DJ and producer Elaine Katoy is based in Berlin, having gained lots of experience playing in clubs around the world before settling down in the musical capital of Europe. From their self-taught beginnings, Elaine loves the versatility of Ableton Live 10 and her AKAI MPK mini input to draw those soundscapes in with feeling. Draw on her wealth of experience as we got to know Elaine Katoy in the studio!

How long have you been producing music and how did you learn? 

I could say I'm new to music, that I just magically hit the right note, or that I'm just incredibly talented, but that would be a lie. I've been making music for several decades now, under many names and in many different genres. I've also been a Djane in a wide variety of locations, from the youth club in the village to various broadcasts on radio stations and gigs in trendy clubs, to top locations in Paris or Ibiza. But honestly, what does that matter? It doesn't matter what you've done, what you've achieved, who you've met, or where you've been. At some point, all of these events are just memories. It is important what you do and what you will do. I learned everything auto-didactically and had many years to gain experience, fantastic moments as well as bad experiences. Now I'm based in Berlin in Germany, creating my music, and I’m more than curious about what’s to come next.

Having used everything from Logic Pro to Fruity Loops to Reason for decades, my answer is clear and obvious. My weapon of choice is undoubtedly Ableton Live 10. Like many musicians and producers originally from the hip-hop genre, my music was and is often sample based in many ways.

The seamless insertion and editing of audio material from a wide variety of sources and in a wide variety of formats is simply all that counts for me. And that's exactly where Ableton Live from the Berlin software company comes into play. Live's algorithm is simply fantastic and leaves nothing to be desired when it comes to processing my sounds and samples. In this way, I can do everything in one flow, from the inspiration to the idea to the finished piece. In addition, as with most programs of this type, there is the possibility of using an endless number of third party plugins, which is common nowadays. As a result, there are practically no limits to my sound. Simply fantastic!

What are your favourite pieces of gear and why?

Ten years ago I would certainly have answered without hesitation: “Of course. My Technics turntables and my record collection.” But, after losing all my equipment, which has been painful to this day, I had to go new and unconventional paths for my love of music. That's why the answer today is a bit more modest. I like my Traktor controllers Kontrol X1 (MK1 & MK2) and the Kontrol F1 from Native Instruments. Due to the relatively easy possibility of reprogramming the Kontrol F1, I currently use it as a four-channel mixer and therefore always have a solid set to play with in every situation. Even in the club, the controllers offer a perfect complement and a pleasant setting for a live act. However, my newest baby is the AKAI Professional MPK Mini mk3. It enables me to play more complex melodies and soundscapes directly instead of drawing them in note-by-note as before. A huge upgrade and an immense gain in terms of productivity and workflow.

What are your favourite software plugins and why?

While this may come as a surprise to some, most of the time I'm fine with the plugins that come with Ableton Live. Some finely tuned delay here, warm Rhodes there, a little vinyl dust and the sound of putting a needle on or taking a needle off the record... Sometimes that's all I need for me. However, there are some plugins that I have come to love over the years. Dubstation by Audio Damage or Lounge Lizard EP by Applied Acoustics Systems are just two of them.

How would you summarise your approach/workflow when creating a track?

I have exactly three types of creative processes. The first is the easiest. Switch on the devices, put on the headphones and just play around a bit. It is not uncommon for some great pieces to be created in this way. The second is the most beautiful for me. In such a case, the song usually appears as an almost finished picture in my mind's eye. I can see almost everything at this moment. My hands work intuitively and I just follow the flow of the zone. With pieces like this, I'm often stunned and surprised at how well everything fits together. Such songs are usually ready in a few hours to two days.

The third way is the most uncontrolled way of all. With these tracks, I start with an idea or an intention, and as the production progresses, that morphs into something completely new and mostly unexpected for me. And as chaotic as everything is, it often ends. These pieces go into my secret box and wait there for completion. This sometimes happens after months, after years, or sometimes not at all. But even in such cases, the results often serve as ideas for new, better, or more interesting works.

What resources do you use to improve your craft? 

The motto is almost always: learning by doing wrong and getting better. I learned most about making music auto-didactically. I can't read sheet music, I found out about the triad or harmony theory in passing and even today I at least know where to find the note C. I can play the guitar lying on my lap only, and a piano with three to six fingers, but I'm great at playing the trumpet. I rely 100% on my hearing for my music. But that doesn't mean that I'm not interested in courses or similar things.

It's just never happened before. And if it had worked out in terms of time, it often depended on the finances. So I just try with a lot of care, my love for detail and devotion to the music, to always achieve a well-rounded and for me coherent result. If that is then also liked or even loved by others, what more could one wish for?

What is the last YouTube tutorial you watched that you would recommend to other Re-Ex members?

As I already said, I'm mostly self-taught. I don't know exactly why it is, but with YouTube or generally with tutorials it's always somehow strange for me. It's really very rare that I use a tutorial to solve a musical problem. Maybe it's the fear of doing something in a way that many use and thus a way of their own, of losing an individual result. I’m pretty sure there are plenty of good tutorials that can be helpful. Especially if you want to learn the basics of music production. But I could definitely recommend this mapping tutorial:

Traktor Kontrol F1 Deck Mapping by ENDO

What knowledge or advice do you wish you'd learned earlier?

I wish I'd dealt with the fact that the music business isn't just about music, but about business as well. It doesn't matter how much you love your music, how confident you are in what you are doing, or how many people celebrate you because you will quickly lose out if you don't know business things like accounting, sales and the like. Anything that other people do for you are things that you may quickly lose track of. It is always advisable to know what works and how, so you can be sure to always create good conditions. It is also important to always connect. Contacts can make the difference between success and failure.

