Today we’d like to introduce you to Sangkofi Jones.
Sangkofi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Music has always been embedded in my DNA before I could truly understand it.
Car rides with my Mom listening to music while she was running errands singing/rapping songs word for word at the age of 6, being so intrigued and moved by the Ray Charles biopic “Ray,” and my grandfather nudging me to play an instrument and even buying me my first guitar around the age of 8 (though I never played it around that age). My real musical journey began around the age of 12.
Around Christmas of 2008, my mother got me “Guitar Hero: World Tour”. I remember being so excited to play it because earlier that same year, I was (re)introduced to the metal genre by an old friend of mine. We linked up one day to play Guitar Hero and got so into the game that we looked at each other and one of us asked, “Wanna start a band?” and the answer was obviously “Hell yeah!” Fast forward to the beginning of 2009, we started learning how to play guitar and write songs.
Around that same time, he had pirated FL Studio and when I came over one day, I was intrigued by the program. I never knew how beats were made so that was my first introduction to beat-making/production, having been inspired by Kanye West, Three 6 Mafia, Nujabes, Flying Lotus, and so much more. Since then, I’ve always considered production as “conducting your own orchestra”. Fast forward to my 23rd birthday in 2019, I switched over to MPC from FL Studio after ten years and have been committed since.
How I got into engineering was kind of ironic to me. I was lowkey engineering before I knew what the hell I was doing… and was rather shitty at it. I didn’t know how to mix, how to master, how to EQ, NONE of that. I was just guessing everything.
I went to U of M after high school in 2014 for engineering after my band got slighted and vowed to engineer our own records how we wanted… only to drop out after that first year because of personal reasons (including the band splitting). The irony is that I initially went into engineering for my band only to end up wanting to learn more for myself, which led to me briefly interning with Unapologetic two years later.
Fast forward to now, I’m one full year into my endeavors in production, engineering, and artistry full time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not easy at all but it’s definitely a blessing!
However, there’re always risks involved with pursuing art full time with no real safety net. One obvious obstacle I faced was financing (which is why it’s always important to stack up). When I had a job while pursuing art, I was broke, having to take care of myself among other things.
But thankfully, I have people who care about me and support what I do. Another challenge that I deal with on occasion is maintaining the discipline necessary to reach my goal of self-sustainability. Just being honest with myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Producer, Musician, DJ, Audio Engineer, and Artist. I’m most known as a Producer and Audio Engineer but lately, as a DJ (under DJ TEXAS WAREHOUSE).
Lately, I’ve been most proud of my progression as a producer/engineer. I’m always curious about what sounds I can create and how can I take a mix further. One thing that I always strive for is to make sure that my work as a producer/engineer continues to be fun for me and to keep my inner child curious and alive when creating.
What sets me apart from others is my musicality, my theatrical approach to making beats, and how deeply spiritual making music is for me.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
In my art, what makes me happy is whenever I create something I’ve never heard or made before and it sounds dope! It’s always gratifying to surpass my own expectations.
In life, what makes me happy are when I’m fulfilled within myself, when my loved ones are fulfilled, and when there’s a genuine connection between people. Why? Because (in my very head-ass answer) they all have something in common: Inner peace.
We oftentimes, admit it or not, are not as connected within ourselves and that can lead us to interact with one another in unfavorable ways. In my little perfect world, we can be better people towards each other if we collectively have some inner peace.
Pricing:
- $200 for Beats/Production Services (Until January 14th)
- $400 for DJing Services
- $40/Hr Studio Time @ Studio 88
Contact Info:
- Email: spekulateelmoreno@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spekulatethephilosopher/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmif2l60x4JLvoRXKd-zUA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/spekulatebeats
Image Credits:
Ziggy Mack Joliza of Phoenix Eye Photography and Wes Clemmons
