Behind the Mask
Posted Mar 13 2006
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While the name might not be familiar to most, Detroit-based producer “The Shadow People,” has quite an extensive track record – if you know where to look. Recording under multiple aliases, this camera shy pretty boy has been putting out electro and ghetto tech records for the past six years and is no new jack to the game. To the backdrop of Mexican music blaring from the jukebox, munching on tacos alongside Southern Outpost’s Patrick HAF, SP shares some words about his new release on S.O., banging Kylie Minogue, and his thoughts about DJs.
How did you hook up with Southern Outpost?
I tracked them down. I e-mailed Patrick after I came across him while looking at different websites. I just e-mailed him who I was and that I had worked with DJ Godfather and DMX’s Breakin’ Records. I gave him a demo, and that’s how it all started. One of the main reasons was that I know Kylie Minogue is from Australia (where SO is based) and I figured that if I hooked up with Patrick, maybe I could come to Australia and **** her.
I’ll make sure that gets in the interview.
Maybe she’ll read it! That’s the payment plan. I’m not getting paid for this record. Instead, I’m getting a chance to bone Kylie Minogue.
Describe this record.
For this record, there are vocals, which I’ve never done on any of my other records. The most I’ve ever done has been with vocorders. This time I used someone live. It’s a chant, a guy whispering really dark and eerie. It’s simple, funky, and ghetto at the same time.
What’s up with all the names?
When I do my booty music I go by 313 Bass Mechanics. When I do electro, I go by Digitek or Prince of Darkness. Sometimes I go under Code Name Atlantis, Body Snatcher, (or) the Shadow People. The reason for Mr. Sandman is because of my ethnic background. I was born in Baghdad, Iraq, but I’ve been here for 21 years. I chose Shadow People is because I got frustrated with people not wanting to play my music or release my records because I didn’t have a big enough name. So many people that had big names 10 years ago, their (new) records are absolutely horrible, but they’re selling because of the name. I chose to not use my real or every show my face because it’s about the music. It’s not about the looks or your name. I want to be a shadow and have people respect me for my music and not for who I am. (This release) is a different style of music. Digitek and Mr. Sandman are more experimental. This one was more Detroit electro/ghetto. Something different. Starting something fresh with the new label.
How’s your label (Motor City Electro Company)?
I’m busy working (my day job), going to school. I do this as a hobby. I do it because I love doing it. I don’t do this for status or for fame so it’s really hard to get my label established because it’s a full time job and that takes time that I really don’t have.
How many records do you have out now?
Including the next two or three records coming out, I’m up to 25.
Who do they come out with?
My next Digitek record I’m putting out with Twilight 76. It’s going to be my first record under Twilight 76 in four years. I got a DJ Nasty record coming out with Disco D’s label Booty Bar. I have a 313 Bass Mechanics records coming out soon. 313 Bass Mechanics is a group. I do all the production but I have guest people doing all the vocals. That’s coming out under Breakin’ Records real soon. I’m just working non-stop on tracks. When I get enough tracks ready I just keep finding new people to work with.
How long have you been making records?
My first record came out in ’96. I started DJing in ’95, hooked up with Godfather and that time he came out with his first record. He influenced me. I gave up DJing and I bought my first beat machine. I did my first record at 17 and it came out when I was 18. I started DJing at 16 so every year I took one step further. I had a choice to DJ or to produce and I figured anyone can DJ. It’s not the hardest thing. But to really produce, you really gotta to have it in you. I decided I wanted to produce. I don’t regret it. Instead of me DJing and playing other people’s stuff, other people are playing my stuff.
I remember the first time I was at Legend’s Night Club (in Detroit), which is an urban club, it was me and Godfather and about 2,000 Black people and we were the only white people. People were looking at us like “what are you guys doing here, this is not your type of club.” We were sitting in the DJ booth and they were broadcasting live on the radio. This was when my record first came out (Digitek-High Tech EP). They played my record live on the radio and I look down and all I see is people dancing and right then and there I knew this was it, this is what I wanted to do. That was my first high in music and ever since then I’ve been chasing that.
Do you have any other highs?
Nope. I’m a church boy. I just work, go to school, and work on music.
Anything else?
I want to give a shout out to DJ Godfather, Patrick HAF, DJ Marquis, EDMX, Gologo 88 and everybody that supports me and that I work with. We're all in the same struggle to get this music going and to make it successful.
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