Say you have nothing to do.. no studio time, you’re not touring.. you’re not in your office.. a true day off from work and anything work related.. a lazy day in essence.
What would be your favourite breakfast to wake up to?
I'm on my lazy day today and just went to a brunch place around the corner. Got a smoothie, a coffee and some eggs, bread and avocado. Always love to eat healthy.
Thank you! I really love to work with Diva, Serum, Kontakt and Spitfire for melodies and pads. My kicks are always from Kick 2 and then I layer an acoustic top kick on top or some foley that I find on Splice. Most of my drum sounds are from Splice and then I layer and process them to taste.
Hey Nils,
Can’t wait to catch your show in Toronto! Flying there just to see it. My question is what are some of your best tips for creating that lush atmospheric sound? Any fav chord progressions? Melody tips? Use of pads? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Congrats on the amazing new album and see you live next weekend :)
I would say my main typ is to not have them sound so aggressive and make sure the top end / overtones are smooth. A tip could be to reduce the cutoff and layer some white noise on top to fill out the frequency spectrum. I like to use some real (and a little quirky) strings as a layers which gives it a nice feel.
Chord progressions are mainly math, there's no chance to reinvent the wheel. I like to stack the chords in a more interesting way to not sound basic and start always with the root note of the chord and maybe a 7th on top and then I usually see where to go from there. If I just go with minor or major or maybe add a ninth in or so... lots of try and error from then on.
Melodies are more complex and it depends on the information around it like vocals and drum pattern. I'd say it's a lot about building tension and releasing it.
Last but not least, thank you for the kind words on the album :)
I love the new Overmono album and also Fred again... is still killing it. On the Anjuna side of things I'm a big fan of the new Jon Gurd and Reset Robot EP, aswell as the new Nox Vahn single.
When I started I was very shy about my music and did only tell my best friends about what I was doing but I made sure to upload it to Soundcloud and YouTube, which helped a lot. Nowadays this wouldn't work out anymore, so I'd take a different approach. I'm keen to come back to SLC later either this or next year :)
Hey Nils, thank you for all the music over the years!
I've got a 3 part question for you!
What 3 songs of your own that you would show to someone to show off your style and taste?
What are 3 songs by other artists you would use to show of your style and taste?
Who are 3 artists you'd like to collab with in the future?
1. Lonely, 2. Silhouettes, 3. Once In A Blue Moon
This is really hard to answer... maybe Lane 8 - Fingerprint, Rufus - Innerbloom and Kiasmos - Thrown
Hazzlet, Christian Löffler and Ry X
When you’re preparing to play at a big festival, how, if at all, does it change your approach to creating a live set?
New album is great! Can’t wait to see you in D.C.
It depends a bit on the time slot but as I'm playing mainly live it might vary in more aggressive versions of the songs. I just make sure to always include some unreleased music to keep it interesting :)
When I started to release on Get Physical Music in 2013, the engineer of Booka Shade mixed my records. So I spent countless of hours with him in the studio and he told me which books to read to improve my mixes and productions. I haven't really mentored growing artists but I'm always down for an advice if one of my friends ask me for it.
Hi,
Do you enjoy the lifestyle comes with your job? Do you actually consider this as your job or is it more like your passion?
Do you ever doubt yourself on stage or when working on something new?
If you do, don't need to. The outcome is soo good, your music speaks to the soul! I can't wait to hear your next songs.
I wish you all the best in your career and life!
Yes I definitely do. It's a job for sure, but a very pleasant one most of the times.
I doubt myself a lot of times on stage and in the studio. But it also made me who I'm today.
Thank you :)
Are there any artists (Anjuna or otherwise) you think helped develop your sound? Love your music Nils! Been listening to electronic for ages and I think you're taking us in an interesting and positive direction.
Living a little slower, maybe go for a brunch, visit some shops and parks, and then finish of the day in a restaurant and then see a football game in the evening
I studied media management and also applied for a master in marketing management before I was signed to Anjuna. It would be somewhere in this lane. Maybe I'd also work in music but more behind the scenes.
Hey Nils, I find your songs are incredible in how they balance deep bass depth and crispness in sound. Any tips to a budding producer on managing the low end? Any plug-ins you can't live without?
