This month, our JUN ISSUE #90 cover comes from producer, composer, singer/songwriter, 2X Billboard Latin Music Awards nominee, 4X Latin Grammy Award nominee and Premios Juventud winner, Ovy on the Drums! If you have enjoyed a number of Karol G's music whether it's her solo or collaborations that she has done with Shakira, Becky G, Future, and more - you have enjoyed the disctinctive sound that merges EDM, pop, and Reggaeton to make a sound all of its own. In addition to his work with this artist, this much in demand artist from Medellin, Columbia has also worked with Nicki Minaj, Steve Aoki, Bad Bunny, and Maluma to name a few.
While we wait for his much anticipated album as a solo artist signed to Warner Music, we wanted to find out a bit about how he approaches creating his music, how he got his start, sharing his sound and how we can define it, as well as working with Karol G.
ATHLEISURE MAG: You’re a producer and singer/songwriter, when did you fall in love with music?
OVY ON THE DRUMS: How did I fall in love with music? Well, the truth is, I fell in love with music... I had never really thought about becoming a music producer or dedicating myself to music, but one day I discovered the program I currently work with and use for all my productions, which is FL Studio. I believe that from that moment on, I fell in love with this whole music thing, creating rhythms, and beats. Since the first day I discovered this program I've felt a passion and love for creating music.
AM: From your love of music, to creating your music. How did you initially break into the into the industry?
You have a creative partnership with Karol G as you produced all but one song on her debut album Unstoppable, Ocean, KG0516 and you were one of the producers on her 4th album, Mañana Será Bonito. How did this partnership come about and what do you enjoy about working with her?
OOTD: Once I started making beats and fell in love with music well, in terms of the industry itself, my first steps were thanks to the university where I studied a bit more about music.
I met some friends called "La Compañía" from San Andres, a beautiful island in Colombia. It was thanks to them that I had a strong approach to the music industry. They opened the doors of their studios to me, and it was through them that I also met Karol G. I am forever grateful to them because it was there that I had my entry into the music industry.
AM: What do you like about the sounds and beats associated with reggaeton, hip-hop, pop, and EDM?
OOTD: Well, what I like the most about the sounds themselves are the percussion and the changes, the cuts that each genre has. I really enjoy analyzing the slicers in each song and the different types and changes in percussion.
AM: You’re a producer and singer/songwriter, how do you define the Ovy sound?
OOTD: The sound of On the Drums today, in any of its three facets, is going to have a very distinctive sound that I have been evolving and refining for a long time. Right now, I consider my sound to be very minimalist, a very simple sound. Within the few elements I use in a production, I strive to make it sound grand.
It has been a bit challenging because, initially, my productions were very saturated, overloaded with sound. Over time, I have learned to select certain sounds to avoid saturating it too much in a production.
AM: When you begin working on a song, where do you start first?
“Well, what I like most about the sounds themselves are the percussion and the changes, the cuts that each genre has. I really enjoy analyzing the slicers in each song and the different types and changes in percussion.”
OOTD: When I start working on a song, most of the time I like to begin with the melody. Before creating a song, the first thing I do is sit at the piano and let it convey or evoke whatever mood I'm feeling at that moment. It's what guides me. That's why I love starting from there.
AM: You have worked with several artists such as Karol G, Nicki Minaj, Becky G, Bad Bunny, Ed Sheeran, Steve Aoki, and Maluma to name a few. Where do you get inspiration when it comes to creating music for the artists that you have worked with?
OOTD: I believe that inspiration should always come from within the artist. It starts with creating a rhythm or sound that I personally enjoy and being able to convey that beautiful energy I'm creating musically. Transmitting it to the artists I've worked with is important to me. I want them to appreciate what I do, connect with what I'm creating, and work together as a team. That's how I flow, and I think it's the key to finding inspiration when creating music. It's about transmitting that energy, whether I'm with the artist or working alone, and sharing it with others
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Ovy On The Drums
Read the JUN ISSUE #90 of Athleisure Mag and see START WITH THE MELODY | Ovy on the Drums in mag.
