I Am Tristam...a musician? AMA

Really big fan of your music, keep it up forever. How has being semi-famous been like for you in school? Have you become the popular kid? Made a lot of fake friends?

Nope, although I'm not in school anymore, when I was it never changed to much. I think sometimes people thought that I thought I was "all that", but I didn't :P

Have you ever considered releasing some side work under an anonymous alias? Would be interesting to see how people react to your skill level under an alias that has no current reputation.

Yes, I have considered it ;)

So, what did you basically do during the break of a few months between the Truth and all other releases?

I've been making song after song after song. I've just not been releasing them. Working a lot on production and song writing. I have some very exciting stuff for the future.

Hey Tristam, how's it going? :]

I have a couple of questions.

1. What is the best way to go about contacting the youtube promoters when you don't necessarily have a name for yourself yet?

2. Will you sit on the Chair?

Most of them you can straight up message... And if your tune is good enough they'll upload it ;)

1. Where do you gain inspiration for new tracks?
2. How did you get into producing on a professional level?
3. How did you become so great with FL Studio (that is to say, did you teach yourself, watch tutorials, etc.) Btw-Love your music man :D

1.Usually, when I'm diving I'll just start singing a melody and then I burn it into my head, awkwardly bring out my phone and record it while trying to keep an eye on the road. 2.It's a very very hard step to take, but it's basically all about training your ear to "KNOW" what sounds good and what sounds bad... Once you have that skill, you don't need much more imo 3.I'm actually in Ableton now. The software doesn't matter so much. It's all about experience. "Flight" was produced in ableton

Tristam, I am a huge fan! I have a few questions for you, and I hope you respond!

• What is it like being so young, yet so famous in the EDM community?
• What/who inspires you to make your music?
• How do you feel being a huge inspiration to many young music producers, including me?
• Do you ever feel like you might branch out and explore other styles of music?

Like I said, I am a huge fan of your music and listen to it all the time, and I look forward to your response and what music you have coming out in the future!

1. It's nice!!! and refreshing to know and feel that it's possible to live doing what you love..

2. Emotion is a big one for me. How I feel and how a song i'm working on makes me feel is HUGE.

3.It's a challenge... Because everything you say publicly matters, so you have to be that much more careful. But it's very nice to know people out there look up to what you do and what you say.

4.Oh yes. I want to start doing a lot more songwriting. I love Coldplay, Amy Macdonald and Band of horses..

Do you like Trap and will you ever make Trap music? (I'm not a Trap lover but I'm just wondering since all artists start to make Trap music these days)

Hate it and no

I saw your collab with Braken, who, to be honest, I've never heard of. How did you meet him? What drove you to work with someone who wouldnt indirectly give you more publicity, unlike some artists? (Thats awesome that you did though!) Do you think he'll get big? Big fan of your music as well!

Edit: preview of a collab*

Braken is a very good friend of mine, I found him on Youtube and we arranged to meet. I was driven to work with him because of how talented I thought he was and how much potential I saw in him. I think you'll be hearing a lot more from him in the future.

What's one plugin/vst that you couldn't live without?

None. I work with what I have and I have what I work with. You don't NEED any plugin imo... That's the most crucial lesson I can teach. Some thing I can't live without is a good pair of headphones.

Do you mainly produce with headphones or monitors, or does it not matter?

headphones

Would you rather fight 100 cat-sized monsters or one monster-sized cat?

What are your biggest electronic and non-electronic influences for your music?

Definatly one monstercat

Do you know the truth?

I know mine... Do you know yours??

Huge fan here!

1. Name three bands or artists that have shaped you and inspired you as a musician/producer.
2. What is your greatest accomplishment so far?
3. What is your favourite song that you have produced and why?
4. What is the origin behind the name "Tristam?" :) <3

Edit: Thanks for the reply! I will be your loyal fan until the end of time

1. Muse, Pendulum/Rob Swire, Coldplay

2. Can't think of anything substantial....when my first song hit 1000000 views... it was a pretty great feeling or when "Flight" hit number 1 on the Dnb charts ;)

3. Usually what I'm working on because that what I'm most passionate about.

4. It was a very cold night in June..... erhhh the story is a bit too long.. i'll tell you guys another day

Do you tune your drums?

yessssir

How do you deal with this sudden growing popularity of yours? And what would be advises for starting producers?

