53 - Sunrise Nowhere

Author

Giannis Kampiotis
February 21, 2023

Hello music people 👋

Today in the spotlight, Sunrise Nowhere

Coming from England, he values spaces for creativity. He has had a journey in music production and shares nuggets of wisdom while telling his story 🎶

Read Time: 6 minutes 📰

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Interview

Who are you and what is your relationship with music?

My name is Jurrell Wood, mostly known as Sunrise Nowhere in local hip-hop circles.

I'm originally from Derby in the Midlands of England, now living in Sheffield, a much nicer greener place to be a little further north, where inspiration is far easier to come by. I started out MC'ing and producing grime instrumentals (mostly with FL Studio) for myself and local MC's in around 2005. After studying audio and recording at Confetti Institute Nottingham I came to re-evaluate my relationship with music and have since tried to collaborate and produce as diversely as possible. I grew up obsessed with Michael Jackson and was raised on a mix of obscure eclectic British stuff, acid house and synth pop classics, all of which have worked their way into my synth heavy, 70's Motown infused aesthetic tastes.

I make most of my money from either mixing vocals or leasing instrumentals, with help from the myriad day jobs that I have had in recent years.

Which piece of equipment in your studio is essential to your production process?

I'd love to say that I had something super fancy that is incredibly rare, but ultimately the MPC 2500 will win every time. It has been with me through a lot of wacky situations and just works when and how you need it to. It's a no frills classic.

What is the most budget-friendly piece of studio gear that gave you the most results?

I was once given a pair of Shure Brothers Gooseneck mics which I keep under my Pianet to record shakers and things that might benefit from a mid heavy vintage sounding stereo recording. They get used surprisingly regularly.

Walk us through your process for creating and producing music.

I almost always begin with a drum track on the pads. Then I like to mess with some chords and/or melody from a piano sound or synth. Other times I might start by chopping a sample or writing a few synth lines that combine to create some kind of harmony or interesting noise.

Once I'm beyond a rhythmic skeleton, I'll often decide whether or not I intend to get a vocal on the song and if not I'll layer, save it, come back another day and keep adding and removing layers until it comes together in a way that works.

What is a production technique that you always come back to?

I like to write two drum lines, delay one by around and 8th note and then filter, distort and/or modulate the delayed one heavily and have a side-chain compressor set up to make it duck when the main kick hits.

Great for frantic, busy drum-lines.

How would you explain your style?

My style is an eclectic mix of 70's Motown, Grungy 80's alt-rock and synth pop and the many genres that loosely conform to the hip hop aesthetic.

As a music producer or an artist what is a big challenge for you?

My biggest struggle has always been getting a space that feels pregnant with creative potential.

Much more important than gear I find, when a space feels right then I can pour out a huge amount of songs in a short space of time. Conversely, if a space is too transitory or clinical feeling then producing anything with clear direction can be difficult.

I find that a combination of plants and easy access to any gear that I may want to use often fuels my ability to make the most of a space.

Also, get out of the room that you produce in and walk around somewhere pretty or have a meaningful conversation, it works wonders.

Has building a hardware setup changed your perspective on music or life in general?

I have learned undeniably that quality is better than quantity and that a well made tool is worth its weight in gold.

Also, have a little something that you can produce music with while you are outside the studio.

What’s your one tip on creativity?

Don't judge yourself or others against an arbitrary metric.

A book, movie, article, or album that has inspired you?

The Gene Wilder Willy Wonka.

Incredible performance, slightly terrifying and as mad as it is captivating.

Where can people find more of your music and connect with you online?

In Case You Missed It

For jams, knob-twists and pad hitting videos go to G.A.S. Instagram

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