Josef Panda in Los Angeles. Photo: Akeem Brandon, SUSPENDMAG.com
AKEEM BRANDON: What is one of the influences behind creating a certain beat? JOSEF PANDA: I emulate what I like and enjoy myself. It was something Quincy Jones always stood by: "Make what you like." With that said, a major influence in the creative process definitely has to be how you're feeling at the moment. Then you come across a certain sound or record that catches the vibe you were looking for. That's when you know you got something special.
What was the first beat you made and sold as an individual and as a unit (Beats4Clothes)? The first beat I sold individually was to an artist I linked up with through MySpace. I think I charged $80 for a non-exclusive. I felt ON! As far as with Beats4Clothes, it would have to be off the Sleeping In Class album by Casey Veggies. We produced "Forever" which was the intro. Very proud of that.
Have you ever been working on a project and your computer starts acting up and crashes? I've had laptops with nothing but sounds and sessions crash on your boy a few times. I do not wish that feeling upon anybody.
How did you get to work with Chuuwee and what was it like working with him? Dude's name is Byron from Canada who runs a clothing company called Ooloo. He plugged me with his artist [Chueewee] he was sponsoring at the time. That's how I met him. And It was cool. He works real fast. [He's] got a very modest flow.
Josef Panda in Los Angeles. Photo: Akeem Brandon, SUSPENDMAG.com
Did you go to school to learn how to master your production skills or was it a day-by-day learning experience? I went to school so I could expand my knowledge on the fundamentals of Audio and Signal Flow. It was for Audio Engineering, specifically, and Producing just came along with that. Back in 2007, I didn't have a clue about any of it. I knew if I was going to take this seriously that I would have to make a serious move. Educating myself on what I want wasn't a bad choice. I've earned a great deal by choosing to go to school for this. Never will I say school doesn't help. Education is intangible.
Josef Panda in Los Angeles. Photo: Akeem Brandon, SUSPENDMAG.com
How did Beat4Clothes come about? At recording school. That's where the three of us met. I actually sat next to Dom Beets in orientation. And we gear-checked each other low ball 'cause we were wearing the same brands. Ryan was the guy who stuck with me throughout the whole program at recording school. Many students got separated and sent to other groups but we never did. At the time, he was very clueless to a lot of the stuff we were learning about, but now he is definitely on top of the food chain in my eyes when you're talking about an Engineer. Definitely two people I met off this Music that I'm grateful for. At the time, the artists we were working with were getting plenty of love from the local brands in the Fairfax District. So we had a run where we were doing sessions and makings songs for clothes - Literally. One day it just came to me and I told Dom, "We might as well call ourselves Beats4Clothes 'cause that's what's happening". He loved the idea and it went off from there.
Josef Panda in Los Angeles. Photo: Akeem Brandon, SUSPENDMAG.com
Josef Panda in Los Angeles. Photo: Akeem Brandon, SUSPENDMAG.com
What is the process of you three coming together to make a track? When we create together, we just stay as calm as possible to be able to catch the proper vibe for our mood. All three of us enjoy a lot of the same music, so it makes the process a lot easier.
Josef Panda in Los Angeles. Photo: Akeem Brandon, SUSPENDMAG.com
Josef Panda in Los Angeles. Photo: Akeem Brandon, SUSPENDMAG.com
How did you get started working with artists in Los Angeles? Skeme was the first artist out of Los Angeles we landed placements with. He was in our lecture classes at school. He's from Inglewood. Just from meeting him alone it got us plugged with with many different artists from the area as well. Shout out to Skeme and Sox Gang - I rock with them heavy.
Josef Panda in Los Angeles. Photo: Akeem Brandon, SUSPENDMAG.com
A: How did linking with Casey Veggies and Odd Future come about? I actually first met Casey when another producer by the name of C.P. Dubb brought him to the studio to do a verse. Then of course, Casey was the one who got me plugged with Odd Future, who I will forever be grateful for because Tyler [the Creator] is the homie. And he's a genius that just so happens to like my work.
Josef Panda in Los Angeles. Photo: Akeem Brandon, SUSPENDMAG.com
SHIRTS PROVIDED BY NICKLS - LISTEN TO BEATS4CLOTHES