START WITH THE MELODY | OVY ON THE DRUMS

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.”

— Ovy on the Drums

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

IG @ovyonthedrums

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.

FEEL THE MUSIC | JOHN NEWMAN

This month, our cover is Tomorrowland artist, EDM DJ/Producer, Singer/Songwriter and Composer, John Newman. Coming off of his recent Tomorrowland Winter performance when he debuted his latest song, Hold On To My Love which has been added to our playlist, we wanted to know more about how he came to the music industry, his sound, how he approaches his projects, his collaborations and of course what we can keep on eye out for as we continue into the Spring and the Summer.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

JOHN NEWMAN: I grew up with music around me as a kid. I was introduced to Motown and soul by my family and once I hit my teens I was obsessed with hard-hitting house and Clubland productions.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to work in the industry?

JN: I had a pretty tough upbringing to be honest mainly from social issues and fitting in and being totally different to others in the town I grew up in. I didn’t come from money in any way at all either so, yeah, music was my escape, creativity was a way of releasing everything.

AM: You have an amazing background as you are a singer/songwriter, composer, DJ and producer! Musically, where do your inspirations come from and how did you hone your skills for each one?

JN: Thanks! DJing and producing dance music was something that I had spent a lot of time practicing as a teenager, so it was almost like revisiting that younger version of myself and just brushing up on my skills.

Inspiration varies, but I’ve always admired the 90s rave sound, with a touch of soul, which I think came through on Holy Love.

AM: How would you describe the John Newman sound?

JN: My sound is always evolving but, right now, I want creative emotively charged dance bangers. I want people to hear a track and feel a surge of energy and euphoria where they can’t help but move their body.

AM: How do you approach your projects in terms of seeking inspiration for your solo projects?

JN: These days I have a new set up, my at-home studio is tailored to electronic music production and it’s somewhere I can lock myself away to for hours kinda just see what happens. Inspiration can hit anywhere really. I try not to stick to the sitting at a piano vibe, funny fact I wrote Love Me Again and If You Really Love Me both whilst having a shower.

AM: You have collaborated with Calvin Harris, Kygo, David Guetta, Nile Rodgers, and more, how do you approach collaborations?

JN: Each collaboration comes about differently. The link-up with David Guetta and MistaJam on If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know) was particularly crazy as Guetta himself reached out to make the first move for us to work together, I had been a fan of his work since being a little kid! He’d wanted to collaborate on something for a while, so I sent him the early version of the track, he loved it, and the rest is history.

AM: You just performed and released your latest single, Hold On To My Love at Tomorrowland Winter where you DJ and have live vocals. Tell me about this song and what was it like to perform there?

JN: Hold On To My Love came about backstage at Ushuaïa Ibiza. I sang the melody and some lyrics into a voice note on my phone as a rough idea, so to see the track go full circle and perform the final version at Tomorrowland Winter was incredible. It was an unforgettable weekend.

AM: This song was released on Tomorrowland Music and you have already confirmed that you will be at Tomorrowland Brasil later this year on the mainstage. What does this mean to you to be on such a platform?

JN: I’m incredibly grateful to be starting this journey with the Tomorrowland Music team. They have so many talented DJs and producers on the roster so I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

To then also have the opportunity to perform at their world-renowned events is huge.

AM: With the summer around the corner, what other festivals or clubs are you excited to be performing?

JN: This summer is going to be so much fun. In July, I make my Tomorrowland mainstage debut in Belgium alongside the biggest names in dance music which is surreal but very exciting. It’s the holy-grail of festivals so I plan on bringing my absolute A-game to the stage.

AM: We’re based in NY, but will you be performing in the US this year?

JN: You’ll have to stay tuned for that one! I really do love the US and the amazing crowds over there so hopefully I’ll be back soon.

AM: When it comes to touring and being on the road, are there any routines that you do prior to a show when you’re a few hours or moments ahead of hitting the stage?

JN: There is a routine, I don’t eat one and a half hours previous to a show so that I don’t throw up whilst on stage, hah! The next big one is I generally like to chill and stretch and listen to classical music, then get hyped to Limp Bizkit and Rage Against the Machine about 15 minutes before show time.

AM: When you have finished your set, are there any routines that you do to come down from all of the energy and adrenaline from performing?

JN: Hmmm not really, I do struggle with the silence after being full of that adrenaline, usually a beer takes the edge off.

AM: Are there additional projects that you have that we should keep an eye out for?

JN: My focus right now is on really immersing myself in the dance music sphere, continuing to work on new tunes and honing my live hybrid set of DJing and vocals to make it bigger and better with every show.

AM: Are there 3 artists on your bucket list that you are interested in collaborating with that you can share?

JN: Honestly my interest is totally varied, Florence Welch would be amazing, Fred Again, Swedish House Mafia, another Calvin Harris collar, just throwing ideas out there really.

AM: What do you want your legacy to be in the industry?

JN: I guess, as an artist who made music on my own terms. For the pure joy of making people feel good, feel elevated, and be able to escape reality for just a moment. Whether that’s through my tracks, or the energy people absorb at a live show.

AM: When you’re not on stage or in the studio, what do you do to take time for yourself as self-care and mental health is something that we prioritize here at Athleisure Mag?

JN: It’s different for everyone, but I find taking a break from social media to be a big help for mental wellness. We consume so much information, a lot of it pointless, so it’s no wonder it can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
I now work closely with a therapist on a weekly basis which I cannot recommend enough and my main thing is getting in cold water.

Also spending time with my wife and family helps to keep me grounded and makes it all worthwhile.

AM: In terms of working out, what are 3 workouts that you do that we can consider to include in our routines?

JN: Each to their own I guess and I’m not really the picture of the pinnacle of fitness, however, for me personally I like to get out with music in my ears and do whatever I can. Whether that be hiking, running or cycling. I also used to love that Shaun T exercise video, I used to do it before every show!

IG @johnnewmanmusic

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | COVERS Front/Back, INTERVIEW + PG PG 26 9DRIP Tomorrowland

Read the APR ISSUE #88 of Athleisure Mag and see FEEL THE MUSIC | John Newman in mag.