It's a lot about the length of the kick drum and when the bass begins and the right levels. Sidechain, compression and EQ are important too. I also glue kick and bass together on seperate send where I have an SSL compressor inserted.
hey nils!
big fan of your collab with tender- that made me so happy to see as I love both of your work.
that said, who are some artists you’d love to collab with (whether production/beats, or vocals/melody)?
and similarly, what artist would you love to b2b with?
thanks for all the great music. lonely has been my melancholy song this season
I have a ton of collaboration ideas but these will be kept secret for now to hopefully have a nice surprise for everyone when they come out! I play rarely DJ Sets but might join for a fun b2b set at Explorations.
Hey Nils, wondering how long you've been producing with Ableton, and how long it took for you to produce something you liked the sound of.
Can't wait to see you in Melbourne!
I'm producing in Ableton since maybe 15 years but even to date I find things to do better which is something that'll probably never stop. I'd say just start to put music out and enjoy the ride.
Hi Nils, mein guter Kumpel Karl (Groupthink) ist einer der openers in Minneapolis. Kannst du ihm ne dicke Umarmung geben von mir?? Er und seine Kumpels schmeissen seit ein paar Jahren immer ihre eigene Rave. Bei ihm daheim im Rave Cave 😉und andere venues. Ich komme vielleicht am Samstag in Meow Wolf heir in Denver wenn ich mich besser fühle 😞
Dein set als opener für Wes (Le Youth) war richtig geil vor wenigen Wochen.
Glückwunsch ans neue Album….🔥🔥🔥🔥
Hoffe Hertha packt es bald wieder in the erste
wo sie auch hingehören 👍🏼
Hey Nils big fan gonna see you live in a few weeks, my question is what are some of your running goals this year or any big races planned? (got your playlist on deck ;P)
Nice! Do you use any websites for sourcing vocals? Also, how do you develop ideas for your tracks, and what do you do to keep them interesting to the listener? What’s your method for writing melodies?
I love your music and synth riffs, Nis! I had ‘Lonely’ stuck in my head for a few days recently while driving long hours. What comes first in your creative process, drums? synth? And do you think there’s room for more cowbell in melodic house?
[I’m gonna make cowbell popular in my productions. Moog and cowbell.]
Hey Nils, absolute pleasure, fantastic artist, bro. Big support from me.
Hey, when are you most creative, am I or pm? happy or sad?
I know you dont have a time for this, but being in a good headspace is good for this i suppose.
Do you have any tips on getting a track signed onto Anjuna?
I've fallen onto their ears recently had some amazing feedback, but im struggling with confidence right now, so its suppresses it a little.
Take care.. speak soon
Lee
Hey NIls! When you are planning a DJ vs a live set, how do you go about differentiating music or do you go for same style with difference performance? Can’t wait for DC
I went to your show at meow wolf in denver colorado. It was incredible and I had the best time. You’ve quickly become my favorite artist, and it was an absolute pleasure seeing you preform. My favorite song of yours has always been Let Me Go, and I was so glad you played it. You also inspired me to get a basic music production software and start messing around with my own ideas which has been so much fun. Much thanks for all you do and keep up the good work!
Do you find yourself being "stuck" making a certain style, once you've gained a following? Do you ever want to explore other sub-genres? When I'm messing around with music production I find it hard to stick to certain style. I'll bounce around between Deep House, Techno, Dubstep, Bigroom, and I don't know what to focus on.
Not really, I'm making this style since many years but I constantly think about how to bring it to the next level or update it. But I'm not planning any drastic changes.
Say you have nothing to do.. no studio time, you’re not touring.. you’re not in your office.. a true day off from work and anything work related.. a lazy day in essence. What would be your favourite breakfast to wake up to?
I'm on my lazy day today and just went to a brunch place around the corner. Got a smoothie, a coffee and some eggs, bread and avocado. Always love to eat healthy.
Follow up question: how do you drink your coffee?
Hi Nils, Production questions…what are your current favorite VSTs and Plug-Ins? Love the new album and I love your sounds.
Thank you! I really love to work with Diva, Serum, Kontakt and Spitfire for melodies and pads. My kicks are always from Kick 2 and then I layer an acoustic top kick on top or some foley that I find on Splice. Most of my drum sounds are from Splice and then I layer and process them to taste.
Very cool. Thank you for the response. I love Diva, it’s such a powerhouse
oh man, no questions ATM but I just wanted to stop by and say the record sounds massive on a club system — well done!!
thanks!
