05/12/2023
Q: Please introduce yourself
Nathan Christopher Barato, the Forth.
Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?
Louie Vega. Ive met him a few times, but I would love to hang with him at some dope coffee joint where there's a great DJ playing GeorgeBenson records on a great sound system at 10am and we had the nicest little creamiest espresso you ever saw and he just spoke for two hours or more telling me all about his studio secrets.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I wish I had huge ears like a chihuahua so could I take in music more.
Q: If given the opportunity to create a film score, which movie would you choose and why?
This is a mental question because if I like a movie, a big reason is because the music is on point. So I wouldn't want to change that. And if the movie is shit, then I wouldn't want to make music for it. But for now, I’ll sayShawshank Redemption... and I’ll insert funky basslines the whole time.. That would add a memorable element no?
Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And who has been the most influential in your personal life?
This is an easy one because it's my brother, Jason, for both questions. He was the first DJ in the family and I just wanted to be like my big bro Jason.. So I started DJing too. That carried heavy into making music.. And Personally, he is one of my biggest inspirations because he is an incredible brother, husband, father son and still AF dope af DJ
Q: Could you share with us your journey – the good and bad experiences that have brought you to where you are today?
Well as I mentioned, I wanted to DJ like my big brother so I took that pretty serious and practiced alot and eventually started to play high school dances (we regularly had 10+ crates of records at every gig lol)..Then, I worked at a record store called Traxx here in Toronto. From there,I got to meet a lot of people in the industry and parlayed my connections into club gigs. I was playing a lot of different types of gigs atone point.. From a full beginning-to-end night playing house, hip hop,top 40 to play straight house and techno at Toronto's most notorious underground clubs. Then, I ended up in a duo with this crazy lion better known as Carlo Lio. We got the name The Roaches and basically took over the Toronto club circuit. It was so fun. There are many roads in between the next stage, but eventually I started making alot of music and that got me known on an international stage and I started to get booked with crews like Music On and Paradise and Elrow etc then covid hit and that caused a massive reset for me which Im now grinding through but enjoying the journey all the same.
Q: Everyone goes through ups and downs, what’s one habit you adopt to push through the downs?
I mean Ive definitely gone through some mental challenges over the last few years and Ive had to re-grow tough skin. One thing I do pretty much everyday is make music. Even if its an idea I spit out in 5 minutes or a 4 hour session. I just try my best to get out some form of creation everyday. The more I'm creating, the more I feel the confidence and joy that reminds me, I need to keep fighting through the dark days.
Q: What is one pro work ethic that you would recommend to the readers/listeners?
I have all these different tactics to keep me motoring in the studio. Because the studio can be a real mental challenge and its easy to just not turn on your computer and not create. Eventually I get into long zones where I don't need the tactics to help, but one thing I like to do, is create deadlines for myself. Even if the beat I'm working on has no home.. Iv'e really gone deep with it on Bandcamp and especially recently with my Instagram subscribers.. I have to deliver a bootleg every month no matter what... I try to apply that deadline mentality to most of my tracks... but some of them I don't want that pressure on them so Im careful with it. But Its a good practice I think because it keeps you working and its how things actually are when you are dealing with labels as they have hard deadlines you need to deliver to.
Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?
Ya it definitely flipped around a bunch as I've always liked so many typesof music.. And if you've heard me enough over the years you can hear my range. I can go anywhere from slower soulful energy to mean head down stomper ish.
Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?
I already do follow many different forms of music but if I had to pick one other to create regularly, it would be hip-hop and all its iterations. Its a and sound Ive connected with from a very young age. Naturally I want and do make hip-hop beats pretty often.
Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?
1 Lil Louis ‘Club Lonely‘
2 MK ‘Burning’
3 Murk ‘Believe’
I bought these 3 records on the same day and all 3 actually helped shape who am I as a producer and DJ to this day. 3 different records that touched a chord in me. Please go listen to them all right now.
Florence and the machine – You’ve got the Love – Mark Knight Remix –one of the tracks of my early visits to Ibiza.
Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?
We have this highway here in Toronto that runs through the city as its suspended a couple stories high.. Under the highway there are a ton of dope spots a rave could happen.
Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?
I'm feeling good as I got a bunch of stuff coming up starting with this dope release on Toolroom called ‘Weapon’ that I did with the amazing producer and friend, Matheo Velez. After that, I have a remix dropping on Gettoblasters label, Aliens On Mushrooms.. Very excited for that one...its been going off for me.. I also have EPs slotted with Josh Butler’s Origin label, Radioslave’s Rekidslabel and an EP collabed with Carlo Lio .. on our label together, Rawthentic. Ihave a ton of other stuff in the works but can't really say details yet.. Staytuned !
Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?
I'm not great at it but I love to play guitar. Oh and I love halloumi cheese.