It's been awhile since I've done an interview, but as we're at the one-month and counting point for the release of the new Dinosaur Burps album, I figured I would drop this interview with Ben Coll of the band, The Yetti. He's also a producer and putting in heavy mixx dogg work for the new DB album...enjoy!
Q&A With Ben Coll of The Yetti
L-NO: Tell LFTD nation a little bit about yourself and how you got started in music.
BC: My name is Ben Coll. I'm originally from Kanawha County, but I live in
Fayetteville now. I grew up around music. My dad and all my uncles on his side of the family are musicians, so I always had access to instruments when I was young. I started off playing drums when I was about 10 years old, but over the years, I got more into playing guitar and that's what I've done primarily since I was about 15.
L-NO: For those that don’t know, how did you get down with the Dayone crew? How long have you been working with B. Rude/Dinosaur Burps?
BC: I got linked up with Meuwl and B. Rude back in 2006, when we all did a show together at Marley's in Huntington. We all partied at my house up there after the show and I kept in touch with Meuwl over the next few years. After he passed, I extended a offer to B. Rude to help with his next project, just because I was such a fan and wanted to help it all carry on.
L-NO: When did you get started making beats? Who were your influences in hip-hop?
BC: As far as influences go, number 1 has to be Wu Tang. Early 90's hip hop in general is where I get most of my inspiration. Low End Theory, Cypress Hill, Ice Cube's "Death Certificate" album...those were all big to me.
L-NO: One of the things I like about the beats I’ve heard from you guys is the way you incorporate sampling and live instrumentation together. Tell us a little about your beatmaking process, do you usually start with a sample, or with a guitar riff or something you’ve played, or is there no real method to the madness?
BC: My beat making process varies. But typically, I'll grab a sample, chop that up, and layer drums, bass, guitar or just other samples over top of the loop to add a little dynamic. I've just really gotten into it over the last few years, because that's when I finally acquired all the needed gear. Lately, I've been leaning less and less towards samples and just hopping on the '67 Ludwigs and bashing something out, or starting with a bass riff or guitar lick. Sometimes that's far more effective than searching all day for a good sample.
L-NO: I hear that you’re starting to hustle some of these beats outside the crew? How can someone get in touch with you if they want a beat?
BC: I'm not really actively seeking to sell beats right now, but I do have a bunch of 'em laying around that aren't being used for the Dinosaur Burps album. I'd prefer to use them for a project with a solid collaborator. However, if anyone is interested in bringing in there own tracks and recording at our spot, they can hit me up on Facebook through Big River Records or holler at me 304-710-0472. 30 bucks an hour. I'm not hard to find.
L-NO: How long have you guys been doing the Big River Records studio in Fayetteville? What are some of the acts that you’ve recorded there?
BC: My friend/business partner/fellow band member Brad Kinder and I got Big River Records rolling around late fall 2009. In the past year we've got to work with some of the finest acts in the state as far as I'm concerned. We recorded, edited, mixed albums for The Fabulous Brothers Steele, The Boatmen, Vern's Pot O'Chili, and Dinosaur Burps and got a couple other things cooking as well.
L-NO: What kind of gear are you guys working with in the studio?
BC: Our gear stash is ever-growing. The primary workhorse is PreSonus Studiolive. It's a 16 channel digital board that drops firewire out to the computer and our DAW is Studio One. It's basically the PreSonus version of Protools. We just copped a Sure SM7 mic that's pretty fresh, got a new reflection filter, we have various Vintech, M Audio, ART preamps, 3 sets of Ludwig Drums, various basses and guitars, all kinds of shit. Mad amounts of plug-ins including UAD.
L-NO: Do you guys have standard rates for recording sessions, or does it depend on what the artist is trying to record? Do you provide final mastering as well?
BC: We decided recently to do a flat 30 dollar per hour fee. Some exceptions may be made. Holler at us. B. Rude has lifetime free recording privileges. We can do final mastering. A couple bands we worked with chose to mix everything with us and send it off to be mastered at duplication joints. That worked out nice.
L-NO: What projects do you currently have in the works?
BC: We're pretty excited about the Dinosaur Burps album "Mother Nature Wants You Dead". We've been putting in work periodically over the last year and a half or so with B. Rude and DJ Sqweazle. I did most of the beats on there. It does have a couple contributions from Billy Platinum and Big Meuwl on there as well. That shit finally comes out on December 25th, 2011. Dinosaur Burps are gonna rock the Empty Glass in Charleston, WV that night and that's when everyone will be able to get their copy.
L-NO: I’ve run out of questions…so do the obligatory shouting out of your homies here:
BC: Shouts to LFTD, Baby Man, Brad Kinder, Dante LaVelcro, Baron Von Vittles, Big Sqweaz, and anybody else fightin' the good fight. Time is precious, use it wisely.
