IamA I am Seven Lions (Jeff Montalvo) I produce electronic music AMA!

Hi! My name's Julia and I'm a designer. I am a huge fan of your music! After you came to Beta in Denver a few weeks ago, I was really inspired to create a design for you. I think it would be a sick tshirt. :) Enjoy http://i.imgur.com/g7nHcVR.jpg

This is AWESOME!

Whats your email? I will for sure look into making a T-shirt out of this. Beta was so much fun. I love Denver :) Gonna hafta take you out for a beer at Falling Rock to say thanks next time I am in town!

Hey Jeff, we met in Tampa. We talked about Opeth and Blackcraft. \m/

I just am curious, because you and I are very similar musically: Will we ever see Seven Lions Live or you utilizing more instrumentation during shows in the future?

Also thanks for introducing me to Skingraft!

Hey Varien!

Congrats on Moolight! Epic track man. I'm not sure if I will be doing anything live unless I can make it sound really really good. I've heard too many EDM acts try and add live instruments over mixed and mastered tracks and it just sounds way too out of place. Maybe one of these days tho.

Jeff! I don’t really have a question but just wanted to say how much I appreciate the music you make. My friends and I are unquestionably some of your most loyal fans and make it to as many shows as we can. We met you in Santa Barbara and at the Marquee and you and your wife are some of the most humble and down to earth people I have ever met. Please just keep doing what you do best and you will forever have us as loyal fans. LONG LIVE THE KING. (My friend brings her banner and I bring the Lion Perler, and have the lyrics to “You Got to Go” tatted on my side, so keep looking for us front and center at your shows – we always find a way to make it up there!)

Meeting at the Marquee: http://i.imgur.com/7hxbElb.jpg
Feelin’ the vibes: http://i.imgur.com/7t7aW3G.jpg Kind of starstruck when I met you in SB: http://i.imgur.com/ifImPuL.jpg

Thanks so much! That SB show was probably one of my favorite on the tours so far. What did you think about Marquee Vegas? I am trying to find that balance of making true fans happy and making Vegas party goers happy. Glad you made it to the SB show tho :)

Dude I had such a blast at that show! We saw you at the Avalon in Hollywood and at Beta in Denver as well and they are all a toss up. I would catch one of your sets in Antarctica and still have the time of my life.

Haha. Much love :D

I was at the SB show with a bunch of friends and I had an absolute blast. Hope to see you again sometime soon. Is there any chance that we could see you in Ventura County? Our EDM scene is weak to say it best but would be really great to see you again :)

Thanks for the most excellent music and hope to see you on tour again soon!

For sure. Ventura Theater would be fun but I don't know if they have EDM shows very often unless its part of a tour. We used to have beach parties towards in the area between SB and Ventura. I wouldn't exactly call them legal but they were fucking awesome.

Hey man thanks a lot for doing this AMA. If it's alright I'd like to ask you a few production questions:

1. Your mixes are incredibly clean, do you have any mixing or mastering tips to get a track sounding clean yet full?

2. What advice do you have on EQing supersaws or EQing in general?

3. What are some of your favorite plugins?

Thanks!

Yo!

1. I think the mixing really has to do with repetition and getting to know your speakers. Its really important to take notice of your listening environment.
2. I use a ton of layers and when I am going through supersaws I really pay attention to how they fill the stereo field and how they sit with each other (phase wise). Always low pass and high pass.
3. Sylenth1, Massive, Omnisphere, Nexus and then my new fav is Spire.

What is your favorite remix you've done and why is it All Alone?

Haha. I see what you did there!

Running to the Sea. Susanne has an AMAZING voice on that track. Also the vibe and the mood really came across well. It was fun adding in the metal break down elements. Felt like I got to show my roots!

What kind of shampoo/conditioner do you use on that lovely mane of yours?

Oh man...

Whatever the hotel provides. Haha. I wish it weren't so but its true.

Au5, Fractal and yourself are my favourite producers. How do you see Au5 and Fractal? Do you sometimes get inspiration from their work? Will you do a collab with one of them ( or both!) one day?

I love the remix they did for Days to Come! They are good producers for sure. I have realized pretty recently that I am not a very good collaborator. I am too much of a control freak. At this point I think most my future colabs will be with vocalists and not producers.

How's it going Jeff? My name is Vinh Quach and I DJ under the name IntraphoniC. Love your music. We've opened for you twice in San Diego: one time at Bassmnt and one time at We Are NYE. Definitely an honor.

