Hailing from Long Beach, California, Curtis Heron quickly became a staple producer in the hip hop community. The TeamSESH member has a vast discography, producing extensively for BONES and seshollowaterboyz, as well as for Spooky Black, Bladee, and even A$AP Rocky. We got to speak with Curtis about his background, TeamSESH, earlier collaborations, and much more.
Underground Underdogs: So formally known as SaavageBeatz, you’ve been making music for quite some time now correct?
Curtis Heron: Yeah I always get my timeframe fucked up, but that was early 2012 when I started, maybe a little earlier than that even (I smoke too many blunts I don’t know).
And what was your introduction to production? How musical were you growing up?
My cousins used to make music and produce from their bedroom in the early 2000s, so I was introduced to an early version of FL Studio. I messed with it, but didn’t get into it fully until many years later, but I always had an interest in music since I was younger. I wasn’t musical at all really, I had to learn everything I know about making music by myself through practice and books. And experience of course.
What would you listen to growing up? I remember being told you were pretty into jazz.
Yeah jazz, 90s hip-hop and RnB — 2000s included of course. A bit of rock and that’s pretty much it. As I got older I dove into what I listen to more now, but I still love all the stuff I grew up on.
Who would you say some of your biggest influences were musically?
Back when I got into producing, it was Cardo and Lex Luger that got me into making beats and wanting to be a producer.
So when did you make the transition from SaavageBeats to Curtis Heron, and what made you make that switch?
Around 2013 or 2014 I changed my name. I guess I changed it because Curtis Heron makes a lot more sense as a name for me, who I am as a person I feel like. And it’s pretty catchy you know?
Oh most definitely. When did you connect with TeamSESH?
It was around the time of the “GoldRope” video that I started to take interest of the sounds BONES was making. I started out as just a fan of the music, and from then I messaged him and I sent him beats then next thing you know I did production on one of his tapes. I officially became a member on July 12th, 2013. That’s when he first announced it.
So I couldn’t even imagine the journey from then until now. What is perhaps the most memorable experience you’ve had helping develop TeamSESH?
All of it, it’s all been a journey for me since I became a member of TeamSESH and we’re all getting better at what we do still to this day, so who knows what the future holds.
Honestly, I don’t want to pinpoint my music to one thing, so I’ll leave that up to people who listen to decide how they feel
When was it in your career when you linked up with Yams and A$AP Mob? I noticed Yams was in your Twitter header. What was your relationship with him like, and how did you guys connect?
I have such a bad memory, but I’m pretty sure it was 2013 when I linked with Yams. He reached out to me simply through a Twitter DM. I obviously was not as close as he was to the people he really knew, but he gave me a chance out of nowhere. He was somebody doing something so big at the time, that reaching out to me was crazy and I’m forever grateful for him and that opportunity he gave me. I couldn’t imagine what he’d be doing now and what he would of accomplished by now. He was about to take over.
That’s amazing. A lot of people including myself were wondering if “Canal Street” came about through your guy’s connection?
I’m not completely sure, but I think he knew of BONES before. I did send him one of his songs but I think he heard it already. Yams had an ear for the upcoming sound at that time so, I’m sure he already knew what was up.
How did you connect with Bladee?
I don’t remember exactly how we started working back then, but I’m pretty sure I just hit him and sent beats to him and we were gonna work on more shit. First song I heard by him is “BLEACH” and then I wanted to work with him he really has a crazy sound and some old rare gems I used to love that I have to revisit. s/o Bladee. I didn’t maintain a relationship with him because I was just doing other shit in life and him too. It’s hard to keep a working relationship with somebody through the internet.
So what is your creative process like when you make a beat?
It’s always different. I either start off with chords that I play, a sample, a drum pattern ― it really always varies. That’s about as in depth I’ll get about my process over an interview ever.
How would you describe your sound yourself? I found it difficult to describe on my own.
Honestly, I don’t know and don’t want to pinpoint my music to one thing, so I’ll leave that up to people who listen to decide how they feel and how they would label it ― that is fine with me.
What is your favorite track or project you’ve produced, if you could pick one?
I would say “An Uncertain Feeling Of Bliss” is my favorite song I’ve made.
Like any human being I’ve been happy and also have felt like I want to stop going on. Which, to me that’s normal
What about your favorite collaboration?
“TheWhisperOfTheWind” with BONES.
Let’s talk about An Uncertain Feeling. How did that project come about?
I’ve experienced so many different things in life, good and bad, in the past year so I just kind of wanted to express that somehow some way through this music. My last project Up At Dawn to me was more of a compilation of different music styles I like to play with but with this, it is more of an expression of myself and what I’ve felt / been feeling since that project dropped last December.
Like any human being I’ve been happy and also have felt like I want to stop going on. Which, to me that’s normal, feelings are feelings but I feel like I was able to capture how I felt at moments through these songs. Sadness, triumph, happiness, and anger. I know being high is not an emotion, but I also wanted to capture that feeling, like the music makes you feel relaxed and calm. I just wanted this EP to be something somebody can put on and just go to another world.
Are there projects or anything else we can look forward to?
For the next couple months or so I’m focused on producing projects for some artists, I announced one and finished one already (Eddy Baker & OmenXIII) so expect more EPs produced by me this summer and after. I’m working on a solo project that will be out later this year, and more this summer but I don’t want to give away too much info.
Listen to An Uncertain Feeling down below.