From creating samples heard across more than 110 million streams to mixing, mastering and producing for artists, JD McLellan has built a career across several corners of music production.
Working as a sound designer, producer and mixing/mastering engineer, JD has created royalty-free loops used by artists including DaBaby, Rick Ross, Fetty Wap, Eli Fross and Sleepy Hallow, alongside working with Universal, Warner and independent artists.
We caught up with JD to talk about building sounds from scratch, creating for Splice, balancing music for work with music for passion, and the realities of building a sustainable career in music.
“You have to see what’s available to you and take the opportunities that make the most sense.”
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m JD, for my work I’m a sound designer, producer and mixing/mastering engineer. In sound design, I do a lot of work for Splice. So far my royalty-free loops have been used by artists including DaBaby, Rick Ross, Fetty Wap, Eli Fross and Sleepy Hallow and at the time of writing they’ve been featured on over 110 million streams. I also do mixing and mastering, mainly working with Universal and Warner and some independent artists. And I coach a few students in music production too.
What drew you to your role and what keeps you interested in this work?
I started out making dubstep and drum and bass a long time ago – at the time the genre was new and evolving rapidly, so it was hard to find great samples that sounded competitive. The only guys I knew who had amazing mixes were making their drum sounds from scratch, so I started learning that way.
Eventually, I saw a friend making really serious money via Splice and so I decided to give it a go.
By the time I had the opportunity, most of the sales were coming from Trap so I gave it my best and fortunately, my first pack charted at #7 so I kept going! The thing that keeps me interested is that it really forces me to be versatile, to work within tight constraints and to consider what the current scene I’m working in really needs. I am a purist artist on the inside, so it’s a massive challenge to my ego and in the end, it has made me 100x better at writing the music I do consider to be art.
What’s one daily ritual or habit that makes a difference for you?
I use productivity apps – Opal (premium) and 1Focus. This lets me block any distracting apps on a schedule or ad-hoc, and there’s zero way to turn it off.
What’s the biggest misconception about your job?
Particularly with Splice stuff, but it’s also true for royalty-free music – most people think you’re creating loops & drums from other peoples sounds. Most plugin/sample companies don’t allow you to create royalty free loops/samples with their products. You can get blacklisted for doing that; all my drum sounds are either recorded or made from synthesizers and whitenoise. And a lot of the melodic stuff is the same, I’m building the synth/instrument sounds before I even get started on the melodies. When people learn about that, it tends to put them off this kind of work entirely.
What’s the most interesting challenge you’re tackling right now?
Honestly, I find it hard to bounce between music-for-work mode and music-for-passion mode.
Who or what inspires you right now?
There’s an Irish artist I’m producing for, DTMD – been loving working around his sound because it’s just so fluid while still retaining commercial appeal. It’s been really exciting honestly. Otherwise, playing drums has always inspired me!
If you could change one thing about your sector, what would it be?
I really like what wavs.com is doing, they allow sample makers to upload royalty free samples, but also give creators the opportunity to add a royalty clause which gives them a share if the track breaks over 1 million streams or is signed to a major label. This lets creators take ownership and credits for the music they’ve written which I think will change a lot of peoples lives, and it also gives them incentives to deliver their absolute best material. Win win.
What emerging trends or projects are exciting you right now?
I’ve started working on more 90’s nu metal sounding stuff, since it’s been having a bit of a revival. And I’m loving it! That was the first type of music I got into aside from what was just on the radio.
What’s one tool or app you can’t live without right now?
The Max4Live plugins in Ableton. I use Shortcut Buddy a lot, which let’s me click a single button to bring up a specific plugin instantly. When you’re making 90 loops a month, time spent searching for plugins really adds up!
A book or podcast you recommend?
Atomic Habits and Deep Work are two books that made a massive difference to me and how I approach life. Atomic Habits moreso, I read that once a year.
What’s a piece of advice that’s stuck with you?
Don’t try to make something good into something great. Great things will happen from time to time, but you sometimes just need to accept you’ve made something good rather than trying to make it something it won’t ever be.
If you could give our readers one piece of advice, what would it be?
If you want to work in music, follow the money and make sacrifices. Other people often think I’m living my dream, but ideally I would love to be a drummer in a rock/metal band, that was the initial dream. But you have to see what’s available to you and take the opportunities that make the most sense. That’s the sacrifice!
How can our readers keep up to date with what you have happening?
Mostly I post on instagram @jdtypebeat but I also have tiktok and and a facebook page under the same name. You can also check out my tutorials and mix breakdowns on youtube. All the same username. And if anyone is interested in working with me they can book a call here.
Here’s a spotify playlist of stuff I’ve mixed.
Here’s a spotify playlist of songs using my loops.
JD McLellan
