Name: Martin Mendoza aka Doc Martin
Nationality: American
Occupation: Producer, DJ
Current event: Doc Martin will be playing at SXM Music Festival in the Carribean March 8th-12th 2023. Secure your tickets here. Also available now is his new EP "Amber Rox", including remixes by Bushwacka! and Joeski.
Gear Recommendations: If you can find one, I recommend the SE1 Rackmount, as the sounds are deep and warm. I love mine because it doesn’t sound like everybody else's sounds.
I would say if you’re putting a studio together, as I’ve just upgraded mine, I’ve found joy with the Arturia complete which has over 30 keyboards with thousands of sounds. Also you can go deeper into the sounds and rewire the back of the synths to tweak sounds to your liking.
[Read our Bushwacka! interview about Helping Musicians Heal]
[Read our Joeski interview]
If you enjoyed this interview with Doc Martin and would like to stay up to date with his music, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, twitter, and Soundcloud. For the thoughts of one of his tour partners, read our Moby interview.
What was your first studio like?
It consisted of a 707, 727, 909 for Drum Machines. A Prophet 5 version 2, Juno 106, Pro one, an Akai S950 and the first Cubase Computer Program.
How and for what reasons has your set-up evolved over the years and what are currently some of the most important pieces of gear for you?
Obviously with Digital Plug-ins, there is much more you can do.
I’m getting my head around my Akai MPC X which you can do everything in, including live shows and I was fortunate to have it fully loaded with more samples than I could ever use!
I’m also very fond of my SE1 (Studio Electronics) Rackmount. Dr Dre did The Chronic on two of these machines!!! It’s great for that deep analog sound.
Some see instruments and equipment as far less important than actual creativity, others feel they go hand in hand. What's your take on that?
You have to have creativity, and groove first of all.
For myself personally I’ve been able to do some great tracks on a whole lot less than most. You can have the newest equipment, and Plug-ins and still sound flat.
A studio can be as minimal as a laptop with headphones and as expansive as a multi-room recording facility. Which studio situation do you personally prefer – and why?
That’s a tough one. I've been able to work in studios with SSL boards to home set ups with 8-channel boards.
My studio is somewhere in the middle. I have finally after all these years have my studio in digital, and analog harmony!!! I can do a lot more than before with my current set up.
In the light of picking your tools, how would you describe your views on topics like originality and innovation versus perfection and timelessness in music? Are you interested in “music of the future” or “continuing a tradition”?
I really don’t have a side on this. I want to see music make a difference to people. To have them feel what the producer is trying to convey to the listener.
I love hearing things that I haven't heard before. I think sometimes people get so consumed by being just one way musically that may be what’s holding them back.
The best thing for me is when I hear someone play a record I made in '94, and they make it fit into a set today.
Most would regard recording tools like microphones and mixing desks as different in kind from instruments like keyboards, guitars, drums and samplers. Where do you stand on this?
I run all my analog, mices and rackmount stuff through my Soundcraft board to Apogee Quartet then to the computer. I also still use a fireworks 2000 Effect rack, which does have crazy effects. I also have a lot of effects in the box, which I use with my analog keyboards.
Once again, there shouldn’t be any rules. It should be whatever works best for you.
When I started we did a lot of stuff by muting channels on the board, doing live mixes. Punching things in and out, and twerking effects live. I like using the vocalist as an instrument as well.
How would you describe the relationship between technology and creativity for your work? Using a recent piece as an example, how do you work with your production tools to achieve specific artistic results?
It all depends on the project. The record we did called "Amber Rox" for Bushwaka’s Oblong label I was on a 80s funk kick that week. I thought it would be cool to create a break meets KLF acid record. This was the end result.
I’ve been working with Blakatt since 94 in Blackpool England.So he knows that I’ll go on these tangents. So I made the drums at home, and then the SE2 got in with some live passes, added some vox, and it was ready!!!
We sat on this for over a year until the right situation happened. So glad this is out now on vinyl, and download.
Within a digital working environment, it is possible to compile huge archives of ideas for later use. Tell me a bit about your strategies of building such an archive and how you put these ideas and sketches to use.
I’ll get an idea in my head and lay it down. It could be a drum pattern, or melody. I will keep putting these ideas down on a song. Sometimes there will be 100 parts by the end of it. Then I see what works with what.
Sometimes 3-5 different songs may come out of one page. Whatever doesn’t get used gets put into a folder for future use.
How do you retain an element of surprise for your own work – are there technologies which are particularly useful in this regard?
I like to sometimes have a sound that jerks the listener. Weird drops, strange sounds, anything that sets you apart from everything else that’s out there.
Have there been technologies which have profoundly changed or even questioned the way you make music?
Yes we’ve definitely come a long way with plugins, mastering tools, sample packs and overall CPU performance.
I’ve always said I’m just a DJ who makes records. I’ve worked with some incredible producers, and would never give myself that title.
To some, the advent of AI and 'intelligent' composing tools offers potential for machines to contribute to the creative process. Do you feel as though technology can develop a form of creativity itself? Is there possibly a sense of co-authorship between yourself and your tools?
That’s yet to be determined. I believe you still have to put your creative input into it, or all tracks will sound the same.
I can lay down an idea, but it’s still up to the producer to make it its own.
What tools/instruments do you feel could have a deeper impact on creativity but need to still be invented or developed?
As things are constantly moving forward, and making it easier to produce. I would be happy with a coffee IV.
