In The Studio

In the studio with Pheremona

This week, we catch up with Denver-based artist, Pheremona!

Jaz from the RepostExchange Team

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

I’ve been producing music for about three years now. I totally fell into it. I have always loved creating art; always been a singer and songwriter performing at school in talent shows and such. But I hadn’t explored any possibilities of accompaniment outside of my acoustic guitar until a little over three years ago. Which was really quite a bummer because I got to a point where I started feeling limited with that instrument. I felt like I had exhausted my creative capabilities from writing cheesy emo love songs on the guitar all through high school (I’m 25 now).

But yeah, one day my boyfriend at the time mentioned he had bought a program called Ableton to create a simple score for a class project. One night while he was cooking dinner - I remember it so vividly - I sat down at the desk which was in the kitchen and created a melody. Just like that. Like magic. Sure, it wasn’t THE HIT but damn it felt good to reignite my musical passion. It was at that point when something clicked and I realized I actually had a talent for songwriting. With all of these sounds (not just guitar) at my fingertips, I could explore the depths of my brain for ideas. That possibility kept me interested in pursuing production.

What DAW(s) do you use and why?

I use Ableton because I have never had the strength, money, or desire to learn anything else! Ableton is very user friendly, kind of like using an Apple computer, everything is just right where I want it when I want it. I was also working with a Push 2 for a while which accompanies Ableton and was tons of fun.

What are your favourite pieces of gear and why?

Like I mentioned, the Push 2. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a visual learner but dang does it help and motivate me to have those pretty lights dancing as I’m carving out the layers of a song. I also have been messing with these Critter & Guitari pocket pianos and they are very helpful for coming up with little song ideas. The process feels like it does with a guitar only with beeps and boops! I also love that they are wooden. Anything that enhances the organic quality of the creation process is right up my alley.

What are your favourite software plugins and why?

I like Soundtoys plugins. They just sound so full and unique! Sometimes I’ll put another effect on my vox like from another plugin and it just doesn’t capture the fullness of my original recording. I particular like messing with Crystallizer.

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

I rarely have an idea before I sit down to make something, and if I do go in with a plan or melody, I typically end up scratching that pretty early in the process because it just brings me to another better idea. It can be difficult keeping track of the progress of a song during a session by myself. I have to fully trust that it is getting better. There is not much room for second-guessing. I put blind faith in my ideas and my ability and just always move forward. I will make a synth or bass line first. Then I can always hear vocal melodies. Then I like to add the bells and whistles, chimes, risers, etc. I'm still honing my ability to hear those little details and add them where they need to be. My philosophy so far has just been simplicity.

What resources do you use to improve your craft?

I really like Andrew Huang’s channel on YouTube. He has great instructional videos and he also does a series called 4 Producers 1 Sample that inspires me every time I watch. I like to read interviews with my favourite artists to get familiar with their process and gear etc. Grimes is always interesting to know about, I’ve also picked up tricks from Purity Ring and Boy Harsher. There are so many resources online, we can just search exactly what we need to know and find tons of answers. Honestly, I get easily overwhelmed with the internet and prefer figuring things out on my own or with friends.

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

Trying to get my 808s to hit nice and hard.

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

I realize this more and more as I get older but in songwriting, the music will really just tell you what to do. Like I wish my high school self understood that songs unfold for you and you don’t have to push anything to be made. I think that’s why I got stuck performing a lot of covers at one point because I was overwhelmed by everything that I wanted to write and accomplish. And I felt like it needed to be a certain sound or a certain something. But if I would have known what I know now which is to *listen intently*, then maybe I would have allowed myself more time to explore production and songwriting instead of getting frustrated.

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

I need time away from my desk. I have never made anything of substance after sitting at my desk for six hours. It is very easy for me to be hard on myself and tell myself I need to grind for weeks straight to be a worthy artist. I just like feeling productive... But what I’ve learned is that forcing yourself to 'create' causes writer's block. I now make a point of being aware of my natural desire to get away from music for a couple of days each week and just rolling with that. Even on workdays, I pull myself away for an hour to stretch and walk and contemplate. I make sure my cup is full enough to overflow - that's when the magic happens.

Can you share any killer tips or techniques?

Create a routine! As an artist, my schedule can easily fly out of the window because I tend to go with the flow. But going with the flow is not very helpful for productivity. If you want to get stuff done, have a routine. In the morning I need coffee then yoga. I’ll follow that with 20 minutes of jumping on my rebounder (mini-trampoline). It really feels good to shake things up in my brain and body through movement. That creates space for interesting musical ideas. Without a routine, my music starts sounding a bit tired and forced.

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

I can't think of any at the moment. I have so many resources already with the limited gear I own and friends I have. I feel like I have everything I need, a purist!

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

Definitely. I surround myself with inspiring people so their opinions are some that I value greatly. I’ve found it is important to show your song to artists and non-artists strategically depending on what kind of feedback you’re looking for. If you want a real honest critique that you can use to fix things, show it to an artist. If you are in the very early stages and you need encouragement (or discouragement) as to whether or not to pursue it, show the track to a non-artist or music listener.

At the end of the day though, it comes down to me and my beliefs. I trust myself and my vision above anything else. I also really like going back to tracks that were in the final production stages months later. It gives me a new perspective on them and helps me appreciate how good they are with fresh ears.

Which track are you most proud of and why?

I’m so proud of everything I've made so far. It’s quite trippy listening back to older songs now because the lyrics are sometimes more applicable.

But I love Humdrum, from my first EP a lot. It just came together so well. It hits all the marks that I want a pop song to hit. And I’ll never forget how I felt when the two parts I had made came together in a verse and chorus type of way. It was total magic. Like a river pouring into the ocean. I really love that song. I love dancing to it. Yeah, it's sick!

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

RepostExchange has inspired me knowing that it’s possible to get my music in more ears. When I released my latest track Burnout, I was struggling for a day or so, stressing about the fact that I didn’t have the number of plays that I felt it deserved! But finding RepostExchange really shifted my perspective. It feels great to have other creators listening and providing feedback. And I have made a couple of solid connections with other producers that will hopefully lead to new bangers.