Besides being recognized as Canada’s largest indoor music festival, the 8th Annual Contact Winter Music Festival is certainly something special for British Columbia. With Fisher, Rezz, Major Lazer and more called on to headline the festival, the real beauty is in the diverse lineup Blueprint has been delivering since 2012. As thousands of attendees made their way to the massive BC Place Stadium, you could tell from the start that many were about to completely lose it when acts such as Feed Me, Destructo and DROELOE hit the stage. The main stage was truly mesmerizing as top notch visual production and groovy house music took full control of attendees. However, what really stood out to me is the growing presence of trap and bass enthusiasts in Vancouver as bass connoisseurs Wuki, Graves and Wooli threw down explosive sets. With ground-breaking bass-lines and innovative frequencies blasting throughout the upper stadium, these producers introduced a new era of trap and bass music to the festival. Besides, if I did not mention the Fvded Stage was heating up both in terms of music and temperature I would be lying.
As the night continued to flow with experimental sounds both old classics and new, attendees were aware that those craving an energetic set to go hard to would be driven by the one and only Nitti Gritti. If there is one producer who can absorb all the energy on the dance floor and fire out even more, it is this hard-hitting producer. After absolutely smashing his set with laughter and smiles seen across the stage, FUXWITHIT had the pleasure of catching up with the man himself to dig a little deeper into his personality, recent alias, and production style.
Shot by @_brandonartis
Having a quite impressive musical background growing up playing the drums and teaching yourself the guitar, what was the first song you heard that really inspired you to try producing music?
Probably a Skrillex song like My Name Is Skrillex EP and even some earlier ones. I also listened to a good amount of house music that I honestly don’t even remember all of them, but Sander Van Doorn and deadmau5 for sure. When I did listen to Skrillex, I was like woah I want to try this because it was something different. I also tried house music around 2010 which was popular in that era and really drove me to try producing as well.
Discipline is challenging to me because its not like you want to be unhealthy, eat McDonald’s and get drunk every night but it more just happens because you are thrown into it.
Would you every incorporate a live drum set performance in the future?
Definitely, but it takes time. I wanted to do the whole Illenium and Said The Sky type performance, but in my own way. They have it more melodic, when I want to do it even heavier with rock and dubstep. Possibly somewhere in between Illenium, Sullivan King and Ookay. I already play everything in my sets so I definitely want to incorporate the live stuff with that and not change that.
Based on your tour life which included throwing down in Asia last month, what would you say is one of the hardest challenges being on the road so far?
I mean you are just tired and want to eat shitty stuff (laughing). Also trying to work out, be healthy and not get trashed every night. Discipline is challenging to me because it is not like you want to be unhealthy, eat McDonald’s and get drunk every night but it more just happens because you are thrown into it. It is not like you trying to. You have to watch out and control with yourself. Also obviously missing my family.
I just make anything I like even if it is a dead genre. Like if trap is not really popping right now there are still people out there killing it.
In the past you mentioned melodic dubstep died, do you currently see any other genres starting to go down the same path?
That one ironically came back. It is funny because when I started making it, I was working with Seven Lions who was one of my idols. Then he stopped doing it and produced house instead, so I ended up trying some heavy Nitti Gritti trap stuff. Then melodic dubstep came back and you can’t really count anything else. I just make anything I like even if it is a dead genre. Like if trap is not really popping right now there are still people out there killing it. My thing is that if a song makes a crowd go wild then that is definitely what I like.
Crafting all different genres of music which range from the festival anthem ‘Lights,’ to a trap signature on ‘Ballin’ which is one of my personal favorites, it is clear that experimental production is definitely a passion of yours. With your recent collaboration with FuntCase on ‘To Death’ are you able to dissect and break down how you made this hard-hitting track?
Oh hell yeah (Laughing).
I had a demo of the first drop and I was trying to do something cool with it. There was a song by Ghastly and Getter called ‘666.’ Where it like breaks with a disco type sound. Super cool ravey stuff (humming the sound). So it is like house, but I tried to make it a more dubstep influenced sound. I think I even had the drop from another project and I was like oh this works then put it together. I sent it to a couple of homies and one of them was FuntCase. He was like fuck yeah bro and he sent me back the second drop and killed it. It is fire man.
When you write for other people you have to do it like them. I would be singing like Cardi B just to place it.
After learning about your alter ego Rebekah who clearly loves being pampered by Nitti Gritti. I was curious if Rekebah’s vocals will be used on a future track anytime soon?
