Interview with Aonenine & Kid Snow
It’s no secret that Aonenine has been keeping himself busy during the lockdown, 2020 saw the release of not one, not two, but three projects. It’s clear that the ‘Mystery Man’ used the global pandemic as a moment to apply pressure to the rest of the underground scene. The Batman & Robin in their respective fields, Kid Snow is habitually on hand to provide production needs, engineering qualities, and management tendencies. It’s refreshing to see how joining forces has encouraged the duo to operate in a way that accommodates the current climate of the industry. I was fortunate enough to chop it up with both of them to find out more.
Jdk: Easy mandem, I hope life is treating you well. What’s Good?
A: Yo what’s going on my guy! I’m as good as can be, in this lockdown, pandemic, panoramic lol.
C: What’s good bro!
Jdk: What’s the background story as to how you both met?
A: We actually met through a mutual friend, DuragTash. They had already been chopping it up, working on some music and getting it together. Tash recommended me to work with Cam and his beats were vibezing still. I can’t say a specific moment when we started working together but thats basically how it boomed.
Jdk: It’s amazing to see and hear how you have developed a distinctive sound for yourself, do you consciously think about how you’re going to evolve in your music?
A: Sometimes. That’s why I take hella breaks just to refresh everything. In terms of my stuff being distinctive, I dont really think about that a lot - I just really be vibezing with certain people and artists who I want to make music with.
Jdk: In addition to producing/engineering, what made you want to get involved with behind-the-scenes roles such as management and artist development?
C: Initially I had a session with Frazer, who I also manage now and I had been following him since he started releasing on DSPs. After the session I thought about how I could work with him in order for people to take him more seriously. With A1 it came naturally as he taught me so much, and I wouldn’t be in this position sonically if it wasn’t for him. Also, my degree supports everything too so it all goes hand in hand.
Jdk: In such a competitive industry, how do you plan to separate yourselves differently from the rest?
A: I’m already on a good path with my sound being so distinctive. So, my focus is how to play the game, if you get me? Honestly I believe i’m nothing like the rest but thats my opinion. Let’s say if the UK had a tree of musicians, some are on the same tree as me but there is a variety of separate branches. And I have my own branch.
C: Sonically, Aone is on the path to having his own sound. His beat selection and voice will differentiate him more and more as he grows.
Jdk: Can you talk me through some of the essentials that keep you both locked in during a studio session?
A: Sprite, skittles, and weed. Preferably sativa. Or maybe a coke, juice or anything sweet. When i’m high I have a sugar rush and the sweets liven me up, keep me going. I’m not an alcohol guy really, maybe a ginger beer.
C: As long as we have enough to bounce off each other. I’m not an energy drink kind of guy, AOne loves his sweets. I might get a bit drunk - but I just wanna be able to concentrate.
Jdk: How has the pandemic effected your workflow? (This could be for the better or worse.)
A: The first lockdown was cool. My sleeping pattern was messed up, Cam would be sending me beats and I was recording tunes back to back, daily. I guess it sped up the completion of the ‘Gangways’ project, as the majority was recorded during the first lockdown. The fact that lockdown had me stuck at home, creatively it was messing me up heavy. It got to a point where I hadn’t recorded or wrote anything for a month or two. The pandemic is fluctuating the situation really, of course I would rather it not be there. But, such is life, lol.
C: I’ve been furloughed so ive had a lot more time. Uni disrupts the workflow a little, and I’ve had a lot more engineering clients I guess.
Jdk: If it wasn’t for music, what would you both see yourselves doing instead?
A: Absolutely nothing bro. When I first started college they wouldn’t let me enrol because of my English grades, I thought fuck it, let me get involved with carpenting. So maybe i’d be a carpenter.
C: I would complete my degree and probably look at becoming a lawyer.
Jdk: Last year was really busy for you both, and with many of us anticipating your next moves, what should we be expecting in 2021?
A: I don’t wanna speak ahead of myself but i’ve got big plans, a lot of videos! Hopefully lockdown stops soon, then it’s a pattern.
C: Hopefully we can get some shows back on. we have a massive backlog of music so yeah, videos to accompany would be sick. Maybe some brand partnerships. Oh yeah and our own studio!