What challenges related to making music do you face and how do you overcome them?

My biggest challenges are creativity and quality. When I lack the necessary creativity, I do things that are good for me and not necessarily related to music. I cook myself something great, cuddle with my fiancee, watch a movie or play a game. Sometimes it's just good to get a little distance to see more clearly. When it comes to quality, I always try to live up to my expectations. I don't want my music to sound digital or standard, but warm and genuine. However, I never disregard the usual standards of the respective genre. It has to be a round thing. If it convinces me, then I take a little distance again and look at my work more critically than before. Then when I feel it, when it's round, I complete it with the cover artwork and bring the whole thing together into a coherent story. Then I'm satisfied and almost concentrate on the next project.

Can you share any killer tips or techniques?

I probably have endless, really good tips and, depending on the genre, almost as many techniques. For me, it's especially good not to listen to other artists' music before and during the creative process. In this way, I make sure that I am not unconsciously influenced in my work. Another really good tip is that I never completely finish my pieces. What do I mean by that? Quite simply, when a piece of mine is finished, then I have at least three or four tracks that I don't add. Sometimes it's harmonies, sometimes percussion. But there are always traces that would definitely enrich the song. That way I always have the opportunity to add that certain something to a very good song. That's particularly interesting when you're doing a live act or a remix of your own piece. This usually creates pleasant surprises for people who already love the piece. But of course, you can also just ask me if you need a good tip. I'm always happy to help if I can.

Do you try and get feedback or suggestions to improve your music? If so, how?

Of course. My fiancé is a great help to me in advance. She says what she thinks and feels. I couldn't wish for a better critic. Of course, my sisters and all the many people on SoundCloud are also a great help to me. But I often see at the latest from the comments of others on my music that I have achieved my goal for the respective song.

Which track are you most proud of and why? 

It's really, really hard for me to choose one of my babies. When I release something, I stand behind it 100% and with heart and soul. I've made so much music and I love every single song. My current favourites are definitely my songs Mom, Là Tes Yeux and Autumn Leaves. I dedicated the song Mom to my mother. She passed away recently and that was my way of saying thank you. The song Là Tes Yeux is dedicated to my fiancee. I mean... my god, her eyes! Autumn Leaves is dedicated to autumn, of course. Such a beautifully colourful and cosy time before winter sets in. But like I said. As soon as I hear another song of mine, it immediately has my full love again!

Autumn Leaves by Elaine Katoy

Has RepostExchange affected the way you make music? If so, how?

RepostExchange hasn't changed the way I make music. But has it changed how I bring my music to people? Oh yeah! Absolutely and totally! Re-Ex has opened up avenues for me to reach potential fans and other good musicians that I would never have guessed. I owe a hell of a lot to Re-Ex because without it I would never have been able to reach so many people in such a good and easy way. 

Thanks to Re-Ex I discovered musicians who might never have reached me. The choice of different genres offers endless possibilities to get to know numerous musicians and thus to be able to network with all these great people. But the packages and campaigns are also extremely valuable in distributing my music. Maybe I'll even dedicate a song to Re-Ex because it's a resource I wouldn't want to be without anymore. Anyways, thanks for that!

Top L-R: MacBook Pro, AKAI Professional MPK Mini mk3.

Bottom L-R: JBL Xtreme Bluetooth Speaker, BLUETTI Solar Generator AC200P, AKG Studio Headphones K240 MKII.

Connect with Elaine Katoy on RepostExchange, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Instagram.

Want more? Sign up at RepostExchange.com.

This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

This week, we catch up with Berlin-based DJ and producer!

In the studio with Elaine Katoy

Toronto-based recording artist, Gavidann, got their start in music production by watching YouTube tutorials about FL Studio. Getting a vocal mix is really important to this up-and-coming rapper and works hard to collaborate with other beat makers to get their sound just right. Find out what we learned when we invited Gavidann into the studio!

I've been producing music since 2012 when I bought an old laptop from a friend... I started watching YouTube tutorials about FL Studio and beat-making before I eventually got the program and the rest is history from there.

FL Studio is my favourite DAW, this is because I personally think it's a very intuitive program that is easy to catch on in a way that will make you start enjoying what you're doing quickly.

One of my favourite current favourite pieces of gear are my audio-technica AT2020, my ASUS laptop and my audio-technica headphones, as well as my Behringer U-PHORIA UMC22. These are my favourite pieces of equipment because they take sound to a new level, making my sound way more professional than before.

My favourite plug-ins are my TDR Nova for cleaning up and taming my recordings.

The Voxengo SPAN has excellent isolator frequencies to help me to weed out the sounds that I'm not hearing in a general sense and are not helping in the direction of my mixing goals.

TDR Molotok: I call this my pre-compression compressor.

QRange: mid-side EQ for the mid-side equine to help expand my voice in a more full and spatial kind of way.

Kotelinkov is the compressor of choice for my final compression.

My workflow is very relaxed, as to me it helps to create faster and more fulfilling tracks instead of feeling forced and rigid.

I use YouTube, peer-to-peer reviews and music tutorials wherever I can access them.

As far as mixing tutorials go my go-to YouTube channel is In The Mix this guy is very informative and is able to explain himself in a way that you don't have to be very knowledgeable about mixing to understand his teaching and I think that's just awesome!

The Best Mixing Advice I Can Give

When I was a boy my grandmother gave me what I think is the ultimate advice for growth and development. She said to me "understand that practice can only make you better, but never perfect." So learn to enjoy growing and improving instead of aiming for the lie of perfection.

Whenever I'm planning to write I always put my mind in a playful childish mode, by playing videos game or funny videos and stuff like that... this always helps to have an efficient writing/creating session.

