The LA-based producer shows us the tools behind his analogue-focused, tape-recorded music.
/AMBIANCE\ – My Studio
My studio is in a guest house, below the garage, overlooking a canyon of sorts. I’ve been here, in LA, for about a year now. It has low ceilings, full of wood and concrete. It’s a squarish setup, surrounded by what I need now: a bunch of analogue electronics running through an old Tascam M-216 mixer with a few send effects, into an Apogee Duet, running Ableton Live or Logic Pro on a three-year-old MacBook Pro. The bulk of my work is for commercial purposes and scores, so I use a Casio FZ-1 as a main MIDI controller and as my primary sampler. For /AMBIANCE I also use a Tascam Portastudio 414 mkII. I don’t use outboard compressors – I usually drive any pre-amp I have to get my desired grit. I use old computer speakers with a sub I’ve had since the 90s and a mono Mackie PA loudspeaker to mix. Simple and effective.
Yamaha PS-20
This lovely white beauty was left on the street and I picked it up… Apparently it was someone I know that had put in on the curb… And that is one of the reasons I miss NY. The treasures to be found on trash day… TV’s, tape players, receiver amps, mic stands etc etc… Anyway, back to this lovely lady… I used this keyboard so much it has acquired quite the temperament. It’s a sweet, full, preset analogue keyboard. You could only add sustain to the sounds, which could be enough sometimes. It has a nice analogue rhythm section and 2 types of arpeggios… Oh, did I mention it was white?
Novation BassStation
This is my go-to bass for /AMBIANCE. It’s on every song. I bought it off a friend and have loved it ever since. Aggressive and unpredictable, which is one of my favourite qualities in a synthesiser, unpredictability or quirks – I usually don’t mind fighting or playing with the temperament of a unit that has so many tiny parts that are all working together to satisfy my creative whims. Thank you to the designers and ultimately, to these tools, for human expression and creativity. Another thing I really like about this one is its built-in distortion; it’s pretty harsh but can come in handy sometimes.
Sequential Circuits DrumTraks
“The poor man’s LinnDrum.” I carried this guy for a couple miles and had a back ache for a couple days after. My favourite drum machine. It’s on every /AMBIANCE track as well. You can tune every drum so low. The claps sound so crunchy and distorted when you pitch them, the kick is rich, the snare is heavy, toms are punchy, hi-hats are full and the percussion is realistic in an unrealistic sorta way. I owe Kristjian many many many drinks!
Yamaha DX7
This one was a beautiful gift I cherish. I’ve used this on many things as well. If you have patience and the urge to tread in darkness, then this is the synth for you. I many times will layer an analogue synth with the DX7. It makes for a fresher sound, like the best of both worlds or something.
Roland JX-8P
The first synth I bought when I moved to LA. It’s really become my go-to polysynth for /AMBIANCE. Lots of interesting modulation possibilities. Very lush and shimmery. You can pick one of these up for not so much money. Sure you might have to deal with a bit of menu searching but that’s part of the fun, getting to know your instruments.
Casio SK5
This is another main /AMBIANCE instrument. I really try to envision all the instruments as a band, my band. Every instrument has a character, a timbre, a temperament. Making live electronic music is like theatre: you direct this play. Proper casting is very important, and nothing sounds quite like the SK. Only problem – or not problem, but limitation – is that my four samples disappear when the batteries die. Am I doing something wrong?
Tascam M-216
Everything runs through this personality. It has a very round EQ. You can also push the pres quite a bit. It adds just the right amount of character that I’m looking for. Live I use a Mackie, which I find aggressive and narrow, but it’s portable and adds its own character.
Sax
My main instrument, the saxophone, sits always perched ready to assist.
Our View
Sometimes I just look out, observe the birds playing and trees swaying and contemplate. A source of gratitude and inspiration.
Wall Of Stuff
This is the always growing “wall of stuff”. Just a reminder of my past and things that inspire me, like soap that turns red, a photo of my girlfriend and I, photo of my father racing cars as a teenager, photo of grandfather, emblems, birthday cards, good sons, etc etc.
/AMBIANCE\’s Vol. 1 EP is out now on Duro.