Teacee: First off I would like to thank you for taking time out of your day to allowing the Maschine Heads Community into your personal zone.

Justin: No doubt!  My pleasure homie.  I really enjoy what you guys are doing.

Teacee: How did you get into the art of making music?

Justin:  Well, I’ve always been interested in music since I can remember.  My entire family is obsessed with it.  My dad used to quiz me with music on the radio and ask me to name the artist.  Even if I was wrong he’d say, “Ah!  Good guess, Al Green does sound familiar to Wilson Pickett.”  My Grandmother was a jazz singer. I used to sit with my her and try to play piano.  The main thing that really set me off though was going to my local high school drumline rehearsals when I was a kid.  My brother was in the marching band and my mom sewed flags for the colorguard.  I’d have to go to the school with her and shit, I wasn’t gonna watch some girls twirling flags when there was room full of drums being pounded on!  So that’s what inspired me to be a musician.  After that it was on!

Teacee: What was your first piece of Hardware?  (Akai Mpc, Turntables, etc)

Justin: Damn!  I think a Gemini phrase sampler of my brothers?  It was like a 12 second joint with NO trim at all.  You had to start the sampler dead on, haha.  I remember me and my bro trying for hours to get a sample to loop without clipping.  Kids these days don’t realize how lucky they have it!

Teacee: How Long did it take you learn how to control or  master the MPC?

Justin: A LONG TIME!  Unfortunately, I didn’t really know anybody around me that had an MPC before I did.  I had to learn a lot via trial and error.  God, the 2000XL manual was horrible!  I think I read that shit like 3 times before I even made a beat.  I used to make beats and only save the sounds.  I didn’t even realize that I could save the programs.  I’d have a notebook and write down all of the tweaks I did to a sound and have to redo it each time I loaded the beat again, haha!  After using it for several years and just learning little tidbits on literally a weekly basis, I got to be really dope with it.  Once I started doing shows, I began talking to people in the Charlotte Hip-hop scene about it too.  There was a dj crew called the Disorientalists and the local beat legend, the MIGHTY DR (of The Others) who all really inspired me to get even deeper into the MPC.

Teacee: I read some of the comments that some youtube users had asked you regarding the Akai Mpc vs the Native Instruments Maschine, one of your replies were “The Maschine vs MPC question is a tough one to say. I really think it depends on how long you’ve been rocking the MP. I don’t really use the MPC anymore, so maybe my actions speak louder on that one.” Mr Invisible on Youtube” So the big question of is today is, do you prefer the Maschine vs using the Mpc, and if so why is that

Justin: Overall, the Maschine is the winner.  MPCs are great for a lot of things but primarily it’s the historic sound that gives them their place.  Nothing SOUNDS like an MPC.  I would never get rid of mine and I still want to get more of them.  In every other aspect, the Maschine wins.  I love the workflow of the pattern/scene combination.  I love the library of sounds and the ability to tag however I want.  I love how portable it is.  l remember the first time I was in the airport for a layover and I had it. I started  working on a routine right there.  It was epic. Now that the 1.6 update is ready and VSTs are incorporated, it’s over.

Teacee: What genre would you say your music is if any? Is there any artists, producers or beat makers that inspire you?

Justin: Progressive/Old School Hip-hop. I know it sounds like an oxymoron – both progressive and old school, but that sums it up nicely.  I mean, we incorporate all the old school elements plus we use modern techniques and push the envelope.  In it’s essence, it’s true to the fundamentals of old school fast rap.  As far as influences, I’m pretty eclectic.  I mean I listen to Hip-hop, Metal, Jazz, Funk, Avant-garde, Ambient and all kinds of other shit.  I’m on Last.fm so you can add me there and see what I’m currently bumping at anytime!  (last.fm/user/JustinAswell)  Some producers I am definitely feeling now are Mumbles, Bonobo, Fourtet, Afta-1 and the Prunes.

Teacee: Where do you think music is headed?  For example, you have very few bands linke they did back in the  70′s and 80′.

Justin: That’s a question!  I honestly have no idea other than what Mr. Invisible is doing.  I hope that we’re ahead of the curve with our direction right now.

Teacee: Where do you see your self in 5 years?

Justin: I wouldn’t be surprised if I was touring the world and banging the pads.  I also wouldn’t be surprised if I was in the studio working on a new record.

Teacee: What advise would you give to the new generation of beatmaker/producers/ dj’s?

Justin: Surround yourself with greatness.  Even if you’re in the boonies, get online and study greatness.  You can watch videos of the pros doing exactly what you’re trying to do.  Watch and learn.  If you’re able to study privately with someone, do it.  I teach production privately and I wouldn’t be surprised if there was someone near you that did also.  At the moment I’d also say read “The Big Payback” and “Check the Technique”.  I just finished both of them and they’re incredibly inspiring to someone trying to making in the music industry.

Teacee: Well we appreciate. and thank you for your time, for allowing us know more about you and your music, and really thank you for your feedback as well. Please let the readers know how to keep up with the latest news and how and where they can see you live.

Justin: No doubt!  For all info on Mr. Invisible go to www.mrinvisible.net and make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel!