MOTI / BODYWORX

Where are you currently based?

Amsterdam.

How did you first start playing music?

During an internship when I was still in fashion school my supervisor was a DJ in the weekends.

He sold me his turntables that’s when I started collecting vinyl and dj-ing.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

Well, I’m in quarantine right now. Tested positive 2 days ago. Luckily the symptoms are mild, I’m taking it slow now just hoping I can get back to the studio asap again!

You’ve recently produced workout music under the name BODYWORX for fitness app “CABAU LIFESTYLE” from the Dutch actress and influencer Yolanthe Cabau, how did the idea/concept first come about?

It started off with my track “work”. At that point it was just an experiment but it got so much positive support from the fitness playlists and communities I decided to dedicate a whole new project to fitness music!

How did you come to work with Yolanthe for her app?

Through my friend Jennifer Cooke. Jennifer is a good friend of mine and also featured on some of my songs.

Jennifer knows Yolanthe very well and when Yolanthe was looking for music Jennifer recommended me because she knew I was working on a music project that would fit the app.

What influenced the sound and production process?

The BODYWORX sound stands for energetic beats in combination with motivating vocals.

Since the lockdown and all the gyms closing, I found it hard to find the motivation to do my home workout routines.

I just needed something to get me hyped and excited and that’s what i tried to do with the music.

How did you go about writing the music?

I write down gym related tag words and try to make cool short hooks out of it.

Most of the times I record 10 to 15 hooks in less than a hour.

After recording I select the best ones and think of concepts for the production.

Where did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

I recorded and produced everything in my own studio at the ZERO COOL STUDIOS and mastering is done by “onemix mastering”.

Some of the older BODYWORX tracks still contain royalty free vocal samples instead of new original ones.

Right now, I’m working on a few featuring artists on BODYWORX tracks but to be honest I prefer to not get to many people involved in the BODYWORX tracks.

How did you approach the production process?

I start with the vocal and the chords for the breakdown once that feels right, I start chopping up the vocal and try to find a hook that will sound cool for a drop.

Once I’ve the edited vocal chop I play a counter bass melody to the vocal to make it bounce for the drop!

When I have these elements, I use them as building blocks until the track makes sense.

What programs/equipment did you use?

– Logic Pro X

– UAD quad core

– A lot of UAD plugins

Will BODYWORX be a staple of yours?

Who knows! BODYWORX is a project I’m very proud of and enjoy doing!

You run the label ZERO COOL, how did the label first start and why?

The dance music market got over saturated very quick. It became hard to get my tracks signed or to get any commitment from labels when I signed a track at their label.

At that point it didn’t make sense for me anymore to not do it myself. I can release as much as I want and I can decide which tracks are my priority.

You also learn a lot about the music industry by finding your own team and doing everything together with your team instead of working with external parties who have their own priorities.

What’s been happening with ZERO COOL and what’s coming up for 2021?

So much happened since I started with ZERO COOL! It was a bit scary at first but within the first year we did over 100 million streams.

This was a confirmation for me that I made the right choice starting my own label. The first year was a year to gain attention for the label.

We did this by releasing a MOTi single almost weekly, this stood out for a lot of people and gave us the attention we needed to make it work.

In the second year we starting analyzing statistics and polishing our strategy, right now in 2021 we have 2 labels: ZERO COOL & ZERO DEEP.

We receive so many good demo’s that we release 4 tracks a week from other artist spread out over the 2 labels and I try to do 1 MOTi release a month and 1 BODYWORX release.

How’s it been being a DJ and in the music industry since Covid started and how have you been dealing with it?

For me it’s okay. I love being in the studio, I work with my family and friends so I get to see them every day at the office, we build a gym in the office so I get to work out.

I miss touring and dj-ing but I’ve also realized I’ve really missed being with my family in the weekends. It feels great to go to the forest or beach with my kids I really missed that.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Bad Bunny.

What do you like to do away from music?

Hang-out with friends. Eat drink chat.

What’s yourself MOTi been working on and what do you have planned for 2021?

I’m learning to take things slower. I don’t have to work 12 hours a day, I can chill in the weekends instead of working over-time.

You know just enjoying life next to my career. Don’t get me wrong I still work hard but between working hours now lol.

2021 will be another year full of releases. I’m experimenting a bit more this year on production side but also on features etc.

You’ll see I’m excited :-D!!!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

If you’re in Amsterdam and you love meat you should check out “Wagyu Yakiniku Kanata”.

One of the hidden gems in Amsterdam. A5 wagyu meat and more for a decent price.