Motivated by a deep love for hip-hop and a relentless work ethic Hurting Murphy is on pace to set the electronic scene ablaze. It’s hard to believe that the Florida bass DJ has only a few years of production under his belt, as powerful soundscapes and invigorating bass dominate his sound. While the coronavirus put the music industry on indefinite hold during 2020, Hurting Murphy took full advantage of the downtime, dropping banger after banger establishing himself as a force in the bass scene.
Coming off a massive single, Pressure featuring Brakkit on Solace Family Records, Hurting Murphy shows no signs of slowing down as he pushes his way towards dance music stardom. The Daily Frequency caught up with the Bruce Banner producer to talk hip-hop, opening for Jansten, and much more!
Read the full interview below!
How did you get into producing? Do you come from a musical family, or is it something you gravitated towards on your own?
In 2017, my brother and I met our good buddy James (aka supa alien) at an open mic. We were looking for local producers, and he made beats himself. He sold me his old MacBook pro with a cracked version of Ableton live 9 on it for 150 bucks. He taught me the very basics of making beats. In 2018 I decided to take production seriously, and I never looked back. Been doin’ it almost daily since. The only musicians in my family are my brother (Jaxon Pryce, a hip-hop artist from Orlando) and myself.
Your sound is full of so much energy. Definitely, a vibe that can get any crowd going. Where do you find your inspiration?
I listen to ALOT of hip hop. More than EDM. I like old-school boom-bap shit, so that’s where I get a lot of drum work ideas from. One of my biggest dubstep influences is Peekaboo. His style is so unique and has TONS of energy, so I’m sure some of my sound comes from that. I want people to make the dookie face with some of my tracks, cry from some, and rage to others. As long as someone gets the chills from one of my drops, I’ve succeeded with my ultimate goal.
What’s the first dubstep song you heard that made you want to produce bass music?
Emalkay – When I Look at you. I heard this like a decade ago, and I remember it shifting the way I looked at music forever. Obviously, scary monsters and nice sprites did a similar thing. I really got into Thriftworks back in 2015-16, which is when my interest in the production side started, and I began to think, “okay, how is this shit made, though?..”
Who would you say are your biggest influences?
Jam Baxter, Deca, MF DOOM, Jaxon Pryce, DJ Premiere, Thirftworks, and Peekaboo, just to name some big ones off the top.
You just dropped your latest single, Pressure featuring Brakkit, through Solace Records! How has it been working with both of them?
So far, so good with Solace. Met Ujuu through my manager Jon. Since I’ve announced the release it has been a pretty warm welcome from the fam. Brakkit is THAT guy. Super easy collab. I had this track idea with an intro and a build and a first drop idea, I sent it over to Brakkit, and he SNAPPED. Sent it back completely finished and fully mastered in just a few days. He’s such a good producer/sound designer. Criminally slept on.
You’re very outspoken about your journey through sobriety. How has being sober impacted your evolution as an artist, and how do you resist temptations in a profession known for its party culture? Any advice for anyone out there battling sobriety themselves?
That’s a great question. Well, I started producing when I got clean in may of 2018. Literally, everything that I’ve achieved since then is a by-product of my recovery. To be real, I don’t hang out in the culture. I love EDM peeps, and I wouldn’t have a career as a DJ if the culture didn’t exist. But I usually don’t go to shows unless it’s something I’m a part of. When I Do, I typically show up, play my set and leave. I’d probably like it that way whether I was sober or not. I try not to give advice, but I’ll tell you what I did. I couldn’t have done it without a solid support group. Doing it alone, for me, would have been impossible. Everyone is different, but for me, everything about my old lifestyle had to go.
You dove right into playing shows since quarantine, even offering direct support to artists like Jansten and The Widdler. What’s been your favorite show so far?
I’ve only played a handful, so that’s easy. Austin, Texas. Opening for Jansten and the Widdler FOR SURE. TheVenueATX is a killer spot, and Austin is a fun town. Plus, I got to travel with my brother and dope-ass manager, which made the long ride totally worth it.
What do you love most about being on stage?
When someone reacts to a track that YOU MADE, it’s a different sort of feeling. It’s like a divine affirmation of your spiritual destiny that has manifested in the purest form.
If you can make a track with one artist, who would it be?
Dubstep: Peekaboo.
Hip–Hop: Jam Baxter or Benny the Butcher
Lastly, if you could say one thing to your fans, what would you say?
There are not many of you yet. But to those of you who have gone out of your way to show me, love, I have nothing but the utmost gratitude for you. Stick around because the Hurting Murphy Legacy has just begun.