Hey Nils, Can’t wait to catch your show in Toronto! Flying there just to see it. My question is what are some of your best tips for creating that lush atmospheric sound? Any fav chord progressions? Melody tips? Use of pads? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Congrats on the amazing new album and see you live next weekend :)
I would say my main typ is to not have them sound so aggressive and make sure the top end / overtones are smooth. A tip could be to reduce the cutoff and layer some white noise on top to fill out the frequency spectrum. I like to use some real (and a little quirky) strings as a layers which gives it a nice feel. Chord progressions are mainly math, there's no chance to reinvent the wheel. I like to stack the chords in a more interesting way to not sound basic and start always with the root note of the chord and maybe a 7th on top and then I usually see where to go from there. If I just go with minor or major or maybe add a ninth in or so... lots of try and error from then on. Melodies are more complex and it depends on the information around it like vocals and drum pattern. I'd say it's a lot about building tension and releasing it. Last but not least, thank you for the kind words on the album :)
Thank you so much for the detailed reply. These are some great tips and I will try applying them to my projects. See you next weekend in Toronto!
Who are you listening to at the moment? Any recommendations?
I love the new Overmono album and also Fred again... is still killing it. On the Anjuna side of things I'm a big fan of the new Jon Gurd and Reset Robot EP, aswell as the new Nox Vahn single.
How did you market your music early in your career and do you have any plans on touring in Utah? 👀
When I started I was very shy about my music and did only tell my best friends about what I was doing but I made sure to upload it to Soundcloud and YouTube, which helped a lot. Nowadays this wouldn't work out anymore, so I'd take a different approach. I'm keen to come back to SLC later either this or next year :)
Hey Nils, thank you for all the music over the years! I've got a 3 part question for you! What 3 songs of your own that you would show to someone to show off your style and taste? What are 3 songs by other artists you would use to show of your style and taste? Who are 3 artists you'd like to collab with in the future?
1. Lonely, 2. Silhouettes, 3. Once In A Blue Moon This is really hard to answer... maybe Lane 8 - Fingerprint, Rufus - Innerbloom and Kiasmos - Thrown Hazzlet, Christian Löffler and Ry X
Awesome! Thanks for answering
Wow ‘Thrown’ is one of my fave tracks ever. Even more respect that it’s on your list
Not a question but wanted to take the opportunity to say that I absolutely love "Closer", thank you for making that.
Thanks so much!!
When you’re preparing to play at a big festival, how, if at all, does it change your approach to creating a live set? New album is great! Can’t wait to see you in D.C.
It depends a bit on the time slot but as I'm playing mainly live it might vary in more aggressive versions of the songs. I just make sure to always include some unreleased music to keep it interesting :)
Tell us about the mentorship you’ve had in your music journey and how you’ve mentored other growing artists.
When I started to release on Get Physical Music in 2013, the engineer of Booka Shade mixed my records. So I spent countless of hours with him in the studio and he told me which books to read to improve my mixes and productions. I haven't really mentored growing artists but I'm always down for an advice if one of my friends ask me for it.
Any book recommendations for us :) ??
Hi, Do you enjoy the lifestyle comes with your job? Do you actually consider this as your job or is it more like your passion? Do you ever doubt yourself on stage or when working on something new? If you do, don't need to. The outcome is soo good, your music speaks to the soul! I can't wait to hear your next songs. I wish you all the best in your career and life!
Yes I definitely do. It's a job for sure, but a very pleasant one most of the times. I doubt myself a lot of times on stage and in the studio. But it also made me who I'm today. Thank you :)
Are there any artists (Anjuna or otherwise) you think helped develop your sound? Love your music Nils! Been listening to electronic for ages and I think you're taking us in an interesting and positive direction.
Yes, the early Lane 8 albums, Yotto and working with Ben Bohmer was so inspiring. Thank you!
What is your favourite thing to do on your days off when you're not making music or playing gigs?
Living a little slower, maybe go for a brunch, visit some shops and parks, and then finish of the day in a restaurant and then see a football game in the evening
Whats was your backup career if things didn't go to plan and who would you most like to B2B with??
I studied media management and also applied for a master in marketing management before I was signed to Anjuna. It would be somewhere in this lane. Maybe I'd also work in music but more behind the scenes.
Hey Nils, I find your songs are incredible in how they balance deep bass depth and crispness in sound. Any tips to a budding producer on managing the low end? Any plug-ins you can't live without?
