Tag: songwriter

Pete Covington – iWishISkated

1. Favourite knob or fader or switch on a piece of gear and why?

The switch (and knobs) on my 90s Green Russian EHC Big Muff. I’ve never seen a cooler, chunkier or more bad-ass switch on a pedal. The knobs look like they’re repurposed from poison bottles. Just seeing that thing on the floor next to my amp inspires me to play.

Green Russian EHC Big Muff

2. Do you have an ‘almost’ perfect bit of kit? What would you change?

My Beau Hannam acoustic guitar from 2009. Beau is a luthier from Australia who now builds from the USA. He made this guitar for himself just before he moved overseas and sold it to help fund the move. I found it a couple of years ago in a second-hand guitar store and snapped it up. It’s quite a small body and feels shorter scale – a little bit of a one-off because he based it on a resonator design, but it’s a traditional wood guitar. I don’t think I’d change anything about it. I just want him to build me more guitars.

Beau Hannam acoustic guitar

3. What setup do you bring on holiday or tour or commute etc.?

If I can have a guitar in my hotel room that’s enough. On the last few tours I’ve done I brought one of those little Positive Grid pocket-sized amps which is great for practicing.

4. What software do you wish was hardware and vice versa?

I really like Acustica audio plugins. They really make me want the hardware they’re based off. I’m honestly trying to get as far away from software as I can in my workflow.

Acustica Audio plugins

5. Is there anything you regret selling… or regret buying?

I had a really great ’55 Gibson Les Paul Junior which I sold to find the making on a record. I’d love to still have that guitar. I’ve bought a few hardware synths that always end up sitting around because I’m not really a keys player. No I just collaborate with or hire keys players when I need.

6. What gear has inspired you to produce the most music?

Probably both my acoustic guitars – my Beau Hannam and my ’68 Hagstrom. They’ve both got songs in them.

Beau Hannam and ’68 Hagstrom

7. If you had to start over, what would you get first?

A Tascam 4-track. I’d love to be able to re-learn recording without seeing waveforms on a screen.

8. What’s the most annoying piece of gear you have, that you just can’t live without?

I find DI’s annoying/boring to buy but I am addicted to my Pueblo Audio DIs for bass.

Pueblo Audio DI

9. Most surprising tip or trick or technique that you’ve discovered about a bit of kit?

I love the way the Alesis Quadraverb distorts. That was a nice surprise. It also can sample which I haven’t tried yet though.

Artist or Band name?

Pete Covington

Genre?

Singer-songwriter (mostly)

Selfie?

Pete Covington with his Josephson C705 mic

Where are you from?

Sydney, Australia

How did you get into music?

I was obsessed with Elvis when I was a kid and he started me on the journey.

What still drives you to make music?

It feels like I don’t have a choice. I’ve learned it’s the best thing for me to do in order to be the best person I can for myself and those around me.

How do you most often start a new track?

Rarely right now for my own stuff because I’m working on music with other people.

How do you know when a track is finished?

I have a deadline, then once I suspect that it might be done I take as long of a break from listening as the deadline allows, then listen fresh and pay attention to my emotional reaction and sense of inner knowing. Then it’s just about trusting myself.

Show us your current studio

Pete Covington songwriting space

Best creative advice that you’ve ever heard?

“Man, sometimes it takes you a long time to sound like yourself.” Miles Davis.

Promote your latest thing… Go ahead, throw us a link

https://petecovington.substack.com/

Teitur – Lassen from Faroe Way

[Editor: Oh, yes. It’s really Teitur! Equal parts singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist composer. Bridging nordic pop-folk and artful soundtrack music. It’s quite exiting to be able to bring you this interview … Enjoy!]

1. Favourite knob or fader or switch on a piece of gear and why?

The Q-link knobs on MPC X are super satifying to use, especially when zooming in on samples points.

Studio desktop and Eurorack and Akai MPC X

2. Do you have an ‘almost’ perfect bit of kit? What would you change?

I wish computers weren’t so… computery and so… fingers and mind only and that I didn’t have to work with constant digital issues and being a programmer. Like this morning spending 20 minutes trying to find a digital output inside a program, going on forums, just to lower a volume and then the next 20 minutes you are back working and the computer is like a wizard, doing actual magic.

Studio Mac Desktop

3. What setup do you bring on holiday or tour or commute etc.?

When travelling it’s just my iPad Pro or laptop if I am in the middle of writing something in Sibelius. I find it nice to get away from all the gear. If I am in the middle of a recording project I might bring an Apollo Arrow. Always bring a pair of SONY MDR 7506 headphones too.

4. What software do you wish was hardware and vice versa?

I have seldom befriended software synths in my DAW, somehow drum machines and synths are best hardware for me, even though I love what you can see and do with them in the software programs. I guess it’s just a tactililty and digital vs analog audio thing. When I tour I wish pianos didn’t weigh a ton and cost a fortune. I have tried owning a digital piano and I just can’t play them. It’s like cooking with thin plastic utensils for me. I will rather break my back with a Rhodes or play in venues with pianos.

