Filmed by Mary Tio & edited by Julia Steinhouse
Jefferson Alade, also known as the creative mastermind behind Ryze Productions, is a soon-to-be alumnus at UCLA, earning a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Music Industry. I sat down with him to discuss his holistic experience as an emerging musician and how his time in Los Angeles has contributed to his evolution as an artist. We also talked about his upcoming EP release, Idealyze, which will be available on all major streaming platforms in early June.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity purposes
Mary: When did you start Ryze Productions and how is it going and growing?
Jefferson: It first started coming to reality during COVID-19 2020, which was my freshman year. Everyone had to go home type beat and I needed a new hobby. I used to play soccer here at UCLA, but that kind of halted because of the pandemic. So, I started looking for something else to do and found DJing. But even before I got equipment and started taking it more seriously, my whole life I was always someone who liked being put on aux or whatever. I kept DJing for fun, and that led me to start making music. Then around the beginning of 2021, my homie Preju and I were thinking, “How cool would it be if you recorded a mix on our apartment roof during sunrise?” That inspired this whole idea of “Ryze” and ascension, which is focused more on progress rather than perfection.
Mary: That’s so awesome! It’s really interesting to hear the backstory on how the Ryze authentically came together. Even when you were more focused on soccer, did you always have a background in music, or was COVID the creative push that led you to develop these skills?
Jefferson: I would say in terms of technical skills, it definitely was over COVID when I started developing those. But when I think of DJing, I feel there is an aspect of being able to operate the board and a whole other realm of having taste and knowing what to play. When it comes to creating a sound and a vibe, I think I’ve honestly been developing that all my life.
Mary: Would you consider yourself a self-made musician, or is there someone who’s guided you throughout this process? Or were you kind of just like, “I’m gonna look up a YouTube tutorial to see what this button does,” when you were first starting out? <laugh>
Jefferson: I mean, yeah, it honestly started kind of like that. I remember getting frustrated when my board was still new to me and feeling like I don’t know what to do with this thing and having to figure it out by looking at tutorials. But I would also say DJing is a lot of getting the beat and rhythm right, which comes more naturally to me since I grew up dancing. I do feel like a lot of it was just me looking shit up though. However, I do remember this guy named Ryan Valte (who’s an alumnus now), and I used to always watch him spin at parties, which put me onto a lot of different sounds. Seeing him perform helped me learn that observing people and understanding the crowd’s energy is key to keeping them moving, and over time, I got better at it.
Mary: So what does your creative process look like when you’re feeling inspired to produce? Do you use any substances to get you in the mood or does it just flow?
Jefferson: I’ve considered trying microdosing and producing, but I haven’t experimented with that yet. Most of the time, when I’m stepping into a session, I like to create a relaxing ambiance. Usually, I do that by burning some candles and adjusting the lighting in the room depending on the vibe I’m feeling that night. Sometimes, I’ll even smoke a little bit to get in that headspace too. I believe that finding ways to distinguish between my normal day and switching into my professional creative work mode helps me feel more centered when I sit down and start working because it gives me more of the sense that I’m actually doing something.
Mary: I love that I totally agree that one’s environment does impact their creativity. As someone who is either performing or hosting events around LA, how do you manage your professional lifestyle while still being a student?
Jefferson: Yeah. Uh, I’m <laugh> definitely sleep deprived at some points. I kind of see going to class and DJing as another thing I do, so I find that balance by not taking either too seriously. I feel by doing that, I can still leave room to keep getting better at it without being consumed in it. In order to maintain that balance, I try to remember that I can say no to opportunities, but that’s something I’m still working on being more conscious of. It’s hard because I’ll accept a gig, and then three weeks later, I’m like, “Wait, I’m feeling tired,” but it’s something I push through because I really love what I do. I just try to find those moments when I can rest and have nowhere to be but my couch. If I can wind down with some anime, a lil bit of wine, and maybe a joint, that’s my ideal way to recoup and enjoy some quality alone time.
Mary: Aside from recharging in your space, are there any other meditative outlets you indulge in?
Jefferson: Yes! I’m really into meditation, yoga, and practicing mindfulness. I’d say it’s a big part of my life. Most of the time, before I get into a session, I’ll meditate just as a method to feel present. Even simply being in nature and taking walks is really grounding for me too.
Mary: I resonate with that. It’s kind of like a reset.
Jefferson: Yeah, definitely resetting and refocusing.
Mary: Transitioning back to the chaos of being a DJ…I’m curious to know more about any wild encounters or funny moments you’ve witnessed being up in the booth?
Jefferson: I think the funniest moment I remember was from the first Calico Desert Rave in 2022, and I was the only DJ that night since it was a small production. It was maybe like 1:32 AM, and I was starting to feel tired since I’d been mixing for five hours straight at that point and was ready to catch some sleep. So, as I’m about to start winding things down this girl comes running up and she’s like, “OMG, are you stopping? No way!! I just took another point!” At that moment, I was just like, “I got you,” and went on for a couple more hours after that.
Mary: You’re for the people! <laugh> It really is hard to do what you do, especially considering you only started getting into this not too long ago during the pandemic. As your friend, it’s really cool to be in the position of an outsider looking in, and I appreciate that you’re so transparent about your work. On this journey of molding a profession out of a passion, what are some helpful reminders you can share with other musicians who are still in the beginning phase?