The next time you're back in San Diego, would you be down to meet up with us for a beer? We would love to show you a few of our favorite micro breweries in SD and chat about music.

Photo: https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1.0-9/1013913_10151706379780350_221622850_n.jpg

Video: http://youtu.be/9wnyePdlTwI

Link: http://www.facebook.com/intraphonicofficial

Hey Vinh!

Always down for beers man! SD is one of my favorite places. Last time we went to the Stone Brew facility before Bassmnt.

Why the name Seven Lions?

From a book called Latro in the Mist by Gene Wolfe, apparently. There's a character named Seven Lions and Jeff probably thought "well, this is a fucking cool name, I'm going to use it"

Hah. This guy know whats up :)

Hi Jeff!

So I opened for you in Seattle at the Paramount, on the Krewella "Get Wet" tour under the name City 17

Here is a picture of me from the show.

I'll cut to the chase. You are my favorite artist/producer. However I left my macbook charger on stage after playing :( and I'm pretty sure you were using a macbook as well. You didn't happen to grab it did you? haha

TL;DR Do you have my MacBook charger??

Hey dude!

I don't think so. I'm usually pretty careful about that stuff. I was using Josies charger most of the time anyways. Was it a macbook air charger because at the time I was using an air with a mag 1.

Jeff, have you met Florence Welch? Your remix of Cosmic Love is quite possibly my favorite song of all time.

Also, how was it working with Ellie Goulding?!

Besides the question, I just wanted to say that you really make some amazing music. When I'm having a really bad day I listen to your stuff to feel better. Don't stop, please. :)

I've never met Florence. Not sure what she would think of the remix although I have wondered about it.

Ellie is awesome. She nailed it. Some vocalists just have a voice that sits so well in a full mix and she is one of those people.

Thanks for the support, glad I can help :) Music is that way for me as well so I really appreciate that.

Thanks for having this AMA! I'm a huge fan of your work, and have listened to the Worlds Apart EP more times than I can count by now! A few questions:

1. What track of yours are you most proud of?
2. What kinds if risks have you taken in your music, and did they pay off?
3. What kind of music do you listen to for inspiration in your own, if anything?

Thanks again, keep up the awesome work!

1. Keep It close and Tyven
2. I'd say doing Keep It Close in 3/4 timing was a bit of a risk because I feel like its pretty unique and sometimes unique doesn't go over well!
3. I listen to a lot of metal, tons of acoustic stuff, also some industrial (depending on the mood) Right now I am listening to Trace Bundy.

I've gotta say, you are by far my favorite producer these days - your stuff is just so euphoric and it sends chills down my spine! I especially love your remixes of You Got To Go and All Alone, as well as Fevers!! As a producer myself I've tried numerous times to replicate some of your work with varying degrees of success - I've also used your work in a couple mashups I've made; so I have to ask: How do you approach sound design?

I'll break up the question a little more to make things easier:

1. How do you make your supersaws so full? (I assume this is partially sound design but also partially which notes you play and how you structure chords, so any tips on either would be great)

2. How do you make the glitchy fills that you use during the drops in tracks like Fevers and such?

3. How do you approach making atmospheres? I really love your intros and builds for how atmospheric they are while still using glitchy elements to keep them interesting - what sort of techniques do you have for adding those glitchy effects while keeping the smooth feel to the track?

4. Any tips you have for mixing it all together!! How do you combine all those different sounds in a way such that nothing sounds jarring or out of place?

Thanks for doing this by the way!!! You are the BEST!!

Thanks! Fevers isn't usually a track that gets a lot of attention. Stoked you like it!

1. Its all about layering. Make a supersaw sound, play the chord you want, bounce it out and then change the synth, throw it on top of what you've already bounced and start going through sounds on the new synth until you are like. holy tits, that sounds awesome. Bounce that synth out and then do it all over again! Sometimes going an octive can help fill it out too. Its just about making it sound wide and fat and glued together.

2. The glitches are just lots and lots of editing/snipping. I will have sound design sessions where I make lots of cool beeps and boops and then I chop them in once I get to the glitch out phase. Its all about being meticulous.

3. If I am making something glitchy that still has melody involved then I will usually make a synth with a ton of delay or cool fx and then riff over the section I am working on. Bounce out that riff and then bring it back in, reverse it/chop it/pitch it up and octive, all kinds of ways to make things sound cool but the key is to bounce it to audio first so you really have control over the manipulation.

