Low-end inspiration: Flava D is at the forefront of bass music

You were 16 when you started producing. What would your tips be for people looking to get into music production?

Don’t rely too much on sample packs to do the work for you. A lot of people are getting these loops or getting these one shot sounds and not really motivating them to use their own ideas properly. It’s just not very creative. You just have to think what’s going to make you different. Don’t make what everyone else is making because that way you’re not going to stand out for much longer. A lot of emails in my inbox are sounding like things that have been made in sample packs. You just have to work on creating your own style. If you can create something that people are going to recognise, you’re always going to be winning.

Would you say you’ve got a special sound?

I don’t know if people notice but every track I make I have a signature echo noise that I put on the first drop of the tune or in the build-up. Pretty much most tracks I’ve made, even my grime instrumentals, a horn noise is always in there. If my production was on a mixtape, my name wouldn’t be on there. I thought if I put that sound in my tunes, people are going to know it’s a Flava D beat. It just always stuck and I think people recognise that, too.

E.M.M.A, Ikonika, Dexplicit and P Jam hosted the Beginners’ Music Production Workshop For Girls in June. How important are things like that?

Things like that are really good as it can give new females in the game confidence. It’s not such a male-dominated scene anymore, though. There are female DJs and artists popping up everywhere. Obviously there’s things that could change but it is changing for the better. There’s a lot of talent emerging in all areas of the music scene. Nina Wilde is someone I’m really rating.

What could change?

I’m not into all girl line-ups. It’s good to see females on a line-up with males and being seen as equal. I like seeing that rather than females being bunched together. I want to see them presented for what they’re good at and for them to be more equal, not being known as a good ‘girl’ DJ. I want them to be known as a good DJ or producer.

'fabriclive 88' is out on July 15, the same day as the launch party featuring Flava D, DJ Q, Elijah & Skilliam, Royal-T, D Double E and more

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter