Jordan River Banks - conducted by Bill "Low Key" Heinzelman
Jordan River Banks
July 2005
Producer Jordan River Banks is one third of Godz Wrath, the production team slowly making a name for themselves through their work with Tragedy Khadafi, Killah Priest and Hell Razah. While Banks has constructed hits for emcees all over the world, he is influenced by grimy NYC Hip Hop. Jordan River Banks is also one of the owners of Super Charger Records, which released their debut mixtape The Campaign earlier this year. In part three of MVRemix's exclusive interviews with the Super Charger Records staff; we chop it up with Jordan River Banks about being one of the hottest international producers in the game.
MVRemix: I just want to start with some background questions so fans can get toknow the person behind the music. So where were you born and raised, and
what was it like growing up there?
Jordan: Amsterdam, central side, a relaxed environment. Not too much stress, a lot
of open-minded people around.
MVRemix: What is your first memory of Hip Hop?
Jordan: All sorts of mixtapes, blunts and graff around the city.
MVRemix: How did you first get into producing?
Jordan: I’ve always been making music, whatever style had my attention at that
Time. So the moment I got into Hip Hop I had to start doing it myself. I
had this synth I used to fuck around with, a record player and a crummy
mic on a old Mac so it was on. I made some weak shit.
MVRemix: How did you start to make a name for yourself in this Hip Hop game?
Jordan: Put in work - burning stacks of beat CD’s and meeting the right people.
MVRemix: For those who haven't heard your work, how would you describe your
sound or style?
Jordan: Dusted, nothing too clean. Everywhere between vintage and futuristic.
MVRemix: What equipment do you use?
Jordan: MPC2KXL, Pro Tools, Kontakt, a MiniKorg and a piano. Some other things
too but this is my main setup.
MVRemix: How did the production super group Godz Wrath form?
Jordan: Twann introduced me to M.O.D. and we connected right from the first song
we did together, titled 'Godz Wrath' - write it down . That was the
start, then Needlez joined us a bit later, also through Twann. Now since
recently Ciph's another initiate, he was making beats all along but never
really shared that with us - he fits in perfectly.
MVRemix: I see that you are one of Supercharger Records primary owners. What do
your responsibilities consist of at the company?
Jordan: Mostly making sure everything sounds as crisp and banging as possible
within our means. Ready to burn or cut, and engineering duty.
MVRemix: Tell us about The Campaign Mixtape?
Jordan: We really needed to put something out which would let people know what
we've been up to until now. Before that nobody really heard our work, us
just being in the studio all the time. It's a selection of tracks we did
the last couple of years and of some things which are about to come.
MVRemix: You and Godz Wrath have done a lot of work with The Black Market
Militia and company. How did you hook up wit Killah Priest, Tragedy, Hell
Raza and that whole crew?
Jordan: MOD knew Shabazz the Disciple through G.I. They had worked together
already. We were recording with Shabazz when he introduced us to Priest
while they were doing a show here and that's how we connected with BMM. We
went out to New York and spent two weeks there recording and mixing.
MVRemix: What is your relationship like with them? Are you their new
production team?
Jordan: It does seem as if we will be doing a big part of the tracks on some of
their upcoming solo albums. Nothing's official though.
MVRemix: Is it tough working with artists when you are not around be in the
studio with them?
Jordan: Generally, in a both a creative and business way yes, but especially the
first is no issue in our situation. The people we're working with now are
creatively on the same page. The internet is a great way of exchanging
projects and we got a lot of things done this way so in a sense; no. I do
think that if we would be around the way a lot more work could be done,
and that creativity builds when you're together, instead of across an
ocean.
MVRemix: What has been the biggest headache for you coming up in this Hip Hop
game?
Jordan: Ego's. Too many people are too concerned with themselves, not looking at
the bigger picture. You need lots of bricks to build a house. Not one big
one
MVRemix: A lot of people feel that people overseas have a better appreciation
for Hip Hop than people in America. What are your thoughts on that?
Jordan: I don't know if this has as much to do with appreciation as with
mentality. It seems to me that in America people move on quicker, where in
Europe people stay loyal to certain artists for a long time. I also think
that America has reached a point where Hip Hop isn’t seen as a culture
anymore but as an industry, and sadly Europe’s following quickly in the same
direction.
MVRemix: A lot of people look at American culture as ignorant or in a negative
light, so when you look at America, what do you see?
Jordan: People misguided into forced labour for a giant corporate entity, headed
by a deeply corrupted board of directors and CEO.
MVRemix: Who are some of your favourite producers of all time?
Jordan: The short list would be in no particular order Willie Mitchell, David
Axelrod, the RZA , Premier, Bo Hansson, Alchemist and Havoc.
MVRemix: What else do you have going on in the future?
Jordan: I’ll be doing a lot of production for Ciph Barker’s upcoming album, Godz
Wrath will be doing a lot of work with the Maccabees fam. We are also trying to
put out some instrumental vinyl's. Besides that, I’m focussing on sound for
picture, surround mixing, etc.
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"We really needed to put something out which would let people know what we've been up to until now. Before that nobody really heard our work, us just being in the studio all the time."