Exclusive Interview
Feb 28, 2025
Produced by: Rudy Manager
Edited by: Rudy Manager & Andrej Aroch
Based1 – “Make music because you love it, and everything else will fall into place”
In this exclusive conversation with Studio Talks, we sit down with Based1, a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum record producer from Arkansas. Known for his work with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including Bad Bunny, Lil Skies, Yeat, and many more, Based1 has carved out a unique space in the industry with his innovative sound and relentless work ethic. In this interview, he shares how he first got into music, the process behind his standout productions, the lessons he’s learned, and his vision for the future, while also offering valuable advice for up-and-coming producers. This interview was conducted via video call by Rudy Manager on February 18, 2025.
Can you share how you first got interested in music and what led to your transition into music production?
I’ve always been around music my whole life. My mom and grandma both played piano while I was growing up, so music was naturally always around me. Being in church also influenced me. I started taking piano lessons at a super young age—probably five or six years old. I took lessons for a while, but I didn’t enjoy reading sheet music, so I gave it up quickly. I only stuck with it for a few years.
But I was still interested in music. I remember my neighbor had a drum set, and I could hear him from outside my house. When I was eight, I'd be outside playing basketball or whatever, and I could hear him drumming—it was so intriguing to me. I was dying to learn how to play drums. But I didn’t have a drum set, so I couldn’t just start playing. So I went online to websites with digital drum kits, playing along with music in the background—almost like using a MIDI keyboard on my computer to mimic drumming.
I kept experimenting, and eventually, while messing around on the computer, I discovered LMMS, which not many people know about. It’s a very basic DAW, kind of like a beginner version of FL Studio—maybe, I’m not sure. I downloaded it one day and started experimenting. A few years later, I came back to it and discovered FL Studio. Since then, I just kept working, kept making beats, and now here we are.
From a creative standpoint, how did you improve your music from when you first started producing to landing your first placement?
When it came to improving my craft, I was still early in my career when I landed my first placement, so I had a lot left to learn. But honestly, it was all about experimenting, exploring new sounds, and listening to new music.
I’d discover new artists, producers, or sounds I hadn’t heard before and try creating something in that style. I’d experiment with different bounces in my beats, new scales, and melody techniques—just exploring new sounds in general. Ultimately, it all comes down to experimenting and making music simply because you enjoy it.
It wasn’t about sitting down to learn one specific thing—I was just having fun making music, trying new things, and over time, that naturally expanded my creative toolkit.
Did you have any early influences or inspirations that you looked up to?
A lot of my early inspirations came from the era I grew up in—the rise of the SoundCloud era. Artists like XXXTentacion, Lil Uzi Vert, and Future were major influences for me—along with the producers behind their music.
Metro Boomin was a big influence, along with TM88 and the whole 808 Mafia. That’s who I was listening to—the beats I heard on those songs were exactly the kind of music I wanted to learn to make.
What is your creative process like? How do you typically find inspiration for your music?
My process is always different, but it usually starts with a spark. Whether I’m at the gym and hear a crazy drum bounce or a sample I could use, or someone sends me a melody that instantly sparks an idea—something just clicks.
Sometimes, I’ll be messing around on my MIDI keyboard and come up with a top line or chord progression that I want to build on. I feel like a sponge, always taking in music and looking for new things to hear and learn. When that spark hits, I instantly know what I want to do and where to take the idea.
It’s hard to put into words, but as soon as I hear it, I just know.
When you open your digital audio workstation, how do you usually begin?
It depends on the beat, the vibe I’m aiming for, and the artist I’m working with. Sometimes, if I want to lock into a vibe, I’ll start with drums and build from there.
But most of the time, like I mentioned about my creative process, it just takes a spark. If I have a drum bounce in my head, that’s what I’ll start with. Other times, I’ll flip samples, make random chops until something inspires me, or start with a chord progression.
In your opinion, what makes a great hip-hop/rap sample?
I think it’s different for everyone since we all hear things differently. What I love might be something someone else hates.
When I’m searching for or creating samples, I mainly focus on the chord progression or bassline. A strong chord progression or bassline always catches my ear. If someone sends me a melody or I hear something but can’t tell where it’s going—if I can’t hear the progression—I can’t do anything with it. There’s nowhere for me to take it.
