Today we’d like to introduce you to Elliott Harris.
Elliott, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started out in music as an engineering intern at Grid Iron studios in the early 2000s. This was my introduction to recording and producing music, which quickly became a passion.
My first day at work, I was given the opportunity to record a young artist named Killa Kyleon, who was on the rise at the time. I had no idea how significant this moment would be. That very verse became the hook for Now and Later paint, a single by the Grit Boys that featured Paul Wall, who was one of the hottest artists in the country. I was afforded the opportunity to participate in the creation of many records that featured artists who are considered Houston Hip-Hop royalty including Big Hawk, Lil Keke, Killa Kyleon, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Yung Redd, The Grit boys and many more.
Needless to say, these opportunities led me to become more and more curious about music production on a daily basis. I expressed my interest to the in-house production team of PT and Calvin Earl, who were also known collectively as the Grid Iron. They allowed me to stay in the studio after hours to experiment with the equipment and that’s when I fell in love. Shortly after this, they rewarded my ambition with the opportunity to take home extra equipment to become even more acquainted with the craft. I was able to build a small home studio built around an MPC 2000 and a Roland JV 1080.
The Grid Iron put the tools in my hands, but Dj Cozmos was the most instrumental in teaching me how to use them. He is one of the producers for the group Radio Galaxy and has also produced for the likes of rapper Big Pooh and Phonte of Little Brother. It was through him that I became enamored with flipping samples and using them to create my own sound, which still remains my favorite method of production to this day. Truthfully, I have learned from countless musicians along the way. I consider myself very fortunate to have been under the tutelage so many talented creatives that were willing to share their skills with me.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has definitely been rough along the way. With this being said, I must shoulder the blame for most of the obstacles that I have encountered. Most of it stems from the fact that I have kept my desire to produce music under wraps for the most part.
This has obviously made it difficult to collaborate with others as well as build a catalogue that garners the interest of other artists. Basically, I have been my own worst enemy.
Fortunately, change is on the horizon, and I have a busy year ahead of me with work on projects from INTNT, Roderick Vonn and Kashmere Don. Its definitely time to step out of my comfort zone and I’m up for the challenge.
Please tell us about Mastermind Music Production.
I would like to think that I specialize in sending hip-hop lovers to the chiropractor for neck injuries, but I’ll settle for providing professional music production and satisfying your professional music needs. Yeah, that’s it lol. I’m very proud to say that I’m dedicated to providing the best service possible and that I’m finally letting it be known that I’m open for business. As far as what sets me apart from others, I think that’s for other people to decide for themselves. I’m just here to work.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Wow, that’s a loaded question. If I had to start over, I would definitely be more vocal about what I love to do in a more public fashion. I consider myself to be very introverted and I have allowed that to stunt my growth in many areas of the industry. I definitely plan to step out of my comfort zone more this year and going forward.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 713-444-1577
- Email: mastermindmusic76@gmail.com
- Instagram: @eharis1911
Image Credit:
Jose Garcia – @garcia3.7
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