Q&A with Amadeus
Amadeus is the CEO of Platinum Boy Music Inc., a Multi-Platinum BadBoy/Hitmen Record Producer, Trey Songz's Musical Director/Tour Drummer; Drai's Nightclub Resident Drummer, Educator and Motivational Speaker.
bbLeader Taylor Robertson recently interviewed Amadeus about his life as a multi-platinum super producer, touring musician and music director.
(For the full interview, check out the video above)
“ CREATE FROM THE HEART; CREATE FROM THE MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND SOUL.” - Amadeus
Taylor: Can you tell us a bit about how you got started and what motivated you?
Amadeus: I was born and raised in the Bronx, and the Bronx is very dear to me. Not only is it the birthplace of hip hop but it is also what gave me my start. I started playing drums in the 8th grade; I was privileged and able to attend a school that allowed me to learn a musical instrument - that musical instrument was drums. It was kind of forced because I really wanted to learn how to play either the trumpet or the saxophone but I was absent on the day that I was able to select that instrument. The next day when I returned to school the slots for those instruments were all taken. Two instruments were left: the violin and percussion.
Now, as I stated, (I am) from the Bronx; from the hood. I’m from the Nine; I’m from the Projects, so the last thing I was going to do after already having to dress up to go to school because I attended a Catholic School all my life, was to add a violin case to walk through my hood with. So, I selected percussion. I didn’t even know what it meant, I just knew I wasn’t going to choose the violin. Got into class and learned that it had to do everything with rhythm. Prior to this, I had never touched any instruments; I didn’t have any inspiration to be a musician whatsoever. But when I sat in the class, the drum instructor wanted to go around the room and see what everybody’s skill level was, and I was able to mimic every drum pattern that he played organically. It was like if I’d been a drummer all my life and I discovered that; he discovered that and that was the day that I fell in love with drums.
Now, growing up, (I) always was a music lover of, of course, hip-hop. So fast-forward: I went to church and was able to be a musician at my church for years. That was where I developed the sauce, the seasoning, the spice and everything that I needed as a musician and as a creative. At the beginning of high school, I decided to pursue a career in (music) production - and the rest was history.
Taylor: Was it immediately after you started to see how naturally music production was coming to you - was that when it clicked that this is what you wanted to do? Or was it after a while that you realized that you wanted to take it all the way?
Amadeus: It took me quite a few years because I fell in love with drums first. It was more from a musician’s side that I was intrigued with, not even knowing what production was at that time, as a young kid. I loved making beats with my drums but I really thought I was going to be a rapper. I tried it out but it didn’t really work too well so I left that alone and decided to go with production. Being that I was a musician, I felt that I had the cheat code in a way with having instrumentation within. Making beats and being a drummer work hand-in-hand.
Taylor: What were some sources of inspiration for you? Any artists or producers?
Amadeus: I grab inspiration from so many different places. I’ve been inspired by my pastor, by fellow musicians, by a lot of the artists that I’ve heard growing up. I was inspired by, you know, Naughty by Nature, Black Sheep, Wu-Tang - a lot of people that I really grew up listening to. I just loved what they created and was trying to figure out a way to create dope music and be just as dope as what I heard. Also a big inspiration for me was Puff; I know he went through a lot of different names: Puff Daddy, Diddy, Puff, PD, all of these different names. Growing up I always wanted to be a Badboy Hitmen producer. I loved what he created; I loved the team of producers he created; I loved the legacy that he built for him. Somehow, someway, I just felt like one day, I’m going to be a part of it. That was one of the dreams that I had and it’s crazy that it actually came true for me - actually being able to say today that I am a Badboy Hitmen Producer.
From a producer's point of view, I’ve been inspired by Timbaland, Swizz Beats, Dr. Dre, Rodney Jerkins (one of my absolute favorites), Neptunes, Kanye West, Just Blaze...I could name forever. I’ve always pulled inspiration from either musicians or people that may not have done music, but just were successful in their own way.
Taylor: So in order to get there, what roadblocks did you encounter on your way up?
Amadeus: Oh a ton. I think the first that I remember experiencing was the doubt. The doubt from people who, you know, you would consider as some of the closest people to you in life. And some meant harm and some didn’t. Some people didn’t believe in dreams, some people didn’t believe in themselves, some people didn’t believe that you could wake up each and every single day doing what you love to do versus waking up each and every single day doing something that someone else forces you to do, so I just kind of looked at my own world. I had my own fantasies that I believed would one day come true; that was what really pushed me and kept me going and not wanting to give up. I wanted to prove myself right.
Taylor: When did you start putting out content? Was it immediately or did you take a while to really master your sound?
