With almost 10 years of musical career behind him, he is behind great albums such as ‘Reinsertado’ by Morad or ‘La Joia’ by Bad Gyal.
SHB began to break into the music industry in 2015, at the age of 18, in an attempt to get a foothold in the hip-hop scene, one of his main inspirations. Today, almost a decade later, he has already worked with some of the most acclaimed names in the genre across Europe and Latin America, earning dozens of gold and platinum records.
Among the national artists with whom he has worked hand in hand during this time we find Morad, Beny Jr, Bad Gyal or Dellafuente, among many others, while on the international level he has produced tracks for Eladio Carrión, Mora, Ozuna, Jul, Gazo, Dei V or Young Cister.
Today, he continues to focus his career on the creation of urban sounds where his distinctive touches of hip-hop, afro and reggaeton stand out; and, at the request of the artists themselves, he is getting involved in the executive production of projects, a fundamental link when it comes to shaping the final album.
Now, we chat with him about his beginnings, his unique and personal approach, the role of the producer in the music industry and his most acclaimed projects.
HIGHXTAR (H) – How did you get started in the world of music?
SHB (SHB) – I started around 2015, when I began to design the covers of my friends’ songs that were sung. I had always had a special interest in music but I honestly couldn’t see myself singing. So I started researching what path I could choose in the industry and one day I looked into how to make instrumentals. That’s when it all really started.
At first I saw it simply as a hobby, it entertained me and I enjoyed it. But little by little I began to dedicate more hours to it and I began to focus my routine and my general life on it, to the point where it became my profession.
(H) – Do you consider training to be fundamental?
(SHB) – Yes, and nowadays I think it’s easy to have all the information you need to be self-taught. Although I also believe that there are many other factors that go beyond training, such as the natural musical instinct.
(H) – At what point did you realise that you wanted to go into music production?
(SHB) – I have always been very curious about music and everything that surrounds it. In my case, when I was little there was nothing around me that was related to it and, however, over the years that interest never stopped growing. Not to say that, like many children, I also went through the phase of wanting to be a DJ.
(H) – Making a living from your passion is something that very few people can boast. When did you realise that you could do it?
(SHB) – It is a complicated process because the moment you start to blur the line that defines what is a hobby from what becomes a professional job, everything changes. You have to be prepared and not take it lightly, maintain professionalism at all times and make a strong commitment to it.
I became aware that I could start making a living from this passion in 2017, when I had already been creating music for two years. But I really couldn’t do it 100% until 3 or 4 years ago, when everything started to take shape and seriousness and I was involved in more important projects that required all my effort and dedication.
(H) –The figure of the music producer is becoming more and more important in the music scene. How do you see it from the inside?
(SHB) – CI think there is still a long way to go. Many people don’t really understand what our role is, or they confuse it with other concepts that have nothing to do with it. However, we are better than ever, at least in Spain. We have more and more recognition and respect, and we are given the importance we really deserve.
(H) – What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?
(SHB) – Being able to be the executive producer of an album. It’s a job I wasn’t that familiar with and it requires a lot of commitment, a lot of responsibility and a lot of teamwork. You need all the parts to be aligned in order to be the bridge between the project and all the people working on it: other producers, beatmakers, recording, mixing and mastering engineers, other artists and their teams… and a long etcetera). You have to keep track of each and every little part that makes up an album, and that requires the highest level of thoroughness.
(H) – Working in a team is not always easy… How do you manage this part?
(SHB) – This is a rather complicated issue, as each person in the team has his or her point of view and we all want to be heard and taken into account, obviously. But it is necessary to know how to listen and understand everything from a different approach, to understand your position or mission in the project, to know how to communicate your ideas well and not to abuse the trust you have with the other people you are working with.
(H) – What is the work you are most proud of?
(SHB) – ‘Reinsertado’ by Morad. It was a highly anticipated album by the public and therefore there was a lot of pressure on top of that because you want everything to be perfect and there is no room for any kind of mistake.
