In-demand producer DEEZLE brings the musicianship back into recording
By Tremayne Anchrum
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Darius "Deezle" Harrison |
Although he's recently found huge success � he produced seven tracks on Lil Wayne's Carter III, which has already done more than 2 million in sales � Darius "Deezle" Harrison has been building his reputation on the New Orleans scene for years. A multi-instrumentalist and classically trained vocalist, Deezle has produced tracks for Kanye West, Cash Money, T.I., Ludacris, and even the jazz artist Donald Harrison. He lost all of his material possessions in Hurricane Katrina but hasn't let it slow him down on his rise to the top. ASCAP's Tremayne Anchrum caught up the the super-producer to chat about what he's up to next.
Who are some of the influences that you looked up to when you were coming up?
Cash Money and No Limit definitely were influences because that was our music at home. But before them, I always was a fan of Quincy Jones' work as a producer and a humanitarian, as well. I studied the jazz artist Donald Harrison, who actually ended up being a mentor of mine. A lot of diverse influences.
You're a real musician. I've had the chance to sit with you in the studio a couple of times years ago to see how you work. A lot of people don't understand, it's not about the MPC and Fruity Loops and things like that. You actually have a musicianship to what you do.
Yes, I played instruments my whole life - the guitar, bass and horns. I started off playing the saxophone. My understanding of the instruments comes from playing them. As a word of advice to any up and coming producers or any young cat trying to do well: understand the function of the instruments before you stick them somewhere. It helps you become a better producer.
"Lollipop" by Lil Wayne is actually an R&B, hip-hop, and rock record all combined in one. What was the inspiration for the record?
Static Major and Jim Jonsin had done the hook and they had put the keyboard parts of the track together. Static brought it over to Wayne's session and after Wayne did it we were listening back to it and it kinda had us standing still for a second. So I told Wayne, "Weezy, let me take this and bring it back to you," and he was like, "Do what you do." So I took it and put my feel on it, changed the drums and the bass. Wayne and I afterwards edited the song format and he was like, "Man, I wanna put some guitar on this, coach me through it right quick." For anybody who does not think that it was Lil Wayne playing...that really is him.
Where is Deezle's radar and where will Deezle's radar be six months from now?
Six months from now, I'll have the name like other producers have. Those same guys that you talk about call me and say they want to work with me. That means it's happening. A year from now, humbly, I see myself launching my own label, Drum Major Music. I'll be putting out some artists and my own album. I'm doing a Dr. Dre, The Chronic, type thing. Lil Wayne will be co-executive producing. I'm shopping a deal for it, but you know we got some definite prospects on the table. I'm talking about some people that are talking some sense.
