Interview w/Simon Illa
by: Justin Weleski

As people, we all go through trials and tribulations throughout our lives as we all get older. In many people’s cases, it slows them down, and possible destroys them. While many others use it as fuel to work harder and never take a lose, no matter what it takes. In Simon Illa’s case, that is exactly what he did, is doing, and will continue to do. Not taking no for an answer and continuing to getting more and more noticed on a national scale, is exactly the path Simon Illa has taken. Now looked upon as one of the biggest Philly Producers in the city, we got a chance to meet up with Simon Illa on one of the few days he’s not on the road, or in the studio making hits!
Simon Illa Myspace

*Also please watch this video to get a little more familiar with Simon Illa, as this interview was done as a follow up, to us watching this video clip:
Click Here to Launch Video

215: Living in Paris, Illinois how did you get introduced to rap music?

Simon Illa: When I was about 8-9 yrs. old a kid who lived around the corner from me had family in New York. So one time he came back from a visit and called me saying “You got to hear this tape I got.” It ended up being Run DMC, and right when he played it I though to myself “this is pretty cool”. Because at the time being out there, it was allot of metal, rock, and country. And this was so different and new to me, it just stuck with me.

215: How did you move to Philly?

SI: I knew a few people from coming out to the Philadelphia Music Conference, when they use to have that. So I meet some people coming out here when I was on an independent label. And I really just wanted to get out of where I was at, so going to a city where I knew a few people just made sense. So that way I’m not totally assed out if something happens, and I just pretty much did it and that was over six years ago.

215: Wasn’t your family worried and call missing persons having you come out here by yourself?

SI: (laughs) Well after I left the indie label I had to go back home for like three months, and in my mind I told myself I would never go back home again. And being that I just did, it was killing me inside. I was still making beats in my ‘lil bedroom I had at the house. So I just kept telling my Grandmother that I had to move, and Philly was the 1st place in mind. And she just said “You just have to be careful”. So when I left I think they just thought I was just coming out there for a week and come back. So the longer it got, they did get concerned but I ended up getting an apartment in 2-3 weeks. So I just had to call allot and let them know I was alright and everything.

215: Most people who live here try to move out to get bigger, and you moved here to get noticed. So why Philly and not New York?

SI: My whole thing is networking, so where I was at the time, Philly was a spring board to me. And even to this day it is, cause I did allot here in Philly by making a name for myself. And by knowing people from coming out here it just made sense, and I also wasn’t really ready for New York.

215: Who helps assist you on everyday daily things that you need help with? Any family members with you?

SI: Nah, I don’t have any family out here. And allot of what I do, I do myself. Although the past 3-4yrs. I have been traveling allot, so I got an assistant/driver/body guard that travels with me. Cause things get a ‘lil hectic when I go out of town, and especially with people starting to recognize me. And I’ve had some weird situations arise, so it’s been a good thing to have somebody with me.

215: You have such a versatile sound, crossing genres from R&B to Country to rap to reggeaton. Do you feel that this slows you down compared to just focusing on one genre or sound?

SI: I can see how it can be seen that way, but I don’t think so. Because I grew up on so many different genre’s of music. And I always told myself that if there’s something out there I liked, I should at least try it. And I never come off as a rap producer trying to make a country record. When I sit down and produce a country record, its country. You can’t tell that I just did a rap record 30 minutes ago.

215: If you had to pick one genre, what would it be?

SI: aaahh no. I can’t do it!

215: The rap music you produce has a very today sound that can easily be heard on MTV & mainstream music. Have you ever tried producing more of traditional sample heavy rap music to the likes of a DJ Premier or a Pete Rock?

SI: I have done some of that on mix-tapes with artists Tone Trump, Rockie Reyes, and Nox, Montana Black and so on. So there’s allot of talent that emerging now that have that sound who I’ve worked with. But the deeper I got into the business and music, my mind set is more commercial influence like Dr. Dre, Storch, and Timbaland. So I just picked up on it

215: Would you also say you make this style due to the fact it’s harder for you to go out and dig for records and samples to use?

SI: I really don’t think it’s that. I think one of my strengths as a producer is to know your weakness as a producer. So if I’m working on a record that needs a bass line, then you have to get the person who can do it. And what some people do with chopping up samples is sick. And I respect that, I actually use to sample classical music. I just really laid back from it, cause there’s so many others out there that do it so much better than me.

215: You also produce music the Rick Ruben method as well as make beats from scratch. Which one do you like better? Working with bands or making music yourself?

SI: I think it really depends on the project. Because outside of R&B and rap the songs are usually already done, meaning that the artist already written the song itself. So then I come in and just give it a form. But as far as rap & R&B that is pretty much the business model for it, and is how the transaction goes. A singer or rapper comes in and says “okay, what tracks you got”, and then they pick. But with bands so much more is involved.

