Meet the teen producer behind Drake hits like Q&A and Classic
⭐️HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️
Arham Paul is a 16-year-old who produced two songs for Drake.
His beats were featured on the albums Habibti and Maid of Honour, which came out on May 15.
Experts say Arham’s success is impressive and there’s no age limit to making music.
Arham wants to continue making music for big artists.
Read more about his story. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Arham Paul was walking home from school when he found out two of the songs he produced would appear on Drake’s new albums.
“I got a call from the guy I made the beat with…. When I found out I was 100 per cent on the album, I was [going] crazy,” said Arham, a 16-year-old student from Markham, Ontario.
The teen producer goes by ap.melodies.
He produced two songs for Drake: Classic, which appeared on the album Habibti, and Q&A, featured on the album Maid of Honour.
Both albums dropped alongside Iceman on May 15.
Arham is a 16-year-old music producer who spends a lot of his free time making beats. (Image Credit: Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
Arham started producing at a young age. He was influenced by his dad, who played multiple instruments.
He then began experimenting with GarageBand, a free music creation app.
“I started remixing songs from YouTube and that’s how I got into it,” said Arham.
Today, Arham’s process involves layering different sounds and instruments to create a beat that fits the artist he’s making it for.
A single beat can take up to three hours for Arham to make. Even then, there’s no guarantee the artist will use it.
Watch the video below to hear the beats Arham made and his advice for young producers. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
How did he end up producing for Drake?
Arham said he connected with some of Drake’s producers online last summer.
He said he would continuously message them his beats.
Eventually, one of Drake’s collaborators reached out to Arham because he needed help with a song.
Even though it was a school night, he got to work.
Classic appeared on the album Habibti, left, and Q&A on Maid of Honour, right. (Image Credit: OVO/Republic Records/UMG Recordings)
“I had till the end of the night to make [the beat]. We sent it the next day, and then we found out Drake recorded it. That was for Classic,” said Arham.
Arham described Classic as having an ’80s R&B vibe to it.
For Q&A, he blended genres of Brazilian Funk and R&B.
“Drake hasn’t really hopped on Brazilian funk, at least not Brazilian funk and R&B mixed together,” he said.
For Arham, experimenting with different genres is what he thinks makes him stand out as a producer.
You can never be too young to start, says expert
Dan Brodbeck is a producer and professor at Fanshawe College’s nusic industry arts program in London, Ontario.
He said Arham’s story is proof that you’re never too young to start making music.
“Creativity is never limited by your age.”
Brodbeck has come across several talented young musicians, but he recognizes not everyone has access to opportunities like Arham.
He said Arham’s success is impressive because he took advantage of a rare opportunity.
“You don’t just snap your fingers and hope somebody of Drake’s stature can like your music and then think, ‘I want this person to be involved.’ That’s rare,” he said.
Jason Spanu, also known as DJ Shine, is a music production trainer.
He isn’t surprised by Arham’s success, telling CBC Kids News modern technology has made music production more accessible.
Arham makes a beat at his home studio. (Image Credit: Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
Spanu said Arham’s age is actually an advantage because younger producers often bring energy and fresh ideas to their work.
He also recognized Arham’s ability to market himself online through social media, which has helped him stand out in a competitive industry.
“He’s really good at telling the story of himself as a producer,” said Spanu.
What’s next?
Arham wants to continue working for Drake and collaborate with some of his favourite artists, like rappers Travis Scott and Don Toliver.
“I want to work with some of the biggest artists … directly in the studio rather than sending beats to their number,” said Arham.
Arham also offered advice to young producers trying to break into the industry.
“Try to be the best version of yourself when making music.”
He also emphasized building connections with artists and networking because you never know who might need your help making a song.
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