Big M is a Ukrainian producer and musician whose work blends curiosity, pain and humor into something that defies easy categorization. Living in Kyiv with his girlfriend, two chinchillas, a gecko, and a full container of Argentine cockroaches, he approaches music not as a career path but as a tool for understanding the world and releasing what needs to be released.
In this interview, Big M talks about his journey into electronic music, what it means to create during wartime, and why some tracks matter more than others.
The Conversation
CRNG Records: Tell us a little about yourself. Who is Big M outside of music?
Big M: I'm just a regular monkey with a lot of curiosity about the world I live in. I live with my girlfriend, two chinchillas, a gecko, and a full container of Argentine cockroaches in Kyiv.
CRNG Records: How did your journey into electronic music begin?
Big M: I was doing what I lovedโtrying something new in musicโand that's when it all started, although it was just a new step on my musical path.
CRNG Records: Do you remember the first track that made you think, "This is what I want to do"?
Big M: Yes, but it was more of a moment when I realized that I had a tool for relieving pain and releasing joy that helps, even when things are really bad. I've never associated myself with just one area of human activity. I'm interested in many things, but music is one of the most valuable tools that I discovered for myself at the beginning of my third decade on this amazing blue ball. I can't even remember exactly what song it was, but it was something dark and pessimistic for sure.
CRNG Records: What inspires you the most when creating new music?
Big M: The joy and relief that I feel while making it.
CRNG Records: How would you describe the Big M sound in just three words?
Big M: Sometimes it's painful, sometimes it's playful, but always ape-full.
CRNG Records: When starting a new track, what usually comes first: the melody, drums, bassline, or an idea?
Big M: The urge to feel the goosebumps once again. Then comes the first line usually. The melody is often playing a role of catalyst for my creation.
CRNG Records: Which artists have influenced your sound the most over the years?
Big M: It's literally impossible for me to pick just one... I don't know, Eminem is pretty important, I guess.
CRNG Records: What is the biggest challenge you've faced as an independent artist?
Big M: The war in Ukraine. That is definitely the biggest challenge for all modern Ukrainians.
CRNG Records: Is there a track in your catalog that means more to you than all the others? Why?
Big M: Each track is of great importance, but if I had to single out one, the song "Hrystya" immediately comes to mind.
CRNG Records: What does a typical studio session look like for you?
Big M: I come with a ready-made idea, lyrics, and beat and usually finish recording in about an hour. And then there can be days, or even weeks, of tuning and mastering.
CRNG Records: Have you ever experienced creative burnout? How do you overcome it?
Big M: I don't think so yet, but periods of increased productivity will logically be replaced by periods when I write less.
CRNG Records: What makes a track unforgettable in your opinion?
Big M: The work of many people and a lot of luck.
CRNG Records: If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why?
Big M: Tech N9ne, the first one that came to mind, because his rap series is brilliant and I would love to do something similar. And also the cypher on the roof.
CRNG Records: What's one thing about the music industry that most people don't understand?
Big M: I don't know how it is elsewhere, but in Ukraine, the width of this sea is much smaller than its depth. Our industry needs a lot more work from dedicated people and even more investment so that a musician can feel comfortable enough.
CRNG Records: What role does technology and AI play in modern music production?
Big M: The only irreplaceable tool for creating music now is a computer, so music and technology will continue to be intertwined, as they were before, but I won't have such a clear answer about AI. For me, music is primarily a tool for therapy, which is both a transmitter of my thoughts to the outside and a mold of my inner self for further independent research. This is a process in which moments of enlightenment and inspiration are key and irreplaceable. Even a good result won't mean much if the path to it was instantaneous and painless.
Follow Big M on CRNG Records and discover his work across Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube.
