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!

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

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. 

What are your favourite pieces of gear and why?

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!

What are your favourite software plugins and why?

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. 

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

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. 

What resources do you use to improve your craft? 

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.

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

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

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

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. 

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

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.

Can you share any killer tips or techniques?

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. 

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

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. 

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

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!

Which track are you most proud of and why? 

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

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

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.

Want more? Sign up at RepostExchange.com.

This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

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!

ღ UnDeR_My_SPeLl ღ  Official Music Video (Under My Spell “hyperpop?" version) | Daphne Wolfe

Yes, it has! I use RepostExchange to gather constructive criticism or just overall feedback about my tracks. The feedback I get helps me figure out what tweaks need to be made about that song, as well as possibly other songs I’m working on.

Bottom L-R: SENNHEISER Momentum 3, Garageband for iOS, Samson G-Track Pro.

Connect with Daphne Wolfe on SoundCloud, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

This week, we catch up with Dallas-based indie artist, Daphne Wolfe!

In the studio with Daphne Wolfe

The month of May saw the announcement of our very first competition and as usual, the RepostExchange community certainly didn’t disappoint. Winners captured what we were looking for: being relevant to the RepostExchange community and it was really hard to choose between the entries. 

We’re excited to announce that South Africa-based producer thaghostza is the winner of first place, 5000 credits and a 500k Managed Campaign, for their Pointing Leonardo DiCaprio meme, it was just what we were looking for - so, congratulations!

Coming in second, and the winner of 2500 credits and a 250k Managed Campaign is hip-hop producer FieldOfVisionz with their own take on Drake’s Hotline Bling meme. We really liked how they captured the essence of the Re-Ex platform and also incorporated themselves into it as well!

A close third came to us via FREZZE’s Cowboy Dancing Meme representing the joy of opening your RepostExchange mystery box; this one really made us laugh. FREZZE is the winner of 1000 credits and a 100k Managed Campaign - well done!

Third Place meme entry by FREEZE

We have also included some honourable mentions: memes we shortlisted and too good not to share. Congratulations to BENT, Leeg/Lowlife, Nuummite, KENJI 600, TamaraTech, Setlo, OPENWOVND, and Yotagah - we will add 100 credits to your accounts for your efforts!

Honourable mention meme entry by Setlo

Congratulations to everyone who took part and if you have any suggestions for future competitions, please email jaz@repostexchange.com.

We're excited to share with you the best memes made by the Re-Ex Community!

Announcing the winners of our meme competition

Announcing the winners of our meme competition!

Are you struggling to make an impact on TikTok or feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of starting to create content?

We’ve teamed up with our friends over at ContraBrand Agency to give RepostExchange members free access to a one-off live TikTok Artist Accelerator Masterclass running this Wednesday, June 22nd at 3 pm EST/ 8 pm BST, which will help you use TikTok like an expert.

The New Formula To Grow Fast With TikTok and IG Reels Content.

​How to STOP spending hours on content ideas that will never work.

​How to STOP losing money on marketing that doesn't make money.

How to use TikTok to grow your YouTube, Instagram, and Spotify following.

Hosted by ContraBrand co-founder BrandMan Sean, he will also show you how one of their artists became the fastest growing artist on Spotify in just seven days, all through leveraging TikTok…

And that’s not all, Sean will also teach you their simple content strategy formula and all of the TikTok algorithm triggers that they pay attention to which can help you break through on the platform.

As many of you will know, BrandMan Sean is a music marketing entrepreneur and brand strategist, known for helping major and indie artists find positioning for the next stage of their careers. Artists he’s worked with include Macy Gray, 24kGoldn, Trap Beckham, and Donae’o.

Brandman Sean will be revealing some of the best TikTok techniques he’s observed and developed that are usually reserved for his $5000+ clients at ContraBrand Agency. This is the first time that he’s given away this information for free.


Make sure that you don’t miss out on this one-off live event this Wednesday, June 22nd at 3 pm EST/8 pm BST by reserving your place here!

Are you struggling to make an impact on TikTok?

Join our TikTok Masterclass webinar with Brandman Sean!

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

Do you write great music but also have a sense of humour?

Do you want to use your skills for a chance to win a truckload of credits and a coveted Managed Campaign? 

Win up to 5000 credits and a 500k reach Managed Campaign in our very first RepostExchange meme competition! Memes must be relevant to the RepostExchange community and platform (scroll down for inspiration from our team). 

We've extended our competition closing date by another week! To enter, email your Re-Ex memes to jaz@repostexchange.com before 4pm (UTC) on Friday, June 10th 2022. Winners will be announced on Thursday, June 16th 2022. 

Good luck and have fun, we can't wait to see what you create!

