TNTALK: BEATS WITH MELLO MARC

Soon after his debut EP Soul Purpose, E.Nigma met Mello Marc and they released a single called 'Da Bassment', & the rest was history. With E. floating on the laid back beat, this sparked a relationship between the two that would last years and projects later. From there they took it to the next level with a full length project, 2015's 'Circadian Rhythms', followed by 2016's 'SZN' EP. You may have heard Mello for the first time on 'Mello Speaks', featured in E.Nigma's TNTuesdays series, and today we dig a little deeper into the mind behind the beats.

“Mello is my brother, and that showed in the music from the start. In the beginning over emails & text, but after 'Da Bassment' we just clicked and built off that. I didn't actually meet Mello until maybe a few months into working on Circadian Rhythms, but when we met it felt like I knew him forever. His beats helped me focus more on my music, not any sound or wave, but on building my art up, saying what I wanted to say. One of the things that inspired the return of 'Team Nigma Tuesdays' was those songs we worked on that really showcased our chemistry. Blessed to create what we have already, but even more excited to see whats to come. We got way more work to do.

— E.Nigma

"Mello is my brother, and that showed in the music from the start...We got way more work to do."

-E.NIGMA ON HIS BOND WITH MELLO MARC

FIRST IMPRESSION WORKING WITH E.NIGMA

MELLO: My first impression [of E.Nigma's work] inspired me to become better at what I do. He pretty much had the sound that I fucked with heavy. Since my first track with E. I can say I definitely grew with my music, working with him helped me find a way to speak through my beats, on some tell a story type shit.

JOURNEY FROM 'DA BASSMENT' TO 'CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS':

MELLO: I liked how [Da Bassment] flowed, it was just a natural process. Then after that track, I just knew we could do something big, and it was just evolution from there. I loved the idea of Circadian Rhythms when we chopped it up about it. If I had to pick my favorite part of the process for that project, it was finding the samples for it. After they were done [by E.], I was just amazed at how they came out.

FAVORITE E.NIGMA & MELLO MARC COLLABORATIONS:

MELLO: I would have to say Da Bassment, Fall Back (Remix) with Paradise and...Quarter. That one def jumped up for me too, I fuck with that joint heavy! Circadian Rhythms brings me back to those summer nights in EO [East Orange, New Jersey], the stoop nights with the fresh slice and the dollar Arizona.

MELLO (1).jpg — *"I definitely grew with my music, working with [E.Nigma] helped me find a way to speak through my beats" -Mello Marc*

FAVORITE PART OF BEAT MAKING:

MELLO: My favorite part of production is definitely the looping process. I mean finding the sample is one thing, but finding the right loop is just a good feeling. Usually I start with the drums, strangely, then I find the perfect sample to ride over it. Then it all comes together.

INSPIRATIONS AS A PRODUCER/DJ:

MELLO: I got so many inspirations man, but definitely my pops (DJ C Scott), he put me on to Hip-Hop at a young age, y'know. Of course my fellow producers out there, and the producers before me, but to name a few FlyLo, Pete Rock, Dibia$e, Premier, MadLib...so so many bro.