Sandhill: The spear of Arab hip-hop music production

Nawar Al-Rufaie AKA Sandhill is an Iraqi/Canadian music producer. It won’t take much time till you realize that he is a true genius when it comes to reflecting truth using his beats, reflecting authenticity and simply meditation to your eardrums. The way Sandhill produces music makes you admire the art of music production which sometimes gets overlooked by the public, but personally, I believe the producer is as important as the singer.
I caught up with Sandhill and had a quick chat with him for Arab News:

Tell us a little bit about you, where you are from and what got you into music production?
I was born in Abu-Dhabi in 1981 to Iraqi parents, grew up in Montreal and I am currently based in London, UK. I started writing rhymes and rapping with my childhood friend The Narcicyst and late brother Nofy in the 90s. It was around that same time while in high school that a friend introduced me to the world of vinyl, particularly 12” singles, which normally included instrumental versions. This developed my fascination with sample-based beats. As I began collecting records, producing mix tapes and later doing my own radio show in college, audio production software became available for the first time. Seeing that I was raised in a household where classical Arabic music was always in the background and grew up with two elder siblings who were into hip-hop and pop, it was only natural for me to explore the incorporation of these two worlds almost immediately after getting access to beat-making programs. That said, I started making beats in 1999 and co-founded Euphrates in 2000.

“Euphrates Collection” is a ground-breaking record about Arab Identity in the West, fostered by Euphrates. You held the reins of music production on this album. Take us through the process of making these soulful beats.
The production was handled by myself and brother Nofy, and the process would normally start with a sample, which is how I still work. I’m very selective with my sample choices and as a result spend a lot of time looking for a particular mood or melody, on various formats, such as vinyl, CD, even digital, depending on quality. I also place a lot of importance on finding samples, regardless of genre, which haven’t been used before. After building a rough sketch around the chosen sample, I then decide if I want to flesh it out and fully produce it into a progressive, multi-layered instrumental song with a beginning, middle and end. I like collaborating with live musicians sometimes for bass, guitar and keys to get a more natural feel and textural contrast. On the other hand the process is often as simple as slapping some banging drums under a magical sample!

You have collaborated with the top Arab hip-hop artists The Narcycist and Omar Offendum, Shadia Mansour, DAM, El-Far3i and many others. How did you meet? Was the chemistry between their flow and your beats instant or progressive?
The international Arab hip-hop community is rather small so you eventually end up meeting fellow artists while traveling and/or online. We are all mutual friends. In terms of chemistry, I’ve been fortunate to have worked with extremely talented people, who make my job as producer much easier. I also know prior to working with somebody if our styles will be complimentary.

What inspires you in making your compilations? Are beats born from the mundane or do you have a personal system?
Life experiences, whether good or bad, and the desire to express an emotion in the form of music are what inspire me to create. It could be a major event, a random conversation, meeting a new person, watching a really powerful movie, seeing a show and surely listening to inspiring music. Sometimes it comes down to a basic need to create, regardless of whether something decent is produced. I’m also really fascinated by the idea of leaving behind a legacy, a body of work that will continue to exist when I’m gone.

Many artists vouch for your unique anthology and captivating beats. Do these testimonies add any pressure to create more and better?
No, I just do what I feel to be honest. That’s not to say I don't strive to evolve, because there is nothing worse for one’s creativity than getting stuck in a comfort zone and not being challenged. There’s always something new to learn. I also expect my friends to be honest with me and provide constructive criticism.

On your bucket list, is there an artist you would dream to collaborate with?
Yes, the legendary Sade. She’s one of my favorite singers and songwriters of all time and it would be a great honor to work with her. I would also love to collaborate with D’Angelo and Lauryn Hill, who in my opinion are musical geniuses. In terms of hip-hop, the list would definitely include Nas and Jay Z.

Who are your inspirations when it comes to production?
Hip-hop-wise, I would say Dr. Dre because he is a visionary who pioneered a whole sub-genre. He’s like a movie director who assembles a team of creative people to get the best possible result out of the artists he produces. Same goes for Kanye, who although as a rapper I am not a fan of, thinks about the larger picture musically and pushes the boundaries of the genre. He has come the closest to mastering the art of combining dope sampling with live instrumentation. Last but definitely not least, Rick Rubin, for his longevity, originality and ability to create hits for anyone from Jay Z to Johnny Cash and the Dixie Chicks.

Is getting your track played on FM radio as important as before?
It has frankly never been a goal of mine, but getting the occasional royalty check is always a nice little surprise. Artists today have so many online resources at their disposal to market their music and directly interact with their fans, that the role of radio is not as crucial for indie acts anymore.

Where do you see yourself in five years from now?
Hopefully making music out of a studio somewhere tropical!

If you would give advice to a young and upcoming hip-hop producer, what would it be?
Be yourself and work hard. Also, expand your musical horizons by listening to and studying all types of music, not strictly hip-hop.

Where can people find you?
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sandhillbeats
Email: [email protected]