Surely one of the nicest dudes around, melodic dubstep producer Skrux sat down with Edmsauce for an interview and ended up inviting us to hang out in Dallas. This shy Texan is making a name for himself with his soaring, romantic vocals that seductively entwine around hard bass. Reminiscent of early Seven Lions, he's building a huge following — despite the fact that he doesn't DJ. Super refreshing and real, we love his work and will definitely be keeping in touch with this rising star in the dubstep genre.
Edmsauce: I need complete honesty here – how old are you?
Skrux: I'm 19, all the other melodic producers are at least 21 and over, I think I've got a head start.
Edmsauce: But your tracks are so emotional…does that mean you've had emotional ups and downs? Unrequited love? What inspires these angsty wobbles?
Skrux: Ha! Nothing like that. Honestly what inspires me most is the fact that people say electronic music has no emotion and that it's just a bunch of noise. I want to show people that there's more to it than “who can make the nastiest growl.” I also love music that has a melody, I can't stand when a track has one note throughout the entire thing, there at least has to be some movement.
Edmsauce: When did you start making electronic music?
Skrux: I started making electronic music about a year and a half ago almost 2 years, so I still have a lot to learn.
Edmsauce: And at first, were your parents like… ‘what?' Did you ask for mixing equipment at Christmas or birthdays?
Skrux: My parents to this date still don't really understand what I'm doing. I'm just trying to turn my hobby into a career, but you know how parents are “You need to go to school and get a real Job!” I've only ever asked for turntables for christmas, but once I got them I never used them, DJing is just not my thing.
Edmsauce: Do you remember what your first piece of equipment was?
Skrux: I've always had guitars, piano's, drums, etc just laying around the house, but when I downloaded a cracked version of FL studio and started making rap beats for the kids at my school, thats when it all began.
Edmsauce: How was your first track?
Skrux:My first track was absolutely terrible, but then again we all gotta start somewhere.
Edmsauce: What's your favorite track you've ever made?
Skrux: My cosmos remix has to be my all time favorite. I put so much effort into making it as emotional as possible and Lexi (Complexion) did an amazing job on the vocals which added that extra emotion I was looking for.
Edmsauce: Who do you think is an amazing vocalist?
Skrux: Lexi Norton (Complexion) is my all time favorite vocalist. She was the first one I ever worked with and will probably be the best one I will ever work with.
Skrux: I would love to have a male vocalist on one of my tracks, but it's just so hard to find the right one. I wish there were more.
Edmsauce: What about doing your own? (vocals)
Skrux: I'm actually working on a track that i'm doing the vocals on. Hopefully it'll be out when my album drops.
I went to college for about 2 months and absolutely hated it. I never want to go back.
Edmsauce: Your dubstep and chillstep are sooo amazing – who are your inspirations in this genre?
Skrux: I'm pretty sure everyone on the planet earth knows this by now, but Mr FijiWiji is my all time most inspirational artist. his tracks are sooo deep and he's younger than me, which inspires me even more! Tiesto – Take Me (Mr FijiWji Remix) is so good. I've yet to hear a track as beautiful as that one. The feels I get when I hear it are just lajkflaksjfl;akjsfa;lksd. Obviously also Seven Lions, the way he makes a track so heavy, beautiful, emotional, just pure epicness all in one track is mind blowing to me and I want to be able to put that spirit into my own tracks.
Edmsauce: When you produce an original, how long does it take? Do you agonize on getting it right for months, or do you just “get inspired” and whip out a track in less than 24 hours?
Skrux: Original tracks are a pain in the ass, they take me months to make and even then I probably will never finish it. Remixes on the other hand take me a day or two to make- the longest time I've taken on a remix is about a week. I'd really like this to be my full time job, it's what I'm pushing for – to be able to afford an apartment.
Edmsauce: Ideally, do you see yourself as a big time international DJ? do you think you'd like that lifestyle?
Skrux: I won't DJ so I don't see myself being an international DJ. I just want to produce music and be known as a producer not a DJ. People always tell me DJing is where the money is, but all that partying, drinking, drugs, etc it's just not for me. I'm sort of shy anyway, so that's a reason too.
Edmsauce: Final thoughts?
I'm not a private person, so if anyone was ever in the DFW area and wanted to come hang out or something, just hit me up on my facebook or twitter. Lets grab some lunch or watch a movie!
I wish I lived in Dallas… Catch all of Skrux's music on his soundcloud, hit him up on facebook or twitter, or just email him and go hang out.
