cool Edit 2 pro, and Fruity Loops 8.

If you had to pick one song that defines your career to date, what song would that be?

“Numb” by Linkin Park

Where did the name Abstrakt Soundz come from?

Abstrakt Soundz is pretty much my initials AB (Anthony Bowman) put together wit Track like music track or beats so you get ABsTRACK but just spelled differently. And I juts threw the Soundz on there for uniqueness n identity reasons. Cuz I know its a GAAAAAAANNNNGG of Abstracts n Abstrakts n Abstraackts n however cats wanna spell it haha. Plus it made sense with the way I wanted to be known; different. Sampling songs that you wouldn’t normally hear in a way you wouldn’t normally hear em and still makin it dope at the same time. Not to mention Abstrakt Soundz just has a nice ring to it haha.

Why should the readers and fans give you a shot and listen to your music from here on out?

Because Abstrakt Soundz is more than just music, its an Experience Through Sound.

What’s next for you?

More Collabs, more projects, more films/shows, more cookie jars to put my hands in…

If you could only take one record on a deserted island with you, what album would that be?

Original Dynasty by Custom Made

Any shout outs or last words?

Shouts out to Sean Deez and Kevin Nottingham for bein the BEST site on the net PERIOD! Shouts out to S.T.T.R.E.S.S, G.C. (tha godfather) and all the rest of the Nottinghamers, and a big kiss and Thank You to Jackie “Sashe’” Arevalo for the photos from heaven! She can make you look good too, jus check her out at Jackie Arevalo Portfolio and make sure to subscribe to 24/7 The Show. Thanks again everybody for your ongoing support… til next time. Peace.