Can you tell us about your musical journey?
My journey began as a classical violist. I was about seven years old, and I was starting to get fed up with the sheet music for violin. I would rather play and compose my own stuff. The burning desire to engage with music production came when I saw all those youngsters making progressive house in the style of Martin Garrix. Seeing what people like him did at that age made me believe I could do the same, and I wanted to figure out what producing was all about. However, one thing was preventing this desire from being fulfilled — my parents didn't want me to get a computer at that age. (Author of this article can relate)
They worried I would only use the computer for gaming and other stuff teenagers do on computers. However, they promised to buy me one when I'm 18. So before I had my computer I was watching tons of FL studio tutorials. When I finally turned 18 and got my laptop, I already knew the entire specter of FL studio by heart. Besides the FL tutorials, I played around with GarageBand and Logic on my parents' computer, just creating melodies. Creating melodies is actually where it all started, and given my history with classical violin, creating melodies was a vital skill of mine. However, arranging and drums were the aspects of music production which came later.
What is your style?
Once I finally got my first computer, I started making house and a bit of hip-hop & trap. It's been seven years now. All this time in music production made me understand my own artistic identity and style a bit better. My style is mainly house with a variation of wavy and funky house and melodic techno. These are the two disciplines that keep me busy.
Would you say you are more of a DJ or a producer?
I'd say I'm more of a producer. Recently, I came to appreciating DJ'ing more, especially during the corona lockdown. My idea was to refine my DJ skills during the lockdown period so it would be possible to play at a gig somewhere after lockdown. I believe DJ'ing and producing are two art forms/ aspects that complement.
Did you use any digital platform to release your music?
I always had difficulties releasing my music. I have produced around 300 tracks(not thoroughly mixed/mastered / approximately 80% done). I never thought the tracks were good enough to release and would think people would never appreciate it. You do yourself short by not showing people what you have been working on, even if what you have been working on is not perfect.
By sharing your work, you get feedback and grow faster. Kind of like the lean start-up methodology; it's something I should have done way earlier. One of the problems with not releasing something is that the very track you created is just going to be hidden somewhere on your computer. All these digital piles of old tracks will make you lose track of your own progress, earned over the past weeks and months.
How do you get in your creative flow? Do you start with melody, drums or no particular order?
It's different every time. Sometimes I can get inspired by not making anything music related like showering or biking. And from that idea I got, I started working from the top to down. Otherwise, I I start with something and add layers after layers to see where it flows.
What do you do when you are stuck while producing?
I used to pause the track I would be working on and start something new. The pitfall of this approach was that I would never finish any project. Now I urge myself to complete the project until at least one third is done. Even if it's torture to finish the project, I will do it because then at least I can release something, and I learn a lot by doing so.
What are your go-to plugins?
- Serum by xferrecords
- FabFilter by Fabfilter
- H-delay by waves
- Vallhallah vintage verb by valhalladsp
Fuck marry kill: Ableton, Fruity Loops, Logic?
Fuck Logic, marry Fruity Loops (the love of my life) and kill Ableton.
What is your favorite song you produced yourself?
Mapso - gratification
What song have you been listening to lately?
Hard - Lillo B + C
Can you do a little beatbox?