Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Kubie.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Steven. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Hey! I’m Steven Kubie, also known as Steven Q-Beatz. It’s crazy to think that I’ve been doing music for almost 20 years! Here is a little back story of how I got started and where I am today. When I was around 12 or 13, I started messing around with some primitive recording software on the computer that I had at the time. I would do silly things like record my voice and reverse it. Then, I would try to speak backwards and reverse the audio recording to see if it would sound “normal” once I played it back.
My brother Adam was actually more into music than I was at the time. He had a big vinyl record collection and would give me the instrumentals and acapellas to a bunch of hip-hop records for me to blend and remix. I started out sampling music from movies and television shows, and make tracks using different sources, creating something new in the process. I taught myself how to chop, quantize, loop samples and program drums. This was a time way before YouTube production tutorials! The “Q-Beatz” nickname originated due to a combination of my last name being mispronounced in middle school, and the fact that I was the only person in my school at that time that made beats.
Throughout high school, I would pass out my instrumental cd’s and have some local rappers rap to them. Me and my brother even made some of our own songs during this time. In 2004, the first song that I produced for a local Miami group started playing on Power 96 in Miami. It was awesome finally hearing my work on the radio, even if it was short-lived. In 2006, a great friend of mine named Dre, who is also a music producer, told me that he was thinking about attending SAE Institute in Miami. This was great timing, as I was unsure which college if any, I wanted to go to. I already knew I wanted to take my music career to the next level and be more serious about it, so I decided to enroll.
This was one of the best decisions I have made, as I learned more about engineering and how to make my productions sound better. Once I graduated, I got an internship at Circle House Studios in North Miami, with the recommendation of one of my professors at SAE. Being an intern and an assistant engineer was a very humbling experience. I got a first-hand glance at how major producers, engineers, artists and labels all worked together to create something from start to finish.
After my internship ended, I was back at Circle House a week later to mix a song from a local rap group that I co-produced! In 2008, I started working with some more local artists and worked at different studios throughout Miami and Broward to gain more experience and perfect my sound. In 2010, I met music producer Bigg D through a classmate that I went to SAE with. I realized the importance of collaboration and working as a team to get more things done. He was really impressed with the beats I was sending him, my ability to flip samples and the fact that I was also an engineer.
There was one R&B beat that we had worked on together that we knew was special. This track made its way to Chris Brown and it became his song “Wet The Bed”. Ludacris even rapped a verse on the song as a featured guest. The album that song appeared on (F.A.M.E.) won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2011. I couldn’t believe it! This was my first major song placement as a co-writer, all stemming from an idea that I initially started in my bedroom! I continue to work with Bigg D, producer/writer Lamb, and their company 12th & Collins Entertainment, and have co-written songs and programmed beats for such artists as Missy Elliott, City Girls, Trick Daddy, Trina, Mary J. Blige, Ball Greezy, and SWV, among many others.
I learned a lot more about the importance of sound selection and song structure from Lamb and Bigg D. Besides my work with the 12th & Collins team, I have many other outlets for my musical creations. After linking up with my friend Eileen Hochberg, I was able to place many of my instrumentals, and songs that my brother Adam and I have written and performed, in major television shows and films. I also ventured out of the States and produced for a few Latin Hip Hop artists such as Akapellah.
A few months ago, I released my first official album as an artist, Synths the Beginning (Pt. 1), which consists of retro 80’s styled instrumental songs. I have also joined forces with talented artist/writer Tag and dope producer/musician Steele Risin’ to form QST Music Group. The songs we have done together so far are getting some great responses! I’m always willing to work with people who have the same work ethic, drive, and consistency as me. My music career pretty much started from me fooling around without any formal training, but it was my dedication and vision that kept me going, wanting to learn more and to never give up my dreams.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Things were definitely not always a walk in the park. I was not making money right away. There were many free engineering sessions and the giving away of beats to artists without any form of payment. I had to hone my skills and teach myself all about the music business. There were sacrifices to be made for sure. I had to have discipline, especially when it came to staying in my studio to learn my craft for long hours at a time. I was always dedicated to making music come first, instead of going out and partying with my friends.
I practically put my social life on hold and lost quite a few relationships and friends along the way. People don’t always understand the industry from the outside. My parents believed in me and encouraged me from early on, but I’m sure they would be happier if I were to go to college and get a consistent career, which is difficult to balance with a creative career. Now that I am further along on my music journey, my main challenges include finding time to be artistic and new ways to get inspired and stay dedicated. No matter what field you’re in, it is imperative to remain realistic and to avoid negativity and dramatic situations as much as possible.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
With 20 years of experience, I am confident that my company can handle anything having to do with music and audio. Over the years I have studied the game and diversified my sound to stay relevant. I am fully able to produce and perform music in many different genres and sub-genres. Even if I’m not as familiar with a certain style, I will collaborate with another producer or musician who is, in order to get the job done. I pay attention to detail and am always willing to outwork the competition.
People like to work with me because I am serious and focused, and I have been told I have the hardest drums around! I am filling a void on the engineering side as well when it comes to my attention to detail, such as with vocal tuning and editing. I am well-rounded, in that I can assist with all aspects of the recording process from start to finish, whether it be songwriting and vocal production, or even putting together that final mix-down.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan on continuing to provide my services and to always be a part of great music. I’d like to find more studios in my area to work from. I’m always looking for talented artists to produce, write and engineer for, and I enjoy collaborating with other great producers, songwriters and musicians both locally and globally. Most excitingly, I plan to release some more projects as an artist in the near future and am looking forward to landing even more sync licensing placements.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenqbeatz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevenqbeatzkubie1
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevenqbeatz
- Spotify Artist Page: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6nVR3UMdNFBbnRlZTkwbol
Image Credit:
https://www.instagram.com/officialmrsurge
https://www.instagram.com/imaginationalleninc
https://www.instagram.com/biancaastralaga
https://www.instagram.com/youknowtag
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