4. I say TAKE BREAKS. come back to it with fresh ears. thats when you will notice if things arent right. I take short breaks all the time and then listen back, sometimes I will even take notes during the first listen after a break.

For how much time have you been producing music? Did you have any music/production related classes? Keep up your godly work. Everything you produce is a masterpiece, literally. Much love!

I've been producing music on and off since highschool. I used to make trance and progressive under the name Jeff Montalvo and thats when I really started getting into production. I went to a Sound Arts college called Ex'pression. It was less about production and more about recording/mixing.

Hi Jeff,

Fanboy here. No kidding, I've got your bumper sticker on my car; I've even drunkenly thanked your mom for birthing you at a set you played here in Orlando. I've been "biggest fan" status since your remix of You Got To Go was one of your only songs, and you were releasing tracks like a mad man! It felt like one a month or more! Following your online DJ sets, showing up for every show you've played in greater Orlando / Tampa, even convinced some friends to drive down to Miami to see you play at a pool party once, which I've never done for anyone.

I wanted to thank you for your music, and also let you know that you're my favorite musical artist ever. With that said, I also wanted to let you know that recently I've been very disappointed with your live sets. Most recently, EDC Orlando, and a recent show in Tampa. I even went as far as to skip out on your most recent Orlando show due to lack of interest from my friends after we all saw you play in Tampa.

The one time I truly enjoyed your set was over a year ago here in Orlando. You played more of your own music, the bass wasn't ear murdering, and you enjoyed yourself.

My question is, have started doing anything different in your live sets? Do you feel pressure from people as your popularity grows to change what you do? I mean this with the utmost respect, but is there anyone sound checking while you play, because the bass (specifically during only your set) is irrationally loud, and completely abolishes the beautiful melodies you've written.

Love the new EP, all the best.

Thanks for the support man!

The venue should always have a person there monitoring the sound. I don't have any control over how loud it is other than the mixer which sits at zero. I also can't gauge if its too loud or not because I am not out in the crowd. I can tell some of the fans from early on are not stoked that I don't play things like the great divide or below us anymore but at the same time those songs feel old to me. To me Strangers and Don't Leave are my favorit songs to play out so I choose a set that compliments those songs. As far as running time on my sets I think its at least half my own production and half DJing because I tend to play the full length of my own tracks and mega mix other peoples stuff.

I totally understand what you're saying, and would just add that as you progress in your career, there will always be (a lot of) fans that are looking to hear some of the old classics that helped you get where you are. I think this is especially true when people have an emotional attachment to music, and your music is especially susceptible to this (more so that other artists or genres).

I don't think I even heard You Got To Go during the set, along with the others you mentioned which can only be compared internally if you imagine that you went to your favorite artist/bands performance and didn't hear your favorite song played, or your second favorite, or your third favorite. No fan likes that feeling :P

Perhaps I was disappointed with the Tampa show because while you played an equal amount of your music and DJing, a solid amount of your music that you were playing I may have been unfamiliar with, therefore I didn't even know.

Thanks again for what you do.

Thats the danger of playing new tracks. I played out the new EP which wasn't released yet. For me Worlds Apart trumps You Got To Go because its new and its the Worlds Apart EP.

Hey Jeff! Love your tracks, and I'm sure loads of people, me included, would love to be able to produce near you standard.

Do you have any tips for general production?

Perhaps in how to come up with original ideas and not lose interest in projects.

Any inspirations?

And any techniques that aren't used enough but work really well?

I would love to hear back from you!

Also, what's the inspiration behind your name? Sorry if it's already been mentioned, I haven't seen it yet!

1. Generally I would say make sure you are mixing in a proper environment. Just a small amount of treatment in your room could go a long way. Invest in some monitors (dont need to be top of the line) and get familiar with them.

There are so many techniques for mixing. One I feel I should use more is parallel compression. I always remember too late :p

How was it to work with Ellie Goulding on Dont Leave? I love that song

It was awesome, super low stress. She hit me up on Twitter a while back and asked of I wanted to remix one of her songs. I said yes but I think it would be cooler to do an original and surprisingly enough she said yes!

I just want to say "days to come" has been my most played song on my phone along with the dead battery remix and the song is absolutely amazing. Keep up the great work!

Thanks Brian!

Did you ever regret doing anything in the music business? Signed with the wrong record label? Release something bad? etc.

btw Thanks for the great music!

