Mute Velin is another rad fucking instrumental music producer. Another one that sticks out from the rest. Peep his music. Period. I caught up with homie and asked some questions. enjoy.
Who are you, what do you do, why do you do what you do?
My name is Tom Veling, but I make music and other various things under the name MUTE VELiN. I was born in Chicago, grew up in Auburn & Sacramento, CA, and am now living with my wife, Notwe, in Allentown, PA. I’ve been playing music pretty much my whole life, and it’s something that I think I always kinda shape my life with.
Knowing that you create beats using all your own music samples that you create actually playing instruments, do you have an opinion on folks who are strictly samplers of other peoples’ music?
Most beat makers out there sample other people’s music, and some dudes do it really well. It’s just not for me. I write, play, record and produce my own music. I started out making beats using old jazz recordings, I’d sample like a short sax run or something and then I’d just fuck with it on the computer until it wasn’t even recognizable. But after a while I realized that that wasn’t really cuttin it for what I wanted to do, and I thought, why don’t I just record my own shit! Writing songs and making beats for me is all about creating music that’s from the heart, 100% my own ideas.
What got you into to doing this type of thing?
I’ve always been into recording music. I grew up playing all different kinds of music, everything from punk rock to jazz, and had the opportunity to do a lot of live and studio recordings. I eventually took 2 years of recording and production classes at community college just to further my knowledge. One summer I spent a lot of time kickin it with my good friend Eric Goodman listening to a ton of records and I remember us saying a lot, “yo… what’s up with this beat?” So I started making my own beats. In addition to that, I started getting tired of hearing song after song with some dude saying the same old bullshit on the mic. I wanted to focus more on the music. That’s kinda where MUTE started… there’s too many people running their mouth instead of creating something rad.
Do you also work a regular job or is music your main source of income? If you work, what do you do?
Yeah man, I do have a regular job. Actually, I moved out here to Allentown at the end of last summer to learn how to tattoo. I work the first half of my day at a pizza shop. The second half, I apprentice under my friend Watson at an awesome shop here. I work at both places 6 days a week.
Is there any current music that you are enjoying?
Always. Currently: Sick Jacken- Stray Bullets, the Holocaust, DOOM- Born Like This, Kreator -Hordes Of Chaos, Israel Vibration discography
What producers/beat makers would you site as influences to your music?
All kinds of music influences me. Everyday life, my surroundings, and creative people are my biggest influences. Some producers/beatmakers that I like:
Flying Lotus, Prefuse 73, Reanimator, Blue Sky Black Death, Dr. Who Dat, and many more
What is in the works for the future of Mute Velin?
Right now I’m concentrating most of my energy on learning this tattoo thing, man.
Drawing, painting, and studying. It’s a new chapter for MUTE VELiN. But a new album is definitely in the works. I got a few songs already finished, and there’s a ton of bits and pieces just waiting for me to put together… lots of ideas. Also, there may be a collaboration in the works…
What do you have available for people to listen to? Where can they buy it?
MUTE VELiN – Vendors (2005)
MUTE VELiN – Hearing Over From Scratch (2007)
iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=263836548
and pretty much any other online music retailer. Google is your friend…
Does Mute Velin tour? Have you toured in the past?
Unfortunately no, MUTE VELiN does not tour. I can’t figure out how to play 6 instruments at the same time, dude.
You and I toured before though in band called fuck the forest. We actually did two tours, one in Tokyo and the other on the west coast .
Are you on a label or do you put out your own music? What is your opinion on the whole label vs. DIY
DIY definitely. If the label is not glued or somehow attached to a bottle, then I’m not interested.
How do you feel about the current state of mainstream music? Do you know about it, or are you really good at blocking out of your knowledge? If you don’t know, it is ridiculously flooded with fools that want to bring the 80’s back, and chumps that are more into fashion the art.
toilet… flush… courtesy flush… … … yuck
If you don’t mind, is there a process to your beat making? Do you have any routine ways of creating music? What equipment are you using to record and loop and cut and pull samples?
Oh, the secret ingredient in the BBQ sauce. Nah, man I got no problem with that question. I always like to have some sort of beverage with me throughout my process. Coffee, tea, beer. Usually one of those three. When I start to write I don’t really have a set process. If I got a cool guitar line I’m working on, I’ll build around that. I just loop it and will jam to it with whatever instrument I’m feeling will compliment it. I’ll continue build it layer by layer, instrument by instrument. As far as equipment: macbook pro, digital performer, motu traveler, cool edit pro, any drum (or anything that sounds good when I hit it), gibson les paul, squire p/jazz bass, yamaha keys, yamaha alto sax, and shure, audio technica, and audix mics.
Are there other arts that you are into besides music?
As I mentioned before, I’m learning to tattoo. Drawing and painting. Also cooking.
Dude, it’s gettin warm out. On sunday it rained but I BBQ’d anyways. That’s why there’s a lid.
Do you have any advice for people just getting into the game of producing beats or instrumental music?
Just do what is real and true to you. Create from the heart and do it your own way. But stay open minded cause you can learn a lot with open ears.
If you could have any rapper on one of your tracks, who would it be?
Can I pick 2? MF DOOM. GZA.
How do you feel about the current state of the US ? Any opinions?
That’s gonna take a 2nd interview. Can I try and sum it up short? I love this country but it’s been taken over by people who don’t value the wonderful gift that life is, nor do they have any respect for human rights or what life is all about. The election of Obama is proof that if people stand up and come together as one, good things can happen here. He may not do all of the right things during his time, or even be the one to lead us in the right direction, only time will tell, but his election was proof that good things can happen when people unite.
If you are a citizen of this country and your political views are based upon money and protecting the constitution above all other issues, you are the problem and should be ashamed, for you have been blinded by greed and have failed to open your eyes to the world and all of its beauty.
Any last comments shout outs or name drops?
No thanks. I’ll leave the shout outs and name drops for all the sixth graders at the roller skating rink. Yo, do they even have skating rinks anymore?