What first inspired you to start producing music? Were there any particular artists that influenced you?
I first started producing in early 2014, and that was just coz I wanted to make beats for Dev (MC half of the duo I’m a part of, Slim Set). At the time I was just getting into darker UK stuff like Night Slugs and still obsessing over the production on Boy in Da Corner.
Has your music taste changed since then?
Not heaps, it was around then that my taste expanded from pretty much just rap and R&B into dance music too. I’ve definitely gotten more into summer-y stuff in the last couple of years, been listening to heaps more afrobeats and pop. I guess I listen to even less guitars now than in 2014 though, haha.
Has your own sound evolved since you started out?
Yeah, heaps. I started out just making rap beats in FL. Now that I DJ too, I make more ‘club focussed’ tracks and edits to play in my sets too. I think my sound’s getting crispier as I start to get half-decent at producing and learn new ways to twist sounds.
Though, it’s only in the last few months that I feel like I’m really starting to find my own sound as a producer, so I’m keen to share what I’ve been working on.
How do you go about the process of constructing a track? What software/hardware do you use?
I pretty much just use Ableton + Massive. I don’t really use hardware aside from a MIDI keyboard that I just bought.
The process is always different, but I’ll always know what kind of track I want to make before I start. It changes as I get into it, but sitting down at a clean slate with no direction is way too overwhelming, haha. I’ll usually start with melodies and then lay down drums around that.
Also, often I’ll use a pop or rap acapella as a starting point, and then strip the vocals away once I’ve built up a loop around it. That can help when I’m struggling to get ideas for chords or melodies.
Do you have a context in mind when making a track? For example do you set out to make a tune that will work in a club environment? Do you think about whether it will work with vocals from Dev or other artists?
Yeah I always decide exactly what it’s gonna be for before I start writing. Also when we write Slim Set tracks we’re usually together. It’s really different writing with a vocalist in mind, you have to leave a heaps more space than you would when making an instrumental.
Do you consider yourself part of the “Aussie Grime” scene?
Nah I’m not in the Aussie Grime scene, even though I do make a lot of 140bpm stuff. With my own music I feel closer to the Aus DJ crew all pushing their sounds to the max: outs to EVE cru, Chanel, Stricty, JALE, Rap and everyone else.
I feel Slim Set kind of has its own little corner though in the Aus scene though, which is nice!
What is the current scene like in Western Sydney? You seem to be performing more and more gigs in areas like Bankstown and Parramatta.
Yeah it’s been mad playing those shows lately, we played a gig at The Albion in Parra a couple weeks back supporting Mike Akox whose music is amazing. And Parra Live and Local was a great live music festival run by council a few months ago.
What’s on the horizon in terms of touring and releases?
I’m finishing up a few tracks for the Kimchi Princi album which is gonna be HUGE. I produced the next single of that one, and I can’t wait for it to drop, I’m super proud of it. Otherwise, working hard on a Slim Set mixtape. And hoping to put out my own EP by the end of the year if everything goes to plan.
DJ Atro will record a live mix at the Backyard Opera studio on July 8. Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/events/154896765382329/