We are thoroughly enjoying the wicked Ninety 3 EP from heavy bass creator Thelem, who originally hails from the UK. Alongside its recent release, he has just founded a label of his own, and it is sure to become home to some seriously strong sounds over the coming months and years.
Take a read through below to hear more about the making of the EP, and what else Thelem hopes to achieve in the near future.
Tell us a little bit about yourself as an artist… what are your main values?
I’m originally from the UK but have been living in Los Angeles for the past year. I plan to continue living here while I have my visa and if things go well. I guess my main values would be to just enjoy making music and try to progress for myself and no one else. I love experimenting with different styles and sounds and not sticking to one conventional thing or genre. I also think it’s essential to be yourself and be humble; I hate arrogance and attitude and think it’s important to be a chill, down to earth person.
Do you feel like you’re still learning as your career develops? What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned along the way?
100%, I feel like every tune I make I learn something new on the production side of things. I feel that is critical for me and keeps me going, I love the feeling of learning something new and nailing it. I’m also learning more and more about the industry, and how things work in that realm. One of the most important things I’ve learned so far is do you, try not to listen to others to much. Ignore haters and people who bad mouth your music, just learn not to care about what others think or say and just have fun with it!
Do you remember what first got you into wanting to create music?
Yeah, totally! It was actually actually sitting at my mate Tom’s house after work, we used to smoke some joints and I would watch him making beats, lol. After a while I got more and more curious and asked if he could show me. He taught me some basics in Fruity Loops and then eventually I got Logic. I sat there and taught myself that, it all went from there really.
Which of your tracks have meant the most to you and why?
Ooh that’s a tough question, I would have to say that would be my track ‘Bring me Down.’ The tune is 4 years old now but still important to me. This is because at the time I was going through some tough times with some people literally trying to bring me down, without mentioning this to T-man (the MC on the track), his lyrics really reflected this in the tune. It came together as a complete package so naturally and effortlessly. I still play this tune every set, which is rare as I don’t usually play my older tunes much.
Ninety 3 is an awesome EP, and full of different styles. What inspired it originally?
Thanks so much! It was my first EP since living in the States, so I guess it was inspired from me living in LA and in a totally new environment. With it taking on quite a few different styles and genres, I think you can almost feel the reflection of this in the tracks.
Congratulations on the start of your new label, too! What direction do you want to take with Chapters?
I really want it to be a label about pushing good music, no matter what style, genre or bpm! My main goal with it is for it not to be pigeon-holed into one specific thing, but for it to be known just about good music and vibes.
Do you have the next release already ready to go… and can you spill the beans on it yet?
It’s currently in progress and is going to be another EP from myself. I really want this one to be pressed onto vinyl as well, and continue pushing that side of things. After this EP I’m going to start getting some other artists on board and expanding out.
If you could name three artists/groups who have influenced you the most throughout your career so far, who would they be?
I would have to say (no particular order:)
Madlib
Loefah
Tsuruda
What do you personally have coming up for the rest of the year that you can share with us?
I’m currently working on my ext EP which I’m hoping will be out November time. Apart from that, more shows and gigs coming up!
Get Ninety 3 here.
