THRPY first landed on my radar with ‘Hot Box’ in 2016. The Slow Roast release was one of my favorite tracks of the year and still slaps to this today. Since then, THRPY has continued to impress with stellar collabs alongside DECAP, DJ Ride, L*O*J and more. We had also had the pleasure of premiering his brain-bending bass epic ‘BrainDrops’ last year. If that wasn’t enough, the talented producer is the mind behind Below The Surface, a record label that has been helping to define the sound of the underground for the past two and a half years. A friend and fan of FUXWITHIT, it’s overdue for us to connect with THRPY for an exclusive Guest Mix and interview. The mix is a true showcase of his diverse talents. It’s 30+ minutes of all his own productions and is packed with unreleased heaters. If you’ve been wondering what to expect from THRPY in 2019, this is your answer. As for the interview, we discuss what drives him to create, his dreams, Below The Surface and more. Check it out below.
What was your goal in putting this mix together?
I absolutely love FUXWITHIT and when I was asked to do a mix I was stoked. Traditionally I would record a mix of some originals and tracks from my labels and friends. For this mix I decided on doing something I’ve never done before. I’ve included only original tracks, mostly unreleased and since my inspiration has been taking me all over the place creatively I’ve just focused on showcasing my new stuff instead of making a seamless mix.
I was a b-boy and competed professionally which eventually guided my love for music and beats.
What drives you to make music?
Well my whole life I’ve looked for creative outlets. From a young kid I was a b-boy and competed professionally which eventually guided my love for music and beats. I produced mostly hip-hop for a number of years while also going to raves and dancing. As my hobby got more serious I started to blend sounds that inspired me. Now I guess my sound is an EDM/hip-hop potpourri.
Are you able to share any production tips or secrets related to how you make your tracks so banging?
Yes, I’ve learned a lot from my peers. One thing focusing on making your drums knock. One big tip is learning to use sidechaining, compression and a soft clipper.
There’s a ton of unreleased tunes in the mix. What are your release plans for 2019?
My goal this year is mainly growing my labels Above and Below The Surface. I’d like to create an outlet for other amazing underground producers to shine and succeed. As for my music I’ve been creating so much and my goal is to drop one track per month focusing heavily on Spotify. I’d love to play more shows/festivals but I’m currently working full-time as well to afford living in the Bay area!
I dream about growing a brand that can help others. Not only musicians but also friends that I know have talent and could be amazing in business.
You recently tweeted, “Someone dreams of having the life that you consider depressing.” What do you dream about?
I dream about growing a brand that can help others. Not only musicians but also friends that I know have talent and could be amazing in business. I’d love to bring up the underground community and share forward thinking and innovative sounds. I also dream of being successful doing what I am passionate about such as producing music and playing live. Sometimes when I post or tweet things like that they are also messages for myself to remember. I have had a rough past and sometimes depression gets me down but I have to remind myself that someone out there is content with having worse. It’s all about your metric for understanding what happiness is. A great book is “The subtle art of not giving a fuck”. It’s a daily challenge and constant practice for me.
What do you do for fun outside of music?
I love to skate, snowboard, hang with my friends and my dog. I work a million hours so I really try to enjoy my time off. Sometimes a little too much hehe.
How did Below the Surface come together? Why did you feel it needed to exist?
As I started getting more into EDM I noticed that I was really fond of some genres more than others. I found labels such as Rauthentic and Daruma and they were huge inspirations. I met a few people in the SoundCloud repost game and they sort of showed me the ropes. They gave me some of my first opportunities to grow fast and build a label.
How has it evolved over time?
At first I started a whole network with a variety of genres and channels. I kinda bit off more than I could chew. Below The Surface used to be called hella trap. After I got established a friend needed some help and I was in the position to buy a growing label off him, which later became Above The Surface which is curated by soulecist. After years of trial and error I figured out exactly what I wanted to promote and what community I want to build.
You recently launched The Surface Agency. Can you tell us a little bit about it and what you guys have in store?
I met a really great friend named Harley and at first he was helping manage my THRPY bookings. After our friendship grew and I recognized many of his talents we had the idea to merge our businesses and come together to create an agency. I like to refer to it as a family to ensure that talented artists are getting what they deserve and are not taken advantage of. Our Roster can be found at aboveandbelow.co
I really hope I can create some inspiration and happiness for some people out there in the world.
What are you most excited about in 2019?
This year we have taken the biggest leap in the brand aboveandbelow.co and we have many new things to share such as, more sound packs, contests, new merch, festival booths and of course lots of amazing music. As for THRPY, I just can’t wait to share all this music I’ve been making. I really hope I can create some inspiration and happiness for some people out there in the world.
Tracklist
THRPY – ID
THRPY – ID
THRPY – ID
THRPY x DECAP – what the pluck?
Lox Chatterbox – Breath it out (prod. THRPY)
THRPY x Jimmy wit n h – ID
THRPY x XANUBIS – ID
L*o*J x THRPY – Flex
L*o*J x THRPY – All this
THRPY – ID
THRPY – ID Jalaya – Resurrection (THRPY Remix)
Aziz The Shake – Hotbox (prod. DECAP. TEEKO, THRPY)
