Even if you haven’t heard the name, I can almost guarantee you’ve heard the music. Medasin, a Dallas native, has been blowing up, opening for some of the rarified megalodons of electronic music, artists like Martin Garrix, Kaskade, and Kill the Noise.
He’s one of the youngest producers to hit the scene, and seems to have no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Before opening both nights of Kaskade’s Spring Fling, he sat down with Jukely to talk about anything and everything, but not without his fidget spinner.
You can listen to his latest release, a remix of “Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man here:
Watch the full interview below:
The full transcript can be read below.
You started making music at age 12. What got you interested at such a young age?
My brother got me into producing when I was super young because he was producing, too. He got FruityLoops on the family computer when I was about 12 years old. It’s perfect when you start so young because you don’t over think anything.
I have so many friends that are so old and mature now; they’re so good at making music, but once you know too much, you overthink so much shit. When you’re young, it’s perfect because you just do it. I was lucky to have gotten into music when I was so young.
Who were you listening to?
That’s actually really hard. I don’t know. Right before I got into music, I listened to Linkin Park. That was my first album ever.
I don’t know what I was listening to at the time when I first started making music. I think I just listened to my own corny little beats. I had no idea what I was doing. I listened to my brothers beats too. I can’t even think of what inspired me when I was 12.
I read your past interviews. It said you struggled with drug use pretty early on. Would you say that’s impacted your life and music in a significant way?
I was kind of just a doodoo little kid, you know, like smoking weed, drinking, and doing stupid shit, but in an abnormal amount.
Once I started to do music more seriously, I had something productive to do with myself and it definitely kept me out of trouble.
You’re playing all over the country. You’re opening for huge artists like Kaskade, Kill the Noise, and Martin Garrix. What’s it like? Did you ever expect this?
It’s not as cool as it seems. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fucking dope. I’m gonna keep it real though; it’s hard work. It’s nerve-wracking. It’s a lot to prepare for. I think back when I was young and I first heard “Animals” by Martin Garrix and I thought to myself ‘F*ck, dude, I want to do that’. It’s awesome, but not as cool as it seems.
That question is almost asking me to stop and reflect on what I’ve done so far, and it’s so hard to do that.
For most people it’s hard to reflect on what you’ve done so far; I don’t know if people ever reflect, you know. I bet you Justin Bieber or Drake both think ‘Damn, have I done enough?’
Do you have a favorite show or artist you’ve opened for thus far?
I think my favorite shows I’ve played so far are still brownies and lemonade. Their shows are always just so turnt. They could have anybody on their lineup that no one’s ever even heard of and the crowd would still just be super turnt.
I think my favorite was back in the day playing Brownies and Lemonade with Oshi, Madbliss, and that whole crew.
Do you have a dream collab?
I don’t know about a dream collab, because I guess ‘dream’ would infer that it’s someone really unreachable.
Do you know Gala Mateus? He was who got me super into making music. He’s who got me to take it seriously. I probably would have said that he was my dream collab, because at one point he was essentially my Jesus Christ, but now he’s my buddy.
We actually do have some stuff we’ve collaborated on already. Other than that, I think Sevdaliza is really cool. I’d like to work with her.
If you were to license your music out to a show for its soundtrack right now, what show would you pick?
Rick and Morty! Actually, No. The Eric Andre Show. I would want to make music for The Eric Andre Show.
What do you do when you’re not making music?
I think the only time I actually leave the house in Dallas is when I’m going grocery shopping. I’m so serious. It’s so boring out there, but I’m working on music most of the time.
Do you have a pre-show ritual? Post?
Panic, normally. I just get really nervous. I guess I drink like, one beer. One beer is it. You have to drink it fast, and within 15 minutes before you go on. That’s the tactic. I’ve done the math. I’ve done the science.
Listen: if you’re out there, and you’re nervous, I’m telling you. One beer – slam it exactly 15 minutes before you go on, you’ll be good.
Post-show ritual is just cracking open a cold one with my boys.
Who would you trust with your Facebook password and why?
Can we change it to Twitter password because I don’t even use Facebook? First of all, I would say no one, because it’s like when someone has your phone. It’s not like there’s one thing that you’re scared of them finding… you just don’t know what there could be.
You don’t know what they might find, so I think that’s how it is with Twitter.
If I had to choose someone I’d probably say Austin (my best friend) – no, no, not even Austin. I don’t even trust Austin.
Do you ever get tired of listening to your music every night?
I guess no, because I literally listen to my own music every night before I go to bed. That’s how I end my day. I normally lay in bed and reflect on everything I’ve been working on, but I mean… certain songs I do get sick of. ‘Girls That Dance’ is one of them.
My unreleased music I listen to a lot. My released music – I’m over. Once it’s out, that’s how you know I’m like over it and I never want to hear it again.
What’s next? New music? Tours?
Tons of new music. That’s really it. I’m just excited to put out music. I’ve been working on so much stuff for over a year. We’ve been getting features. It takes a long time to get the stuff wrapped up. I’m about to gatling gun out new music.
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