1. Favourite knob/fader/switch on a piece of gear and why?
That is a tough one but I think I have to go with the filter cutoff on my Moog Sub Phatty. I immediately fell in love with sweeping that filter, it is satisfying both sonically and physically.
2. Do you have an ‘almost’ perfect bit of kit? What would you change?
My Op-1 is pretty close to perfect. At times I wish it had more keys, but the size is part of its charm.
3. What setup do you bring on holiday/tour/commute etc.?
Op1, sp404, and a pair of beyerdynamic dt 770 s. It all fits comfortably in my backpack.
4. What software do you wish was hardware and vice versa?
I have a reverb plugin called Valhalla shimmer that I really love, but I wish it was in pedal form so I could have the tactile interaction with it. I use tape and 4 track recorders often and I truly love them, but they break, need maintenance, or shit out on you during a show (it was the worst! haha) so I would love if somehow there was a software 4 track that could actually capture the sound and feel of the real thing… but all the inconsistencies and frustrations with working with physical tape are a part of what make it magical… so maybe I wouldn’t change it after all.
5. Is there anything you regret selling… or regret buying?
I tend to hold onto all the gear that I procure, good or bad. My father is a musician though and his first guitar amp, a 1964 Silvertone 1484 would have been passed down to me but was accidentally sold in a garage sale by my uncle when I was a kid, so that is probably my greatest gear regret.
6. What gear has inspired you to produce the most music?
I would say most recently the 0-Coast by Make Noise, it inspires me every time I touch it.
7. If you had to start over, what would you get first?
I think Ableton. I have used pro tools for years, it gets the job done and I’m fairly proficient in it, but I have been told that Ableton lends itself more to the genre that I work in and therefore may facilitate workflow/productivity. I would really love to learn ableton someday but my patience with new software is short at times to say the least haha.
8. What’s the most annoying piece of gear you have, that you just can’t live without?
My microkorg. It was my first synth when I was 14 so I’m attached to it for that reason. It also does have great guts and can make some awesome sounds but accessing the oscillators and making fine adjustments isn’t particularly intuitive and can be frustrating when I have a sound in my head that I’m trying to get out.
9. Most surprising tip/trick/technique that you’ve discovered about a bit of kit?
The vinyl simulator on my Sp-404 has been a go to for me lately. At first when I played around with it I felt like the crackles and textures it added were too much, but I started using it on sounds that would be turned into tape loops and I fell in love. The combination of the 404’s crackles, the analog tape hiss, and the tape warble give the sound a perfectly cryptic esthetic.
Artist or Band name?
Andrew Black
Genre?
Ambient
Selfie?
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Salem, Oregon, but i’ve lived in Portland, Oregon for the last decade.
How did you get into music?
My dad is a guitar player and music lover so my introduction to music was immediate in life haha. I started taking guitar lessons from him when I was ten and it has been my passion ever since.
What still drives you to make music?
It is the best way I have found to express myself. I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety all of my life and writing/making music allows me to process those unpleasant feelings most efficiently. I’ve also always just loved it. That combination keeps the drive alive and keeps me writing because it truly makes me happy.
How do you most often start a new track?
Most often the inspiration for a new track for me comes from just experimenting and playing around without any real intention or direction. When I spend some time tinkering with textures a tone or a rhythm will at some point give me an idea for a song.
How do you know when a track is finished?
It is really hard for me to know when a song is finished. I’m rarely if ever 100% sure that the song is done so I just try to trust work it until there isn’t anything obvious that’s bothering me, and then I try to trust myself that it is as good as I can make it.
Show us your current studio
Best creative advice that you’ve ever heard?
”Make music you would want to listen to” My friend Sonny Diperri told me that. It kinda seems obvious now, but that advice really changed how I make music. It is how I know when I’m writing honestly for myself and from the heart.
Promote your latest thing… Go ahead, throw us a link.
My most recent album is called “Slow Blood”
https://andrewrblack.bandcamp.com
[Editor: Do you have a favorite tip, trick or way of working with any of the gear from this interview?
Then throw a comment below…]
