I first came across Moteleola via a joint collaboration he did with Madbloggers (featuring Lafayette Stokely ) and he has been popping on my radar ever since. This young fella from UK is currently prepping his full length project and it was a pleasure getting him to briefly shed some light into his background and then some.

Sit back, enjoy the short caht and also keep up with more of Moteleola on WIB HERE

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For the benefit of anyone who’s been living in an underground bunker for the last ten years…who on earth are you?

My name is Moteleola, a 21 year old music producer born and raised in the South East of London, UK.

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How did you get started in music, and what drives you to continue?

I started producing at the start of my second year of college. I only ever showed my close friend Reiss for that whole year, I wasn’t ready to share my music at that point with anybody else. As for what drives me, I’d have to the say the thought of being responsible for or contributing to the making of a classic album. That would be an incredible feat I’d love to complete in my lifetime.

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Do you remember the first beat you ever made? How did you go about it?

The very first beat I made was actually absolutely terrible, and the one after, and the one after that too, in fact my first one hundred beats definately had no sparks of genius or promise by any means. My first beat was produced on the family computer, probably with my younger sister and brother messing around in the same room. When I reached my six hundredth beat I had just started to get the hang of drum programming, how to select the correct percussion that would compliment the beat, how to create texture and so forth.

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If a movie about your life in music was to be made, what interesting/strange moments and stories would you share to make the movie cool?

It would have to revolve around family. I’m a huge believer in family, love and friendship. My brothers and sister are my world and vice versa, we’re each other’s best friends, make each other laugh hysterically and look out for one another. So I think a movie about my life in movie would have to be about everyone that contributes to the person I am who makes the music.

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What is the greatest thing about working in the music industry? And what would you change if you had the opportunity?

I think actually bonding and becoming friends with fellow musicians is one of the greater aspects. Realising you share alike interests with fellow producers outside of just beat making, talking about the world with singers, playing computer games with rappers. When it goes beyond just being work and you actually connect on a level past music making the creativity just flows freely, discussions become more fluid, and it’s all the more enjoyable. Given the opportunity I’d change the structure of which radio playlists are selected. There are so many amazing bands and artists that make incredible music more credible than that played on radio and music video channels. I feel those that don’t actively search for there music are missing out.

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What have been the biggest highlights?

Having a song I produced for Olivia- Louise, Skin Deep, being played on BBC radio 1, which broadcasts nationwide was incredible. I never thought I’d be played on radio so soon, it was definitely an honour I was fortunate enough to be a part of with Olivia-Louise.

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What has been your biggest challenge…and how did you overcome it?

Probably making my production more artist friendly. When I first started making beats I either under produced the tracks or over produced it. Leaving the track sounding too bare to catch the interest of an artist or too cluttered for it to be even usable. Time goes on and you understand music better, you listen more intensely to your favourite songs and albums and you realise how it’s about using the combination of right sounds, not the amount, and how this instrument compliments that instrument. How the cymbals wash over the sharpness of the snare to create more balance. Or perhaps how the bass line is used solely to make the track sound more “full”, or how the toms are panned to the left to compensate for the sample being louder on the right slightly. It’s the subtleties that make the huge difference.

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Who are your heroes? Why do they rock your world?

My heroes are my family. My mum, dad, my two younger brothers and little sister. They inspire me beyond belief and make me happy beyond compare.

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Who have been the coolest, most memorable people you’ve met along the way, and how did they make an impact on your life?

Earl Patrick McNease a.k.a Praverb the Wyse has been the most special person i’ve met along this journey of music. R.I.P.  He passed away recently suddenly and it really made me realise how unpredictable life truly is. He was a truly selfless person who I used to share ideas with, seek marketing advice from and often pick his brain regarding how to approach certain situations I’d encounter. The sudden news of his passing really saddened me but he will definitely be remembered always for what he represented and was doing for all of us independent artists.

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When you’re sitting on the porch age 97 what would you like to look back on and smile having achieved?

That I lived my life doing what I loved with who I loved. As simple and as great as that.

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What has been your most memorable or inspirational gig and why?

Seeing J Cole live at his What Dreams May Come Tour with my brother last year was incredible. I’ve been a fan of J Cole before I even started creating music myself and seeing him live really highlighted just how powerful music is. Hearing everyone rap every single song, word for word, feeling the bass of the drums reverberating in my chest, watching how live instrumentation brought the songs to life. It was a truly amazing performance.

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What has been your strangest celebrity encounter?

Russell Brand. I was with my brother, the rest of the rap group he’s apart of, SWB, Jessy Sayna and another one of my brother’s friend heading back home from watching them perform in West London I believe it was. It was super late, we walked past a wide alley and everyone just turned their head like “is that Russell Brand??”. We were quite some distance away, about to say and he jumps straight into his car and drives off. I guess a group of black guys approaching from the entrance of an alley isn’t that appealing. Haha understandable, saying that I do enjoy his youtube show The Trews, and all the political issues and worldly issues it touches upon.

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What are the greatest songs, albums, books, movies, TV shows, websites you’ve ever come across?

My favourite album is Kendrick Lamar’s GKMC, I love the complete story the entire album tells, how’s it’s not just a disjointed assortment of songs made. My favourite TV show would have to be a cartoon, nearly every 90s Cartoon Network, Disney and Nickelodoen cartoon. As for films, my mum bought us a lot of Disney video cassettes in our childhood, so again my favourite film would be an animation. Anything from Aladdin, to Lion King to Fox and the Hound. I came across TedTalks a few years ago and now I visit their website every so often, I love hearing about new ideas and ways of thinking.

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Name 5 songs (yours excluded) that we would expect to find on your iPod or Music Player

This might just be the hardest  question, but if I had to name 5 as difficult as that is It’d have to be Jay Z – Regrets, Biggie – Sky’s The Limit, J Cole – 2Face, Kendrick Lamar – Sing About Me and finally Drake – The Ride

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What special-hero type skills are you blessed with?

I feel i’m a good listener. I love hearing about people stories, so many people we’d otherwise deem as ordinary day to day people in fact have been through the most amazing ordeals and happenings. All it takes is the time to listen.

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Where can everyone reading this interview keep up with your adventures?

I frequently update my Twitter and love interacting so following me @Moteleola_ would be best and my Soundcloud page: Moteleola

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Any final thoughts?

Thank you so much for this opportunity.  

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