Amadeus: Yeah I definitely took a long time to really make sure I understood what I was doing and that it made sense musically. After a few years of just making beats and continuously building a nice, large catalog, I then started to build relationships and introduce myself to people as a “real” musician and producer. And it’s funny that you asked because all of this was prior to social media and the internet. None of that existed when I came up, so I had to really find out where the labels were at and find out who was who. Who were the A&R's? Who were the managers? And then I had to try to figure out a way to get to that person - whether by standing in front of a record label all day or by finding out where the most successful recording studios were so I could camp out there hoping to run into somebody, hoping to hand off a beat cassette tape or CD to be heard. Those are the things I had to do versus where we are today.
Taylor: How do you think people nowadays can take advantage of social media? It almost feels saturated- how do you really make yourself stand out?
Amadeus: I think it’s about just being me. Being me, being real, being authentic. That’s the gift; that’s my superpower. We are all superheroes in our own right. Why? Because no one is you. You know, no one has your prints. Somebody can have your name; somebody can have a skin tone that is like yours but no one is you. Someone can sound like you; someone can emulate you, you know, be inspired by you, but no one is you. So I feel like me being me - it’s very important. Being real, being sincere, being transparent - and not just with words, but through music. You know, people can feel the realness and sincerity when you create. Whether it’s music, art, you on the big screen as an actor or actress, you as a teacher, as an educator - people can feel you being genuine. And when you are genuine, it doesn’t automatically get you there, but it puts you on the right path; a forward progress to move and navigate through all the things that can be roadblocks on the way.
Taylor: From the business side of music, how did you gain skills such as entrepreneurship and leadership?
Amadeus: There was a gentleman by the name of Mike Moore who managed me for quite some time at the beginning of my career, and he sat me down and schooled me on how to do things. At that time, he was like, “Hey man, you need to get incorporated, your music needs to be a business, you need to be an I-N-C. You need to be getting paid through your business.” So for those who are musicians, or producers, or writers, definitely get an LLC. But again, you all have the internet - something we didn’t really have coming up - where you can learn and teach yourself. Learning and teaching myself is something I have done my entire career. Also, I picked up a book called All You Need to Know About the Music Business. Hands down one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. I would say it has taught me pretty much everything I know today.
Taylor: What qualities make a highly successful entrepreneur, DJ, or any creative in general?
Amadeus: You first have to be passionate about whatever it is you’re going after. You have to really love it. You can’t live without it type-of-thing. Because that’s, at the end of the day, what is going to keep you going; that’s what is going to keep you pushing forward. When the politics set in, when the doubters and the people that don’t want to let you in the door stand in front of you, it’s the love and the passion that will keep you motivated and keep you going. Then, it’s just really understanding what it is you want in life.
Taylor: Why is it so important to give back and really pass on that formula of success?
Amadeus: I just know how hard it is to get to where I’m at today. I’m from the bottom. I said it earlier and I’ll say it again: I’m from the hood, I’m not supposed to be here. I’m supposed to technically be a statistic; I’m supposed to be dead; I’m supposed to be in jail; I’m supposed to be selling drugs; I’m supposed to be doing all the negative things people swear us Black kings are supposed to be doing and I broke that. I broke that curse. So for me, I’m just as passionate conversing with y’all as I am with making music.
One thing about music and the world and people: they’ll appreciate you for a moment, right, as long as you’re dope; as long as you’re hot. But the moment someone else just as hot comes along and has their moment, the attention comes off of you and it’s on that next person. You know, a lot of the legends and the OG’s don’t get the love and the props that they deserve, so I really pride myself on making sure I pay homage to those who came before me. Because without them, there would be no me. I’m big on that.
Taylor: How do you strike a balance in situations like this, where producers don’t get the credibility or the financial respect they deserve?
Amadeus: It’s about what you feel. It’s a feeling where you might get an opportunity to, say, track on Jay-Z and you’re like, “Aight, do I want that opportunity? Are they paying enough?” There are so many different dynamics. “Am I going to get credited properly?” And that’s the one side you think of. But then there’s the other side where you don’t want to get married to a song. Don’t fall in love with it even though as an artist, you’re thinking, “I want this song for me, I want this on my project.” You want to try your best to make the best decision. Not an emotional decision, but the best decision based on business, based on benefits and how it will be more in your favor.
Taylor: What exercises/tips do you suggest for someone just starting out as a producer so that they can improve their production skills and techniques?
Amadeus: It’s like shooting (hoops) in the gym: the more you do it, the more you practice and the more you rehearse, the better you become. I don’t believe in perfection but I do believe in excellence. And that is something you can work towards.