What is THE SOUND OF FWM ENTERTAINMENT

Hmm where do I start.

The sound of FWM Entertainment is: Undeniable, Deep, Sexy , Emotive, Danceable, Distinct and Timeless. These are just some of the words that come to mind when thinking about how I would describe my sound and the sound of the label. I’ve been making music for about 20 years. (I started messing around with FL Studio at the age of 15.) One thing Ive always heard growing up since I became a teenager was “ Stef, be who God wants you to be. He only made one you.” - the wisest words from my late grandmother on my mother’s side. These words come through in my musical expressions. My first experiences with music were riding in the car with my parents, and church. My mom would listen to Clark Atlanta’s Jazz Station, 91.9 WCLK, my dad would listen to V-103 early on, when hip hop became to vulgar and rude, he switched to the old school station at the time, Kiss 104.1. Church was where I got my education in musicality. My grandfather on my mother’s side pastored a church in Atlanta for decades and in general was a pastor/ preacher for a couple of scores and then some. My mother’s family was like a traveling church. My aunt was the choir director and lead singer most times. Her husband played the organ. My cousins took turns on the drums. One of them ended up playing the keys at one time. They could both sing. Both of my parents were in the choir at one point. My dad also ended up being the sound guy there for a while. Talent wise everybody was pretty good; especially my aunt and uncle. Gospel music is a beautiful genre that is so vast, especially today. The style we heard back then had an R&B , Blues, Jazz and Funk vibe to it. Some of the artists we listened to were Fred Hammond, John P Kee, Kirk Franklin to name a few. (Gospel Playlist)

I was never truly into Hip Hop. I did listen but in the sense that I wanted to make Hip Hop beats. I leaned toward 9th Wonder’s productions during that Little Brother era. I also was listening to MF Doom, I didn’t really do my research on Madlib or Dilla, but I did hear that Slum Village track Tainted on tv watching music videos. I was also digging Kanye West. I didn’t own many hip hop albums. I wasn’t really a CD kid. My first CD was Wu-tang greatist hits album ( the clean version haha!). Believe it or not, I used to know and listen to a cat that I found on Myspace music named OG Khalil at the time. It was dope cause he was somebody who lived in my same area and was publishing his music via Myspace - which was my first foray into putting music out. His music seemed huge to me. He mixed his version of trap with anime & video game samples. In my mind I feel he was the first to ever do this. I ended up linking up with Khalil a lot over maybe a 3 or 4 year span toward the end of high school and when I returned from college. This is just an example of how I was against the grain. At that time Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane were the biggest artists where I was at. I didn’t listen to or own any of this music by choice I would always here the popular stuff in passing through other people. I was always for the underdog , the underground.

When I was learning and exploring electronic music back in high school and college, I focused on figuring out how to make the sounds and cadences of 2 Step UKG, Jungle Drum and Bass, and that early Dubstep sound (the good kind not the skrillex type) then evolved into the Bass, Club Music, Future Garage side of things. After my musical taste matured, I ended up at House, Broken Beat, and Techno. I still don’t like every sound or version of these genres, but I can say now this is what I make and the main focus of the label.

So now that you have a sense of my musical background. The sound of FWM leans toward Dance Music. Whatever sub-genre - is up for the listener or dancer to decide. If anything I can say my music is tight! I love making music that has a use; music that you can live life with. I really put my heart and soul into making music; it is truly an expression. (see Do U?) These days I am focused on continuing the output and this expression. I used to have a goal of FWM being like KDJ’s Mohagani Music, Theo Parrish’s Sound Signature or even Kai Alcé’s NDATL Muzik. FWM is different though. It’s a personal endeavor. I’m an artist not just a beatmaker or producer. Not to take anything away from these greats, I just know who I am, and what I do differently. I realize that there is room for FWM to carve its own lane. We are on this path right now at this very moment. Even the fact that I’m taking the time to write these posts is a unique peak into the intention and story behind the music.

I thank everyone who listens, dances , buys the records, the merch, the products, all of the artists and musicians I’ve worked with, my mentor and musical family in this scene. Whatever genre we make over here will be memorable, different and great (to my standards). My goal has always been to express myself through music and release music that I truly love.

Words by Stefan Ringer