I am Alex Da Kid, Multi Grammy Award Winning Producer, Founder of KIDinaKORNER Records, who has produced for Imagine Dragons, Eminem, Rihanna, Dr. Dre and More. Ask me anything!

How did you get the attention of Eminem and Dr. Dre?

A guy called Riggs who works for Eminem heard my music and played it to Marshall, then Marshall heard Airplanes and showed it to Dre.

What's the funniest experience you had while working with Imagine Dragons?

Ben jumping off my roof into my swimming pool.

Hi Alex, I just wanna say thanks so much for doing an AMA! What was it like to see some of your productions become big?

well I'm dead inside so it didn't really affect me. lo. lo is the new laugh out loud. I'm laughing out. just not loudly.

First off, huge fan Alex. How did "Wicked Ways" come about on the new Eminem CD?

I heard you made it on your mother's couch, true?

I did that like, three years ago. Um, It was just a track and a hook, I gave it to marshall and he wrote verses. No, it wasn't written on my mother's couch. I can't even remember where I made it.

I'll take the romance category. How should I go about romancing Skylar Grey?

Send her naked pictures

What is it like to work with Eminem?

Working with Eminem is amazing. Lol

Hey guys, I'm walking away for fifteen minutes. I'll be back in a flash!

What's the shortest period of time it's taken to record and mix a song? what about the longest?

I don't really work in that order. I make a track which can take two or three days, then we write to vox which can take a day to a year and then we record which will take a couple days. and then we take it to Manny Maraquin to do his mix magic (SHOUT OUT TO MANNY!) which takes a couple of days.

Hey Alex - while working with Imagine Dragons, is there one specific song or instance within a song that you feel YOU contributed that drove the track to success? Not just production-wise, but actually a large change in the song from where the band originally envisioned it.

On top of the World was a demo that Dan did, that I redid, and it still wasn't right so I went back to scratch and went back and forth with the band three or four times till it made sense.

Hey Alex,

Thanks for your time today. I have a question on how you select layers to develop sounds - is the final sound of your mix almost exactly what you came up with in your head before creating in the studio of how you wanted the song/instrument to sound, or is it developed in trying different samples and seeing what fits during the creation process? How much of it is your say vs. the band/artist?

Also, how long did it take for you to become comfortable, confident and satisfied with your mixes?

Love your work, keep doing your thing.

It's definitely trial and error 90% of the time. When you're in the creative part of writing, I try different things and some make sense and some don't. My mixes, it took me around three and half four years.

I'm back guys!

Would you ever consider releasing stems of your mixes? or, better than stems, full PT files for prospective producers and engineers to see your process and get a little insight. I'd absolutely love to see how you created your drums on the Imagine Dragons stuff, they're huge. Assuming you own the rights to the songs, since it's your label, is that something you'd be interested in sharing?

HELL NO

In your opinion, when I am trying to bang the shit out of my girl what is the best album or music do you recommend to go hard in it too?

Wu Tang Clan 36 Chambers

Hi Alex. Thank you for your time.

My question is very simple. Do you do your melodies from the lyrics or your lyrics from your melodies? what do you create first and how does it affects the second?

Melody generally comes first, but sometime I work backwards from a song title.

real q - do you think heading up a label may have been premature, and maybe detracted from your making music?

HeLL No MOthER FUcKEr! lo

Do you ever feel like your music has any relevance to your own experiences of reality or think about what it means in general, or have you completely lost your mind in an infinite jest?

I think everything in life influences you in some indirect way. It influences your emotions which is where your music comes from.

I know some artists (lets say MJB) like having producers make tracks on the spot. Are you more of an on-the-spot guy, or do you like creating in your own space, on your own time, while the artist (or writer) isn't there?

The second one. If you create while someone is there, it changes everything. You start to show off.

if u love a girl from another land.. and its so hard to reach her..she dont know anything about u.. u have got only one shot to be friend with girl.. what will u say or send or do ?

send her naked pictures

What's the best piece of advice you could give someone who is aspiring to be a musician, but just can't seem to get noticed?