As far as tips go I would say when you're mixing make it sound as horrible as you can in the beginning and start going backwards by turning down or cutting out what you need to make it sound good. Push the knows to the max and pull back as you move forward in the mixing stage.

I usually release demo versions of my songs with a bad mix on purpose for a week or two so others can pick it apart and help me get a proper mix in the final release. Plus, I always try and get feedback by putting it in my music description area so anyone who sees it can offer some feedback.

I'm personally proud of my track called FE130 on a beat produced by REIGN, I am proud of this because of how crisp and clean I got the vocals and it is the most balanced I've personally mixed a track.

Back at it working with the homie @Reignprod , for this release and also our second time working together... I call this one "FE130" . Rapping over a beat he named "Fame" I love the whole environment and vibe he created on the beat , the yrics were just flowing out of me.Thanks to all my listeners who’s been on this journey with me from the early days and to all my new listeners. I hope yall enjoy this one . #GaviSquad 🤙🤙

FE130 - Gavidann (Prod By. ReignProd) by Thats_Gavidann_Yo

RepostExchange is the reason I'm actually on the verge of creating a listener base, and very thankful for that... I went from 100 streams a month to 3-7k and week on average!

Bottom L-R: TDR Molotok, TDR Kotelnikov and Qrange.

Connect with Gavidann on RepostExchange, SoundCloud, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This week, we catch up with Toronto-based recording artist and producer, Gavidann!

In the studio with Gavidann

Originating from England and now living in the Pacific Northwest, musical polymath Jeremy has been making waves in the RepostExchange charts with their breadth of sounds for some time. Having diversified his sound into four different projects - from the ambient stylings of Siegfried Jünger, to the Icelandic Post-rock of Laxá, from the modern classical vibe of Jeremias Langsämmer, to the alt-rock of singer-songwriter These Guitars Say Sorry (TGSS) - helping Jeremy approach music making with a consistent and varied approach. Here's what we learned when we got to know FL Studio user and Re-Ex chart topper Jeremy in the studio!

I've been performing solo for a few years, playing 101 shows in the year before COVID! When COVID happened I realized the gigs were going to dry up and I had always wanted to write other kinds of music: classical, piano, ambient, and electronic while continuing to put out singer-songwriter material. I learned by trial and error, improving with each track (hopefully) and learning how to arrange songs better and give space in my mixes. 

My main DAW is FL Studio Mobile which surprises people. I have Studio One also but tend only to use that for vocals and occasional guitars.

The reason I chose FLStudio Mobile was I wanted to compose on Chromebook as well as Windows and wanted a DAW that was capable but wasn't so complex I couldn't produce what I envisioned.

It's been working great, it's capable and flexible across genres and fully featured enough to not leave you wanting more.

I have a really minimal set-up. I wanted something I could use in the house and be easily mobile so I don't have much to choose from! 

So I would go with my Korg nanoKEY2 and my headphones (Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro) that I use to compose and mix with.

FL Studio Mobile is a closed environment. I like it is self-limiting, it forces you to be creative within the constraints you have so I most enjoy getting creative with native instruments and morphing their sounds so they are useful but unrecognizable from their original counterpart.

I sit down and I write about an hour a day. I open up the DAW and decide which band I am going to write a song for: Jeremias Langsämmer (Modern Classical/Soundtrack), Siegfried Jünger (Ambient/Electronic), Laxá (Icelandic Post-rock), or These Guitars Say Sorry (Singer Songwriter/Alternative Rock) and just start in composing a little each night.

I return the next night, review what I have done and keep going. I tend to write in 4 to 8-bar chunks and stack all the instruments on top of each other in the timeline to make sure they complement each other. Once I have decided the track is done I then arrange it, stretching each part across the timeline, trying to offer light and shade in the sound and keep it engaging.

At the end, I tend to cut parts out so there's just the core of the song left.

Doing it this way has allowed me to produce nearly 140 songs and 10 albums of work across a range of genres since July 2020.

I think it's important though, for each artist to develop a process that works for them, there isn't one 'correct' way.

I don't use too many resources. I may look something up if I have a particular issue and I also post on the FL Studio Mobile message boards for technical stuff relating to the DAW. My main resource is practice and when I discover something new hidden away in the DAW, I try to apply it. 

I also listen back to my tracks to see how the sound is developing, what works, and what doesn't. Does a rich sound pay off in this genre or does a more minimal sound work better?

It was a video on amending the piano sound in FL Studio Mobile. Untreated it can sound really cold so was looking for some new ideas.

In the end, I ended up using this as a starting point and applying it to the strings on the piece I was working on.

make the piano sound better(mixing) | fl studio mobile

I think advice appears as you're ready for it. I have got some great advice from Re-Ex composers that I wouldn't have understood until I was ready. I really appreciate the comments I get too, it allows you to learn (if you're open to it) from people who only have the music to go on.

Maybe my one thing that comes to the fore is: “Keep it simple. Put the music first and don't worry too much about the gear."

I kind of freed myself from writer's block by not constraining myself to write for a particular genre or have to produce a certain amount of music in a certain amount of time. Time is always an issue but you can turn that to your advantage. 

Sometimes you can spend too long sitting; if your time is limited it gives you focus, “What do I want to achieve in this hour?”

As I mentioned earlier my set-up is simple: turn on the laptop and I'm recording in five minutes. If I had to set up a studio every time I needed to record that would hold me back.

Just write. Don't agonize. Be you, not what you think people want to hear.

Make layers work for you. Intertwining even the most simple lines can make something special.

Leave some room in your mix for mastering. Panning is your friend but mix in mono so you can hear how it all sits.

