Florida-based artist Spoone gives us the inside scoop on what led him to dubstep, his musical influences, and what to expect at his Forbidden Kingdom debut.
Rising from South Florida‘s booming bass scene, dubstep newcomer Spoone is quickly gaining traction with each subsequent release. His first undertaking, a flip of Hozier‘s “Too Sweet,” has amassed nearly 1.5 million plays since its upload on SoundCloud in August 2024. After striking gold with his bass-fueled take on the crowd-friendly hit, the budding artist honed his production skills by putting his spin on numerous popular tracks before diving into original releases.
Now with three original tracks and an official remix under his belt, Spoone is entering uncharted waters. Although the talent is just getting started sharing his flavorful beats with the world, Spoone is building his resume, booking support slots for AVELLO, LEVITY, ProbCause, and Rusko. Spoone has also appeared at major festivals such as Electric Forest and Breakaway Tampa.
Ahead of his performance at Forbidden Kingdom, we caught up with Spoone to get deeper insight into the beginnings of his project, his Forbidden Kingdom debut, and what has shaped him into the artist he is today. You can catch Spoone in action at FK on Sunday, April 26, at 2 pm on The Crystal Spire.
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 497 || Spoone on SoundCloud:
Hey Spoone, thanks for chatting! For those who are unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe your sound?
I like to think that my sound is derived and shaped by sounds that invoke a feeling of heavy-hitting euphoria. Music that can give you a warm sonic hug, while also still having the range to move the dancefloor.
I strive for a sound that can be the vibe in many settings, whether this is the pregame, the car ride alone, or just to provide a boost when you need it most during your day. I look to push something that puts smiles on faces and shares a glimpse of the happiness that music has brought to my life.
What was the catalyst for stepping away from pursuing a career in finance and diving into producing dubstep?
As I pursued my career in finance, I found myself going through the motions while waiting for the weekend to arrive. This led to realizing that I wanted to do more than just watch the clock and log hours doing work that I didn’t truly enjoy. I excelled (all pun intended) at my work and ended up having many hours of free time, which I spent researching stocks, options, and other finance-related endeavors.
None of this really gave the sense of purpose that I feel a lot of people crave. So, I saved up a little money, bought Ableton, and started logging as many hours as I could learning how to produce dubstep. With the help of some of the greatest mentors on the planet that also happened to be great friends — huge shoutout to PapaJay and Noetika — I started seeing results and gained enough confidence to start releasing music.
My first release ever happened to be a great success, and something inside of me told me that there was more to music than I could’ve ever imagined. Soon, all I could think about was production and the endless possibilities. The final deciding factor came in the form of the offer to play Electric Forest. After that, I knew exactly what I wanted to do in life, and I haven’t looked back since. Dubstep was no longer a hobby.
You grew up listening to hip-hop records. Was there ever a time when you thought you’d pursue that direction musically?
Truthfully, no. Production didn’t cross my mind until I got into dance music. I had some close friends producing dubstep, and it led me to get into it myself.
What contributed a lot to me even wanting to produce dance music were the feelings and experiences that came with attending these shows. This led me to wonder how these songs were made. With the amount of knowledge and information available on the Internet, I was able to learn the basics of production and build from there. Timing had a lot to do with the direction. Everything happens for a reason.
You’re part of the vibrant South Florida bass scene. How has the region’s music landscape influenced you as an artist?
It has influenced me in many ways. At its core, South Florida’s bass scene has provided me with the opportunity to experience what the scene has to offer. The growth of bass music in South Florida over the past five years has been incredible. It has provided opportunities for artists like myself to get involved, gain experience, and help contribute to the ever-growing scene.
While there are large-scale events like EDC Orlando, Sunset Music Festival, and Forbidden Kingdom, the underground scene really helped me find my place in the dubstep world. There are so many spots that provide platforms for artists to get the opportunity to showcase their work and refine their skills.
One that comes to mind for me specifically is the homies over at Infinite Collective. They put on events every single week and provide access to platforms that are usually unattainable. I’m truly grateful for them, as I would likely not have gotten as far down the dubstep rabbit hole without them.
You’re gearing up to play Forbidden Kingdom for the first time. How do you approach building out a set that translates to a festival crowd?
In my opinion, good pacing, track selection, and knowing the type of crowd you’re playing to go a long way to helping build out a set. In the case of Forbidden Kingdom, I feel that I have the advantage of knowing exactly who I am playing to.
This was one of the first music festivals I ever went to, and it played a huge part in shaping my taste in dance music. With this in mind, I know that I can go heavier than I typically do. I’ve spent the weeks and months leading up to this expanding my catalog on the heavier side of things, and it has been extremely fulfilling and exciting.
As far as track selection, I really enjoy showcasing my own work, as well as the work of friends and those I look up to in the scene. This blend helps me to provide a unique experience each time I play, which I feel works toward leaving a lasting impression on anyone who takes a chance on coming to see me play.
Flips have been a huge part of your success thus far. How has SoundCloud allowed you to create freely and reach potential new fans without the pressure of formally releasing tracks?
SoundCloud has been a vital piece in my journey so far. It has allowed me to find my sound, all while connecting to people through a number of avenues.
Almost all of my flips have been songs that have left an impact on me at some point in my life, and I feel like that resonates with people who share a similar experience. Flips tend to be far more digestible for those who do not typically listen to dubstep, but they can still reach those who already enjoy it. SoundCloud, without a doubt, plays a vital role in the growth of the scene.
“Crunch” is your most recent single. What was the inspiration behind this release?
The inspiration for “Crunch” came from a couple of different directions. As of late, I have really been enjoying how hip-hop drums can be minimalist while still creating a nice groove. I wanted the track to have a sense of liveliness and almost talk to the listener throughout the song. I have been looking to expand my range in the sound design sphere and ended up with sounds that consistently reminded me of one thing: crunch. From there, it pretty much wrote itself.
As you continue to grow as an artist and release more original tracks, who inspires you within and outside your genre?
This is one of my favorite questions to be asked. Inside the dubstep realm, PapaJay, Noetika, Dennett, Hostage Situation, Sully, Tape B, Zeds Dead, Daily Bread, SIPPY, Distinct Motive, Mersiv, STVSH, Flozone, and RJ-WLKR. I could go on all day. All of them are absolute wizards at their craft in my opinion.
Outside of dubstep — and this is going to be all over the place — Chris Lake, Metallica, Lil Wayne, Russ, Disclosure, Chance the Rapper, Glass Animals, and Mac Miller. This list could go on for a while as well. These are all artists that shaped my taste in music growing up, and now that I am trying to find my own way, I love listening to their work and trying to piece together what made them the legends that they are today.
What’s next for the Spoone project?
A lot. I am sitting on some of my favorite music I’ve ever made. There are plans to hit a bunch of new cities this summer and through the fall. I’m just looking forward to everything that is in store.
I have really been enjoying the creative process in all facets, and I am pumped to share what has been in the works. It feels like things are just getting started.
Follow Spoone:
Website | Instagram | SoundCloud | YouTube | TikTok
