URBAN MAINSTREAM MAGAZINE
Interview
by Shinobi

Name: BigChris Flores

Profession: Music Production

City and State: Hollywood Ca.

E-mail address: bigchris@moodswingrecords.net

UM: How did you get started in your career?

BC: Maaan, It's in my blood. My father was the founding bass player for Los Lobos back in the 50's. My brother Mike is a musician and got me into my 1st band when we lived in Cancun mexico, where I played 6 nights a week for 6 years, playing Salsa, Cumbia, reggae Top 40 Rock and singing in a Rock band. Then I came out to LA to get a degree in music and take some engineering classes. I got lucky and started working at Brandon's Way Recording (Baby Faces private studio)

UM: How is life as a Producer?

BC: My life is soooo blessed as a producer. I have made the right connections and made the right choices so far. I
am living my dreams and supporting my family with music. That is all I could ask for.

UM: How did you get hooked up in the game?

BC: I have been taking small steps up . Like I said before, I went to school,I worked with Baby Face for 2 years, passed out a shit load of business cards. I just meet the right people in the right spots. In LA, the person in the stall next to you going to the bathroom, could be the person that you need to take your career to the next level.
What or who have you worked with or for (i.e. celebrities, radio stations, labels etc)?
I have had the honor of working with some real talented people
Rolling Stones, Boyz II MEN, ENVOGUE, Usher, Kenny Loggins,
KRS One, Bone Thugz N Harmony, KC and JoJo, Yammi Bolo, Cedric The Entertainer. I did a track with Layzie Bone and Mo Thugz, for the Barber Shop, I did a reggae song for the film "The Orginal Kings of Comedy" with Cedric The Entertainer called "Peanut Butteer No jam" I just had a couple of songs in The Film, "Code Name The Cleaner" I also have a DVD of 42 tracks comin out on Big Fish, which is a DVD of all my sounds (guitars, keys, kits, synths) so producers can use my sounds.

UM: What sets you apart from other Producers?

BC: I think what sets me far apart from other producers is my ability to create every type of music, . I am a well rounded musician (guitar player for 23 years) that loves a BIG beat with spanish guitars or a nice crisp steel string guitar all chopped up. I am a live player that jams on the guitar my editing skills are fine tuned and meticulous at chopping my performances up.....I am in a nut shell THE ONE STOP SHOP

UM: What is your signature or specialty?

BC: That would have to be my chopped up rock guitar jams with the NSEW (North South East West)Hip Hop Beats
they aint just loops. You really have to listen to a lot of my tracks for a minute, before you decide what the F*&% you gonna write about. They take your mental/verbal skills up to the next level

UM: What is the most enjoyable part of your job? What is the downside of your job?

BC: Besides being at home all day doing music, it would have to be Doin music ALL dammmm day!! Can't beat it
But the down side is, I'm home ALL Motha F*&^%&in day doin music My conversational skills are pretty weak , if we aint talkin about music. I really do find it hard to seperate Family from work. That would be the only thing that I might regret later in life.

UM: What advice do you have for aspiring artist getting in the game?

BC: Prepare yourself for a fun yet bumpy ride. Always have your material and contact info with you. stay on the grind, especially when there aint anything goin on. Keep your integrity way above everyone elses.

UM: What area are you most focused on (world tours, celebrity events, radio shows ,etc)?

BC: My main focus right now is TV and film placements. I have been meeting a lot of music supervisors lately and been pluggin a lot of my music with them. They are the link between you, the music producer, and the production companies putting out these multi million dollar movies.

UM: Give me 2 basic producer tips you live by?

BC: When creating a track, don't always start out with the same instrument you are used to starting with. Try starting out with the strings and building around that, Then try starting out with the guitar and build around that. Then try starting out with the drums and build around that. You will see that your productions come out completely different, in an essence, you are reinventing your production style. Try mixing and editing your tracks while you are still writing the music. You will see that instead of having a wall of sound with all these tracks playing at the same time, you will find holes where you can ad an element that comes in an out at different spots in your song, so that it doesn't sound like a 16 bar loop. When you edit/mix your song while you are writing, you give your ear a break and you will find it easier to hear what is missing in your production.

UM: Give me 2 basic business tips you live by?

BC: 1.) Say what you mean and mean what you say at ALL times
2.) keep investing your time in things/people you like to work with. Dont just do it for a few bucks
There are some things you do for the money, and others you do for the bigger picture

UM: What advice do you give to those who have a dream to produce?

BC: Have a backup!! if music is your thang, learn how to mix and master and learn an instrument other than the keys or your MPC. Learn how to use your recording equipment. A little musical knowledge along with the grasp on recording equipment i.e. compression, eq's, delays, reverbs will help make you a needed and wanted person in the studio

UM: What are your 2007 Goals?

BC: I got some big plans for 2007. I will meet at least another 25 music supervisors for TV and FIlm. I will do a couple of big movies a lot of little tv shows. I got a few albums that will be comin out in the next couple of months. Look out for LA based artists like Bacc Street who's album "Voice of The People" will be released very soon and Cortni's album "Crystal Clear" . These are some hot productions, of course by me at Moodswing Records LA and Long Beach native Keith "Clizark" of Team Mash'n Ent. who has produced for Snoop, The Dove Shack, Master P, Luda...He's All over the place.
The albums are gonna be a beautiful colab between the 2 labels. I got the movies and Tv shows on lock Team Mash'n got the video's, DVD's and record distribution .

UM: Why did you agree to an interview with Urban Mainstream magazine?

BC: Maan ya'll are doin your thang. I love the fact that ya'll are in th ATL. This internet shit has opened up the world for producers everywhere. I dont want to be known as a "West Coast" producer I want people l to
know that I am a bi coastal producer and can be reached from anywhere in the world. You dont have be livin on the west coast to colab with me. This little interview is a corridoor to the ATL baby...Knock motha f#$** knock ya heeeeeerd!!