Exclusive Interview
Oct 18, 2024
Produced by: Rudy Manager
Edited by: Rudy Manager & Andrej Aroch
Kenny Stuntin – “I’m actually still in the studio from yesterday—I haven’t left yet.”
In this exclusive interview, Studio Talks sits down with music producer Kenny Stuntin, who has been gaining traction in the music industry through his impactful collaborations with renowned artist Gunna and innovative producer Turbo. Kenny played a pivotal role in shaping Gunna's latest album, One of Wun, contributing to nine tracks. Throughout our conversation, he shares which song from the album resonates with him the most, along with insights into his journey in music production, his creative process, and his aspirations for the future.
Could you share the process of how you got into music in the first place?
I got into music through Turbo. He didn’t exactly show me much, but he really just told me what to do. I asked him how to make beats, and he was like, "Just go on YouTube and learn how to make beats." At first, I thought, YouTube? I figured he should show me. But going on YouTube taught me a lot—it helped me develop my own style and make my own type of beats. I really got into it through him, just by being in the studio with him.
Did your beats always sound this good, or was there a lot of growth and learning involved along the way?
No, my beats definitely weren't always this good. It took a long time to get them to sound the way I wanted. I spent a lot of time making eight beats a day or just experimenting to try things out. But I’ve found my sound now, though it took a while.
How do you usually approach new productions? Do you mostly use samples, or do you make beats from scratch? What’s your process like?
I do both. But when I’m working in a fast-paced environment, I like to use samples. It makes the process easier and helps me work with the artist more efficiently, getting things done quicker.
What’s your work rate like? How many beats do you make in a week or a month?
There’s no set number. I don’t really keep track like that. It’s all about how I’m feeling, my mood. Some weeks I might make 10 beats, and the next week I might make 50. It just depends on what I’ve got going on and where my mental state is at the time.
Do you have any creative routine when it comes to making music?
I usually go to the studio later at night since I’m up all night anyway. I’ll get there around 10 PM and stay until the next day. I’m actually still in the studio from yesterday—I haven’t left yet.
On Gunna's new album, you worked on a lot of tracks—at least half of the songs. Do you have any stories from the studio during the creation of that record?
There are a lot of stories. Every song that made it onto the album has a good story behind it. For example, on "$$$," how I made the voices on that track, and how it ended up turning into a feature with Normani—those were some of the best moments. I feel like I contributed a lot from a producer’s standpoint, especially bringing my sound to a feature. That was definitely one of the best ones we did.
Do you have a favorite production on the album?
My favorite beat is probably "on one tonight." I really like that one—it gets me in a lit mood every time I play it. I’m just disappointed that the song is only one minute and thirty seconds long. I didn’t realize it was that short until the album was about to come out. We kept playing it in the studio every day, and I had no idea it was that short.
How long did it take you to make "on one tonight"?
Probably around 15 to 20 minutes. It wasn’t that long. That was when I was making about 10 to 12 beats a day since I was with him (Gunna) a lot while working on the album. I had a minimum goal of making at least 10 beats each day. Every time I went to the studio, I needed to play at least 10 beats. During that time, I was getting a lot of samples sent to me, which made the process easier. It allowed me to play more beats instead of spending time making my own melodies and only being able to play four or five.
What advice would you give to young, new producers who are trying to work with big artists?
I would say to make your own sound. Keep working and creating your unique style instead of trying to mimic someone else's sound. That really sets you apart when working with artists. Other than that, just keep at it and reach out to people. That’s how some producers got placed on Gunna’s album—by DMing me and sending loops. Definitely reach out to people!
What are your plans for the future? Do you have any specific goals? I read that you wanted to get into real estate. Do you still want to pursue that?
Yes, I wanted to get into real estate before I started making beats, so I definitely want to tap back into that. Other than that, I’m also interested in movies. I love watching them, so I’d like to be involved in making a movie or even acting in one—just something within that realm.
Are you interested in creating your own producer album or something like that?
Yes, definitely! That’s something I’m very interested in doing, even though it might be a few years down the line. Being around Turbo and working on his album has inspired me to pursue that. I know I need to get my foot in the door a bit more before I can do something like that, but it's definitely a goal for me.
Follow Kenny Stuntin on Instagram: @kennystuntin
More Blog Posts
See our latest blogs