First place: 5000 credits + 500k Managed Campaign

Second place: 2500 credits + 250k Managed Campaign

Third place: 1000 credits + 100k Managed Campaign

Send your meme to jaz@repostexchange.com along with your Re-Ex username, using the subject title: Re-Ex Meme Competition Entry

The deadline for submissions is now 4pm (UTC) on Friday, June 10th 2022

Feel free to share your Re-Ex memes on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, tagging our account @repostexchange on Instagram and Twitter or @therepostexchange on Facebook! Please use the hashtag #reexmeme

Relevant to the RepostExchange community and platform

Entries will be judged by the RepostExchange team on a meme's ability to capture a sense of humour and relevance to the Re-Ex community and platform

Winners will be announced on Thursday, June 16th 2022


Win up to 5000 credits and a 500k reach Managed Campaign!

Announcing the Re-Ex Meme Competition!

[Update] Announcing the Re-Ex Meme Competition!

Following a relationship breakdown and a change in circumstances brought on by the pandemic in 2020, FieldOfVisionz picked up an Akai controller to forge a new path through music. From getting their start using Cakewalk before moving on to Logic Pro, to drawing on meditation to find inspiration for their tracks. Atmospheric alternative hip-hop producer FieldOfVisionz tells us more...

I have been producing music since 2020, and just like the rest of the world, I experienced drastic changes. In the aftermath of a very bad break-up, I found myself in a dark place. I have always been an extrovert, screaming to exit this introverted shell. So when the darkness came, I fell. I fell so deep and I knew I needed a way out. It just so happens that a family friend was getting rid of some old things and brought me this old Akai music producer. And, well, the rest is history!

Currently, I use Logic Pro X but I started on Cakewalk with VST stock plugins.

Logic Pro X is what really got me more into wanting to create my own music. How everything connected/sounded so much better when my equipment was plugged in. Also, the setup of the program was much easier to use and memorize.

The AKAI MPK 225 is my favourite. This was my first instrument. I love this piano because you can do a lot with it when it comes to effects/manipulating a melody and giving it that REAL sauce that you would like to have. And it is the right size for travelling, perfect for beginners. With this instrument, you can a create melody from scratch. But recently I upgraded and got an Edirol Midi Keyboard Controller PCR-80.

I use stock plugins on Logic Pro X. Channel EQ is a great plugin when it comes to the volume of your vocals, it gives you the option to cut out certain frequencies within your vocals and level them out into a tone that’s cleaner and brighter. Highs and lows are important when it comes to mixing as I’m learning that more and more every day. Mixing each track and combining to make them fit together is the most fun part of this plugin.

Noise Gate really helps with removing all that noise that’s within the background space of your vocal lines like mouth noises, lip-smacking heavy breathing or even things that are going on in the room. So you won’t have to go back manually and cut out certain noises that are in your track. Especially during the ending of them, if the artist is slurring their words, this will clean it up and low some of that noise that’s following within the vocals to level out so it will still be there but only in the background.

What I love about Pitch Correction is that you could change the whole tone of your voice into a deeper or lighter tone, lets's say that your voice is really deep but has a little raspy sound to it. This autotune pitch correction will smoothen out the tone in your voice and not only that it will smoothen it out but it will also level out certain words that are said within your vocal track so that it won’t be so high and disrupt the entire track, you want all your vocal levels to be even in your track.

Usually how I come up with my ideas for a song is when I am meditating deeply within the universe, grounding myself and letting all of my thoughts go and focusing on being present. And when I am in that mind state I tend to write them down, past experiences and visuals I’ve seen through my pineal glands and as I’m writing I am letting go of all these feelings of energy that I was no longer serving me and that are holding me back. I love songwriting because it helps me release things that I feel like I can no longer tell others without being judged or seen as different. So I'll either collaborate with a producer or I'll make a beat from scratch and go from there. 

Listening to artists that resonate with my own vibe and frequency really helps me develop my own wave/style. And working on the tone of my voice helps in the long run for when I am recording I will have less work on my pitch correction. 

As a songwriter, you should never stay working on a song that isn’t going anywhere and is keeping you stagnant and draining you from expressing more of your talent. Let's say you started writing this song and you got one banging verse but you are struggling to create a hook or to even finish it. And you're just on the song for hours but you're not making any more progress and you do it again the next day and still nothing. When you start to do that, that means it is time to move on and start on a new project. When you can go back and listen to it with a new set of ears as I would say from working on it for so long. You’ll find or recreate that spark that you had when you were first working on it. Never get frustrated when you can’t finish a song. Just finish the ones you can and release those as singles and that will give you time to work on the songs you haven’t finished behind the scenes.

