Making beats… Mantronik style

“How do I make a beat? Those questions are always the hardest to answer because there is no right or wrong way. There is no blueprint. I put things together and when my body starts moving, I know I’m getting close. What else can I say? Don’t always think you have to start with the kick. Try starting with hats because that can often take you in interesting directions. And don’t be afraid to push things out of line. Don’t over-quantise. Move your elements about a bit; push them forward, pull them back. Allow your beat to take people by surprise.

“Cold Gettin’ Dumb is a good example of that. If you just listen to the beat on its own, it feels kinda clunky and odd. But when you put all the other elements on top, everything seems to pull itself back together. The usual rule is that the beat is supposed to keep everything in time, but why not turn things around? Give the beat some freedom and let the bassline or the vocal keep things in the groove.”