Do you use any online tools to assist with the production process?

Yes, I use Landr. That way I control the whole process of production I can mess with masters and Landr's getting better all the time so I'm able to nuance songs.

Sure. I share them online on SoundCloud mainly and solicit comments. I have changed tracks around as a result. Someone may say the intro is too long, I listen and they're right. Cut! Or the drums are too loud. I'm happy to listen to advice as it allows the songs to be better.

RepostExchange has been great too. I get comments from all over the world and have had my stuff played on the radio across continents which is really encouraging.

I guess the listeners get to choose! Let the Dead Ride is my most popular track. I liked the title and the song went from there: a cinematic ambient piece that moves along organically. It even reached #2 in the Re-Ex chart!

Siegfried Jünger's new album "Things Get Sharp" is available for preview track by track here... soundcloud.com/these-guitars-say-sorry/sets/things-get-sharp-by-siegfried

Let The Dead Ride by Siegfried Jünger by TGSS/Jeremias Langsämmer /Siegfried Jünger / Laxá

It has kept me creating, which is a good thing. I want people to have something new to listen to at least once a week and because I create a cross a range of genres I get to share the different styles with a lot of great musicians.

Bottom L-R: Landr, Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro, Korg nanoKEY2.

Connect with Jeremy on RepostExchange, SoundCloud, Facebook, and Bandcamp.

This week, we catch up with the Yakima, WA-based musical polymath Jeremy from TGSS

In the studio with Jeremy from TGSS/Jeremias Langsämmer/Siegfried Jünger/Laxá

After attending their first music festival in Toronto, Zain Ahmed was inspired to start producing their own music. Zanavia started out learning to produce in FL Studio, before jumping over to Ableton, admiring the organisation and simplicity of the program. From a humble beginning learning how-to from YouTube tutorials to getting the go-ahead from Grammy-nominated artist ILLENIUM, Zanavia shares their creative process and top tips in the studio for RepostExchange!

I started producing music in the summer of 2015 after I went to my first music festival in Toronto which was Digital Dreams. I learned how to produce music mainly off YouTube where I focused on how to produce different genres of electronic music. After two years I took some courses from Production Music Live which I highly recommend if you want to learn how to make a song from start to finish.

I use Ableton because I love how organized and simple the program is. At first, it was difficult to navigate through the program because everything is in your face but once I got used to it I noticed how important it is to be organized especially as an artist. Before Ableton, I was using FL Studio for about half a year. 

I have a Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A49 but I rarely use it. I prefer to make music through my mouse and keyboard; I noticed it is easier and more efficient for me. I have a set of KRK Rokit 6 Studio Monitors that I use for my production and they are great. Had them for three years now and they are working as if I bought them yesterday!

My favourite plugin is definitely Kontakt. I love live instruments and with Kontakt, the libraries are endless. I highly recommend it if you're looking to get an authentic sound from an instrument you like. Another plugin I use often is Soundtoys Decapitator. I'm a huge fan of distortion in my sounds, and out of all the distortion plugins I have I noticed Soundtoys Decapitator delivers the best. 

When I'm starting a new song, I first create a chord that resembles the vibe that I'm going for with the song. I'm confident with my song when the chord is exactly what I'm going for. From the chord, I create the atmosphere, piano, and guitars to make the song more interesting. When all of these are done I begin working on the drums. The drums consist of many instruments which are different for every song. I typically have trouble layering my snare so I use Splice to find the sounds that I need. When the drums are completed I work on the drop which consists of all the sounds combined. Once the first drop is completed the rest of the song is very easy for me to complete. I add a few new instruments to the second drop and maybe change the drumline to make it more interesting. 

When I want to improve my craft I always go to YouTube. It has thousands of thousands of videos that can teach you about any genre you are interested in. The main thing is knowing what you want to learn. As a beginner, you may feel like you don't know what to learn but I highly recommend watching and studying tutorials that are start-to-finish on genres that you are interested in. That way you learn about the genre and you're able to incorporate the lessons into your own music. With dedication and belief, you will become what you want.

This tutorial is great If you want to learn how to mix and master better. There are a lot of great tips in this tutorial which I use today.

How To Mix & Master EDM Like A Pro

When I first started out I wish I had learned that it is more effective to create music faster rather than trying to make each song perfectly. Starting out, the music is not going to sound good, by producing songs faster you will be able to make great songs quicker in your career. I used to spend months on a song and in the end, I realized I was not learning efficiently. 

When I have writer's block, I immediately stop producing. I know at this point it's not worth spending time on music and I'm just forcing it. I usually spend a couple of days away from music and spend time on other hobbies. But if I have a deadline the best way for me to get rid of writer's block is to work out. Either going to the gym and taking the stress out there or going for a 30-minute run always helps me out.

If you use Ableton and you're not the best with music theory, draw the key of the song into your midi track and place it right before the midi starts. This way you can create your sound in key without having to check if the note works or not. 

I use Splice to find samples mainly for my drums. Whenever my samples don't fit a song I can go to Splice and pick through thousands of sounds that work. 

Whenever I'm working on a song I will send my song to 5-10 people: these people are my fans and producers. It's important that you get feedback from others because sometimes they will hear something you can't. It is also important to take the feedback with a grain of salt. If you like a piece of the track and others don't, just keep it!

I'm most proud of the first song I released which is My Mind (ft. Hayes) because I put my heart and soul into that song. I went through multiple vocalists to find the one that I liked the most. I re-created that song three to four times with different melodies and to be honest, spent a little too much time on that song. I also had ILLENIUM listen to that song on stream and seeing an artist that has inspired me so much dance to it made me so proud.