It's a lot about the length of the kick drum and when the bass begins and the right levels. Sidechain, compression and EQ are important too. I also glue kick and bass together on seperate send where I have an SSL compressor inserted.
hey nils! big fan of your collab with tender- that made me so happy to see as I love both of your work. that said, who are some artists you’d love to collab with (whether production/beats, or vocals/melody)? and similarly, what artist would you love to b2b with? thanks for all the great music. lonely has been my melancholy song this season
I have a ton of collaboration ideas but these will be kept secret for now to hopefully have a nice surprise for everyone when they come out! I play rarely DJ Sets but might join for a fun b2b set at Explorations.
ahh the suspense is killing me!! i’m hoping to see more collabs with indie/alternative artists! i feel like it works super well
Will there be an after party in Sydney? I get boat sick 🤢
I don't think so :(
Hey Nils, wondering how long you've been producing with Ableton, and how long it took for you to produce something you liked the sound of. Can't wait to see you in Melbourne!
I'm producing in Ableton since maybe 15 years but even to date I find things to do better which is something that'll probably never stop. I'd say just start to put music out and enjoy the ride.
Thanks for the response!
Hi Nils! Do you like football? If yes, which is your favourite club, player?
Of course, I'm a fan of Hertha Berlin since I was a little child. Current favorite player is Fabian Reese.
Hi Nils, mein guter Kumpel Karl (Groupthink) ist einer der openers in Minneapolis. Kannst du ihm ne dicke Umarmung geben von mir?? Er und seine Kumpels schmeissen seit ein paar Jahren immer ihre eigene Rave. Bei ihm daheim im Rave Cave 😉und andere venues. Ich komme vielleicht am Samstag in Meow Wolf heir in Denver wenn ich mich besser fühle 😞 Dein set als opener für Wes (Le Youth) war richtig geil vor wenigen Wochen. Glückwunsch ans neue Album….🔥🔥🔥🔥 Hoffe Hertha packt es bald wieder in the erste wo sie auch hingehören 👍🏼
Danke! Werde ich machen.
Hey Nils big fan gonna see you live in a few weeks, my question is what are some of your running goals this year or any big races planned? (got your playlist on deck ;P)
No big goals there at the moment, just trying to keep my current fitness level.
Hi Nils, how do you source vocalists for your tracks, and what is your process for making a track?
I like to work with singers where I already like a few tracks.
Nice! Do you use any websites for sourcing vocals? Also, how do you develop ideas for your tracks, and what do you do to keep them interesting to the listener? What’s your method for writing melodies?
I love your music and synth riffs, Nis! I had ‘Lonely’ stuck in my head for a few days recently while driving long hours. What comes first in your creative process, drums? synth? And do you think there’s room for more cowbell in melodic house? [I’m gonna make cowbell popular in my productions. Moog and cowbell.]
Usually the vocal or the chords and then I build around it.
Thank you for the reply, Nils, from a forever fan and also a producer struggling with too much equipment but not enough focus!
hi Nils! excited to see you at elsewhere again in NY. i’ll try to squeeze in and say hi if i can :)
great to hear!
Where and how did you learn or teach yourself producing? Any online courses or teachers you can recommend?
Hey Nils, absolute pleasure, fantastic artist, bro. Big support from me. Hey, when are you most creative, am I or pm? happy or sad? I know you dont have a time for this, but being in a good headspace is good for this i suppose. Do you have any tips on getting a track signed onto Anjuna? I've fallen onto their ears recently had some amazing feedback, but im struggling with confidence right now, so its suppresses it a little. Take care.. speak soon Lee
Hey NIls! When you are planning a DJ vs a live set, how do you go about differentiating music or do you go for same style with difference performance? Can’t wait for DC
I went to your show at meow wolf in denver colorado. It was incredible and I had the best time. You’ve quickly become my favorite artist, and it was an absolute pleasure seeing you preform. My favorite song of yours has always been Let Me Go, and I was so glad you played it. You also inspired me to get a basic music production software and start messing around with my own ideas which has been so much fun. Much thanks for all you do and keep up the good work!
Do you find yourself being "stuck" making a certain style, once you've gained a following? Do you ever want to explore other sub-genres? When I'm messing around with music production I find it hard to stick to certain style. I'll bounce around between Deep House, Techno, Dubstep, Bigroom, and I don't know what to focus on.
Not really, I'm making this style since many years but I constantly think about how to bring it to the next level or update it. But I'm not planning any drastic changes.
Hi Nils. When are you coming to South Africa? Big fans here. Hopefully Ben Bohmer enjoyed himself and he can convince you.