Beats On Time, led by founder Saqib, has been steadily carving out its place in the electronic music industry with a unique vision and a series of remarkable releases. Saqib, who has been involved in music since his teenage years in Pakistan, transitioned from playing instruments in heavy metal bands to producing electronic music after an eye-opening experience at a Toronto loft party.
Now, Saqib is channeling all his experience into Beats On Time, setting the stage for its future growth.
In this interview, Saqib reflects on how his perception of the music industry has evolved over the years, noting the challenges and toxic dynamics he has encountered. Despite these hurdles, his passion for music keeps him pushing forward. He shares valuable lessons for aspiring producers and DJs, emphasizing the importance of finding one’s own sound, focusing on musicality rather than trends, and committing time to mastering the craft.
Saqib also delves into upcoming projects, including a label showcase at Amsterdam Dance Event and performances at high-profile venues like Brooklyn Mirage. With upcoming events and fresh productions, Saqib’s vision for the label continues to expand, promising more innovative releases and milestone gigs in the near future.
How did you get into electronic music production and the music industry, and what was the biggest formative moment in your early career?
I’ve been a musician since I was 12 years old playing guitar, bass, drums and vocals in heavy metal bands growing up in Pakistan. I’ve also been a music producer since that age, recording my band in my bedroom and mixing all the parts myself. In 2009 I was in Toronto visiting my friend (Talal) and I heard him dj’ing alongside Carlo Lio in a loft in Toronto and it completely blew my mind into a thousand pieces and that night was it for me!
In what ways has you perception of the music industry changed since you got started?
Over the past couple of years as I have moved through the industry in different roles as an artist, promoter, A+R, and label manager, I have become increasingly aware of how toxic it is!
What keeps you pushing forward with your career and music even when the industry’s craziness gets you down?
I love music so much that I deal with the toxicity of the industry.
4 – Share the best three lessons you’ve learned about music that you think more producers and DJs should know!
- Find your own sound rather than copying what’s popular right now because I guarantee you it will change over time.
- Sometimes, in electronic music, we get caught up in sound design and FX. Don’t forget that, at the end of the day, this is music that you are trying to make, and the fundamental concepts of music are still underlying it.
- You have to make music over and over and over again to become a master of it, it’s only going to be as good as the amount of time you put into it.
What is coming up next for you? Are there any big gigs? New Projects?
I am the most excited about our first label showcase for Beats On Time at Amsterdam Dance Event on October 16 at Oosterbar!
Ticket Link:https://ra.co/events/1990255
For Halloween this year I am looking forward to playing at the Brooklyn Mirage (NYC) with Rodriguez Jr, Innellea, Anna, Artbat and other legends for Cityfox.
Flyer/ Ticket info HERE
In terms of projects, outside of quite a few new productions, I just dropped my Patreon site where I will be hosting remix contests, demo drops/listening sessions, music production insights, and tracks that can’t be found anywhere else :)))
You recently did an official remix for the Bollywood legend ASHA BHOSLE on the premiere Bollywood label and oldest record company of India, SAREGAMA; how did that come about?!
Yes I did! I actually reached out to them through my mentor Atish to request clearance of a sample to use for a song. I wasn’t sure if they would respond and was expecting to be denied. They turned around to ask me if I would be interested in doing an official release with the label and co-credited alongside the legends Asha Bhosle and R.D. Burman. This was crazy to me because even my mother, father and grandmother know who Asha Bhosle (singer) and R.D. Burman (composer) are. The release even came out with some cool bollywood-style artwork.
Never imagined to see myself that way, haha!
Tell me about your latest release, Karachi Rolling on your label Beats On Time ?
Karachi Rolling is a 2 track EP. The title track is about being in the back of a rickshaw weaving in and out of traffic in the city of Karachi, through the eyes of the driver who is a crazy man. I wrote the lyrics of this song (in urdish/ hinglish) and also sang the vocals. In a way, I am both the driver and the passenger, haha! It is a very bouncy, chaotic and high energy track. I really love it, honestly I am not sure where or how it came to be .It just happened on its own. Those are the best tracks though.
What is this language you are using in Karachi Rolling, a.k.a URDISH/ HINGLISH?
Hindi/ Urdu + English , spoken together 50/50.
Where did the vocals in Karachi Rolling come from?
I had this very cool beat and was looking for a vocal or story to make it complete. I really struggled, I had gone through hundreds of different vocal samples over several days and I just could not make it work. But I had this sick beat.
At one point I really don’t know exactly why I picked up the microphone and I started just scatting, talking , BS’ing absolute trash. It started as a spoken word. Then it turned into rhyming rhythmic phrases and it really kind of made itself after that. Like a chain reaction that came from somewhere inside my head.
I think the sound of the beat itself put me in the back of the rickshaw and it all happened from there.
Did you shop this record out to other labels before putting it out on your own label?
No I did not . I did not send this to any other labels. I want my best and most unique things to be on my own label. I didn’t make this label to put out my B sides that the other labels rejected- I made it to put out my best works that I am proud of.
Tell us about some of the support for the EP so far
Blondish, Atish, Ilario Alicante, Upercent, Armen Miran, Guy Manzur, Gab Rhome, Danny Tenaglia, and more have supported it so far 🙂
Any words of advice to new labels?
Yes – definitely have a plan for at least the first year or two of releases and have some concept of who is driving the production and setting the tone for the label sound. As a new label you won’t get a lot of demos because nobody knows you so don’t expect they will just suddenly appear out of nowhere.
The post Label Spotlight: Beats On Time Founder, Saqib, Talks Label Futures And Milestone Gigs appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.