Thank you in advance! :D

It's hard to deal with at times, a lot of opportunity, a lot more pressure... But it's very fun to loose yourself in the industry, in the music. The one thing I would recommend for starting producers is to not stop producing and to never do it for the fame or for others... Do it because you enjoy doing in <3

I have never heard of you before now, which songs of yours would you recommend I listen to?

Truth, Follow me, I remember or Flight

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Probably Muse

What's your favorite song that isn't edm?

Melancolie by Yves duteil

How and when in your life did you decide to become a musician? I love your work and I'd be interesting to know what you did to get to where you are.

It was never a decision. It was just always who I was.

How/why did you start producing?

Because I thought it was the coolest thing in the world... I was young then.

How does it feel knowing that lots of people that you don't know and probably will never meet are listening to something you made and loving every second of it?

It's very weird. It's kind of unfathomable

What setup do you have?

Normally I use Genelec 8040a's, a pair of Seinheiser Hd650's, Ableton live 8 and a variety of plugins. You don't need more than that imo :P

do you have any other interests or hobbies other than making music?

Yes I do have other interests and hobbies

did the people at your school/work recognize you; know your talent?

I try to keep it to myself, I don't necessarily want my all personal relations to be bases around my music. So to answer your question... No people don't generally recognize me in public.

Your song "Too Simple" with Stephen Walking has held sentimental value with me since I first heard it. I love it and wanted to say thanks.

• Also, how did you first get involved with Monstercat? How do you feel about people saying you're the "best artist on the label?"

Monstercat messaged me to be part of the label a few months after it started out. I feel like people can think what they think and an opinion is an opinion. Nothing is true except for what is true to you

Hi Tristam, thanks for doing this AMA. How can someone who knows nothing about producing electronic music get started as fast as possible? I'm not completely without a musical background-- played the piano quite a bit up until high school. It's just that I'm in college at the moment and as much as I want to learn how to make quality EDM, I just can't find the time.

Take your time, there is no rush. Take the steps you feel you need to take. I know you might feel like it's a vague answer but its just the answer you needed

Two quick questions.

• What inspired you to start making music?

• Did you play any instruments growing up?

1. My absolute love for music... Life is all about passion. Nothing else... Following the excitement

2. Yes I've played many instruments growing up. I got brought up with guitar, but I've grown to be very fond of piano.

This is a VERY important question, boxers or briefs?

boxer-Briefs

Could you share some advice for musicians looking to make a career in the industry?

When it comes down to it, there's 2 really big things. How good the music really is and how good the marketing/branding is. So you can focus on one or the other. If you put a lot of effort into the music side of things, eventually you might get picked up by someone who can do the branding and marketing properly. Or you can try focusing on getting amazing branding, but on its own it's not NEARLY as important as the music. So at the end of the day its just about being original and enjoying what you do.

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I wanted to be in the circus when I was younger, I've gone through many phases! I was really into juggling, then magic, and a lot of unicycling xD

How much time do you spend working on custom patches? And do you prefer to develop as you go or do you cook up some synths beforehand?

I develop patches as I go, It's all about what sounds good to you and less how complicated or how much time you spend working on it.

This isnt a question, I just love you. A lot.

Love you to!

What is a small tip or trick that most people don't know/don't take advantage of?

The simpler the better, you should always try and make something sound as good as you can before adding elements. Making great sounding music isn't complicated.

Hey Tristam, been a fan for a while now and I just wanted to ask what are your plans for the future? Do you think a world tour is on the horizon somewhere?

I plan on making more of the music I want to make and not worry so much about genres and boundaries. A world tour I think should be expected down the line.

Catalyst made me cream... How did you and Rogue get together for that?

We flew him down from The UK and he stayed a month and a half at my place to work on the EP

How did you learn to use FL studio? (I think that's what you use)

Time and practice, the same way you learn anything. <3

whats your go to plugin for compression/sidechaining?

Fabfilter Pro-C, or Alloy 2

have you ever thought about doing a collab with Noisestorm?

yeah me and noisestorm will definatly work together at one point

Does your career pay well?

Yes

What's it like to work with Monstercat?

It's like.... Imagine riding a unicorn... Something like that.

So how much did the Shizzle² Peace River raves influence you to make music? I'm sure that had a lot to do with it. ;)

Actually it played a bit part in it... of of the first times I heard flux and skrill.

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I was having some plugin delay compensation issues, and plugin compatibility issues. So far, after two month of using Ableton... I can honestly say that I like it a lot more.

What goes into the idea process for your music? Like I know Truth was a big project and it came out great but what actually went into the creative process?

It's like building a house, you start with the frame..... and then what ever else goes into making a house....