THE Q4

Sense, Arts the Beatdoctor en STW, together they form the Dutch producers collective The
Q4. The name is a bit odd for a three headed group but we will get back to that later. The
music of this threesome is mainly build on sounds taken from old records. But it is like
looking for a needle in a haystack if you try to find recognizable samples. The Unorthodox
producers take the nicely played lines of someone else and turn it in to a composition of
there own. The relentless cut-obsession of The Q4 even touches the recordings of their
guest musicians. Played saxophone solos and vocal parts were cut into peaces and
integrated in the music.

The Q4 originates in 2005 when four producers discover each others beats during battles on several hip hop sites. The name of the group finds its origin in one of the first surround sound systems of the ’70. The sound came from four speakers, placed in a square. It symbolises the four producers in the group: they each live in a far region of the Netherlands, have their own sound and combine that within The Q4. When the fourth member leaves the group dew to a lack of time, Sense, Arts and STW remain and continue.

The collaboration delivers, in the end of 2006, the six tracks holding EP ‘Sound
Surroundings’. But for this headstrong musical project no label can be found and the EP
remains unreleased. Meanwhile Arts the Beatdoctor is internationally doing well, his album ‘Transitions’ is picked up, especially in Japan. The producers keep working on more tracks and early 2010 Sound Surroundings has become a full worthy album. German label Project:Mooncircle decides to release it, not only on cd but also on vinyl. A couple of months later the EP ‘Darker Days’ is released, ‘the dark little brother of the first album’ as STW calls it.

After The Q4 performed in the national television show called ‘De Wereld Draait Door’,
record company Top Notch signs the group to re-release the debut album. ‘Sound
Surroundings’ becomes iTunes number one album download.

Meanwhile productiehuis ON, Habek and The Q4 get in touch about developing a live show, in balance with the diversity of the samples and the live musicians. Within the collaboration the three producers manage to translate there sample cutting and pasting into a full fledged live show. One of their first shows was a support act of Anouk, in front of 18.000 people.

Arts the Beatdoctor (1983) started producing for MC’s some years ago, only to decide he
liked most of the tracks better without vocals. So he continued to develop his mostly
instrumental style, his warm sound and diverse yet ever dreamy moods have since then
gained in reputation. He released various solo records: the “Fragments” (EP) and the
“Transitions” (LP) on Unexpected Records and “Progressions ” (EP) on Beats Broke.

SENSE (1985) has been creating his own world ever since he was a child. His very defined
moody style and unusual sample treatment saturate the sound of the Q4 throughout the EP. SENSE also produces the rap group SHAHMEN, with rappers Unorthadox and BLS and
soul/hiphop formation Numaads together with female MC Esperanzah. Releases: SHAHMEN
- Enter the Circle” (EP) & Numaads – Now (EP) with PROJECT:Mooncircle. Expected:
SHAHMEN (LP) (Sep), Numaads (7Inch) (Nov), SENSE & Sotu the Traveller – Rise & Shine
(EP).

STW (1981) played guitar in several alternative rock bands, but is best known for his soulful swinging hip-hop beats, which have earned him quite some recognition winning beat battles and remix contests.

Bio English
Bio Dutch
Pressphoto