ZANAVIA - My Mind (ft. Hayes) Available now!
Buy/Stream: https://lnk.to/zanavia

FREE DOWNLOAD: https://www.toneden.io/zanavia/post/my-mind-3

ZANAVIA
https://instagram.com/zanaviamusic
https://facebook.com/zanaviamusic
https://twitter.com/zanaviamusic
https://vm.tiktok.com/JYdLgWr/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClY6uYEhYFwlJWkUeYSKeyQ
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4uFhm8x8BMZyPvomjKdSOT?si=DQ0lUCA4RTC7ohviuE7kVg

LYRICS:
Did you ever really mean it
Real or was it pretend
I’d be lying to myself saying that I’m okay
Cause it's been 80 days, without you
I've been staying up too late cause I know when I'm wake
I’ll still feel the pain by you
You were so bad for my health
Couldn’t help myself
So I let you take my heart
I should have seen it back then
And stayed as just friends
But I never cared about how it would end
Now I’m wondering did you ever really mean it
Was it real or was it pretend
I keep trying to talk myself out of these feelings
Cut you out my life but I still can't get you off my mind 
My mind, my mind, my mind, my mind, my mind
Still can't get you off my mind
My mind, my mind, my mind, my mind, my mind
Don’t know why but your love still haunts me
All the times that you said you’re sorry
I've been trying to stay awake
Been trying to erase
Make the memories fade, but I cave
I go out and talk to strangers take my mind off things
But I feel the pain, what’s the use
I’m trying to work on myself, without someone's help
And think about me this time
So I don’t go down that path
Like I always do
But I still keep running back to thoughts of you
Now I’m wondering did you ever really mean it
Was it real or was it pretend
I keep trying to talk myself out of these feelings
And cut you out my life but I still can't get you off my mind
My mind, my mind, my mind, my mind, my mind
Still can't get you off my mind
My mind, my mind, my mind, my mind, my mind
Said you're sorry
Don't know why but your love still haunts me
All the times that you said you're sorry
Didn't mean anything at all 
But up a wall and you let it fall
Don't know why but your love still haunts me
All the times that you said you're sorry
Didn't mean anything at all 
But I'm still here waiting for that call
Cause you're still on my mind
Yeah you're still on my mind

ZANAVIA - My Mind (ft. Hayes) by ZANAVIA

RepostExchange is great if you want to meet new artists and find people that create similar music to it. It is also great for getting your music out there which has benefited me a ton!

Bottom L-R: Xfer Serum, FabFilter, Sylenth1.

Connect with Zanavia on RepostExchange, SoundCloud, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This week, we catch up with Toronto-based Dance & EDM producer!

In the studio with Zanavia

Raised in Knysna, South Africa, G-Wizz, The Slayer started out producing their own beats on FL Studio and writing lyrics as a teenager. Drawing on personal experience, often touching on depression and crafting into their distinct sound of punk rap and hardcore hip-hop influenced by Tyler The Creator, Eminem, $not, XXXtentaction and Denzel Curry. Find out more when we caught up with RepostExchange member G-Wizz, The Slayer in the studio!

I’ve been writing and producing music since 2009. It could be earlier, but I’m not quite sure... I taught myself by watching my cousin make beats with FL Studio and recording vocals with Magix Music Maker, he was still an amateur at FL studio so it was pretty easy to catch on!

FL Studio is very convenient to use and there are way more sounds to use to make a beat than any other DAW that I know of (I might be wrong). But, FL Studio also has a huge variety of FX to use either on your vocals or instrumentals. It’s nice to experiment with plus a lot of artist I collaborate with use it so it’s not that much of a hassle to send vocals to each other. 

I own a PC, condenser microphone, amplifier, speakers and a Yamaha PSR-E443 keyboard. Out of all the above mentioned, the keyboard is probably the best piece of equipment I own. I use it as a midi controller so it's much easier to lay down chords. The mic that I have is quite cheap but it gets the job done. I feel as long as you can hear what I’m saying and you get the message, I have executed my mission!

Izotope Pro Suite is an all-in-one plugin that has helped me a lot with mixing, mastering and cleaning up my tracks. Apart from Izotope, I usually use FL Studio's stock plug-ins such as Fruity Limiter, Maximus, and Parametric EQ which basically do the same job. Izotope is just way more convenient to use because of the new feature that allows the software to auto-assist you. I enjoy auto-tune as well but I try not to overuse it, meaning I try not to use it in every track I make. 

I usually start out making a rough draft of a beat. I then write the lyrics and then record what I wrote. Sometimes I would think of a line and record them as they come to me. I find that to be the best way to record because that way I don’t second guess myself, plus I get done faster. Once I’ve done recording vocals, ad-libs and backings, I just fill in the negative spaces on the instrumental, anything that I could have missed. When I’m finally satisfied I finally start mixing and mastering. When I come to this step I usually watch tutorials because I don’t fully understand mastering! I am getting there though. 

I listen to mainstream artists and usually pull inspiration from their music. 

I watch YouTube tutorials on how to make certain kind of beats and just incorporate that into my style of music and I also watch tutorials on how to mix and master tracks. The Buzy Works Beats channel is all you need to watch if you are a producer, it has tutorials for any query you might have.

I also watch tutorials on how to promote my music. I try not to watch only one person when it comes to marketing because what could have worked for them might not necessarily work out the same for you. 

Instagram is also a great platform to get ideas from and network with others artists that have the same feel as you. 

I also watch a lot of series and movies seeing that I don’t read. I try my best to be updated with mainstream references. 

I recommend anyone that doesn’t fully understand mixing and mastering and has the Izotope plugin to watch this video!