Beyond that, it’s all about standing out and being unique. With so many people creating melodies and samples today, you can find them anywhere. If you can create something unique that sets you apart, that’s what will take you far in this space.
What’s your opinion on AI in music production?
I don’t have a strong opinion on it. I think it can be useful for some people. I’ve seen people chop up AI-generated songs like samples, which I think is cool.
But if you rely entirely on AI to create music, it can feel soulless. No computer or technology can truly replicate human feelings, emotions, and experiences. I don’t see it as a threat, and I don’t think it’s weird for people to use it. I see it as a cool tool—if you can make something dope with it, great.
Let’s talk about your recent placement with Yeat—“Lying 4 Fun.” How did this song come together?
I’ve been working with Yeat for a long time. He was pretty small when we first started working together. For “Lying 4 Fun,” we had been going back and forth, and I think he already had a couple of songs gaining traction at the time.
I had flown into Miami and was waiting for another artist to arrive. I landed, went straight to the studio, and there was a little production setup over at a bar. So, I decided to make beats while I waited.
I started making beats, but the artist’s flight kept getting delayed—over and over again. I ended up sitting in the studio alone for about four hours. I figured I might as well keep making beats, so I just kept working. I ended up making around 20 beats.
One of those beats ended up being “Lying 4 Fun.” I sent it to Yeat the next day but didn’t hear back at first. I think he gave it a thumbs-up on iMessage, so I figured he liked it. Later, I randomly joined one of his live streams, and he was playing the song with about 200 or 300 people in the chat. The song sounded crazy, and I was hyped.
At the time, though, you know how artists are—they make so many songs, especially Yeat. He’s the type of artist who records nonstop. So, I didn’t think too much about it. A few months later, he announced his project was dropping in September—and “Lying 4 Fun” was on it.
From there, the song started gaining traction, going a bit viral on TikTok and things like that. It’s just a super dope song.
Where do you prefer making music—your home studio or a professional recording studio?
My home studio is where I can fully relax—there’s no pressure at all. I can experiment and do whatever I want. But when I travel or work in other studios, I find more inspiration around me. So it really depends on what kind of mood I’m in.
Sometimes, I like chilling at home making beats, and other times, I want to get out and try new things. That said, I prefer smaller, more intimate setups. Whenever I’m in those big studios with the giant Augspurger speakers in the wall, I just don’t like it. To me, nothing sounds good in there. As long as I’m in a smaller space where I can chill and work, that’s my ideal spot to create.
Is there a production of yours that is close to your heart for any reason?
I definitely have some unreleased music that means a lot to me, but as for what’s out, I’d probably go with “LAVAGIRL,” the song I mentioned earlier. As I said, it was my first-ever record and one of the first times I heard artists on my beats.
Seeing it take off—it was my first song with a music video, my first to hit 100,000, then a million, two million, and whatever it’s at now. That song will always have a special place in my heart because it did so much for me—it literally kickstarted my career.
The feeling I had when it was released and when I saw the snippets—nothing will ever top that.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming producers looking to build their brand and work with established artists?
I’d say focus on growing your social media, building your brand, and networking with people. The industry is very saturated now, and success won’t happen overnight. But if you keep grinding and put in the work, it will come. It’s going to take years, the 10,000 hours, and all the effort that goes into it.
You really have to trust your sound and build something. Work with producers at your skill level, and do the same with artists—reach out, build, and grow together.
Have fun making music. Nowadays, a lot of people focus too much on turning music into a career and making a living from it. But honestly, this isn’t a career where you make a ton of money. I could go on about that, but if you just do it for the love of it, it’s going to happen naturally. You’ll naturally build a career because you’re doing it with passion.
Focus on that. Don’t do it for money or followers—make music because you love it, and everything else will fall into place.
Where do you see yourself in five years, both professionally and personally?
My vision changes all the time—some days I want to pursue one thing, and the next week, I’m drawn in a completely different direction. The one goal that has always remained consistent is creating a community, platform, or label to help cultivate the careers of upcoming producers and artists. I want to set them up for success—whether that’s connecting them with artists, engineers, and producers or providing platforms for them to pursue their goals.
Helping others has always been a goal of mine. I want to use my knowledge, platform, and experience to put people in the right position to succeed.
Follow Based1 on Instagram: @based1
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