In The Studio

In the studio with Decoq

This week, we catch up with Italian producer Decoq!

Jaz from the RepostExchange Team

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

I started around 10 years ago (I just realized how much time has passed) and I am totally self-taught. I just can’t stand 'teachers'!

What DAW(s) do you use and why?

Apple Logic Pro. Am I traditionalist and old-fashioned? Maybe, but I don’t care. Sorry about that.

What are your favourite pieces of gear and why?

I’m in love with refined and 'niche' machines: neglected and underestimated pieces of gear. For example, I’ve got some MFOS (Music From Outer Space) synths, noise boxes, and effects, an old Roland MC-505 Groovebox, a Korg Electribe EMX… My next purchase will be something from Dreadbox (a wonderful greek brand), I really dig their stuff.

What are your favourite software plugins and why?

I try and be original in the choice of plugins as well, so I often keep away from too popular and common stuff (with some exceptions as Waves plugins). I‘m more interested in products like those by Ohm Force, Freakshow Industries, Output, and Glitchmachines. They have a strong character and help me create sounds that distinguish from others (or at least that’s my aim).

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

It’s actually never the same. Sometimes inspiration comes from randomly listening to some music (often something that has nothing to do with techno music, such as punk or classic rock). It can be love at first sight, everything flows good and fast, starting from a sample and then playing with it in any possible way. At times it’s instead more troubled, complicated, and slow. But it’s always something that originally takes shape in my mind and then becomes music.

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

Mastering (and pre-mastering) skills. Those would have been very helpful in my early days.

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

I’m not an organized kind of person by nature, but I had to learn to plan, schedule and write down ideas to keep control of my music production process. Using a whiteboard and a marker was really a nice find. Other than this, always believe in serendipity!

Can you share any killer tips or techniques?

Rediscover the art of field recording. Anything could become your kick, snare, percussion or even lead synth: always search for originality. And don’t forget the stutter effect (it will be your savior when you are on the edge)!

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

Honest feedback is always useful and appreciated and RepostExchange does its job very well in this!

Which track are you most proud of and why?

I would say 'Ermitage 805', released for Nomad Species' label because It’s a summary of my ideas and methods and has got a fair amount of serendipity in it - it’s a sort of manifesto.

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

Above all It changed the way I listen to music, I put more attention on other producers’ music and this helped me discover some new talents to sign for my brand new label Basse-cour.