Producer Q&A - Noah D
If I had magic powers, I would somehow magic it so that all the flights I had to take were out of regional European airports in the winter. Have you ever been in Leipzig airport in December? It's empty. No stag parties, no screaming children being dragged to Benidorm by their fat orange parents, no stress, just a large echoing glass cavern with a coffee shop in it.
Noah D just had opportunity to enjoy these oases of peace and quiet as he swung through on his European Tour, and while he was around we grabbed him and made him answer these questions. He played at Dubloaded - which is always a wicked event - in Bristol with L.D., and played a really good set, really varied. He's one of these North West US producers who I am sure are about to take over. Get on the myspace and check out his stuff.
How do you approach a tune? Drums first? Melody?
I switch it up to be honest, I've recently noticed that what ever element I start with will most likely end up being the driving force of the tune so now I try to decide what element should be in the forefront and start there.
What time of day do you work best?
When ever inspiration is flowing.
Where do you get your inspiration / motivation from?
Life experiences and other good music/art.
What do you do when you're not feeling inspired?
Usually mope around, inspiration is my life fuel!
Do you start a tune from scratch, or do you usually have a drumset/template/etc to work from?
More often from scratch but sometimes I go back and take elements of old tunes that I'd like to hear in new surroundings.
If you got a chance would you write pop stuff for a major label (if the money was good?)
Only if I still liked the end result, there is some good pop music!What's the boring, workhorse plugin/piece of kit that you use all the time?
Thor.What's the coolest bit of kit you've got and do you actually use it much?
Do you mixdown your own stuff? Reckon there's a stigma around this?
What production technique do you think is really overused / annoying?
What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started out?
Be ultra selective with your work and fight off that urge, no matter how strong to send your stuff out to people for feedback. Just keep it to yourself and your close circle until it's truly ready.
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