Khromozomes

I was craving for some quality independent hip-hop recently and I stumbled upon Khromozomes – a talented hip-hop and electronic music producer and beats-maker. He was born in Philly under the name Ruvane Schwartz and raised in Brookyn, New York. I can hardly think about a better place in the world for a hip-hop producer. Ruvane grew up with a taste based on the early 80s rap music he found himself and the 70’s jazz music from his father’s beloved collection. Later he got his own crew of creatives  – which led to, as you can hear, great results.

On his Soundcloud page I got introduced for the first time to his songs.
Speaking about hip-hop I really dig the jazzy intimacy of “Blind Mics” featuring rhymes by Infrared.

If you feel like mellow electronica you should experience the cool trip-hop vibe of “New Day” feat. Kristin Mainhart.

Khromozomes also does some dope instrumentals. In “Damn” the sound of bells blends nicely with the Cafe del Mar-inspired chill-out melodies and glitchy beats.

Or if you feel like listening to male and female vocals blended together a must-hear is “Had Enough” with both Infrared and Kristin Mainhart. It’s among my favorites.
Charmed by his work, I got to know more about him. Here’s what Ruvane revealed.

Ruvane, when did you get interested in music and why did you choose hip-hop/electronica as your genre?

I’ve been interested in music ever since I was a child. Most of my childhood memories have a song to it… like a soundtrack. Now that I think about it, I remember the music in the car when driving from Brooklyn to Philly to visit my relatives. My parents grew up in Philly and we lived in Brooklyn so during the car rides they would play something. I seem to remember Van Morrison’s “Moondance” and Harry Chapin’s  “Cats in the Cradle”…

I graduated high school in 1989 so I grew up with hip-hop. I remember listening to Tribe Called Quest’s first album and looking at the credits on the back. I was trying to find who played bass on what song or what song “sampled” what. I would then go to garage sales/flea markets but to be honest the best resource for getting vinyl records were your friends’ parents. I remember going to my brother’s friends house and when their parents were getting divorced… that meant I can go through any records I wanted!!! During my last semester at high school I interned at Vinyl Mania on Carmine Street. After that I interned at Def-Jam, Wild Pitch Records and others. I didn’t go out looking for hip-hop, it found me. I love all music but hip-hop is my shit. The electronica thing happened after I heard Portishead. They blew me away. I started looking for vocalists and put an ad in The Village Voice. I gave music to some serious candidates to see if they can write to it… and I found the one that clicked. Her name is Kristin Mainhart. All of a sudden some hip-hop tracks morphed into something else.

Why did you pick the name Khromozomes?

I was working with a MC and we were thinking of names, I remember I loved the name Souls of Mischief. That was a group who was down with the Hieroglyphics. The MC came up with Khromozomes, like the DNA of hip-hop. Also I wanted a name that could unite rappers, producers and musicians. Even graphic artists. Like a collective.

You’re raised in Brooklyn, which neighborhood exactly and how Brooklyn changed according to your opinion?
I live in Sheepshead bay. I remember in high school going to the Village and hanging out but now basically Brooklyn is “The City”.
I love going to Park Slope, Williamsburg and now Fort Greene and Greenpoint. Brooklyn is amazing. There is a true community feeling, so many different cultures and nightlife. It’s a melting pot. On the other hand I can rant on all the “hipsters” who are from Iowa that moved here too… but at end of the day I love Brooklyn.

You created tracks for movies and TV productions, including NBC’s “Life” and CW’s “Hellcats”, what do you enjoy more making soundtracks or creating beats for rappers?

I think they both go hand in hand. I love being in the studio and hearing something come alive. Starting with a beat then maybe changing it and getting input from the artists singing/rapping.
I love making and creating music and I feel a sense of accomplishment when one of those songs gets placed on a film/TV show. Makes me feel like I’m doing something right and to be paid for it is even better. No one really buys music anymore. People use music to sell something else – scene in a film, a product, etc..

Do you rap yourself?

No, I don’t rap… maybe in the car driving..

Favorite hip-hop artist and DJ of all time?

My top artist is Tribe Called Quest. My favorite MC’s – Big Daddy Kane, Krs-One, Jay-Z, Nas, Rakim and Biggie. If we talk about DJs I think DJ Premiere is an amazing DJ and producer. I love his music, but if you mean DJs who spin at parties I got a few – Qool Marv , DJ Herbert and DJ Eleven – they are dope.

Khromozomes’ favorite overall hip-hop act is Tribe Called Quest

Which young artists we should look for?

Honestly, I don’t go out that much to listen to new music, sometimes I feel like I’m stuck in the 90s. But if something pops up on my radar I will take a mental note. Actually you know what? I like Lorde. I think she’s dope. The beats are good as well and she has something to say. It sounds pretty crazy to hear a female vocalist from overseas have a hip-hop thing to her lyrics..

What’s coming next for Khromozomes?

We did a lot of performing with Kristin Mainhart – we went to Rochester for the Lilac Festival and played at Mercury Lounge, Knitting Factory, Pianos to name a few. Currently, I’m focusing on my music library and music licensing.
That is what works for me. Getting the “Khromozomes” brand out there to decision makers who match music to film. I have a library of music and its time to promote myself along with the artists I have worked with.
khromozomes+ruvane+schwartz++kristin+mainh

More about Khromozomes’ sleek-sounding production on his website www.khromozomes.com/. Ruvane’s creative collective is also on Facebook,Twitter and MySpace.

This song by Khromozomes and Kristin Maihart – “Chomping At The Bit” was featured at Lifetime Television’s feature film “Flirting With Forty”, starring Heather Locklear, Robert Buckley and Vanessa Williams.

Kristin Mainhart & Khromozomes – Chomping At The Bit from Khromozomes on Myspace.