Q&A with ‘SCORPION’ music producer Moody Jones

Image credit: Mark Gonzales

Egyptian Canadian music producer and collaborator Moody Jones has built up a remarkable repertoire since the inception of the imprint EMPIRE. Known to dabble in the genre vine, resulting in house meets dance tracks, the producer flips the page with a UK garage infused track ‘SCORPIO (Cigarettes & Alcohol)’ via Everybody Knows. The single features UK musician Santino Le Saint and will have you feeling like Moody Jones has been dominating the bass scene for a while with breezy electronics. The single is partly named after Moody Jone’s admiration for scorpions, which he is adorned with in his latest promo shots. Definitely a dark horse, the future looks bright for this act.

We found out more about the dynamic ‘SCORPION (Cigarettes & Alcohol)’ producer Moody Jones.

Can you tell us a bit about how you got into music?

Passionately, being raised in Saudi Arabia where in my days heavy metal was illegal and music was the only outlet for a weird outsider.

Professionally, 10+ years ago I started throwing parties in Montreal called Everybody Knows with my friend Maher Daniel. We paired local acts with international artists. Some of the acts we had included were Kora & Gab Rhome, Disclosure & Kaytranada.

Give us a sense of the music scene where you are based.

In Montreal where I grew up, it’s very multicultural as a reflection of the demographic there. Canada has been a leader in accepting immigrants for generations, so everyone is down with all genres from jazz and house music.

In San Francisco where I live now, hip hop definitely owns the market share.

Tell us about your studio set-up and gear.

My home studio has a pair of Genelecs 8050, Ableton Push, Maschine Mk2, Apollo Twin X, & a Rhode Microphone all connected to a MacBook Pro.

What are some of your key musical influences?

With the nature of my job working at Empire, I’m out almost every day at shows or events. I see and hear what works and apply it to the writing process. I’m usually attracted to and influenced by music that sits in between genres. If you can’t describe it in one word, I’m into it.

As an artist, how do you infuse your music with emotion?

I put myself in the listener’s shoes and what I want them to feel. For example, I wanted to have my track pump people up at the gym (including myself). So now I have dumbbells in the studio and every time I get stuck writing I do a few reps.

In your opinion, how has bass music evolved over the last few years?

The last two years have been an accelerator to our culture for better and for worse. On the music end for the first time in years, people’s taste is converging. Bass music’s audience has grown tremendously due to the lines differentiating it from other genres blurring.

What has been a memorable highlight of your career so far?

Playing B2B with Claude Vonstroke, Opening up for DJ Snake, Kaytranada opening up for me.

Who do you look up to in the DJ world?

Loco Dice, Martinez Brothers, and Claude Vonstroke.

If you weren’t a musician what would you be?

Actor. Maybe this whole DJ thing is an act ;).

What can we expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?

More music and collaborations. Next month I have shows with Gordo (Carnage), Peggy Gou for NYE and Costa Rica in January. Following that will be at the SXM festival.

‘SCOPRIO (Cigarettes & Alcohol)’ features on the Spotify playlist BASS_GRØUND