Analyze everything. Why isn't it connecting with people? be 100% honest with yourself. And if that doesn't work, Send naked pics.

Hey guys, this has been fun. Till next time...

Favorite piece of studio gear?

My Ears

As a broke home recording artist, id like to know what is the piece of hardware you can't do without. What software can you recommend for recording and mixing?

Logic and a computer for programing. If your going to record, then pro tools.

Good afternoon, I'm an up and coming musical act I have a general question about record labels. I'm looking to eventually get signed to a label. Should I record a demo and send it to record labels first? Or record an ep and release it to the public in hope that a record label will eventually pick it up? Thank you for your time.

Record an EP. Create as much buzz as you possibly can. With the internet today, a lot of work can be done by you.

One genre you'll never work with is….

I don't look at music in confines of genres

When making music do you keep an eye on what's popular and then work off (not necessarily copying) that, or is it all straight from your head? Does that make sense?

I do have an understanding of what is popular JUST so I can try and do something different than that.

Alex - as a fellow young 'entrepreneur' in this industry, I greatly admire your successes and inspiring work ethic.

Run us through an 'average' 24 hours in your life. What is a day like for Alex Da Kid?

I usually wake up early and go through Emails, take a bunch of meetings, eat some dinner, then come home and make some music.

What do you listen out for most in an upcoming producers demo? is your judgement based more on the musical creativity or on the actual sound of the tracks instruments?

Both, also something that's unique.

@Alex Da Kid. Out of all the producing you have done who was your favourite artist to produce for. What is your favourite genre of music? As things have changed do you stick to old formats of production or do U use technology.

That's like picking between your children. It's impossible. Music that doesn't have a genre. I always try to learn from the past but stay current with the future.

Do you foresee a change in the music landscape in which alternative rock becomes more prominent? What artist(s) would you like to collaborate with, or produce, in the future?

I think that the boundaries with what is considered alternative is going to change. It's already changing a lot, and that's a good thing. I just want to work with forward thinking people.

Hey Alex.

What's a quote you like to live by?

When in doubt, send naked pics.

Hey Alex, first off I love your work! My question is, what qualities do you look for when signing a new artist to your label?

Originality, someone that can write songs, and someone that is a good decision maker.

What's a record/band you've heard recently that you wish you produced/were a part of?

Pearl Jam

what is the best love music ever ?

Wu tang 36 chambers. lo

What's the best way to get your music noticed?

Make it unique. make it better.

When will "Nicole Scherzinger - Pretty" be released?

I don't think Jesus wanted that song to be released.

what's your favourite song which you've produced?

I can't pick my favorite but the one that gets the best reaction is castle walls by TI an Christina

Hey man. You're something of an inspiration to me, thank you for everything you've done and are doing in music. Imagine Dragons is an incredible group, and more recently I found X Ambassadors and instantly loved their music.

With both those bands, did you notice any parallels in the work involved with the two?

ID seemed like there was a lot more work involved, whereas X Ambassadors felt more organic, but the feeling between the two groups felt really similar to me.

Also, how is it working with Skylar Grey? I think she's an incredible and underrated artist.

Yes. I feel like both bands have similar lead singers in terms of their work ethic and leadership skills. Both bands are very different but have a lot of the same fundamentals.

You say you played every beat you ever made to Swizz - does every beat turn out great or do you sometimes make stuff that's...not?

a lot of the times when you are playing to a particular artist, they are looking for a particular sound, so it's not so much is the beat good or bad as it is is it what the artist is looking for.

Hi Alex! I'm a Music Producer and a visual artist from Bangalore, India.

I want to ask you this..

a)How did you start establishing yourself as a music producer when starting out, after being known as an AnR. b) How did you go about determining your worth in this business? (from a brand value POV)

c) Do you accept any demos at all? hah

Cheers man

I was an lowly intern, not A & R

What is a verse that will always stick yo you no matter what and is there any significance to this verse?

theres too many to pick!

