Interview | Saqib

From the bustling underground of New York City to deeper, more introspective spaces shaped by his roots, Saqib has carved out a sonic world that feels goood. His productions carry the weight of memory, the pulse of the dancefloor, and a quiet kind of rebellion against genre boxes. In this conversation, we explore the stories behind his sound; his background, his process, community and finally, his recent remix of Husa & Zeyada’s Bel Ax,

You’ve lived and worked in one of the most creatively intense cities in the world. How has New York shaped you—not just as a producer, but as a human being navigating music and life?

As someone who always felt like a misfit wherever I go… when I moved to NYC I felt like I was home with my peoples for the first time… everybody here is a hustler with a wild story, talents and ambitions. It definitely has a strong effect on you over time, it rubs off on you. You get absorbed into this massive spongiform web of energy, for real! I have had the most creative periods in my life here and it has really strongly influenced my sound, my record label, my outlook, my whole life.

I really love the energy of New York City so much. And (drum roll please) MOST IMPORTANTLY I met my wife here and for that I am forever grateful to this city.

Can you take us back to the early days? What were the sounds you grew up with, and how did your cultural background first find its way into your music?

For me music started before I even had facial hair. I grew up in Lahore, Pakistan playing guitar and bass in underground metal bands. Since that time, I knew that my life would always be music and I strived to make that real. My cultural background came into play in two ways … first, growing up in Pakistan in the late 90’s and early 00’s, Bollywood and desi pop songs were a big part of everyday culture. Also My dad loved to sing. He would sing songs all day and night around me and I think those earworms took permanent residence in my brain… And secondly… I started playing sitar before I left Pakistan, learning the raags and basic concepts of eastern classical music and they stayed with me.

Are there any recurring themes or moods you find yourself returning to in your productions—either consciously or unconsciously?

Unconsciously, I think I approach making music like I’m the band… the drummer, the guitarist, the keyboard player and so on and I think that comes out with a consistent but evolving sound. The drummer (me) is into some sounds and patterns these days and repeats them on songs. The bass player (me) is into some bass sounds and ideas and movements that he keeps trying and using and evolving.

And it goes on like that and you can sort of hear the band evolving over the years if you listen to my music closely. So yeah I think unconsciously there are some things that are repeated. Also I think that when you make songs hundreds of times in your life, you absolutely do repeat ideas, themes, motifs, harmonies, licks, chords, drum fills, so many small decisions…And I think that’s sort of how you create your own sound in a way.

When you sit down to start something new, where do you usually begin?

Sometimes an idea like a vocal, a guitar lick, a melody, etc… I am a collector of earworms and little musical obsessions and I store them somewhere to bring back when I’m in the in studio. And sometimes new things come just from play. I try not to be overly goal-oriented or put too much pressure on myself. Because creativity is really hard to control or put deadlines on, you know?

When did you really start appreciating the music you make?

Alongside being a producer, I’m also a DJ and I’m always listening to the newest music to play in my sets. So naturally I compare my own productions to those tracks.

Real talk, it was only after making hundreds and hundreds of tracks that I felt that they were good enough to play on the floor with all the other new things coming out.

Community seems to be a big part of your world—collaborations, friendships, and remixes. How do these relationships feed into your creative energy and the way you approach your sound?

Community is in fact a big part of my world. I’m lucky to have so many talented artists around me and be able to collaborate, release music, throw events, and to just be in one another’s orbit. So many ideas and creative efforts are possible but we just need to be there for each other and to lift each other up. I started the label “Beats On Time” to be a platform to lift up the artists I really care about, to give them a voice and a space to share their sound and to just grow.

You recently remixed Husa & Zeyada’s “Bel Ax.” What did that track mean to you personally, and how did you find your own way into it sonically?

I really loved it when I first heard it. Adam sent me a few tracks and Bel Ax stood out from a creative POV. I like the cadence of the vocal. I like the way that it falls on the beat and the way that it has this creeping rhythmic feel. My approach to it was really simple: imagine a live band playing on all acoustic instruments, supporting Husa & Zeyada performing the track. In my mind the band is playing at sunset in the desert 100%.

What is the core of a really good party/event?

VIBE… which is the energy in the air, composed of the people, the music and a very rare secret sauce which I believe is LOVE.

Finally, what’s something you’re currently exploring—musically or personally —that you think will shape your next body of work?

I’ve been working on a lot of electronic music that’s not 4 to the floor lately. I try to just work on things I’m excited about rather than doing the same things over and over. Some of them are breakbeat-ish, UK grime-ish, and some of them are slower almost trip-hop vibes . I’ve been working with this incredible artist name Naayaab lately experimenting with new things. Absolutely loving it lately.

Follow Saqib on Soundcloud