Ohhhhh man.

Yes, it has happened. Fortunately I work with really good people so we got it all cleared up relatively fast. One thing that I wont go into great detail about is the fact that the Worlds Apart EP was delayed by a month, nobody really knows that but think about when we announced the tour and when the EP finally came out. haha. Its definitely interesting working on a professional level when all I really wanted to do was be a hobbiest.

At the end of the day I am grateful to be doing this professionaly but I don't really want to be a business man, never did. I am also learning that if I don't pay attention to the business side of it, its really easy to get fucked. Trying to find the balance.

3 things for you Seven Lions.

1. Thank you for introducing me to Latro in the Mist.
2. Who does your mastering?
3. I understand that Birds of Prey took you under their wing (pun intended) to show you the techniques and tricks they use for producing tracks. Would you ever consider passing on the knowledge to an up and coming producer? Not necessarily me... (¬､¬)

Haha.

1. Its a damn good book isn't it? The imagery is beautiful.
2. It changes depending on if its an EP or a single. Latley its been this guy Huntley. He did the Days to Come and Worlds Apart EP

Whoops. 3. Basically what they taught me is working in audio and clipping your reverb and delay tails is really important, plus you get all the freedom to really manipulate the audio in cool ways. That was the biggest thing I took away from them. ALWAYS bounce your audio. The second thing is really really pay attention to where you are focusing the listeners attention to. If you have too much going on at once its impossible to grasp, be bold in your mixing, if you want people to notice something then make it louder!

That high five you gave me at celebrities night club in Vancouver, BC was the best damn high five I ever received! Amazing show!

That was fun. I love Van City! Grainville is so chill.

Who are your biggest inspirations when it comes to producing music?

I'd say Opeth are my biggest inspirations musically as far as song writing and composition. Above and Beyond are really influential as far as the sounds I like to use and the textures.

I really like your Worlds Apart piece!!! What speakers do you have?

Dynaudio BM5a MKii's

I LOVE THEM.

Hi Jeff! Today is my birthday and I just wanted to say that I'm really looking forward to seeing you perform in Boise on the 7th and again at Paradiso! You're one of my all time favorite producers. Anyways, my question is who is your favorite Game of Thrones character?

Cheers! Happy Bday!

Can't wait for Paradiso! Have you been before? I hear its an awesome venue. My favorite GoT Character is either Ary or John Snow. Least would be Daenerys (thats gonna cause some heat)

When you came to London last November with Krewella, completely unannounced, that was pretty much the coolest most awesome surprise I've ever had in my 10 years of going to gigs. (You fucking stole that show by the way, apologies for the lame London crowd)

I wanted to come find you and chat about folk metal and Mikael Akerfeldt and shit but the bouncer wouldnt let me outside with a full pint :( so i guess my question is:

How does being a full on metal head affect you as such an active member of the dance community? do people take the piss out of your style or taste in music? Who would win in a circle-headbang battle between you and Jahan?

Dude!

That show! If you thought that was cool I really can't wait to come back and do another one. I was feeling pretty off that night but I tried to not let it show. We had just been in India and I was sick as a dog from the Malaria medication we had to take.

I think there are a lot of metal heads in the dance community, producers included, I just really let it influence my music and my shows while other don't as much. Between me and Jahan? I think we would turn the stage into a vortex of hair and sweat demolishing the venue and plunging the world into 666 of darkness, so we were careful not to do that on tour.

Hey Jeff!!! So excited that you are doing this AMA.

I've seen you live twice now, once back at Red Rocks Global Dance last year (I couldn't believe that you were on the mini-stage, you were the reason I went!), and again at club Beta in Denver last month! You signed my friend's flag that night at Beta and that was pretty much the most amazing thing that has happened to our concert group, she screamed so loud when you grabbed it out of the pile of people rushing the stage to get stuff signed. We seriously worship your music. Thank you for the good times.

What are you currently working on that you are the most excited about?

What track of your own that is your personal favorite/are you the most proud of?

When are you going to do a Red Rocks show on the main stage?!

Either way hope to see you back in Colorado ASAP!!!

Red Rocks!!! That was such a fun night! It was the sundown set so being up on the high stage was fine with me. My parents came out from FL to see that show so it was a good night in general.

I've got quite a few new songs (instrumentals) near completion and just working on getting the write vocals. This is one of the most exciting parts for me because I love working with vocalists.