One more for ya, I used to work with Tricky Stewart for two years, and his approach to his business is very tight knit and family oriented. He is also great at delegating the work. Do you have more of the hands-on, Steve Jobs, approach? Or do you think delegating the work is the way to go? I'm on this crazy music road out here in LA too, so the words definitely help.

Hands on. But knowing when to delegate is very important.

When you were writing for Imagine Dragons did you structure out the songs first or bring loops and then build the songs together? Did they come to you with ideas and then you make drums for them?

I guess I've just been trying to figure out the workflow of how your wrote those tracks together.

Some of them were beat i made and brought to them. One was an idea that they had that I changed. but generally it was tracks I had that they would add stuff to.

Where do you get your drive and determination to succeed in such a demanding field?

It just comes from the environment that I surround myself with.

Wow you an are an incredible inspiration to me! Loved Airplanes, Love the Way You Lie, and The Words I Never Said. It's awesome that you created a signature pop/hip-hop sound.

Here are some questions: Who are your biggest influences? Any tips for up-and-coming producers?
Favorite song of 2013?

Favorite song of 2013 is "RADIOACTIVE" (singing the song title)

Hey Alex Da Kid!! I'm also a producer but 13 years old, here's my stuff https://soundcloud.com/lucas-wiseman hope you like it! My question is, how did you become such a successful producer?

There is always something missing, in any field. You need to be that missing thing.

When you started working with Imagine Dragons did you see the album garnering the success it has? Do you plan on working with them in the future?

Not this quickly. I knew it would get big though. Yes I will work with them again

Do you ever lurk on Reddit?

No.

Thank you for doing an AMA. Congratulations on all your success, especially currently with Imagine Dragons. I produce and write songs during the little free time I have (my university is very demanding!!).
1. When producing a song I often have to repeat sections of it over and over again till I get it right. By the time I’m finished a song, I’m actually sick of it. It might be a really good song, but still. How do I get over this?

That's a good question. I don't know. I always loved my stuff, even when it was shit.

How did you find Imagine Dragons?

And what other good bands/artists are on your KIDinaKorner label?

I found Imagine Dragons from an old assistant/intern. He would play them for me in the car. You can check out ALL the KiaK family! X Ambassadors, Jamie N Commons to name a couple

What position(s) did you play when you were a professional footballer?

More of a free roll Matthew Latizie style.

What the biggest thing that separates hobbyists from professional engineers?

Their state of mind. Professional people take it more seriously. They make it their total life. They don't have time for that bull shit.

Yo Alex I'm a producer from the UK also currently in LA! I also worked at Metropolis interning and on night reception. I wondered if you had any advise for meeting the right people out here? And what in your opinion should I be focussed on besides mastering my craft while I'm here?
Thanks, Mayday

just focus on getting rid of all of your friends, minimize your social life, and have a "do what ever it takes to win" attitude.

I have a hard time imagining how someone goes from professional footballer (soccer) to record producer. Surely you must have had some musical background?

Also, how significant was getting your degree in audio technology for your career? Looking back, would you do it again?

sending you naked pics btw

It was significant because it allowed me to be around people that were dedicated to music. I just wanted information and experience and I got that in abundance.

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If you're an artist looking to get signed, you need to create some buzz, either online, in your hometown, somewhere. There is no quick answer to building a career

Do you like being on the business end of the biz or the creating side of it? If you prefer the business end, why? I think I understand the passion on the creating side of it haha

for me there isn't a separation. If you want to be successful with music, you need to realize that business is a part of everything.

ADK!

I need to know more about the recording process with Em. I do my research and I know hes a perfectionist etc - but what is the FEEL? - Does he write on the spot? - Does he sit on the beat? - Does he just want the "raw" beat and then does what he wants?

I need these things answered! - FOR MY MENTAL WELL BEING - well, not really, but it'd be dope to know since he's so private with studio sessions etc.

PS - I absolutely loved your work on "Airplanes"

I give him beats, and he just goes away in his own world and writes.

How do you compose a good naked picture?

Are you a girl or a guy? I don't know about guys but if your a girl, I'm an expert.

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I don't smoke weed