Studio backroom with gear

5. Is there anything you regret selling… or regret buying?

When I was seventeen I helped my friend sell his TR-808 for 2000,- kroner (270 euro), I regret not buying it. Today I try to get rid of what I don’t use after two years, so I only have what is useful. For me creating is a lot about learning to use what you already have and when you get something, make sure it’s a great version of it and not an almost-good instrument and then really learn it until wizardry.

6. What gear has inspired you to produce the most music?

I think it’s my two acoustic guitars Arlo & Betty – a 1968 Gibson Hummingbird and 1964 Gibson J-50 and my Yamaha U-3 upright piano.

The Grand piano

7. If you had to start over, what would you get first?

I (now) think the right creative mindset is way more important than gear. Knowing what, why and how you want to create. The gear is for your motor skills and to practice with and it’s good to start there early too. To start over, I would first study music, culture and people, practise a lot, learn my DAW, learn to play piano and an additional instrument.

Api mixing desk and Revox reel to reel and other outboard hardware

8. What’s the most annoying piece of gear you have, that you just can’t live without?

Apple lightning (or USB-C) to 3.5 mm headphone adapter. I mean, the people who decided that headphones should have several connections should be sat on a chair in front of a screen and watch all the footage of the world’s population one by one needing them, looking for them under beds, not having the right one, wedding receptions delayed, children crying etc.

9. Most surprising tip or trick or technique that you’ve discovered about a bit of kit?

Silence in music. The voice and shutting up.

Artist or Band name?

Teitur

Genre?

There is no bad music, only bad musicians.

Selfie?

Teitur Lassen

Where are you from?

Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.

How did you get into music?

It started with goosebumps.

What still drives you to make music?

The path to learn and discover is neverending, the reward is meaningful and in my priviliged part of the world we live in a musical golden age.

How do you most often start a new track?

I try to know what I want to do and achieve first and then I allow anything to happen. Often it’s best to start with a pause or walking my dog instead of pulling up a preset or hammering on a piano (that’s called practising). Write a form on a piece of paper, what, why, how, when and then have fun.

How do you know when a track is finished?

When it’s satisfying to listen to or when there are too many tracks and it’s finished in the sense that you know it’s time to start over.

Show us your current studio

Studio overview. Note hammock
Studio doggie and drums

Best creative advice that you’ve ever heard?

Simpler is always an improvement!

Promote your latest thing… Go ahead, throw us a link

https://ffm.to/kvaedi

Pyn – DiscoPopGrin

1. Favourite knob or fader or switch on a piece of gear and why?

The Cut-Off knob on my Dave Smith – Prophet 6. I use this a lot when I play around with arpeggiators.

DSI Prophet 6

2. Do you have an ‘almost’ perfect bit of kit? What would you change?

No, I’m always looking for new things/stuff, although I’m really happy with my Prophet 6 and Korg Poly 61 synthesizers.

3. What setup do you bring on holiday or tour or commute etc.?

My MacBook, a microphone and a guitar to write the basic of a new song/idea.

4. What software do you wish was hardware and vice versa?

I don’t really have a wish like that at the moment.

5. Is there anything you regret selling… or regret buying?

Yeah maybe the Roland MC-303, it’s really difficult to program it, so I don’t use it a lot.

Roland MC303

6. What gear has inspired you to produce the most music?

I started playing guitar and I still do, so I guess guitar is the most important instrument for me. Ableton Live made me develop my production and beatmaking skills.

PYN and sparkly Telecaster

7. If you had to start over, what would you get first?

Still a guitar, a computer with Ableton and a microphone. And I would still want to learn how to play guitar first, it’s great to learn an instrument so you can play and sing your own songs.

8. What’s the most annoying piece of gear you have, that you just can’t live without?v

I guess microphones, it is a constant search to find the right one that completely suits your voice.

Blue Mic and Shure SM7B

9. Most surprising tip or trick or technique that you’ve discovered about a bit of kit?

Use Guitar Rig on other instruments than just guitar. You can get crazy sounds when you put a Guitar Rig on synths, vocals etc. and tweak them to a cool sound. And of course the reverse knob in Ableton, who can live without that these days 😉

Artist name

PYN

Genre

Pop/Disco

Selfie

PYN

Where are you from?

Bloemendaal, The Netherlands

How did you get into music?

Playing guitar since I was 10, writing and singing since I was 15 I guess 🙂 When I was 21 I started my study at the conservatory.

What still drives you to make music?

Listening to new and old music of other artists drives me to be create, and ideas that pop up in my head drive me to stay creative.

How do you most often start a new track?

It can start by an instrumental idea I have, or a melody or line that pops up in my head.

PYN at the pink guitar

How do you know when a track is finished?

This is the most difficult part of music. It is never really done, so at some point when I am happy and my team is happy, I send it to mixing and mastering engineers and they finish it.

Show us your current studio

PYN’s studio

Best creative advice that you’ve ever heard?

Make room for playing while you’re creating. The fun of creating must never disappear.

Promote your latest thing… Go ahead, throw us a link.

My latest releases are the song ‘Spring Fever‘ an up disco track and ‘Night Drive‘ an 80’s duet with MATTEO.

[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…]