Atc Around The World Acapella Zippy
Teodosio Shepperd
My summer in Argentina started with my first show 'All Night Long' at Club AMK. A night to remember where I played music for 7 hours which you can see on YouTube ( =yr-o0VNwTvE). It was a beautiful experience and this year we will definitely repeat it.
I think I consider myself more of a producer since I've been producing for more time than being a DJ. But today I feel both worlds a little more balanced than years ago.
I really enjoy spending hours in front of the screen creating music, it's a world of infinite possibilities where you can get lost if you're not sure where north is.
But I think being a DJ is even cooler, because it gives you the chance to travel, get to know new cities, new cultures and to be able to share your music, your energy to people from all over the world and see how they react on the dance floor.
Universe: It was one of my first tracks and I learned a lot of technical things. And precisely the musical world seemed to me a whole universe of possibilities. It drives me crazy just thinking that the universe is infinite...
Trust: After many fruitful years with my rock bands, I decided to dedicate myself to electronic music. But to continue I had to forget the past and simply 'Trust'. Trust in me, in my music and in all the signals that I had been receiving.
Crabo: This track was born in a very spiritual time of mine. Everything that happens when you meditate is amazing. Crabo is the name of my master guide and it was a track that received a lot of support from another of my referents, Nick Warren, who also released it on his label 'The Soundgarden'.
Nick Warren - Freebird (Emi Galvan Remix): It was a dream for me to be able to remix a legend like Nick. At first I felt very pressured, but then everything flowed quickly and the happy melodies did not stop coming to my head. Nick loved it and played it all over the world.
I am very grateful for this opportunity!
You started your musical journey playing guitar and singing in rock bands for over a decade, tell us how you transitioned from that into an electronic music producer and DJ? And how has that past musical history helped your work in electronic music.
The change came about after a trip to Mexico where I got to know the electronic music underground, since until then I just went to some of the big festivals like Creamfields or Southfest, but I didn't know much about the world of DJing.
I loved getting to know that whole new world and when I returned home I decided to start studying and producing tracks. It was quite a process, it took me 1 year to produce my first electronic music track called 'Mexican Trip', in honor of that trip.
Along with my band project, I began to experiment as a DJ in local bars and private parties, which I loved and I kept learning and dedicating myself even more.
Until I received the first big support from Hernan Cattaneo for my track 'Dreams' and I decided to leave the band to dedicate myself to electronic music.
I started playing guitar at 9, had my first heavy metal band at 18, played and recorded several albums in different bands and styles. All of this was an enormous learning for which I am grateful, because otherwise I might not be able to produce as I do today.
When I was a kid, Argentina was a very rich country musically speaking. There were many musicians and bands everywhere. Music has always been very important to me. When I met someone, my first question was: 'What music do you like?' With that simple question I could know a lot about the other person.
My biggest musical influence was my brother. Who am I grateful for all those great rock bands he made me listen and I still listen!
But as I always say, a person or a hole country can influence you. But if I like rock and roll, no matter how hard you try, you will never make me listen to cumbia :)
When we ask most artists what is responsible for the popularity of progressive music in Argentina the overwhelming answer is Hernan Cattaneo, would that be your feeling also? And if so please speak on that, also to add to that, who else from Argentina inspired you when you first discovered the music.
Many young people who went to their first electronic party did it with Hernan Cattaneo, because his shows are so popular and first class, so they go back again and the audience continue growing. And it gives the chance to a lot of DJs like me to work playing the music we like!
Fortunately we have many good clubs and djs.
Palacio Alsina has spectacular views that continue on the roof of the club, it is very good to see!
Club AMK is a renovated club that has very good sound and screens. I had the opportunity to do an open to close show and it was a very nice experience!
The Bow and Crobar are 2 first class historical clubs with a devastating sound that you have to go to no matter what!
And if it's summer, you can't miss Mandarine Park, where the largest international events in the country are held.
As for DJs, it depends on what you like. If it depends on me, I would take you to see Antrim, Simon Vuarambon, Sebastian Busto, Ezequiel Arias, Ricky Ryan, Mariano Mellino, Manu Rodriguez and of course, Hernan Cattaneo :)
When you were first getting started in production did you have someone help you or are you completely self-taught? And what would you recommend new producers do to help with the learning curve of production?
I had some friends who helped me with some technical things, but basically I was always very self-taught. I did face-to-face courses, online and I watched millions of YouTube videos, that's the number one school!
I recommend you study hard, practice, watch many video tutorials and keep learning. If you don't like spending hours in front of the computer, better dedicate yourself to something else, don't waste your time. Because if they don't like it, it's going to end up being like any other job that they end up hating.
You have to be like a nerd. Always experimenting and seeing how to do 'x thing'.
I'm an old fan of Massive Attack, I've been listening to their music since I was 18 years old and I got to see them live once in Buenos Aires. It was amazing!
I always wanted to do a remix of one of my favorite bands but I didn't know which one. Until I found Horace Andy's acapella, a super unique voice, like from another planet, then I said: 'I definitely have to remix it!'
Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically the Massive Attack remix?
My studio is pretty basic. I don't have any synths or anything special anymore, just my computer, an Apollo Twin UAD audio interface, and a nice pair of EVE SC208 monitors. All my productions are made "In the box".
Sure. I think about the future, but I try not to think too much. Before, I put a lot of pressure on myself, but after the pandemic I try to relax more and enjoy the journey.
I just want to make music and enjoy the process. I am grateful to be able to fulfill my dream of living thanks to music and traveling the world
The Ep has 2 tracks: 'Samsara' and 'Around The World'.
'Samsara' is the cycle of birth, life, death and incarnation in the philosophical traditions of India. I love everything about reincarnation. It is a strong and intense track, it makes you travel from darkness to light.
'Around The World' is a track that is a little more illuminated and cheerful than the previous one. With a good energy charged with positive melodies, which remind me of the beautiful trips made throughout the world thanks to my great passion, music.
I'm pretty picky when it comes to deciding if a track should be edited or not. I have to like it a lot. It must be a track that generates something on the dance floor.
I also prefer to release 5 good tracks a year that people remember, rather than 20 tracks that are all the same.
Finding the right label is not easy, it must match the sound and be professional enough so all your work is not in vain, since producing a track can take me up to months.
Replug has all those characteristics, it's a great label and I'm very happy to be a part of it!
My inspiration comes basically from my mood. If I'm not in the mood, I'm not going to feel like producing something.
My other source of inspiration is the street. Go for a walk or go traveling in the car. In those moments is when a melody comes to mind, so I sing it, record it on my phone and then I go back to the studio to work on it.
Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practice? And who is someone you share your new music with first for feedback?
When I think a track is finished, I test it live. That's where I find out if it sounds good and if it works on the dance floor. Then I go back to the studio and make corrections. Maybe some mixing detail or maybe something about the arragement. I also listen to it in different headphones, as well as in the car, so as to have different listening parameters.
I no longer send my tracks for feedback. I always find it difficult to find someone who can give me productive feedback. But I do like to receive the feedback that a mastering engineer can give me about changes to make in the mix.
I really like producing the initial idea, the main melody, as well as doing the mixing.
But sometimes I get very complicated when it comes to making the arrangement. I always want the perfect arrangement and I can spin for months!
Music is energy. The energy of a happy track is not the same as that of a sad one. If you know how to handle energy, you will know how to create your perfect trip.
Each track is a part of this journey, where you will see different shapes, colors and textures. Where you will feel different emotions and where you will be able to connect with the people you have there in front of you and transmit your message and your energy, the energy of your music.