Producer. A&R. Visionary. Vibe Curator. Those are all the words that I want people to think of when they think of Don Zero. Based out of Connecticut, he started producing when he was about 13 years old. Don was in the gracious draw of the straw, living in Miami, Florida surrounded by musical talent. He really got into music production after having a short conversation with the legendary Scott Storch. While in Miami, he was a part of various groups. Production and recording that lit the fire under him started the drive to produce full time. ‘This is only the beginning for Don Zero, the best is yet to come #ZeroMakeItDropBoy
Q: How did you get your producer name?
A: I started with the Zero from way back and really went back-and-forth coming up with the second half of the name. I feel like zero is the perfect balance between the negative and the positive. Back when I first started really getting into music production, I’ve always told people I want my music to be that place of escape. I want to have you feel that my music takes you to a place even for two or three minutes of your day, where all of your problems go away. Were you feel weightlessness. Were you feel a sense of zero gravity. So the zero really just stuck with me. The Don Zero part came from in Hispanic culture, they refer to all the OG‘s as the dons. Example, my grandfather. Don Angel. or Don Marco. Don Juan. etc etc. To be the Don is to be the top spot, the boss, the leader, so I want to translate that into this music business to be the Don of what I do. Don Zero.
Q: What was your first record placement ?
A: My first record placement, you can say was back in 2006 with a battle rapper name Richdolarz. He brought me into the world battle rap to where I was making a lot of the intro beats that the rappers come into before the battling in the URL and so on and also producing some records for their mixtapes as well.
Q: What is the biggest lesson you learned while working in the music industry?
A: The biggest lesson I learned while working in the music industry so far is that actions mean a lot more than words. In this industry a lot of people will tell you that they're going to do a lot of things for you or tell you what you want to hear and sweet talk to you into what you want to hear. relationships are everything. EVERYTHING. Keeping a strong Circle, and a great reputation in this industry is everything. A lot of your core value is based on your reputation and will take you exactly where you need to go if you keep it right.
Q: What inspired your name?
A: The person that inspired my name was my late grandfather that passed away a few years ago. As previously mentioned, in Hispanic culture you refer to the OGs as the Don. My grandfather's name was Angel so he was always referred as Don Angel. As you would hear like Don Juan, Don Marco, Don Jose, and so on and so forth. It was just a sign of respect to your elders so I carried that into the Don Zero name that I carry today
Q: What is your favorite record you placed and why?
A: My favorite record that I place does far was probably the one that I did with Futuristic My favorite record that I placed does far was probably the one that I did with Futuristic and Michael Minelli called Aint Saying off there I Know What You're Thinking collaborative album. The reason of my favorite one is because that happen by a stroke of luck. Mike just so happen to be in the studio with Futuristic. I was originally making beats just for Mike and sent him a demo record. He just so happen to play it loudly for Futuristic To hear it and Futuristic loved the record. So much so that it became one of the leading singles on their album.
Q: Where are you from, and how did it mold you into the person you are today ?
A: I was born in Hartford Connecticut. But I also lived in Miami Florida for a substantial amount of time as well as a teenager. It molded me into the person that I am today because I've gotten to experience multiple cultural differences which allowed me to take a little bit from every culture and create who I am now. Living in the bottom of the map and the northern part of the map I've gotten the best of both worlds when I came to Miami bounce house music, bass music, And so much of the eccentric Miami vibe. But I also got to experience this up north vibe with the New York sound, and really got to figure out a way how to merge the two cultures and create my sound.
Q: What is your favorite DAW and your favorite plug in to use? Also why?
A: I go back-and-forth between logic pro X, and FL studio. It depends what type of music that I am making because I feel each one of those are great in different genres. I make a lot of R&B music and pop music in logic pro X and I make a lot of rap and trap and reggaeton and hip-hop in FL studio. My favorite plug-in to use is probably RC 20. I know it's kind of out-of-the-box, but for the sound that I do, that's very lo-fi, super fat spacious pads and a very seemingly mid range heavy sound. RC 20 really allows me to dig deep into that center field Of range and give my sound what it needs to be that vibe.
Q: What makes you a hot producer?
A: What makes me a hot producer I believe is the fact that I'm so knowledgeable in a dozen different genres that I can make anything at well. I have records that can be placed with anyone from Ed Sheeran, Lil baby, Future, El Alfa, Bad Bunny to Jhene Aiko and SZA. I have train myself to be a musical Chameleon. My big strengths are R&B and Spanish music. But at any given notice. I can dig deep into a personal genre and make anything you need. #ZeroMakeItDropBoy
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