The Hitmaker Series: Stoic on Chord Progressions, New York Nostalgia, and Serving Up Paella

Having crafted standout tracks for new and established artists alike, GRAMMY-winning producer Stoic has steadily built a reputation as a producer’s producer. His sound sits in rich, jazz-infused chord progressions anchored by raw beats. Now, with his latest project PAELLA!, he is gathering his closest collaborators around the table for some new flavours.

We caught up with Stoic to talk about his roots, transitioning from type-beat maker to sought-after producer, and the ingredients that went into his new album.

THE ROOTS

Long before he was building beats Stoic was holding a guitar. Picking up the instrument around eight or nine years old, his tastes were shaped by a mix of 80s and 90s classic rock, bossa nova, and indie-alt staples like The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys."What always spoke to me from a young age was just pretty sounding chords and melodies. I tend to lean towards more melodic stuff—major sevenths and chords that aren't exactly basic. More stuff that's a little jazzy or brighter, but not happy exactly. Somewhere in between happy and sad."

His passion for making full songs took a turn during a summer music camp at an Apple Store, where he was introduced to GarageBand. "That was the first time I viewed it as accessible to make every part of the song," he recalls. "You realise you could do this all from a computer, right from your bedroom."

By age 17, Stoic had acquired an MPC-style Machine pad and began uploading his beats to YouTube—not with dreams of fame, but simply as a digital shelf to store his tracks so he could listen to them in his car.

However, around 2018, while studying to become a nurse, an unexpected year-long academic delay gave him an ultimatum. He decided to take a gamble on his true passion. "By the time I was ready to graduate, I was essentially making more from type beats than I would have been as a nurse," he laughs. "I loved making beats and I hated nursing, so it was almost a no-brainer."

    "I loved making beats and I hated nursing, so it was almost a no-brainer."

Growing up in New York also imprinted on his creative DNA. Surrounded by the legacy of the Wu-Tang Clan and witnessing the rise of A$AP Mob, and Flatbush Zombies, Stoic immersed himself in the culture. To learn production, he took the same approach he used for guitar: learning by ear. He spent endless hours recreating tracks from iconic projects like Earl Sweatshirt’s Doris, Tyler, the Creator’s Wolf, and Joey Bada$$’s 1999.

THE PROCESS

Take Bullfrog, his standout collaboration with Doechii. The beat came together during an early-morning burst of insomnia.

"I couldn't sleep one morning, woke up at 5 or 6 AM, went to my computer, and made this baseline and drums. Most people would say it isn't a complete beat and needs more elements. But when I heard it come together, I was standing up at my computer, pacing around my room like a psychopath at 6:30 in the morning. I knew that one was special."

His organic workflow also created Smoke Break Dance with Mick Jenkins and JID. Unbound by formulas or musical templates, Stoic simply hummed a melody stuck in his head that day, proving that the best ideas often arrive when you least expect them.

COOKING UP PAELLA!

Stoic’s latest work, PAELLA!, takes its inspiration directly from the culinary world. When about his inspiration, he explained: "The skit on the first track encapsulates it perfectly: Paella is historically a dish made with whatever ingredients you can find to make the best thing. For me, this album is the perfect mix of friendships, working relationships, and me actually being a fan.” 

That organic take served as the foundation for the entire guest list, every artist brought a distinct flavour to the table.

"I'm in a very lucky position because I get to work with some of the most talented artists in music right now and also call them friends," he shares. "Ninety percent of them were on board without me having to do any convincing. If I don't actually listen to your music, there's no fun in it for me."

Much like his favourite classic projects (Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly or MF DOOM’s catalog) PAELLA! is laced with narrative skits that bind the listening experience together, creating an immersive universe rather than just a collection of singles.

"Music is music, but skits are an extra way to tell the story and set up the world. Whether you're going for a run, on a car ride, or cooking a meal with your friends or partner, I just want people to be intentional when they listen to it."

When asked how listeners should experience the new project, Stoic emphasises immersing yourself in the tracks: whether it’s on a late-night drive, a neighborhood walk, or playing in the background while cooking a meal with loved ones. But if he had to choose a specific warning label to the album's cover?

"May cause neck issues."

Consider yourself warned. Put PAELLA! on, turn up the volume, and find out what he means for yourself.