Process

Sol Majestic

Looping clip of Sol Majestic mixing on a Pioneer DDJ-SX2 controller

How I make a track

A track almost never starts with a plan. It starts with a feeling I'm chasing, and I work backward from there until the sound matches what I'm feeling. Some tracks come together in one sitting once it clicks. Others sit for weeks or months, getting reworked, until they're actually done.

Everything gets built in Ableton Live 11, with a Novation Launchpad Mini and an Akai MPK Mini MkII for playing in ideas, a Novation Bass Station II for the low end, a Yamaha PSR-240 and a Johnson electric guitar for melody and texture, and a Donner electronic drum kit for real-feel percussion. The room itself has moved and changed shape a few times to get here, but it's the same idea every time: a small room, a lot of gear, and lights that react to whatever's playing.

Monoprice 16-channel DMX-512 lighting controllerThe DMX lighting controller. The living room lighting rig, DMX pars washing the wall in colorNow: the living room lighting rig. Akai MPK Mini MkII controller keyboardAkai MPK Mini MkII. The first production setup, dual monitors with RGB PC caseSetup one, where it started. Johnson electric guitar next to the synth rigJohnson electric guitar. The current desk setup with ultrawide monitor and paper lampsNow: the current desk. Novation Bass Station II analogue synthesizerNovation Bass Station II. The third production setup, desk lit in magenta and cyan stage lightingSetup three. Yamaha PSR-240 keyboardYamaha PSR-240.

The DMX show, live

A couple clips of the lighting rig actually running: the studio room, and the living room.