Yeah! The song I made called ‘4 On The Floor’ was like a Rebekah inspired, super corny and basic white bitch sounding. I do it out of fun and not to be hateful at all. It is just so fun for me (laughing).
I love it. Yeah, you also mentioned producing for Cardi B back in the day and trying to sound like a girl to get in the zone.
Yea for sure (laughing). When you write for other people you have to do it like them. I would be singing like Cardi B just to place it. Another one I did was with Latin producers and I don’t speak any Spanish. I would fake speak Spanish and write it. I was like I don’t even know what I am saying, but just do something on top of it. Every good writer I know mumbles stuff until they get it. Fix the words and it clicks.
Have you made any more aliases besides Ricky Mears and Nitti Gritti?
Yes, called SIDEPIECE. It’s me and Party Favor. A house duo. The song is doing pretty well on Spotify. It is called ‘On My Mind’ with Diplo and I actually just played it in my set. (Singing the tune). We just released that. It is a very tech house tune and it’s me and Party Favor’s kind of Chris Lake and Fisher thing. We both send each other a bunch of house music and go from there!
2019 has been a solid year for you, from collaborating with several artists such as Shaq and Dillon Francis, to winning a Latin Grammy Award on ‘200 MPH’ with Bad Bunny and Diplo. What was the first initial reaction to winning the Grammy? Any post-celebrations you can share with us?
I was in Asia and going to Singapore. We were on the plane sitting down and it was Shndo who was like yo did you see this? It was that Bad Bunny album and I was like oh shit that is my first one. I don’t get a Grammy but it was actually the entire album which won it. To me it counts. I am going for one completely by myself, but I am very happy about it!
When I thought something sounded good I would take it. It was kinda cool because I didn’t have stuff shoved down my face. In the U.S you get things shoved down your face.
Growing up in Haiti and having the opportunity to learn about different cultures and lifestyles is definitely an eye opening experience. Do you ever see yourself drawing from your childhood experiences when producing music?
Yeah I think just because it was so different than having an American background. There wasn’t much pop culture so it was more whatever I could find on Zippyshare and LimeWire. When I thought something sounded good I would take it. It was kinda cool because I didn’t have stuff shoved down my face. In the U.S you get things shoved down your face. For example you like Brittany Spears or Ariana Grande because you have to. It was cool to be separated from it and be randomly discovered. I love Slipknot and then I got into hip hop because I liked it and no one told me to. It is also funny because people will be like do you know Sponge Bob and I would be like yeah I know it, but I never grew up with cable.
It is nice to have your numbers up on Instagram, but when you show up to a show and people are physically there it is another level to me. When someone comes to my show and does something with me or for me it is an in-depth feeling. Those people become your biggest fans.
You have shown to your fan base that anything is possible if you are determined and put your mind to it. By hosting several tours with some of your best friends, you recently announced the ‘Roshambo’ Tour with your friend Wuki next year. What can your fans expect for these tour dates around the globe?
Yeah our Roshambo EP is about to come out too. It is going to be super fun because he is honestly a good friend. We are just going to hangout and do some b2b’s. Play the Roshambo EP on stage, keep the drinks flowing and rage. Give fans drinks as well.
Yeah, I saw on your Instagram you posted if anyone wears an Ugly Christmas Sweater to your show you will pour them a shot. You are always trying to build engagement with your fans which is super cool.
It is good engagement for sure, but I definitely like real life connections. It is nice to have your numbers up on Instagram, but when you show up to a show and people are physically there it is another level to me. When someone comes to my show and does something with me or for me it’s an in-depth feeling. Then you are like wow I had a moment. Those people become your biggest fans.
Totally agree man. With 2020 around the corner, are there any collaborations the books you can share with us?
I am working on a compilation of 12-15 songs all on one thing. Almost like a mix-ape and a video for all of it. It will be short, but a 10-15 minute video and very organic.
To end things off! With a passion for snowboarding, where is your dream country to hit the slopes? Have you been there yet?
Yeah. I really like Vancouver. That is why we are staying here a few extra days. We are going to hit up Whistler, Grouse, Cypress. I don’t ski, but when I get older I am definitely going to learn. The way I see it is older people skiing because it is safer. But with snowboarding you are always trying to do crazy shit.
Prepare yourself for madness and snag your tickets for the ‘Roshambo’ Tour here. Full Tour dates below.