How to Mix a Song from Start to Finish | iZotope Music Production Suite 2.1

Don’t sit on music too long, get it out so you can create something new. I also wish I knew earlier on about mixing and mastering. I just recently started learning about it. I still have problems grasping all of it but with every track I make, I just keep getting better at it. I also wish I knew more about music theory because just like any other business it also has its own jargon. 

Lastly, don’t listen to the haters, don’t let someone’s opinion make you feel less than. What haters don’t know is that they are good PR and they're helping the algorithm make people discover you. And don’t feed into the negativity, not everyone is going to like you or your music. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and express yourself in your music, I found that when you are the most vulnerable that’s when people relate to your music. 

When I get writer's block or feel uninspired I would listen to my favourite artists, which normally helps me record again. I’m literally the only one in my neighbourhood rapping and taking it seriously, so it can get frustrating doing everything alone: from writing to producing and paperwork etc. I just got to remind myself every time about the bigger picture which then alleviates some of my anxiety. Sometimes I would feel a great deal of depression, then I would just read some of the comments and that helps me keep going

Make notes, whether it be on paper or voice notes. Sometimes I would forget something then at least I have something to refer to. 

I usually send my unreleased tracks to a select few friends and family over WhatsApp and hear what they have to say: my family are usually brutally honest! RepostExchange’s feedback function is also a great way to get constructive criticism from other artists. I’ve used it a few times and all the feedback was constructive. I think I’m going to be using that for my upcoming project just so I can get an early opinion before I release it on major platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify.

I actually have three tracks that I’m really proud of Fxckedupinthehead, STFU, and Broken Property. 

In each of these tracks, I was very vulnerable and transparent, I treated these tracks as a therapy session. I touched on topics such as anxiety, depression and loneliness. When I played these tracks to my friends, they told me that these songs were so relatable. 

When I wrote these songs I thought I was the only one that felt like this so it really meant a lot to know that I’m not the only one and also that I could help someone going through these things. 

This was inspired by Xxxtentacion and Ski Mask's 'fuxk (p.1)

Follow G-Wizz, The Slayer (@gwizztheslayer)on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1GM9nGfwFjiwZtgIWO3sh2

Follow G-Wizz, The Slayer(@gwizztheslayer)on:
www.instagram.com/gwizztheslayer
www.facebook.com/gwizztheslayer
www.twitter.com/gwizz_theslayer
www.tiktok.com/@gwizztheslayer

Bookings/collaborations/enquiries contact: gwizztheslayer@gmail.com

Produced by @gwizztheslayer 
Mixed by @gwizztheslayer 
Mastered by @gwizztheslayer 
Cover by @gwizztheslayer 
Published by Dreams Of Colour

STFU(Prod. G-Wizz, The Slayer) by G-Wizz, The Slayer

5. Broken Property (Prod. G-Wizz, The Slayer)

Produced by G-Wizz, The Slayer 
Mixed by G-Wizz, The Slayer 
Mastered by G-Wizz, The Slayer 
Cover by G-Wizz, The Slayer 
Published by Dreams Of Colour

Follow G-Wizz, The Slayer (@gwizztheslayer) on:

www.instagram.com/gwizztheslayer
www.facebook.com/gwizztheslayer
www.twitter.com/gwizz_theslayer
www.tiktok.com/@gwizztheslayer

Bookings/collaborations/enquiries contact: gwizztheslayer@gmail.com

Broken Property (Prod. G-Wizz, The Slayer) (Unreleased) by G-Wizz, The Slayer

RepostExchange helped me gain 80% (if not more) of my followers, and get likes and comments from other artists. It’s safe to say that without RepostExchange I wouldn’t have acquired 2k followers on SoundCloud. A lot of my upcoming features are from artists that I met through RepostExchange.

Top L-R: Yamaha PSR-E443 Keyboard, FL Studio 20.

Bottom L-R: DXN PRO USB Condenser Microphone BIGPROV2, Sony MDR-ZX110 Headphones, Izotope Production Suite.

Connect with G-Wizz, The Slayer on RepostExchange, SoundCloud, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This week, we catch up with South Africa-based rapper & producer, G-Wizz, The Slayer!

In the studio with G-Wizz, The Slayer

How long have you been producing music and how did you learn?

I’ve been producing for about four and a half years now. I first downloaded FL Studio in early 2016. I learned by just watching YouTube videos, including a lot of videos by Zen World. I didn’t know any people that were also into producing, I got into it simply because I fell in love with electronic music. So it was just me and YouTube for a while until I joined Icon Collective School of Music, from which I recently graduated. There, I was able to learn from a diverse and very experienced group of professionals as well as connect with other producers with the same passion as me. We still continue to help each other learn and improve every day.

I started with FL Studio but at Icon Collective they teach you Ableton Live so now I only use Ableton and I love it. It’s a whole different experience being taught a DAW by experts than learning it on your own, so I quickly became more comfortable with Ableton than I ever was with FL. Both do basically the same things, but I feel like Ableton stock plugins are a little better.

I don’t have tons of gear but the favourites I guess are my XPS 15 Dell laptop and my AKG K240 headphones. The laptop is basically made for gaming so it has all these features that are super helpful for music production. When I first started producing I was using the cheapest Dell laptop, and even used it though most of Icon. I saved to be able to upgrade to a nicer one but didn’t want to change to a Mac and have to learn a whole new system and the keys. I love everything about my laptop. 

As for my headphones, they are semi-open, so they are great for mixing, and I like mixing my tracks as I produce them. They are really comfortable and I’m able to wear them for hours. The ones I had before hurt my head after not even an hour of using them. Other than that, I have some KRK Rokit5 speakers which I love, as well as a Behringer audio interface, a midi keyboard, and the cheapest decent mic I found, but I don't use the last two super often.