I'd say Tyven is probably the song I am most proud of. Also Keep It Close.

I would LOVE to play Red Rocks again. Hopefully this year sometime :)

Whats it like being on OWSLA and getting to work with skrillex?

Pretty rad. They are really about the family vibe. Its more a group of friends than anything. They are also really open to being experimental and down to help their artists get across their vision, even if it is against the grain. Serpent of Old is a really good example of that.

I just want you to know I almost cried when I found out your show in Boston was 21+ I'm only 5 months away... I literally tried every possible solution to try to get into that show hahaha.

Sorry about that :/

Its never my call. If I could make ALL my shows 18+ with no bottle service I would be fucking stoked.

Hey Jeff! Just wanted to start off by saying I can't wait to see you tomorrow night in Austin, TX! I'm so excited...

okk questions:

1. I've noticed that you are a big fan of Above & Beyond (Honestly you and A&B are my top favorite artists :D ), but I was wondering what other trance artists you like to listen to?
2. What synthesizer do you like to use for your super saws specifically, or does it vary? *3. How do you make you drums, eq wise, layering, etc. Do you make you own samples?
3. What was it like working with Myon & Shane 54?
4. And can you pleaseeeeee play She Was at Republic Live? :D

Thanks a lot, and keep up the awesome tunes. See ya on friday! -John

1. A&B are my favorites as well. I got into the music listening to the old Tiesto In Search of Sunrise mixes. I also like Ferry Corsten and Gareth Emery quite a bit. Super8 & Tab as well.
2. Sylenth is usually the "root" supersaw but I layer a shit load of stuff. I do make my own drum one shots (kick/snare) often I get criticized for using the same snare too often but I dont really care because why fix something that isnt broken. There's only a few other people who have my snare because of colabs M&S54 is one of em :)
3. Mario is a great dude. He taught me a shit load of stuff about 4 on the floor music. Especially about making and tuning kick drums.
4. I would love to but I really don't play that track out do to the "too funky for a crowd of ravers" factor. I've dont it a few times and then all the sudden it starts looking like a high school dance.

Thanks John!

Edit: sorry for the wall of text with no question :p

Hello sir!

I absolutely love everything you've done. Your music hits me in a way very few other artists are able to, a truly deep, emotional impact that at times can be a bit much. I've always been more rational than emotional as a person and therefor tend to bottle up or ignore my more intense emotions outside of happiness/excitement. While this worked for a time, I eventually noticed the toll of not dealing with how things had made me feel, i.e. emotions boiling over when I wouldn't want them to, basically forcing me to feel a strong (usually negative) emotion. Getting too mad at a small slight or panicking overmuch about a minor problem or despairing too greatly over some insignificant issue. After realizing this, and just sort of figuring out/working on myself a little more, I eventually became slightly more able to healthily deal with things, although part of that was just more skillfully bottling things up. I recently have lost some family of varying degrees of closeness, and found that while it was definitely hard and one of the saddest things I've had to deal with, I didn't find I was too affected by it. Then even more recently my dog died, and while I had had another family dog when I was young, she died before I could form any real bond with her. My parents live in NC with the dog and I am in VA, so I hadn't seen her but for trips down there every couple months over the last 3-4 years. I knew she was getting on in age and eventually this would happen, but I intellectualized it to the point of triviality and felt I was prepared. Well I got the call, and with the family deaths still hiding in my more recent memories, I had to sit down. I was speechless. My dad said she was acting funny and they took her to the emergency vet and came to the conclusion she had to be put down. There were some operations that could be done, but they were risky and any additional time they would give would be far too short for any real worth. I was at work at the time but about to get off, so I kept my composure as I prepared to leave, got out of there and started driving home. Worlds Apart had just come out and I had already listened to all 5 songs dozens of times, but as I started driving before I knew it I was starting it from Don't Leave once again. I started tearing up remembering all the good times with my dog, and the sounds coming from my car stereo seemed to gently surround and embrace me in the reassuring way of one person comforting another. And the words stopped being words...the words were hard, but in the most perfectly necessary way. And people can say what they want about electronic music, "it's just noise" "it sounds like Transformers fucking", but nothing in this world could have helped me the way that song did in that moment.

Then Worlds Apart came on.