Jefferson: I think the biggest thing I would say, at least for me, in terms of my journey, is to follow what you’re interested in. Since you can’t predict the future, you have to learn how to become comfortable with not knowing what’s going to happen. If you can be attuned to what sparks joy and what doesn’t in your life, I encourage you to follow that instinct. The unknown makes me more excited to keep going, and it strengthens my commitment towards my projects because ultimately striving for excellence will subsequently allow everything else to work out. There’s this book by Steven Pressfield called The War of Art and it talks about the concept of resistance and how it can be so powerful that it can prevent individuals from achieving their creative potential. I find that when I can recognize when my mind is making me fall into self-sabotaging behaviors like feeling doubtful or fearful about my work, I just need to overcome it by resetting my mindset and ignoring the unhelpful thoughts. I think that if you can do that, it’ll create this snowball effect that will help you progress your vision into reality.
Mary: I love your message to “resist the resistance”; that is so important, especially in an artistic sense. Generally speaking, it’s so easy to feel defeated, even if you’re the most headstrong person. Burn out is so real, even if you’re doing what you love. I’m glad that you highlighted that although this experience can be really gratifying, it also extends an invitation to our mind becoming our biggest critic. But there are certainly ways to overcome that through mindfulness.
Jefferson: Yeah the battle with yourself is definitely the deepest one.
Mary: You’re so real for that. So I know recently you’ve been working on producing new music, can you share more details about what’s coming out soon?
Jefferson: Yeah! So I have a new EP coming out called Idealyze on June 7, 2023, and it will be available to stream on all major listening platforms. In a way, it’s kind of like my senior capstone project for Ryze Productions since it encapsulates my experience at UCLA these last four years. I wanted this project to tie my time here in California all together in terms of how I’ve grown as an artist and how my taste in music has expanded since. I see it as a method of meshing my humble beginnings as a musician with the more current version of myself. This EP is my take on living in LA since I’m originally from Canada, and I moved here with the typical perception of “lights, glitz, and glamor.” Instead, I’ve adopted this new belief that home can be anywhere. I’m the type of person who instinctively thinks the grass is always greener, which often leads me to idealize experiences that are not mine. Despite loving my last four years here, I’ve been practicing trying to be more content with where I am and knowing that I’m where I need to be. I’ve been working hard at translating all of these thoughts and emotions into this EP, and I’m really excited to release it soon. I’m also hoping to have some visual content to coincide with the music, so definitely stay tuned.
Mary: I’m genuinely so excited for you and I personally can’t wait to have something new to listen to this summer! What genres would you say best reflect your upcoming EP?
Jefferson: I enjoy layering different sounds together, but ultimately, Idealyze is more experimental and leans into electronic music with touches of house and jungle. My style is hard to confine to just one genre because when I get into my flow state, I love to bring out other elements and see what works. I’d say artists like Overmono and The Blaze have been very inspirational to me when it comes to producing my own work.
Mary: What has the process of creating an EP been like for you? Is there a specific track you’re most excited about?
Jefferson: It’s been cool to look back on what it’s been like to develop this record over the past year since each track has its own origin story. One song I’m really looking forward to releasing is called “Free Floatin,” which was inspired by this idea I had to challenge myself and explore different parts of LA while collecting samples of found sounds. So, as I explored areas of DTLA and other landmarks with my recorder, I took clips of cars bustling and honking through the streets, sirens wailing from afar, people conversing in passing and anything else that was organic in that moment. It wasn’t until eight months later that I finally got working on finishing the project, but it was still really cool reflecting on how much my world has changed since then.
Mary: I’m impressed by your idea to incorporate natural sounds and reconfigure it into a song you can groove to.
Jefferson: Thank you! <laugh>
Mary: But now that you are preparing to leave LA, what’s the best way for supporters to keep up with the Ryze?
Jefferson: Yeah… It’s crazy to think about, but I’d say the best way is to connect with me on instagram (@theryze_productions) or on YouTube, since I mostly post on those platforms. This all started out as a fun, creative project to see what I was capable of doing. So, if you’re in for the journey and want to see what more I come up with, you can keep up with me on my socials. I didn’t fully imagine that this is where I would be four years ago because it all started out as me just doing what I like to do in the midst of social isolation. But I’m truly grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been offered since.
Mary: You’re very humble and in touch with your whole creative journey. It’s refreshing to hear about your experiences getting to this point so thank you for being so candid about that. You were mentioning earlier how Idealyze marks your time in LA but do you have intentions on moving forward with The Ryze now that you’re going back to Vancouver?
Jefferson: I’ve definitely been pondering that because there’s the pressure of getting older and finding a stable career, but I would prefer to find a way for The Ryze to support me long-term. Next year, I’m starting graduate school at the Emily Carr University of Arts and Design in Vancouver and working towards a Master of Design with a focus on the music industry. I’m going to continue what I’ve been doing, which is to keep balancing both worlds and creating. For me, Ryze productions has always been an open vessel of different creative avenues, which is how I started my radio show and why I want to leave room for producing more multimedia works, such as design, events, and anything else that I conjure up. My contributions to art and music as a whole is not only for my personal pleasure but as a means to connect with others and provide support in the form of creativity.
Mary: That’s what I consider being multi-talented.
Jefferson: I try to be
Mary: You’re definitely succeeding in that venture. Throughout this whole process is there anyone you want to shoutout for their support?
Jefferson: Someone who helped me out when I was first starting to DJ is Rob Dong. Also a special thanks to my homies Preju Kanuparthy, Seth Freitas, George Ghaly, Daniel O’Laughlin, and Jack Riley for always being super supportive of my pursuits since I started this all.