What are your favourite software plugins and why? 

As far as Ableton stock plugins, I love the saturator and the reverb! But for third-party plugins, definitely Serum, since I use it in every song for a lot of the synths/basses. It was the first plugin I bought and I like that you never stop learning new things on it and you can do all kinds of things on it. It took me a long time to even realize you can make automations for knobs in Serum. 

I also love Ozone, which I use for mastering. Mastering is so hard to understand, and Ozone looks kind of overwhelming at first but once you learn the basics it is very helpful. One of the plugins that I got more recently is Exhale for Kontakt. It has beautiful sounds that are ready to use, but I like to resample presets from it (turn them to audio) and then mess with them to make them sound cooler and different. I don’t think any of the songs that I have out right now included any of those resampled sounds, but the new stuff I’m working on does and it is amazing!

Sometimes I start with drums, sometimes with some simple piano chords, sometimes with a cool loop or a vocal sample I find. If I’m not feeling inspired I dig for new samples in Splice. I’ll often hear something that sparks an idea in my head. Sometimes I download that sound and use it, and sometimes the idea does not include that sound I just heard but it served as inspiration. 

The element I start with always changes, but I’ve realized it’s easiest for me to finish a track and make that track flow smoothly when I create it from start to finish (so breakdown, then build, then the drop). When I start with the drop sometimes I have trouble coming up with what should come before it and get stuck. 

Once I get the main song idea down, I imagine what the sections are gonna look like and label them. I put markers where I might want the rest of the sections to start and end. For example, if I have the first break, build and drop done (very roughly) I go ahead and mark the intro, the second break, build and drop, the outro, and any other weird section. That way I know the arrangement of the track very early in the process. At the same time it is not set in stone; sometimes I change the sections once there is music in them. 

Having the markers just helps me as a map to finish the song. It’s also important for me to keep things organized. I have colour coded groups and always have an EQ ready in every channel to quickly cut off lows for the sounds that don’t need them, which is most of them. 

What resources do you use to improve your craft?

Lately, I haven’t watched many tutorials. I’ve been putting a lot of time into actually making music and when I have a song 90% done I send it to a few Icon friends for feedback. They also send me music sometimes and I give them feedback. If I do go on YouTube though, I like watching how famous artists make their music. For example, how Finneas made a certain song, watching Kenny Beats make a beat, or watching 'Deconstructed' on the Genius channel to see how some of my favourite songs were made. 

I love that on Twitch there have been some EDM artists showing their process or giving feedback to other people’s music. That’s all very helpful too! In the past years I’ve watched a ton of tutorials and even went to school for music, so today the best and most fun way for me to keep learning is to create more!

What is the last YouTube tutorial you watched that you would recommend to other Re-Ex Members?

I love this video where Finneas shows how he made a bunch of Billie Eilish’s songs and a few others. It’s so cool seeing how a producer as talented as him uses real-life sounds and learning about his workflow. The way he thinks about music is so interesting. You will most likely learn something new from this video. If not, you will at least feel super inspired!

FINNEAS Explains How He Builds Songs For Billie Eilish | Critical Breakthroughs | Pitchfork

That anything you do or plan on doing and achieving is going to take longer than you think.

What challenges related to making music do you face and how do you overcome them? 

The biggest challenge for me is to not compare myself or my music to other artists and their music. There is a lot to learn from critically listening to music from your favourite artists as well as other artist friends you might have. But you have to pay attention and learn what works and why in their music without asking yourself if it is better or worse than what you are making. There is a really fine line between referencing other people’s music and comparing yours to theirs. This goes together with the problem of comparing your success to that of others. 

We are all on different paths so it's not fair to compare yourself to others. Writer’s block for me comes from this. Even if you are subconsciously comparing yourself or your work. I have to remind myself sometimes to stop caring and to just have fun and trust myself and my creativity.  When I get in the flow or in the zone, I have the best time and that’s when I create music that I love. Mental things like this are difficult to deal with and it takes practice to overcome them. This the most annoying challenge I have but I’m definitely doing better at it now than like a year ago.

A killer tip that I received while at Icon was to have a template for your DAW! If you open a new project and you already have your groups and channels sorted and colour-coded and all the settings, levels, etc. are set up the way you like them, it will be much easier to create songs. This tip, combined with imagining and marking the sections of the song was a game-changer for me. It allowed me to turn 8 bar loops into full songs instead of getting stuck in them. When you have a template you can see all the sounds you need to complete a song. You basically just have to fill in the blanks with your creativity. 

However, I never use every channel that is part of my template and sometimes I add new ones, it depends on the song. It’s not set in stone, especially because I make different styles of music, but it is a really helpful general idea of the sounds I will need to have a complete song. To make yourself a template, just look at all your past projects and notice what they all have in common and start there. As I learn new things and evolve my workflow, my template also changes. 

Do you use any online tools to assist with the production process? 

Splice is the only online tool I use. I get a lot of samples from there. Sometimes I use them exactly how they are, sometimes I use a little piece, sometimes I turn them into something completely different, and sometimes they just serve as an inspiration and don’t even use them. Another cool thing that I’ve done a few times when I had trouble starting something cool, is to find a loop on Splice and copy the rhythm with a different sound that I make and start from there.

Do you try and get feedback or suggestions to improve your music? 

Yes, as I mentioned earlier, my Icon friends and I send each other music for feedback. We have a group chat where we sometimes send private links for everyone to listen and give their thoughts on it. Also, I can always count on my future self to give me feedback. After I release a song I listen to it with different ears and usually hear something to improve that I didn’t hear before putting it out. By that point, it’s too late to fix that specific song, but I learn from it to make the next one a little better.