I have taken this song into me in a way that I have only done with a handful of others. These are songs that I heard at a crucial point, that so perfectly fit into a moment in time that simply hearing the song later can send me right back into that moment. The way the song begins so quietly, and then Kerli starts singing like some kind of wounded angel, and the drums...everything about this song perfectly translated my emotions into language I could understand and in that moment I cried harder than I ever had in my entire life. Like I said I never really dealt with emotions and as I became a teenager I cried less and less until I just sort of stopped. Sure, things would make me sad/mad/etc but crying was just not a response to those kinds of things anymore. In that moment, after the first earth-shattering drop, I let it all out. Years of bottled emotion flowing full force. I could barely see the road and my face was soaked. I finally made it home and had to sit my car for a few minutes to regain my composure before going inside. Ever since that night, whenever I listen to Worlds Apart, a sensation comes over me that I have learned to relish. It is a feeling of true happiness, unencumbered by hidden sadness, that I have only felt in the absolute best moments of my life. All from one song, and the moment in which it helped me to fully embrace the human side of my being.

I don't actually have a question, I just wanted you to know that your music truly, truly does have an effect on people, or even just this person, but an effect so profoundly beneficial and magnificent that it changed me for the better. I mean it when I say I love your music, and simply wish to thank you for what you have done and what you will do. You're doing it right sir!

(also stop by VA/DC/MD area sometime soon! I unfortunately missed you last time around)

<3

I can't tell you how much that means to me. Early on in my life I had some things happen to me that really shook me to the core and made it really hard to connect with people. I became extremely emotionally detached at a young age. I know how deeply music can make someone feel. I'd be lieing if I said music never brought me to the point of tears. The most emotional I ever was in most my life was when I was listening to music alone. Hearing that from you makes it feel really full circle and gives me such happiness that I can be a part of that experience for you. I really appreciate you taking the time to write this. So much love :)

First off, Days to Come is the most beautiful piece of music I've heard in a long time and it is mine and my girlfriend's song.

If you could be ANY Game of Thrones character, who would you be? I'm torn between The Hound and Jon Snow

Hmm... Probably Jon Snow, but that vow of celibacy... Dang, so many babes in Westeros.

Huge fan Jeff!

Quick question, I live in Austin and I know you're having a show here tomorrow. What's the first thing you check out when you get here? Also I know we have a bunch of places that people like to check out to eat, what's your favorite place so far here in Austin? Thanks!

Good luck on your show, I won't be able to come but I've seen you a few time already so it's all good.

Tritonal is from Austin so last time I was there we went out to dinner at a place really close to the venue. It was AWESOME but I don't remember the name. I'll hafta hit up Chad and find out. When I get to a city I usually look for a good Guinness pub. I like pubs. Makes me feel at home.

Alright I just want to start by saying I fuckin' love you and your music. Your remix of You Got To Go entirely changed my tastes in music. The only thing i can really think of asking is if this is still a thing? please ;-;

P.S. The Worlds Apart EP is amazing. I seriously think it's impossible for me to dislike anything you make

It is for sure still a thing!

I think collaborations for me are really really tricky because I am such a control freak. The M&S54 colab took forever as well but nobody knew because we didn't talk about it publicly.

If you weren't a sick ass producer and dj, what would you be doing? Other dream jobs? .. plz come to edc :P

I'd love to do sound design for video games or movies. If it was non sound related I think I would open a BBQ restaurant :)

Hey Jeff, How old were you when you started producing?

I started messing around with FL studio when I was 17 or 18. Didnt REALLY get into it until 20ish and that was 7 years ago.

without giving too many spoilers, could you show us what a typical song looks like for your in your DAW? I'm just super curious as a dude who records all the time. Me and a bunch of my friends consider you the very best, so keep it up man.

Its fairly organized. If you are familiar with FL its pretty clean. Tons of comped audio.

Please man, how do you get those pads to be so full and beautiful?

Layers! Try using more than one synth too :)

Hi! Like everyone else here I am a HUGE fan of your work. Keep doing what you're doing!

I remember reading in an interview of yours that you are a big fan of metal, especially Opeth. That made me really happy, because I'm a huge fan of them as well.

So, two questions:

1) What's your favorite Opeth track?

2) How does your appreciation of metal influence your music writing process, if at all? Do you deliberately incorporate anything indicative of metal styles into your own style or are you trying to do something completely different?

Thanks!!

1. Such a hard question... Demon of the Fall, Moonlapse Vertigo, Still Day Beneath the Sun. Top 3 will hafta do :P
2. The Running to the Sea remix had some really overt metal influences. She was also does with the drumming esp. I always think about it when working on broken beats but sometimes it isn't so obvious.

