Hello Bertran, thanks for joining! How are you?

I'm good. I've been busy but you can't say that anymore because everyone is. Little bit of work, little bit of music, preparing for the release too. I'm also rebuilding and reconstructing our house. That takes a lot of planning and time too. But overall it's all for a good cause. Also, I'm sad and worried about what's going on in the east of Europe at the moment.

There's no denying or hiding from the obvious situation in Ukraine.

Let's hope it gets better soon! You know, we're just coming out of all this Covid stuff here, hopefully. At least it looks like it. There was a bit of struggle with it music-wise. I've been DJing for 20+ years now and this was the first time I had a sleeping pattern. I now want to go to bed at 11 or 11:30pm and that's late for me. Back in the days, it was like 2am. I enjoy that sleeping pattern. It's kind of healthy.

I can imagine. I'm a huge fan of good sleeping habits, just bad at executing them properly. Super healthy to have.

Yeah! Covid was new to us. We're not used to pandemics and now we are. Now a war like this is also new to me. It's quite something going on in the world nowadays and in the last couple of years. I'm still here and still going strong.

Yes! Your new EP is just around the corner and it has been quite some time since your last full solo release. I believe lastly it was on Flexout, the 'Alein EP‘? I can see the cover in the background.

I made a big canvas print of the cover because we spend quite some time and effort on that artwork. I'm proud of it and now it's hanging in the living room. But yeah, it has been a while. I really liked to make music during the week and then play it out at the weekends. Do a test run of the tunes. I'm fond of that. During Covid, that wasn't the case and I didn't make a lot of music. My music is mainly made for the dancefloor, not for iPhones or laptop speakers.

True!

So, what's the point of making really bass-heavy music. Maybe to rinse it in your own home but for me, it's more like on the dancefloor. That's why there hasn't been that much of my music out. I still did some remixes, of course, some solo tunes, and the collab with YAANO on Overview. Also, the Darkmode/4NC¥ release. I've done bits and bobs here and there but this is the first EP after Covid.

I've seen quite some artists over the past two and a half years saying they're not releasing music because nothing has been happening. I kind of understand that. It's just not the same.

No. For me, the fun of testing out new badly mixed tunes *laughs* and seeing the first crowd reaction, I really miss seeing that. I started to focus more on sound design for commercials. I did some sound design for the Dutch government too.

Oh, interesting!

About ventilation for Covid-related stuff. Sound design and making jingles is interesting. It's kind of the same (as producing music). You do it for something and it pays the bills too. There were no gigs and for me, this is still my main income.

So you basically adapted?

You have to!

Of course! There's no other option.

And now my new EP is coming out and I'm quite chuffed about it. It's a bit different from my previous work. What do you think? How would you describe it?

This EP gives three different lanes to explore. These are I wouldn't necessarily call them experimental in general but experimental Fre4knc tunes. That's what I like about them.

That's well-said, I think. It's not like I tried to do something different. Maybe a bit more musical. Not like I'm Bach here but with more melody than normal. I tried to experiment with that a bit more. For some reason, when you have less melodic music it sounds dark. I like dark music. I did stuff like this before but I wanted to try and it turned out really quickly.

I think the whole start of this EP was after I made this Serum bass pack. I released that on my Bandcamp profile a year ago. Then I had a bass pack I made myself and really liked every sound of it. I started making tunes with it. Because it's Serum you can make a lot of melodic stuff of course. I think that was a good combo there. My own pack influenced me.

That's nice. And proof that it works!

Normally, when I work on a tune I open Serum and make a sound or use a preset. But if you work solely on a whole pack of presets don't make any music with it and later start doing that you start to see how quickly you can put something together. The EP is the result of this. It's quite funny how it works. Never had the idea but that's how it went. So, everyone should buy my Serum bass pack *laughs*.

And start making some tunes, huh?

Yeah!

It obviously does the job. Tell me how that EP title came about. What are the little things?

I was working on the title track and had the drop and progression finished. I thought this is an oldschool-ish beat, rolling. It really asked for some vocal sample from a movie or something.

Like a kick-off.

I was searching a lot for good samples but I'm quite picky. The search took maybe half a week. Then I found this and edited it. It was like the missing link. The sample is saying 'you got great training and the best equipment but it's the little things that catch you'. As it was the main track that quickly became the title of the EP.

Where is the vocal sample for the title track from? It seems utterly familiar.

That's top-secret, of course. But I'm sure you never heard and seen it before.

I'm sure too. I don't know and even translating it to German doesn't ring a bell to me.

If someone finds the source they can win a vinyl and a keyring.

I'm definitely dropping this in our Rendah Mag Discord. I'm curious what our detectives can find. What do you think of sampling in general? There's always this division within the producer community.

I mean, If you have a vocal sample like this it's making the song a bit more human-like. You get more connection with the crowd. I think the human brain is attached to and focused on voices. Definitely changes something with you and the track. With sampling, I sample beats sometimes too. If it sounds good why not. You just have to make the mix better. Make it sound bigger. I don't really care.

