‘Hot Money’ is the UK’s Best Grime, Drill, Afro Swing and Trap Producer

Tell us about your background getting to where you are today?

I am a music producer, songwriter, engineer and artist who goes by the name ‘Hot Money’. I own and run my own recording studio facility in London, UK and have worked with names such as Stefflon Don, Stormzy, Krept and Konan and more.

When did you start music?

I started out playing piano from the age of around 7 years old. Later into my teenagers, I got my first computers for music making and started to make beats. Once I started to get good, I attended SAE (School of Audio Engineering) to learn how to make by beats knock and overall mixing techniques.

How did you get into music?

My pops bought me a keyboard for Christmas so I started messing around with the demo presets. After a few months, I asked to learn more about the instrument, he then put me onto a piano tutor.

What is the most challenging thing you have overcome in your life?

Having children whilst pursuing a career in music. When you’ve got the pressure’s of putting food on the table, it steps your hustle to a whole new level.

Are you currently signed or independent?

I am currently independent working on building my own labels.

Who inspires you the most musically?

I am most inspired by beatmakers and producers. I am more of a sound guy so I enjoy listening to the architecture of music productions. Names like Timbaland, Pharrell, Rodney Jerkins will always be legends to me.

Any new music coming out soon?

I’ve got an instrumental album coming out called ‘UK Takeover Vol. 1’. It’s a compilation of beats from UK Genre’s like Drill, Afro Swing and Grime.

What is your greatest achievement as a musician?

One of my greatest achievements is hearing my early Grime instrumentals take over the UK Club scene. The beats also got crazy radio play on the BBC (UK). I ended up getting a Best Producer Nomination from that!

Do you produce your own music? If not who do you work with?

I produce all of my own music in my London recording facility.

Who is one artist you wish you could work with?

Drake would be the ultimate collab. Just the whole energy around his brand can make or break a beat a lot of the times.

Tell us about any new music you have coming out? When is coming out? What is it about?

My instrumental album is out now on Spotify and all the big platforms. It’s a collection of UK inspired beats for rappers and listeners all around the world.

What does a day inside your shoes look like?

My day is filled with answering emails, organizing studio sessions, making beats and working on my goals in other areas of my life.

Anything else you want the audience to know about you?

I’m a Libra.

ONLINE:

https://www.instagram.com/hotmoneystudios/

DISCOVER ARTIST INTERVIEWS: Find out what’s Going on with SMASH as he talks to Discover Music News

Tell us about your background getting to where you are today?

I have a degree in animation but then I discovered music production and audio engineering and gravitated towards it in my mid twenties. My journey has taken me to living and training in the Caribbean, starting off as a studio assistant and then working up to being a producer and engineer. After 4 years abroad, I’m no residing back in the UK running a studio and also Lecturing at the Academy of Contemporary Music teaching music production and audio engineering.

Where are you from?

I was born in England, my mother is from Trinidad and my dad is from Mauritius.

When did you start music?

I have always been into music, that transformed into DJ-ing in my teens, but it was just a hobby. After obtaining my BA in Animation thats when I started to get into music production and I started taking it seriously.

How did you get into music?

After graduating with my degree in animation I was doing a freelance Job in Brixton. It was in a complex that housed many offices and studio spaces. A lot of then were occupied by creatives, from filmakers, dancers, music studio producers. I was at this job for like 8 months and got to know some of the music studio owners and one day I asked if I can have a dabble for a few hours. I instantly fell in love with it and the rest is history.

What is the most challenging thing you have overcome in your life?

Being creative can be tough for anyone, I already had a degree and was very good at what I was doing with art and animation so for me it was uprooting myself to follow my dream and start all again to learn something different.


Are you currently signed or independent?

I am an independent however I have a management deal with 1 2 One Entertainment.

Who inspires you the most musically?

Tough question, but I think Bob Marley, Michael Jackson and producer Quincy Jones.

What do you want people to take away after listening to your music

That they have not just heard something I have done or something I have contributed towards, but they have experienced something about who I am.

Any new music coming out soon

Yes! Working very closely with Krishane (son of the Reggae legend Barrington Levy). We have something we have been working on few things now for a while, things will drop as and when its ready, so watch this space, its happening soon!


What is your greatest achievement as a musician?

When I started teaching students at a degree level. I’ve not been formally trained in music, so I always had a self belief that I couldn’t teach it. Its very touching when some of these kids are so eager to learn from you.

Do you produce your own music? If not who do you work with?

Yes, pretty much all of my music is created and mixed by me. I have worked and collaborated with other producers, I think more now than ever collaboration is important.


Who is one artist you wish you could work with?

Ok someone who is no longer with us: Michael Jackson, I think doing a record with him will not just be the creation of something memorable, but I believe I would have been pushed and taken away some valuable lessons about music and life. The other person(s) would be the Marley brothers especially Jr. Gong and Stephen.


Tell us about any new music you have coming out? When is coming out? What is it about?

I have a record with Krishane called Lockdown that has been in development for a while now.

What does a day inside your shoes look like?

Always a cup of tea to start the day, after it all depends on if I’m teaching or not. If I’m teaching all day, I will very rarely end up in the studio in the evening unless its a must. I’ve started to value my down time as much as my time creating, that balance is important. If I’m not teaching, it all depends how I feel, I might make some music, or finish off any pending mixes, but if I’m not doing any of those things I dedicate time to learn new things about what I’m doing within music and audio engineering, this industry moves very fast and I think that its important to always be a student to your craft.


Anything else you want the audience to know about you?

When I’m not in the studio I really enjoy cooking.

ONLINE:

https://www.instagram.com/iamsmash/