SpeakerBomb/Sidney Miller
A protégé of the age of Reason, Speakerbomb, (aka Sidney Miller) is a master of the digital music landscape. Weaned on a joystick, he had his first synthesizer by his teens and was producing southern rap on his own indie label from his college apartment by the time he was a sophomore at the University of Florida in Gainesville. A devotee of Bob Moog and still a fan of his early synthesizers, he was fascinated with not only the creation but also the power of sound. Freed by technical innovations provided by Pro Tools, Reason and other electronic developments to create a new world of music, he is an accomplished producer, songwriter and artist, comfortable behind giant mixing boards, his own studio or performing onstage with his Miko.
With his feet firmly grounded in both old school music and the digital arena, Speakerbomb marries both with engaging song structure and sonic adventurism. Growing up in the shadow of the billboard of urban music, BRE Magazine that was launched by his father, his household was peopled with not only the sounds of all the new music but also the innovators, artists, producers and writers creating them. Reviewing, interviewing and writing for the magazine further honed his analytical ear.
Tuned into not only the development of urban music that encompassed hip hop, rap, pop, R&B, soul, dance and jazz, Speakerbomb has varied musical influences from classical to rock, grunge to punk, electronic to pop. Embracing rock and electronic music in high school where he and fellow classmates Adam Levine and Jesse Carmichael of Maroon 5 diversified their musical appreciation, he continued to immerse himself in the digital landscape as well always on the cutting edge of the new electronic developments emerging.
The diversity is apparent in his credits, which include working with R&B producers The Souldiggaz and Teddy Riley, hip-hop producer Missy Elliott, pop and film producer Richard Gibbs. Some of the artists he has worked with include The Knux, Lupe Fiasco, Missy Elliott, Blackstreet, Brandon Howard, The Souldiggaz, Jully Black (Universal Canada), Olivia, Big Bud, Freddie Gibbs, Josh The Goon, Blacq Audio and Paper Route. Being familiar with his Open Labs Miko, he also found no difficulty in working in the studio with fellow Open Labs supporters Jonathan Davis and Teddy Riley.
As a member of the alternative rock band Malbec, whose pop sensibilities have been featured in “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Kyle XY” and The Sims: Pet Stories 2, Speakerbomb has toured the country, performing in Los Angeles, NYC, Detroit, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Salt Lake City and Chicago. With Malbec, he has played everywhere from The House of Blues to The Avalon to The Roxy. The band has recorded two EPs and one full length LP, Dawn of our Age, and in 2009 released a series of five EP series—one per month—with accompanying video in the band’s Answering Machine series being promoted monthly by MySpace. All are completely produced and written by the band.
As keyboard player for Interscope Records Hip Hop trendsetter,The Knux, he has wielded his Miko across the U.S. performing at Coachella, All Points West, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, SXSW, D-Fest, Rock The Bells, etc.
Speakerbomb can establish a comfort zone whether with new or established artists, film, television, video games or commercial projects, onstage or in the studio or with his own group. His electronic prowess, combined with his musical sensibilities, enable him to deliver fresh sounds that remain universally engaging.
He is also recently make headlines working with up and coming rap star, Freddie Gibbs, out of Gary, IN. He produced songs on both of his mixtapes that were put out this year, "Labels Tryin To Kill Me" and "MidwestGangstaBoxFrameCadillacMuzik."
Artist Q&A:
How did you first hear about Open Labs?
First heard about it on the internet and then learned more about it when my band worked with Richard Gibbs. He introduced me to Victor and I fell in love with the company from there.
What Keyboard do you have?
Miko LX w/ Custom Chrome End Panels
How has the gear changed your method of work?
It has streamlined my whole work process. It has totally revolutionized my capabilities while outside of my studio as well. I used to not like to work outside of my main computer setup, but with my Miko, I have full production capabilities everywhere that I go, from studio to studio and stage to stage.
What is your production station's primary function, live or studio?
My Miko is my main production station when I play live and when I am working in anyone else’s studio.
What is your favorite software on the board? How do you use it?
All that I use is Reason and Recycle. There is nothing else, it has run better on.
Which kind of keyboards have you owned in the past and how do they compare to your Open Labs equipment?
I started off on an Ensoniq ASR-10 as my main workstation and then moved from there to Laptops and Desktop computers. I have a wide range of Synthesizers and Drum Machines though, Dave Smith Evolver, Moog MicroMoog, Juno 60, SH201, TR-505, Etc.
Has the gear changed the way you write songs?
It has changed where I am able to write at.
How different is the composition process compared to the standard computer or laptop system?
It doesn’t even compare to a laptop. It is like having a full desktop computer workstation everywhere you go. I use it because, there is no difference in the capabilities of my home and road setup now.
Do you think the quality of your production now would be possible with another keyboard?
I haven’t fully implemented my use of the Mimik software yet, but that is what will truly separate my Miko.
Have you had any experience with our Tech Support and how does it rate with you?
I had a show to do on Jimmy Kimmel Live and two nights before the show, my Miko began shutting down every 10 minutes. I freaked out and thought that I was screwed. I contacted Open Labs and the next day I was getting my machine looked at by a local tech. They figured out that I had a bum power supply and were able to overnight a new one to me the next morning and have it installed. Another time while in a studio session, I had a Midi driver issue. I simply plugged my Miko into the internet and while on the phone with the tech, I watched him go into my computer and fix all the issues remotely. Simply amazing.
What is next for you and your keyboard?
Performing with The Knux at Austin City Limits in Texas and The Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle this year. Recording and Touring this fall with my band Malbec that released an EP and Video a month for the first 5 months of the year. You can check it all out at www.MalbecTheBand.com
Equipment used:
Purchased MiKo LX4
Purchased MiKo EC5
Artist Link:
http://www.myspace.com/speakerbombmusic
http://www.pmpworldwide.com/speakerbomb
www.MalbecTheBand.com