A ON - Behind the scenes of 'Will 2 Be' interview
A ON has arrived on the Electronic Music scene with a passionate determination and motivated dedication; bringing a magnetic energy and hard-hitting sound, he appears as a unique talent and refreshing addition to the genre, one whose innovating and originality continues to mark him out. With A ON having released his powerful Acid House single, ‘Will 2 Be’, we’re now taking the opportunity to sit down with him to learn more about the process, technicalities, and inspirations behind this new track: diving into uncover more about his creativity as A ON walks us through the different elements of the track, taking us behind the scenes of ‘Will 2 Be’.
Hello A ON, how’s it going?
Doing really good, thanks!
To start, can you tell us, what inspired you to start producing your new track, ‘Will 2 Be’?
I was making very dreamy, ambient music with my guitar and loop pedal during the winter. I was really lacking my more energetic side and have been wanting to make Techno music for a long time. So, I decided to store most of my gear and just grabbed a compact but dynamic hardware setup. Most of my gear went in the closet and I just ended up with a Nord Lead, a 303, an Elektron AR drum machine and the Octatrack. The setup worked really well!
Which element did you start with when you set out to produce the track? How did you then build on this to create the soundscape?
It all started with the bassline and after that, the kick – from then, I already knew this was gonna be a song! The synth stabs and vocals at the drop were almost an accident. The keys felt gimmicky but fitted so well that I went for it. The vocals fitted almost without me having to tweak them at all - it was a happy accident!
Will 2 Be’ features a particularly hypnotic bassline; can you tell us how you created this? Did you use any specific production techniques to achieve its driving energy?
I normally tend to make driving basslines and many times that's my starting point. There was not much technique since 90% of the track was created in a dawless fashion... it came out very instinctively.
How would you describe the track to someone who has yet to hear it?
It's a track with a driving bassline. It goes from Acid House and Techno, with some elements of Euro 90s to spice the dark synth lines with a bit of joy.
Which elements of the track do you think are most important to creating its overall energy?
The bassline and the kick drum!
The track features many intricate sonic layers, how did you approach building this detailed soundscape? What was the process like in terms of structuring the track?
I first started by creating the layers and seeing how they went together. Once I felt like they complimented each other, even if played all together, I then decided on the structure of the song. Many times, I stay close to the way I was jamming with it at the moment of creation.
Which plugins and effects did you use most when producing the track?
For this project, all tracks have been produced and arranged with hardware. So, most plugins are plugins for sound processing, like Waves plugins and Soundtoys. For reverb, sometimes I used the Eventide Ultra Reverb.
What about the production process did you find most challenging?
Definitely, the challenge is trying to make music without the use of a DAW. The process can be very tedious since you don't have many options. and there is not much "undo" you can do. I also have a love/hate relationship with the Octatrack, but it is the most satisfying way of working for me so far - it takes way longer but working with real machines is a great experience.
What can fans expect from A ON next?
I will be releasing more tracks in the following months, and I am hoping to start performing live again, hopefully in late spring or early this summer!
As we finish our interview with A ON today, we thank him for taking the time to speak with us and for sharing a glimpse into his production workflow; with a promising journey ahead, we cannot wait to see what A ON will bring us next. So, a talent to keep watching, make sure to follow A ON across social media to stay up-to-date with his upcoming releases and projects.
Listen to ‘Will 2 Be’ now:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5j392QIMTce5SDtjRbr...
https://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1717509030
A ON Online
