In the second episode of “Spill Your Sauce,” host Jay Longo sat down with Zypitano, a four-time Platinum music producer, sample maker, and graphic designer. Zypitano has worked with big names in the music industry, including Future, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, Rod Wave, Lil Uzi Vert, and many more.
Early Beginnings
Zypitano’s first big break came from a sample he made back in 2019 or 2020. He quickly realized that making melodies was the easy part; the challenge was getting them out to people and getting work done. He found a unique way to break through the noise by offering free artwork for producers’ kits, songs, or albums. This approach got him noticed and led to collaborations with big producers and industry insiders.
In his own words, Zypitano said, “I was just making melodies and sending them out. I didn’t really know what I was doing. I was just trying to get my work out there.”
Zypitano’s first major hit was “Rags2Riches” by Rod Wave, which he co-produced with Daysix Beats. The collaboration started when Zypitano offered Daysix Beats free artwork for one of his loop kits. After sending Daysix a pack of 30 samples, they created four or five beats, all of which were uploaded to YouTube. Eight to nine months later, with the video having around 14,000 to 15,000 views, they found out that one of their beats would be on Rod Wave’s next album.
Reflecting on this, Zypitano said, “I sent Daysix a pack of 30 samples, and we made four or five beats. We didn’t think much of it at the time, but then we found out one of our beats was going to be on Rod Wave’s album. It was a surreal moment.”
Working with Lil Durk and Future
Zypitano’s success continued with “Petty Too” by Lil Durk and Future. He was thrilled to work with Future, as it was one of his goals for 2020. The opportunity came unexpectedly when iRocc, a producer who was live on Instagram, mentioned that they had a song with Lil Durk. A week before the album dropped, Lil Durk released the tracklist, and “Petty Too” was listed as the fifth song.
Zypitano shared his excitement about this, saying, “Working with Future was one of my goals for 2020. When I found out that ‘Petty Too’ was going to be on the album, I was over the moon.”
Production Techniques
Zypitano shared some of his production techniques during the interview. He uses a variety of VSTs, including Piano V2 by Arturia, and he often works with samples. He also emphasized the importance of energy in his beats, which he believes makes people want to dance. He also shared a tip about layering a snare with the clap and having the open hat hit at the same place where the 808 hits to create a distorted, clipping effect.
Discussing his production techniques, Zypitano said, “I believe in the energy of the beat. If the beat has energy, it will make people want to dance. That’s why I layer the snare with the clap and have the open hat hit at the same place where the 808 hits.”
Final Thoughts
Zypitano’s journey is a testament to the power of creativity, hard work, and a unique approach to breaking into the music industry. His advice to aspiring producers is to keep working, enjoy making music, and not to take things too seriously. He believes that whatever is meant to come will come when the time is right.
Make sure to check out the WAVS exclusive “Spill Your Sauce: Zypitano Sample Pack“!
This article is based on our second episode of “Spill Your Sauce,” where host Jay Longo interviews Zypitano. You can watch the full episode here.