Rising Stars: Meet Sauce of Raleigh, Nc

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sauce

Hi Sauce, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Yea, so I’ve always been into music and just super intrigued with all the sounds it collectively takes to make a “song”. Music has always been something I feel like helps people express themselves whether they are a creative or listener. So I originally got into the making of music actually as an artist around 2015 with some homies I went to high school with. We started a little collective of artists and creatives, and would hop on songs together. We used to record in my 04 Hyundai hooptie with some wired apple headphones lol but we were having fund just expressing ourselves. We would put together our own shows at what used to be a bar called The Black Flower in downtown Raleigh. We also would make little appearances and perform at house shows and stuff. That stuff was super fun and I love creating with everyone but over time I started to really fall in love with the beats. It was kind of perfect timing because at that point the collective I was apart of started to kind of fizzle out. No love lost just that everyone started to grow up, having kids and jobs and just having their own lives in general. I would still make music in my own time I just never released anything ; would eventually start making beats on GarageBand on my iPad. Unfortunately they just weren’t hitting like I heard all the real professionals on the radio and shit but I kept trying. Then one day a few years later while at homies place there were some guys there that made music and had buzz and one of them told me I should make beats on a laptop which was how I was introduced to Fl Studio. At first I was hella confused like “what in the world are all these squares” lol I had no clue as to where to start. So I basically took that time to go ahead and enroll at Youtube University and learn how to make beats and from there. I basically got on FL not knowing any of the “producer rules” so I kind of chalk that up to how I got my own sound. I didn’t know about where to start the hook or the verse I just did whatever I felt sounded good. A few months in I started just sending beats to whatever locals I knew or found on instagram and a few of them had buzz so with their buzz and the combination of my own style from just trying things it made me stand out I guess. I’m not really sure yet lol I’m still in the process of making it to where I want to be with all of this.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is any road really ever smooth though? lol it hasn’t been bumpy but its not really been “smooth” either. I say that because in music there’s no true “rules” or ” ins and outs” on what to do or who to connect with. You kind of have to just dive in or jump off the porch or whatever little saying that you wanna go with. I got into producing just like most producers, I knew literally nothing. My life knowledge and my will got me this far. As I learn and grow I know it’ll only take me further. As far as struggles as I previously mentioned I knew nothing but I’ve always known that your network is your net worth. So I did what I felt was necessary and I used social media and starting hitting literally everyone in NC whether it was a producer, artist, manager, or A&R and I either told them I have beats or that I’m trying to lock in and see what placements we could get. The struggle was getting people to respond because up to that point I hadn’t worked with anyone so I had no work to show for myself yet. One day my bro Capt Beats responded and he introduced me to Joel Venom I got my first placement with Jack Doyo and from there I kept exploring my own sound which eventually led me to working with other artist and being nominated for Producer of the Year in “The Whole 9” awards ceremony.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I make beats, but I also like to think of myself as an Executive Producer. I can have one idea grab an artist and create a hit. I can also steer artist in the right direction as far as sound and how they want to create/release their ideas onto beats. I wouldn’t say I per say “specialize” in just one thing with producing because I like to do it all really. However I can make a hit. I would say I’m most proud of how far I’ve come. From just being on an iPad in my moms house to where I am now being interviewed by a magazine. Because honestly for a while I wasn’t sure if I was doing what I was put here to be doing but I think I have the answer to that now lol. I’ve worked with so many different local artist that if I sat here and listed names we’d be here all day. As far as bigger more household name artist, I’ve worked with people such as Lil Quill and Young Mal who were signed to Gucci Mane and 1017 for a while. Have unreleased work with YTB Fatt who’s signed to MoneyBagg Yo, I’ve also worked with like YoDogg and various other artist as well. I think what sets me apart probably would be my resilience and just my overall ear for what’s hot or what will come to be hot or a hit. I know what sounds to put in beats to catch the artist attention to want to rap on my beats while also giving it that touch that makes the audience want to run it back or replay it ; add it to like a playlist or something. Cause at the end of the day as a creative, artist or producer that’s all we really want is for our music to be received and felt.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
For me personally those are very hard to answer. Only because I’m not really a person who’s all about what just my city has to offer. I’m more so intrigued by what’s out there because I’ve been here most of my teenage and adult years. If I did have to pinpoint a few things starting with what I like most. It would be that in Raleigh if you work and your work is at least halfway decent that you can pretty much get a chance to be in most rooms and showcase your talents. I say that because outside of Toosii and Ninth Wonder there aren’t many examples of what being “good”is or truly being “next up” which is also one my dislikes of the city.

Outside of Charlotte there isn’t much love given to Raleigh if you aren’t already a known named like Tim Boss or someone of that status. I feel like that also comes from it being kind of hard to get things popping here because its just hard to get everyone on one accord here like an Atlanta or one of those true music driven cities where everyone truly works together. I feel that theres a lot of talent to be given to the world form Raleigh but without real team work and locking in it won’t happen there are too many egos involved. Everyone should just work together, I think its possible though.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: You can follow me @sauce_big