music
soon to come out on spotify (Thanksgiving), hear the full album first on bandcamp (below).
Making It
Always-Ready Music Setup
With limited time to spare, I’ve streamlined my music-making process by keeping my setup permanently wired, powered, compact, and ready to go. When inspiration strikes, all I need is a pair of headphones, flip a switch, and I can dive right in.
The Setup:
- Drums: Usually handled by the Syntakt.
- Sampling: Split between the Digitakt and the KOII.
- Drones and Textures: The Strega is primary, but also have a solar 42 in the mix on occasion.
- Other Instruments: I’ve added a guitar amp modeler and a keyboard/synth for variety.
- Mixer: Everything feeds into the Bluebox, a compact mixer and tracker.
- Final Mix: The Bluebox output goes straight into a Sony stereo cassette tape recorder – adds some grit to the already lo-fi feel.
This small rig keeps me focused. I can avoid the computer. The limitation is the feature.
The Process:
I’ve aimed to create one track per week, dedicating about an hour to each session. This approach forces me to work quickly without overthinking or obsessing over details. Some tracks turn out well; others, not so much. Either way, it’s been a great way to keep creating.
Over 42 weeks, I managed to put together 23 tracks (or snippets of ideas, really). They feature lots of drum chops, piano chords, cheesy synth melodies, and a touch of guitar. No vocals this time—maybe next round.
Here’s the collection – not yet officially released (Comes out on spotify, apple music and youtube music on thanksgiving). Enjoy the preview!
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