Interview: Bri Hendy (@Thirty3 Bri)

Catching up with one of the most prolific producers from Salinas, who is now making hits out in Los Angeles.

Bri Hendy (Thirty3 Bri) is a 26 year old music producer and audio engineer from Salinas, California. She is currently based out of Los Angeles, Ca and has been recording and producing for some of the freshest artists in the Hip-hop and R&B genres. You can find her music on all major streaming platforms.

“Don’t give up. It’s really easy to get discouraged in the beginning. Most people suck at first but keep doing it if you love it and never stop learning. Get a DAW that works for you and learn it inside and out.”- Bri Hendy (@Thirty3 Bri)

Q: Who inspired you to start making music?

A: When I was about 10 my uncle Jay would baby-sit me after school. He would always go straight to his computer and mess around in music production software. He gave me a copy of the software to take home and from there my interest in creating music began.

Q: How did you learn to produce beats?

A: I originally started by learning how to engineer. I bought Logic and Pro Tools to start learning how to record and mix for other people. I began trying to make beats with my friends in Logic. I was really bad at first and was really just messing around but slowly I started to do it more and more on my own and started getting better at it.

Q: What programs and instruments do you use when making a full song?

A: I make all of my beats in Ableton and record, mix & master in Pro Tools. When making beats I typically just use a MIDI keyboard but sometimes I’ll use an electric guitar or a bass guitar.

Q: What genres do you usually produce?

A: I produce mostly Hip-Hop and R&B but I also make Lofi and sometimes even Pop. I try to dabble in a little bit of everything, right now I’m working on a Pop Punk EP.

Q: How did you become a mixing engineer at Golden Impala studios?

A: I had been working at a different studio for a few months but due to covid we had to shut down for a while. Golden Impala was the first place I applied to while searching for jobs. They responded to me within 10 minutes, I had a phone interview the next day and then came in for a mixing test where I had to mix a song in an hour. I think my schooling and previous experience working in studios being an intern, runner, assistant engineer, and engineer helped me. I would recommend that anybody who wants to be an engineer, call around or send emails to studios near them or even other engineers who you look up to and offer your help. It might be unpaid at first but it will help you get closer to where you want to be.

Q: What artists have you been working and recording with recently?

A: I’ve been focusing a lot on producing for xBValentine. She’s someone I see as on the come up and I’m focusing on helping her get there while creating a unique sound together. We recently dropped singles with Kap G and Baby Bash, which is still crazy to me. Plus, we have a few more on the way!

I am also creating a Pop Punk EP with my friend Nomad The Rapper. I’ve never done anything like this with mostly live instruments so it’s been really exciting and challenging for me.

As for recording, I record with 10-15 different artists every week and mix 20-30 songs a week. I recently finished recording and mixing for nearly every song on Emaza Dilan’s upcoming mixtape which I’m really proud of.

Q: What do you do when you have beat block and need inspiration?

A: When I have beat block I usually watch YouTube videos of other producers making beats, which inspires me to make something in that direction. I’ll also go through loops and samples. I know I’ve found the right loop when I can already hear the drums being built around it in my mind. Another thing that helps me is just choosing a key and making chords in that scale and building something around that.

Q: Got any tips for a beginner producer?

A: Don’t give up. It’s really easy to get discouraged in the beginning. Most people suck at first but keep doing it if you love it and never stop learning. Get a DAW that works for you and learn it inside and out. Watch as many YouTube videos as you can and copy what they’re doing, it’ll teach you how to structure your beats. And ask as many questions as you can when you have the opportunity!

Q: If you could produce for any artist, who would it be?

A: The Weeknd, hands down. He’s been the biggest inspiration for me since 2011.

Q: what song or artist have you been playing on repeat lately?

A: Honestly, I don’t listen to music that often. I spend 40 hours a week in the studio helping other people make their songs and when I’m not helping others I spend the rest of my time making my own music. Even in the car, I’m listening to my mixes or my beats to see how I can make them better. One of my biggest flaws is not really being a consumer of music but I feel that I can still keep up with the trends because I see what type of beats my clients are using daily.

But on occasion I’m still listening to After Hours or Machine Gun Kelly’s Tickets to my Downfall!

Q: Do you have anything releasing soon or that you want to promo?

A: xBValentine recently dropped 2 songs produced by me. “Vibe With You” ft. Baby Bash & “No Saint” ft. Kap G

Emaza Dilan is dropping her mixtape titled E-Mixtape on June 7th. E-Mixtape is a compilation of popular R&B and Hip-Hop songs that she remixed to make her own versions.