Hi Youngr, tell us a little about yourself, how you got started in music?
"I've been in loads of bands before. Being in bands is how it all started. My love of music and parts and textures. I guess I went it alone in the end cause musicians are all divas, so now I've only got myself to put up with! [laughs]"
What is your process for making a track?
"I usually start by producing a track, writing all the parts and recording them etc. Then I jam it live, so I break it up all over again and that's usually when the magic happens. The tracks just come alive when you put them in a live setting."
Is your studio influenced by you wanting to play live, the other way around, or does it not come in to it?
"It's completely half and half. I have a production table etc and I have my live set up there. I use Ableton Live, Adam a5s and some old beaten up Fostex monitors - I desperately need new ones! I use the Roland boutique synths, Roland a-800 MIDI controller, original Linn Drum, Roland TR-8, various basses and guitars. I usually record live drums to get the feel bang on, then layer them up. I use a lot of the waves plug ins and just started getting into the slate digital bundle. They're banging!"
Explain to us your live rig, how it started and has evolved...
"It was a lonnnnnng process. Plus, it was during summer last year, with no air conditioning, so it was a tough time for me! The main issue for me was not wanting it to be self indulgent... I'm an entertainer at heart, I like putting on a show and staring at faders and twiddling knobs just doesn't do it for me.
"I had to find the balance of live and making sure it flowed. So I found be best tool for this was Ableton and the Akai APC controllers. It allows me to loop parts super quick and mess around with delays etc on the fly without having to stare at my laptop. I've been lucky with no latency so far, I keep all the plug ins to native Ableton ones. And I use 64-bit in the latest Mac book pro so it's a bit of a beast."
What's your advice for anyone else looking to go it alone and take their electronic performances live?
"Get some mates and start a band! It's way easier! Ha. But if you're adamant on going solo then use Ableton live hands down with Akai APCs. Then you need to choose what you do best and milk it! Doesn't matter if it's guitar, bass, drums or vocals, just put on a show!"
We noticed some of the way the tracks are structured, it seems like they are built to give you time to move from one instrument to the next? Is that true?
"Very true. The live set up has actually influenced the songwriting in a way. Cause it's all very much based around the 'drop' that usually has live drums in and samples vocals or melodies I can play on the electronic drum pads."
What's coming up for you gig wise? Where can people keep up with you?
"Youngr Facebook page is best place, just search Youngr. Both Instagram and Twitter is @youngr_music. I've also got a gig on the 10th of June at Tape in London. So come down to that one!"
FIND OUT MORE
www.youtube.com/user/youngrchannel
www.facebook.com/youngrofficial
www.twitter.com/youngr_music