Seniors Matt Sumague and Berto Diaz form the producing duo known as The BaCKpaCKers. I first found out about them through Matt who I’ve already known as a producer and often have music discussions with. Every once in a while he’d tweet a link to a mix he had made while also announcing that The BaCKpaCKers #tjc was dropping October 8th. I’d listen to a few of the mixes but I wasn’t exactly sure who The BaCKpaCKers were or what they were all about and it slipped to the back of my mind. The BaCKpaCKers are a hip hop based producing duo formed by Niles West students Berto Diaz and Matt Sumague. It all started when Matt posted a snippet to a mix he made of Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” on Vine.

“I showed it to Berto,and the rest is history,” said Sumague.

“We said that it would be cool if we did more of these because it was just fun which then developed into a whole tape,” said Diaz.

For those who don’t know a mix is when a producer takes two or more songs they are interested in and puts them together overlaying one songs vocals onto another or vice versa, chopping up the beat putting hooks, and choruses into different places and makes the song something of their own. They’re a really fun, interesting, form of music because two of your favorite songs can literally be combined together. The BaCKpaCKers #tjc is a 25 track mixtape of mixes Matt and Berto created.

I asked them where their inspiration comes from in such a creative form of music.

“Really we have the same taste in music, we don’t stick to one genre so when it comes to making music,we like to make stuff that people wouldn’t really expect,” Diaz said. “Kanye West, Pharrell, and J Dilla are big influences when it comes to making music. Sometimes it’s how I feel that day that inspires me. If I feel good that day I make something really upbeat and happy.”

I gave a listen to The BaCKpaCKers #tjc and I have to admit I was really surprised at how good some of the mixes are on here. Matt and Berto clearly have good taste; they involved a wide spectrum of music in the tape from classics like The Pharcyde to new age artist like Travi$ Scott. They also have a great ear for matching different artist flows with the right beat with a great pace and tempo. I love hearing Eminem’s raunchy, crazy lyrics over a 90’s soulful, sampled type beat with the two elements not crashing and messing one another up. Some of my favorite tracks are Heisenberg, CREWLUV, Ms.Officer Please, and F-O-SACE. Overall I give the backpackers #tjc a 4 out of 5 stars. I personally see The BaCKpaCKers only getting better and impressing me even more with their next project.

“In the future I see us doing live shows and producing for artists,” said Sumague. “I see us making STACKS,” proclaimed Diaz.

You can check out the backpackers on their soundcloud with the link posted below.