About Me
Key Tone is Amin AB Brodie and all of the wonderful people that allow AB and listeners to escape to a place of change and movement. Born in Western Europe to a military family, AB knows a little something about both change and movement. As life has it, ABs journey has taken him through the highs and lows that are so vital to the soul of a songwriter and producer. From voyages to the Monasteries of central Spain, to exiles in the Correctional facililities of Alabama, the joy and pain of a journey is conveyed in every tone associated with Keytone music.Born in Augsburg, Germany AB felt the first blazes of music through such artists as Michael Jackson, Sting, and Anita Baker. His intense travels as a child, adolescent, and adult further exposed him to the different music genres of the world. While always grasping the power of music Ab refused to learn and practice music instruments as a child. Leaving classically oriented music behind, Ab found himself in the music culture of the European streets Soaring onto the break dancing and beat boxing scene Ab reminiscences;The rhythm is what they teach you, beat boxing, break dancing,
its all about rhythm and soulAbs struggle and flight around the art continued through his Entrepreneurial attempts at a clothing company, a web magazine, a jewelry business, a demo production company, and finally the decision between computer networking and music.In 1996, Ab met Robert Wegmann, Aka. Mc Killa B, a legend in the drum&bass music scene. Not really familiar with the music industry or anything, Rob opened new angles of approaching music for Ab. From different genres, to his first step into a real commercial studio, Rob took Ab under his wing and broadened his knowledge and experience of not just music, but art. After some years behind MC Killa B, AB decided that it was time for him to take on a leadership position and together, they founded Deep Soul records. Initially a promotion company rather than a legitimate label, the two promoted every major party, club, and concert in their area and started to book artists and venues themselves. Still weighing his career options Ab was hesitant to fully commit to music. However, on the day of his high school graduation, Ab knew that music was the road he would travel.On graduation night, while everyone else was out partying, I was
running downtown
with my backpack full of flyers for my first show as a promoterDeciding upon Mercy College in White Plains New York, Ab took full advantage of the recording facilities. It is said that real recognizes real, and as it goes Ab caught the attention of a senior producer by the name of DNR. Already having done major industry work, Ab soaked up production knowledge from DNR, Ab recalls;The students used to tell me to bring a cot into studio A,
because I was always there working or learning from DNR. I
would learn like a mad man and wasnt afraid to bug DNR about
production questions. But I would also do my best to hook
him up with samples or records from Europe whenever I could.Finding quick, yet hard-earned success with underground acts such as Ed-Kombat, Cory Gunz, P.U.P., etc, Ab decided that it was time for him to branch out from rap music and venture down the path of his heart: R&B and neo soul. Currently working on projects ranging from US and European recording artists to TV and radio production, to his own solo projects, Ab still finds time to experiment in the basement and figure out what this music thing is all about. Still composing luscious sonic dishes, Abs journey continues, be it up and down musical keys or the black and white keys of life.
