What is it that makes Black Octopus Sound the best sample pack label for professional music production tools and samples? It’s the team! Today we are interviewing Graeme who is an A&R Scout and someone who has helped connect many dots with some of our biggest and best packs and artists!
Behind The Octopus Interview Series – Graeme and Scouting Talent
Welcome to Black Octopus: Behind the Octopus! This is our exclusive interview series where we dive beneath the surface and meet the incredible people behind the samples. While the sounds you hear in our packs might seem like magic, there’s a passionate and creative team making it all happen. From producers and sound designers to marketing, customer service, and tech, every part of the Black Octopus Sound experience is powered by real people working together to shape the future of music tools and how you produce! This series pulls back the curtain so you can get to know the personalities, passions, and stories that make Black Octopus what it is. We will be doing these each week for the next couple months. Today we sit down with Graeme who is bringing in talent in all shapes and forms. He has attended the famous Icon Collective in LA and through much of his network around the LA scene, has brought some of our best connections. Meredith Bull, Amy Kirkpatrick, JiLLi and Dave Parkinson to name a few! A&R is a HUGE part of what makes a sample label stand out from the rest. And bringing true talent and names into the fold is a big boost! Thanks to Graeme and his hard work; we have some of the biggest elite roster in the sample pack world!
Q: How did you start working in the sample pack industry and with Black Octopus Sound?
 I had the idea to connect singer/songwriter Amy Kirkpatrick to Steve at BO because I had worked with her on a track. I really liked the thought of helping others to create more revenue streams in music. That ultimately is what led me to working with BO.Â
Q. What is your favorite artist and favorite genre as a listener?
My favorite artist of all time is Ferry Corsten. I think he’s a melodic genius. My favorite genre is Trance and Progressive House.Â
Q: What do you love most about working in the Sample Pack industry?
What I love the most is helping artists create different income streams to help them in making a living doing music.
 Q: What is your favorite sample pack release from Black Octopus Sound? My favorite sample pack releases with BO are the Jilli – Rainbow of Emotions and Dave Parkinson – Trance Vision packs. Both packs I had a hand in making them happen and I am very proud of these artists and the success of the packs.  Â
 Q: What about your favorite production tool or technique – any secret weapons?
My favorite production technique is using FX groups in Ableton instead of Returns/Sends for Vocals. I find I have much more control over what I’m doing using groups. Â
 Q: How do you see the future of music and sample pack creation? What about producers; whats the future of helping them stay inspired?
I think that the industry as a whole will need to become more than just a sample pack. It needs more of a story or elevated experience to go with it. Such as Rainbow of Emotions taking one vocal and doing it 3 different ways. Or artists elevating DJ’ing to a more immersive experience like live performances or unique visual experiences. Or the flip-side of that and we go back to more intimate underground club/rave experiences.Â
Q: If you could be any animal what would it be and why?
I’d be a hummingbird because that’s my spirit animal. They are mesmerizing creatures who almost stop time when you see one. The colors and the way they can hover and fly backwards is like magic!  There you have it! Graemein all his hummingbirdness! We we often say our company is truly like an Octopus. always a different tentacle reaching for something new at all times; and one of these tentacles is definitely Graeme!Â