1. Favourite knob or fader or switch on a piece of gear and why?
Cutoff on the Moog Sub25. Nothing like the ladder filter!
2. Do you have an ‘almost’ perfect bit of kit? What would you change?
The Vermona DRM-1 mkiii is amazing, but maaaan I wish the trigger inputs were on the front panel!
3. What setup do you bring on holiday or tour or commute etc.?
OP1 basically lives in my backpack if it’s not out in the studio. I’ll often develop ideas on it that end up staying on a track.
4. What software do you wish was hardware and vice versa?
Couldn’t come up with a direct answer to this question 😂 so decided to answer it by saying that the Arturia Polybrute beautifully blends software / hardware as a complete instrument.
5. Is there anything you regret selling… or regret buying?
I used to own a Korg SV-1 until my dad passed his 1977 Rhodes down to me. I always enjoyed playing the sv-1 and realize I shouldn’t have sold it whenever I see one.
6. What gear has inspired you to produce the most music?
The Moog Subharmonicon!!! More ideas have started on that thing than any other instrument for me (except maybe the piano).
7. If you had to start over, what would you get first?
If I had known just how magical tape echo was, I probably would’ve wanted it sooner… but it probably wouldn’t have been first 😂
8. What’s the most annoying piece of gear you have, that you just can’t live without?
The helping hand for soldering!!!
9. Most surprising tip or trick or technique that you’ve discovered about a bit of kit?
I recently learned about the tails mode on the Earthquakes Avalanche Run – haven’t used it yet, but I couldn’t believe I didn’t know about that before I bought it!
Artist or Band name?
Joel Negus
Genre?
Various, often in classical / jazz / electro-acoustic worlds
Selfie?
Where are you from?
Born and raised in Chicago IL, but I’ve been in Cleveland OH for 15 years.
How did you get into music?
Both of my parents are professional musicians. Growing up, I was a boy soprano 🤵 and my dad had me sing on a number of commercials on the jingle scene. Eventually I fell hard into the punk rock scene, which turned to metal – I was a part of starting the band Born of Osiris. Changed directions in high school and focused on classical / jazz upright bass.
What still drives you to make music?
Creativity cannot be severed from relationships. The very act of making itself is collaborative – this connection to others is a constant source of inspiration.
How do you most often start a new track?
Playing an instrument and a spark hits. Recently though, trying to think more in silence before jumping in – starting more in my head. Always looking for different ways to compose!
How do you know when a track is finished?
I rarely “feel” that it’s finished, but I suppose it’s when I’m at the height of my excitement over it. I’ve found it best to wrap it up somewhat quickly when I’m really excited about how things are sounding.
Show us your current studio
Best creative advice that you’ve ever heard?
We can’t just think about what we’re making, but the social context in which we’re making.
Promote your latest thing… Go ahead, throw us a link.
I just released a score I did for a modern dance company in town called Inlet Dance Theater. The piece was called Red Tape and was a total joy to collaborate on. Cheers!
https://joelnegus.bandcamp.com/album/red-tape-original-score