The song I am most proud of is not even out yet! But out of the ones I have out right now, I will go with 'Til the Pain Goes'. I learned so many different things while making that song and it was the first one where I recorded myself. There are a couple of sounds in there that were actually made with my voice and then processed a bunch. Also, I love the dark vibe and it’s a banger. I played it out on a few DJ sets before the pandemic and it sounded sick on the big sound systems.

Til the Pain Goes by Capochino

Has RepostExchange affected the way you make music?

I love that I found it and I am able to share my music with more people and see that they enjoy it as much as I do.

Top L-R: Pioneer DDJ 1000 controller, Dell XPS 15 Laptop

Bottom L-R: Ableton Live 10, KRK Rokit Classic 5 speakers, AKG K240 headphones

Connect with Capochino on SoundCloud, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity. This article was originally published July 2020.

This week, we catch up with Houston, TX-based producer, Capochino!

In The Studio with Capochino

After uploading a cover of Radiohead's Creep to SoundCloud, Dallas-based immersive indie artist Daphne Wolfe set out to forge their own path. After collaborating with Blue Glass on Gilbert O’Sullivan's 'Alone Again', 2022 saw the release of their first solo self-written single, 'Under My Spell' drawing on their own experiences of gender dysphoria and self-discovery. Find out what we learned with Daphne Wolfe in the studio!

I think I was about 11 years old when I started trying to make beats on GarageBand. Anything I’ve learned regarding producing music has been through good old experience and some YouTube tutorials!

FL Studio and GarageBand! Both are really easy to learn and use. FL Studio is really great because It has a huge selection of features, samples, plugins and presets that make the cost (which isn’t too hefty for beginners) worth it.

Strict but imaginative! I try to have as good of a time as possible while staying on task as much as possible. I like having a schedule or deadline as to when I would like a song to be fully finished/released, etc. Especially in 2022, I would like to get this scheduling down 100%.

I don’t really go looking for inspiration artistically as I don’t really suffer from any kind of creative block, but I do like hearing about the state of the music industry! I feel like being caught up in that regard really helps me think outside of the box in terms of promotion. I really love watching some of Patrick Cc: as well as SongPsych’s videos. They show some of the ins and outs of music marketing as well as the music industry in a really concise and fun way.

I like trying to play around with FL Studio by myself, and most of the time you can fix the problem by just experimenting, but sometimes you need to pull up a tutorial and have a pro tell you how to do it so you don’t end up wasting time.

How to Remove Noise from Vocals and  Recordings (Hiss, Hum, Background Noise)

One of the challenges I have is that sometimes my friends will say they wanna hang out, and it’s sometimes really tempting to skip some of the work I really feel like I need to do. But, especially when I’ve given myself a deadline or a schedule, I need to make sure I follow it because small interruptions can really add up. So, mainly just time management and making sure that I finish what I need to do on time.

I hate to repeat myself, but time management is always really helpful and I apply that in pretty much everything I do. I’m a visual person, so I like to write out exactly what I intend to do and mark it off as I go.

I definitely use RepostExchange now to get feedback on tracks and to make the tweaks and adjustments that need to be made! It really helps take any guesswork out. SoundBetter is also a really awesome tool. You have people willing to help collaborate and help make your vision a reality. I’ve collaborated with a beatmaker by the name of Blue Glass there. Overall, two very helpful platforms!

Yes! I’ll get feedback on my social media, but recently I used RepostExchange to gather feedback for my newest track 'Under My Spell' and it worked out pretty great! Just make sure you’re allowing feedback/comments, and you’ll be sure to get some feedback on your music. I’ll be using this method of getting feedback for singles to come.

Man, I’m really proud of all of the stuff I’ve come out with for different reasons. But, If I had to pick the one I’m most proud of right now? It might be my most recent track, 'Under My Spell'. It took me a pretty long time to perfect it as best I could. The words I’m describing this track as would be dark, immersive, intense, heavy, and psychedelic!

Promote your music
Build a network
Get real feedback

In the studio with Gavidann

In the studio with Jeremy from TGSS

In the studio with Zanavia

In the studio with G-Wizz, The Slayer

In the studio with Capochino

In the studio with Daphne Wolfe

Announcing the winners of our meme competition!

Join our free TikTok Masterclass webinar with Brandman Sean!

[Update] Announcing the Re-Ex Meme Competition!

In the studio with FieldOfVisionz

In the studio with Pandorux

Introducing our new Add-To-Playlist Feature!

In the studio with Darin Epsilon

In the studio with Bloom's Taxonomy

In the studio with Projects To Mansions

In the studio with Adolphus

In the studio with Themorethanevers

In the studio with Minx Couture

In the studio with MISTRO TS

Promote your musicBuild a networkGet real feedback

In the studio with Gavidann

In the studio with Jeremy from TGSS

In the studio with Zanavia

In the studio with G-Wizz, The Slayer

In the studio with Capochino

In the studio with Daphne Wolfe

Announcing the winners of our meme competition!

Join our *free* TikTok Masterclass webinar with Brandman Sean!

[Update] Announcing the Re-Ex Meme Competition!

In the studio with FieldOfVisionz

In the studio with Pandorux

Introducing our new Add-To-Playlist Feature!

In the studio with Darin Epsilon

In the studio with Bloom's Taxonomy

In the studio with Projects To Mansions

In the studio with Adolphus

In the studio with Themorethanevers

In the studio with Minx Couture

In the studio with MISTRO TS

Promote your music
Build a network
Get real feedback

Join our free TikTok Masterclass webinar with Brandman Sean!