THE 10 Qs SERIES
Miami-based DJ and producer Doc Brown is back with a heavy-hitting two-track EP on Carlo Lio’s Rawthentic Music, showcasing his versatility and commitment to the underground. The release features “Fake”—a bass-heavy tech house roller with an off-kilter 6-beat groove—and “What Is Going On?”, a tribal-influenced track built around hypnotic 16th-note synths, a nod to his stoner rock roots.
In an exclusive Nexus Radio interview, Doc Brown opened up about the creative processes behind his music. “I usually start with the bassline and kick,” he explained, emphasizing how he plays bass parts by hand or converts samples into MIDI to gain complete control. “Even subtle changes over time keep the track alive. That’s why I avoid static loops,” he added.
Doc also reflected on his inspiration sources, revealing how creativity often comes from the unexpected. “Sometimes it’s birds chirping or a genre you wouldn’t usually listen to. It’s unconscious—an idea just sticks, and that’s the spark.” His approach highlights how open-mindedness fuels innovation.
When asked about failure, Doc views it not as a setback but as part of the creative process. “It rarely comes together on the first try,” he said. “Sometimes you need 100 takes before it feels right. But in those mistakes, happy accidents happen—and they can outshine your original plan.”
Beyond the music, Doc brought his personality to the table with some playful insights. If he could trade lives with a cartoon character, he’d choose Schroeder from Peanuts—a quiet soul with music on his mind. As for a celebrity travel companion? Lenny Kravitz. “He’s stylish, worldly, and loves good food and drink—sounds like the perfect travel buddy.”
With past releases on labels like Insomniac and Farris Wheel and appearances at BPM, EDC, and his own Unlearn:Records imprint gaining momentum, Doc Brown continues to be a force in dance music. His latest Rawthentic EP is a testament to both studio precision and artistic evolution—a reminder that behind every powerful drop is a creative mind embracing the messy, beautiful process.
Read the full interview to dive deeper into Doc’s musical journey and mindset.
Q: Tell us about your latest project.
My newest EP is my second release on Rawthentic & it’s cool to have the support of two legends like Carlo Lio & Nathan Barato. The track ‘Fake’ has a bass riff that repeats in 6 beats instead of the normal 4 or 8 which gives a wavy rolling feel to it. Arrangement-wise with something like that you have to be careful that it works seamlessly with a track on a more normal schedule so that DJ mixes will always sound good. With ‘What Is Going On?” I always wanted to do one of those 16th note druggy droned out leads where you play with adjusting different facets of the sound over time. Even going back to my guitar days there were a bunch of stoner rock jams that played on the same idea, so I guess this is my take on that kind of lead element over a tribal house beat.
Q: What’s your creative process like when producing a new track? Do you start with a melody, beat, or something else?
Most often, I like to start with the bassline & kick drum. I typically play the bass by hand, but sometimes I’ll also convert samples into MIDI & go from there. I don’t like using samples or loops for baselines because I think they need to be dynamic throughout the track, even if just subtly. So while all sounds can be filtered, MIDI gives the most control over all aspects of the sound itself. FM synthesis can also get pretty wonky with automation where you can modulate the sound itself over time, which is pretty cool.
Q: What’s the weirdest or most unexpected place you’ve drawn inspiration from?
For me sometimes I think it’s the context of where the inspiration might come from, if that makes sense. You could be hearing birds chirp & pick out a certain pattern, or listening to a particular genre of music you don’t ever listen to because you’re in a certain place & something strikes you as an idea that could be utilized in a particular project. I feel like inspiration is always out there everywhere & it’s interesting to me how sometimes we just pick up on it like an unconscious function. And, it’s different for everyone too! Crazy!!
Q: If you had to swap lives with a cartoon character for a week, who would it be?
I feel like that’s a bit of a loaded question because all cartoon characters exhibit some kind of tragic flaw. They’re imperfect; watching the story of a “perfect” character would frankly be boring, and I think there is probably some sort of overarching truth that can be discovered in that. I think I most identify with Bluey’s dad Bandit & being Inspector Gadget could be fun & a bit wacky, but maybe Schroeder from Peanuts would be my choice. Being introverted with a head full of music sounds quite pleasant.
Q: If you could travel with a celebrity, who would it be?
Being from Miami, it’s well-known that Lenny Kravitz spends a fair amount of time in the Bahamas but from my understanding, he also spends a fair amount of time in South America & Europe. Since he’s also a big fan of good food & drink, he seems like someone I’d get a great travel experience with. Maybe I could get some fashion tips as well!
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Q: What’s the most significant lesson life has taught you so far?
Life is short! It’s so easy to get discouraged or negative, but how you react & adjust to your surroundings ultimately is going to correlate to your quality of life. Make the best of what time has been gifted to you, learn to be at peace with the world & do what you love!
Q: How do you handle failure?
For me, failure is inherent in the process of creation. Writing music isn’t typically something that just comes in a whirlwind of inspiration & captured perfectly on the first take. It’s a series of decisions made, some of which work & some of which don’t, whereby you explore different paths that could all possibly lead to a finished track. Similarly, the recording process is littered with mistakes. Sometimes it can take as many as 100 takes before something sounds the way you like. I think it’s important to embrace the process & go with the flow. Sometimes happy accidents can occur where “failure” ends up being more successful than the original idea!
