To maintain prolific creative output, virtuoso Atlanta producer Zaytoven (Nicki Minaj, Drake, Usher) keeps his workflow consistent and his sound sharp at all times. This means instant and flexible access to top-tier musical tools and inspiring sounds – and that’s where V Collection comes in. We spoke to him about how he uses V Collection’s instruments and unique features to take his beats to another level.
San Francisco to Atlanta
Xavier Dotson, more commonly known as Zaytoven, sits among the hip hop production elite. Hailing from the Bay Area of San Francisco, a notorious musical hotspot not just in California but worldwide, his journey started at a young age finding his way around instruments through church.
Becoming a regular keyboardist at church and baseball game halftime performances, he also put the hours in learning to produce music while at high school. It was around this time that he started to mix with local producers like JT The Bigga Figga, and discovered a love for the studio – and classic keyboard sounds. It’s that passion for those timeless instruments that ultimately led him to V Collection, and it’s something that shines through in his music to this day.
When he relocated to Atlanta after finishing high school, he knew he needed a studio of his own. He attended barber school, and the money he made cutting hair went straight into the studio fund. It was in Atlanta that he met Gucci Mane, his long-time partner in sound, and things really started taking off. Fast-forward to now, and Zaytoven has a Grammy to his name, and a long list of credits and collaborations including Usher, Future, 21 Savage, Migos, Lil Uzi Vert…
All day, every day
What’s the secret to Zaytoven’s success? Seeing him in his element and listening to him talk about his flow, it seems that it’s due in part to the familiar combination of inspiration and determination – but with a healthy dose of consistency. Freestyle producing every day helps him stay at the top of his game.
“I get up every morning and make beats. I might make 5 to 10 beats every day, with no agenda, nobody to send them to, no reason. I’m just doing it to stay sharp.”
Whether it’s the classic keyboard tones reminiscent of his church and high school days, or outside-the-box timbres to add a futuristic edge to the Atlanta sound, V Collection 8 and Analog Lab V is the sonic catalyst that kick-starts Zaytoven’s creative process.
Zaytoven on V Collection
We were lucky enough to sit in on a session with Zaytoven, observing him crafting a beat from scratch using V Collection, Analog Lab, and KeyLab – here are the highlights:
“That beat just went from giving it to the rapper round the corner to Rihanna or Beyonce.”