If you really like something it inspires you and makes something different with it. Not one by one but modify it. Just don't be a copycat. For me, it's better to sample stuff and make your own sound rather than just being a copy of Noisia.

Exactly. I was going to say, a lot of these Serum-based layered snares sound the same. There is no originality to that. But if you take one from an oldschool Hip Hop track there's this human feel to it. Jungle wouldn't be the same if it would all have been made synthetic or digitally.

No. Still, there are some wizards out there that make a really acoustic-sounding snare in Serum.

They are out there! Circling back to what you said about it makes it human to have voice samples. I can only speak for myself but when I'm at a rave and I hear some voice sample I always listen up. It transports the feeling perfectly.

I'm sure if this track wouldn't have the vocal sample it would be way more boring. It was missing something. This is not a sample from a very famous movie but one that has never been used before.

Quite unique. What’s your process when creating music? Do you have the concept of an EP in mind or just free-flow?

No, no concept at all. I just make music. I never have track ideas when I'm in the studio. More on the road, on the train or when I'm walking in the city. I have melody ideas and beatbox them in my phone. When I then get back to the studio I try to copy that. That's my workflow. So, I end up with a really long list of bad beatbox basslines or beats.

Then I start to work but not with the idea of an EP in mind. Sometimes a tune will be released on a various artists EP or like with this one, Flexout really loved 'Little Things' and asked if there's more. I was working on two other tracks, send them over and they've been instant signings as well. If I had six other tracks it may be would've been seven in total. It's the same as living day by day. I produce tune-by-tune.

Exactly. That's what works the best for me.

Also, having a melodic guideline in form of your beatbox recordings seems quite helpful too.

Yeah, I'm actually a really shitty beatboxer so it's about not losing the idea. In the beginning, when I was making music and I had a nice melody in my head I was sure I would remember it. Two days later it was gone.

Same.

I honestly thought I could keep those melodies in my head. Now beatboxing them seems like a much better idea.

It's either bring the idea down now or lose it forever.

Yeah!

Do you generally think concepts are needed within music or should it be more free flow?

It doesn't really matter. Whatever works for anybody. All I can say is how I work. I can't speak for other people. It's kind of a similar question like which DAW is the best for Drum & Bass. It doesn't matter if your workflow is through Fruity Loops or Cubase. Making music should be fun and not seen as a job.

Or exercise!

As long as it's fun it's better for creativity.

It also shouldn't feel forced, too!

Yes, keep it fun! 'Little Things' as mentioned before was really fun to make.

Breaking out of habits?

Yes.

Hard work pays off! And exploring different lanes.

People are up for it! Music is very personal and if you try something new it always will be received differently. I'm really happy with the response to the EP. Noisia contacted me directly telling me that they've been playing it on their radio. Beatport even said they like it! DnBArena too. Quite overwhelming!

I always end up talking with a lot of my guests that music isn't about making the top 10 Spotify track or else. It's about doing what makes you happy.

Exactly. I'm hugely influenced by this part that it should be fun. When I knew how to make music I of course thought about making a commercial EDM track. I started it, could've probably sold but I just couldn't get into it. You could hear that. I said to myself that this would be a ridiculous idea and continued doing dark, minimal Drum & Bass again. That's my thing and what I care about the most. I don't care if it will get me millions. I'm happy that I can travel the world with the music I like to make.

I think a lot of people think of it as short-term gain. If it is exposure or plain and simple money. But it isn't about these things. It's about self-expression.

When I see young producers and I hear what they're planning I always tell this to them as well. Why would you think being very commercial now instead of doing what you like? If you like to be commercial that's also fine don't have it be your main goal.

Couldn't agree more. Speaking of things you love doing the most, what can we expect this year from your end music-wise?

Well, the EP got released last week and I have partaken in the 'Together With Ukraine' project. Also, there are some collaborations coming up. I want to work with Amoss again. Arkaik as well.

Amoss & Fre4knc is long overdue!

Yeah, it is! Apart from that I just go with the flow. I'll actually take a break from making music for starters to get some inspiration. Maybe I'll make another bass pack.

Or finish the house!

Exactly!

To round this off, what is in your Spotify playlist? Or do you use another streaming service or none at all?

I actually love Spotify. Mainly because of the algorithm through which you discover new music. Unfortunately, my girlfriend is stealing my Spotify a lot. She's been listening to IMDDB, Jhené Aiko, and FKA Twigs. A little bit girlish but bass-heavy. I was at an IMDDB concert with her and it was sick and inspiring. I have a 90ies Hip Hop playlist I listen to a lot.

Same.

The funny thing is I didn't really listen to Hip Hop in the 90ies but now I love it. I have a Funk and Soul playlist. My latest discovery, maybe I'm late with this, is Floating Points. That inspires me a lot too.

Thanks for this insight and for hopping on a call with me.

Thank you too! I really enjoyed the talk