BURNING QUESTION: What is the trick to getting a full, good, professional, legit-sounding track? Is it all in the mix or is there some kind of mastering technique?

Oh, and additive or subtractive synthesis?

Its for sure not the mastering. Although mythbusters have proven you can polish a turd, its not true in the audio world. Its all about the mix, there are lots of ways to get it sounding good. High and low passing pretty much everything can really help clean up the mix. Using all different kinds of synthesis especially when layering can really help fill out your sound. Don't just stick to one synth!

Thanks for coming to NYC last Summer. I had my birthday celebration at Webster Hall with a bunch of friends.

1. What direction do you see yourself taking your career in the coming years?
2. Do you see yourself making music as a life long career?
3. What's your favorite snack?

See you Monday at Governor's Island!

Webster Hall was NUTS... That show was the hottest sweatiest shows I've ever played. So much fun!

1. Thats always a tough question. Musically I will be doing a lot more vocal tracks. I've always been into vocal songs and not I have the resources to work with really great vocalists so that will be the direction.

2. Maybe not as a career, hopefully I will go back to doing it as a hobby again one day. Music for me is therapeutic and really something I've done all my life. I can't wait til the day I can lock myself in my studio for a year and just get back to what I love.

3. Almonds and Beef Jerky :)

Do you ever play She Was live? Saw your thrice already and I'm wondering if I'm just being extremely unlucky! Keep up your good work, your latest EP is out of this world!

I did once and it really didn't go over well AT ALL. haha. Its a bit too funky for a bigger room to get down to. If it was a smaller day time party I would totally play that track. I've noticed even break beats are a bit too funky for the average club/festival crowd. Gotta bring back the funk.

How did you link up with Viper Recordings, seeing that I've hardly seen stateside artists that have releases on UK labels. Any plans for some drum n bass in the future? Also, the second buildup on Keep It Close is one of the biggest teases I've heard in dance music in recent memory, kind of camo n krooked like. Wish you would have extended it just a bit!

I sent Brendan a demo after hearing some of the dubstep they were putting out. It was a long shot but after I won that remix competition of You Gotta Go it really helped out. I don't think I would do straight up DnB but I have been working on something at that tempo ;)

As far as Keep it Close, that was the point! As the last song on the EP I wanted it to build into oblivion.

Hi Jeff,

I've been a big fan of your productions since a fist came across one of your songs ages ago. And was blown away when I heard your ultra set from last year, so I was super excited when to see you at your tour stop at Royale in Boston a few months ago.

My question is in regards to your mixing, because it appeared to myself and several other people at the club you where playing a recorded set and I was hoping you could shed some light on that.

Like I said I was really impressed by a lot of what you did in your ultra set and was really curious to see how you did it live but after watching from the front for fifteen minutes or so and taking to a friend in the lighting booth it appeared most of your transitions happened without you touching any of your equipment/mixer or headphones at all.

I really don't like to be that guy pointing fingers, but it's bugged me since the show.

Interesting. I don't really know how to respond to that. I use an X1 with custom mapping. I definitely don't pre record my sets but I do know the transitions before they happen. TBH I rarely need headphones because I have cue points set and I can visually see where I am in both tracks (although I try not to look at my laptop that much). I do use them every now and then to make sure the tracks are lined up properly.

I don't know how to prove it to you other than making a mistake while mixing.

Hi Jeff!!! I love your music!! I worship you!! I got 2 questions : 1. Any online mastering service can you recommend? 2. Every producer wants their track to be listened including me, is there any chance for you to open for submissions?

Sorry my English sucks so much

1. I've never gone to an online mastering service. I used to have my good friends from Birds of Paradise do it and now the label or my mgmt usually find the right person for the job.
2. At this point I don't open a whole lot of demos because I am rarely on the search for new music but one of these days when I start a label I would devote way more time to searching for new talent :)

Hey Jeff thanks a lot for doing this AMA, was there a certain point where you felt your music's production level, individuality, and overall catchiness began to rise above that of your peers', and that it led to your current success? Sorry that this question kinda requires a conceited answer.

Huge fan of all of your work, I will be at your next show in the DC area!

I don't think many artists think that the music they create is better than their peers. Once someone things their art is the best out there (music or otherwise) they will stop growing and pushing themselves. I still wish I could make my songs fatter and cleaner and have more emotional impact, I don't think that will ever go away.