215: As we both know Timbaland and Scott Storch are no longer buddies to say the least. With you having history with both of them, who are you still working with if either?

SI: Yeah I really kept a distance from that, although it has affected me as soon as that jumped off. Not directly, cause I haven’t been written off by anyone cause of it. Mainly because I’m not at that level yet. But I have done allot of tracks with NOX, and as soon as I hear he’s on a record with Storch. I felt alienated cause this has nothing to do with me, but I’ve done like 30 or so tracks with NOX, and I have no clue what’s going on. But I haven’t been effected by it to much, cause I wasn’t in with Storch well enough to have messed up my relationship with Timbaland. So I’m still under contract with Timbaland.

215: Now many producers to likes of Dr. Dre, Timbaland, and P.Diddy have been rumored to have stolen music from under-studies or other producers they’ve worked with. Are you concerned with that at all by having a contract with one of the biggest producers in the industry?

SI: I’m not concerned about that, because there’s a business aspect to behind that. And I feel that if you have enough talent then you can rise above it. Because everybody learns from somebody and sometimes get shafted doing something. Unfortunately it’s a cut throat business and the more I got involved, the more I learned that. So there are situations where they say “Your name is going to appear with this guy, but you’re going to make 10 xs as much as you’re used to, so what you wanna do?” So people are like yeah, I’ll do it. And even in the case of Storch, he rose above it and is doing major things right now.

215: Are you still working on your documentary film? And what is it about?

SI: Yeah, it’s going to be about my like as a music producer. And they cover everything from my life, my family, what I’m doing now, and interviewing allot of artists I’ve worked with. So it’s not done yet, it may be finished by the end of this year

215: In hip hop going out and being in the scene and networking is very crucial to one’s career. Do you feel being that you can’t always be out in the clubs and events slow you down? And how are you able to overcome that?

SI: I think ironically ½ and ½ of peoples opinions of me are: “okay there’s this guy in a wheel chair” and then those who just feel sorry for me. But I live the same way other people do, and the cool thing about it, is that people don’t forget about me. And producers now have identities when you see there face, you know who it is. So once my name started getting out there it was almost automatic. And people would come up to me and say “ohh you mean the white boy in the wheel chair who makes beats” and they didn’t even know my name. But it was cool to me cause they would see me out and they don’t forget me. And as of recently from Atlanta to Miami all these places I’ve been, it’s been amazing how much I get stopped in the streets. So being locked in the studio hasn’t hurt me that much, and I guess I could do more, but I’m not in the club partier type of guy. I much rather be in the studio at 12am making music.

215: How do you pick and choose what artists to work with who may send you an email or a demo cd?

SI: Well when I first moved out here, I would work with anyone who would work with me. So as I got more and more work, I really go on word of mouth. And when you get to a certain level and work with a certain caliber of artists you’re kinda set. So I still get emails from people and I still check and try to hear as much as I can, but it’s so over whelming. But I also look for artists with a sound that I would want to work with. Like of recently I was looking for a type of Fall Out Boy sound, and out of the blue I got a message from a group out in Darby who had it. And they emailed me and said they were looking for a producer, so I was on it.

215: Who are you working with now?

SI: I’m working with that group Proven Worth, still Tone Trump, Michelle Day, pop singer Amanda Scott, Charlie Heffley who’s a singer out of Cleveland. Ohh also working with Young Savvy who’s signed to Big Boi’s Purple Ribbon label out of Atlanta, who I just got back from working with

215: Who would you love to make music with Philly or nationally that you haven’t yet?

SI: I would love to work with Rick Rubin. Because one of my philosophy’s as a producer is: I don’t always take people to where I’m at, it’s more like let me hear where your coming from, and let’s be who we are. Ya know, here’s my sound, here’s your sound, so lets put them together.

215: Are you still doing instrumental score work with sports teams?

SI: I’ve actually been laying back from it because the business isn’t really there. I did allot of music for the Phillies, which still gets played for every home game, and did some stuff with the Eagles. And it was what it was.

215: Have you ever done any score music for TV Commercials or anything along those lines yet?

SI: I have, but it’s hard to get those placements sometimes especially on a national level. I did do some stuff on America Rap Stars, which I think is on Showtime now, which is like 4 yrs old. And did a remix with ONYX on that documentary. But as far as the commercial thing goes, you need a dope publisher and agent backing you hard.

215: What’s in the near future for Simon Illa?

SI: Good question, I don’t think anybody knows. I just like to wait and see. I guess I can say I’ve been reflecting on the last 12 months, with meeting up with Storch and signing with Timbaland, not to mention my upcoming appearance on Miami Ink. And how things have escalated. I do have allot of work in the pipelines that I can’t really discuss till the business is done. But got allot of good things in the works.

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