Being part of this project and shaping it hand in hand with Morad, as well as being the executive producer and co-producer of many of the songs that make it up is something that made me (and continues to make me day by day) very happy.
It was recently a year since its release and to see that it has gone Gold in Spain (not counting that many solo songs had already gone Gold and/or Platinum both here and in France) as well as having achieved more than 450 million plays on Spotify (not counting other platforms) is something that can’t be explained. My head explodes.
(H) – What is it like working with you?
(SHB) – Most days I usually work from home, either on my own or through Discord with other friends, where we meet and brainstorm together in order to carry out the creative process.
When I’m in the studio I usually arrive first, I like to have everything under control and organised so that when the artist arrives there are no distractions and we can focus on that day’s session. When it comes to creating, it’s all very relative as each artist works in a different way, but the most common thing is to first listen to the idea that the artist brings so that we can give it shape and make it a reality.
Many artists like to arrive and have a folder full of beats to start recording from the very first moment; others like to start from scratch from the same idea in common; others listen to your idea and from there continue it between the two of you…. It depends a lot.
(H) – Any anecdotes you can tell us?
(SHB) – I have a very nice memory of the day we recorded the song ‘Se Grita’ with Jul here in Barcelona. I had already worked with him previously online, but obviously it’s not the same as doing it in person. Sharing that time in the studio was a completely different experience. I remember that the first thing he did was to take my computer, open the FL and start making a beat. Also, I was really surprised by the way he recorded the vocals.
Jul is amazing and it was very exciting to be able to create such a great song with him. I remember when my older brother used to play me his songs when I was little, it was crazy!
(H) – Your work with Morad is not only limited to the studio, but you also accompany him on the shows. What do you enjoy most about the live shows?
(SHB) – I really enjoy seeing how this part of the project has grown. Being aware of where we came from and where we are now is really exciting and motivating for me. It’s also very comforting to be able to see how people experience the songs, the journeys, meeting other fellow musicians and making lifelong friends, not to mention all the adventures that all of us in the team go on.
(H) – Which artist would you like to collaborate with?
(SHB) – Wow, I couldn’t pick just one. I would say Travis Scott, Rema, Rosalia, Ice Spice, Playboi Carti, Yeat, Young Nudy, Myke Towers, Bad Bunny, Feid, Cris Mj, C. Tangana, Nemzzz, Brent Faiyaz…. The list is almost endless. There are so many artists I like and I feel I could bring something interesting to each of them.
(H) – Which other producer would you like to work with?
(SHB) – There are many too. At a glance I could say El Guincho, Sky Rompiendo, London, Mag, Tainy, BNYX, Metro Boomin, Southside…. I’ve worked indirectly with some of them as a result of participating in the ‘La Joia’ album with Bad Gyal, but I’d like to be able to do it in a more direct way and learn from them while sharing visions with each other.
(H) – Would you like to try another genre of music that moves away from urban?
(SHB) – Yes, lately I’ve been trying to do sessions with artists that don’t fit so much with the music I’ve been doing so far. I think it’s very important to get out of your ‘comfort zone’ and explore other genres because it forces you to soak up new sounds and knowledge that you can then apply to your work and enrich your sound.
(H) – Can you tell us what projects you are focusing on right now?
(SHB) – So far what I can tell you is that these last few months I’ve been working on the latest releases by Morad and Beny Jr, and also on a couple of tracks from the new RVFV album. Also, as I mentioned before, I’m trying to work with smaller artists and others who are different from me and my sound. Little by little.
(H) – Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?
(SHB) – To be honest, I would love to be at a point where I can help other smaller producers by giving them the tools that I lacked at the time. I would also like to be able to continue to see the projects that I am part of grow more and more.
(H) – What would you say to someone who is just starting out?
(SHB) – That he must be willing to give up a lot of things in order to focus 100% on music. Everything is based on constant effort, discipline, respect and sincerity.
(H) – And finally… A song you can’t stop listening to right now?
(SHB) – Cheb Bello – Manich Kima Bakri
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