I've always known that I have a gift when it comes to creating and expressing myself but I also struggled with believing in myself and thinking that I can’t do it alone. As I started to make music, I heard something in my voice that really sparked something in me and that’s when IT WAS OVER. But then I didn’t know how to mix or master so I didn’t use as many plugins as I would today. The songs were still decent but they weren’t mixed properly or mastered, people loved them and that’s what made me want to take music seriously so I started to learn how to mix and master which I still am now. What I would definitely say is patience is key when it comes to creating and building a foundation. 

Now that you ask this question I see that it's a normal thing for all songwriters!

When I get writer's block, it's usually because I am stressed and I have a lot going on all at once, I call it feeling cloudy. So I would meditate on it for a few hours or days and realign myself in order to proceed with the song. 

A few tips that I have on recording vocals are, that you should always turn the volumes down before you begin and always lay your tracks down first and everything else like hooks before you begin mixing or mastering so that you can avoid having trouble making each verse sound the same. You never want to lay one verse down then get straight to mixing because once you do that your second verse might not match or sound the same. Either in your mixing or in your voice so you always wanna make sure you lay all the tracks down with that same energy so one part won’t sound higher than the other. 

Yes, I love sending my music out to music reviews or radio shows and letting them listen to and talk about the song because they are very honest about what should be worked on and what they like and dislike. It always helps me to improve my craft and to go even harder when I step back into the studio. Music rating really helps.

One of the songs I’m really proud of is BAPt. Its the first song I dropped from my EP The Field Of Choir. That song is so perfect to me, love the lyrics that I wrote to it. Especially the way I came in in the beginning really made the song LIT. The drop is so insane and high vibrational. I LOVE THAT SONG!

BAPt. by FieldOfVisionz

RepostExchange helped me a lot when it comes to building a fan base or even just networking and gaining streams. I really like their service and what they have to offer. There are not a lot of platforms like that that can help you with streams, followers, likes etc. So I really appreciate them for being there for us independent artists. RepostExchange is a legit platform that is well worth using. Thank you, guys!

Bottom L-R: Vestax Mixer, Blue Snowball Microphone, Edirol Midi Keyboard Controller.

Connect with FieldOfVisionz on SoundCloud, RepostExchange, Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube.

This week, we catch up with atmospheric hip-hop producer, FieldOfVisionz

In the studio with FieldOfVisionz

Well known for his sleek production and an ear for fist-pumping euphoria, we get to know Pandorux in the studio this week. Beginning on Virtual DJ before moving onto FL Studio, he got his start like so many of us by watching YouTube tutorials. The Pandorux remix of Billie Eilish's Bad Guy with fellow producer Jona is one of his biggest hits to date with over two million streams on YouTube. He credits his success to continuity and finding the balance between life and music creation. Get to know progressive trance producer, Pandorux!

My name is Viktor Povitskaja aka Pandorux and I live in the beautiful city of Detmold. How I got into producing was the long and hard way. It started with a laptop and some old jukeboxes. I lived in a shared apartment when I was 16/17 years old and found my passion for music through my old good friend Alex. At that time I had no idea about all the DAWs and programs. 

I started with Virtual DJ and since then I could learn a lot. At that time I watched a lot of videos in the internet cafe on what I could improve and what I have to change. By chance, I found a video in the YouTube suggestions: 'How To Make Progressive Psy-Trance Bassline Swing & Triplet Technique'. I was very curious about the whole thing and wanted to see more. I really liked the sounds and the many possibilities and that's how I ended up producing!

How To Make Progressive Psy-Trance Bassline (Swing & Triplet Technique)

I have been working with FL Studio for several years. I started with it and will continue to work with FL.

I only use my monitor boxes. I don't have that much equipment. FL Studio, a mouse, and a keyboard are enough for me! That's all you need. You don't need expensive hardware to produce good music.

A few VSTs that I regularly use in my projects are Fabfilter Collection, Xfer Serum, U-HE Diva, Flex, Kontakt, and Massive X.

I work according to plan, I work according to feeling and time. I produce my music only when I feel like it never when I'm in a bad mood because I know that only bad things come out. Therefore, producing only with a good mood and a lot of heart.

If I want to know something I watch YouTube videos or get some tips from some good producer friends. But it's always best to try out everything myself. The proof of the pudding is in the eating!

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

Promote your music
Build a network
Get real feedback

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

In the studio with Hailey Schnur

In the studio with Nick Nicolaides

In the studio with CLOZVRE

Promote your musicBuild a networkGet real feedback

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

In the studio with Hailey Schnur

In the studio with Nick Nicolaides

In the studio with CLOZVRE

Promote your music
Build a network
Get real feedback

Join our free TikTok Masterclass webinar with Brandman Sean!