Hiya Arthur, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
Thanks for joining us today… Tell us bit about where you are from and how you got into music?
Thanks. I grew up just west of Denver, and music was at first a pass time hobby that turned into an obsession. I was really into piano, but I played violin for quite a while.
It’s been an off-and-on deal for me for years. Lately I’ve been getting back on it, and this new direction has opened a lot of possibilities. It’s sort of open-ended. I see the goal, and I see the many different ways I can get there.
Tell us more about the live music scene in Denver.
I know there are plenty of well-regarded DJs in the area. The club scene is more active than before, although I’m not really attached to a scene.
And if you love the kind of gritty, raw emotion of personal music, walk down the 16th Street Mall. Some artists were discovered there and have built a career from it.
Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
Anyone interested in the Denver music scene should tune into Indie 102.3, there’s plenty of great folk and indie music from that station.
What are your ambitions for your music?
Each release teaches me something I wish I had known for the last one. I’m still experimenting a lot, so I’ve restricted myself to streaming platforms for the time being.
But I do have plans, more so about how I produce a song. I want to reach the point that I can use multiple instruments (like a drum machine and synthesizer) simultaneously, for a more organic feel.
Whats your favourite social media platform to use and why?
I haven’t really branched out to social media, yet. Being relatively new and unknown, I think I have a long way to go until I try to establish a social media presence.
We believe it’s essential to have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and X to introduce yourself to all the different types of audiences out there, what’s your thoughts on that?
I think they’re great for branding. Especially for niche music. You get to see exactly what people like (or dislike), and why.
I think people listen to my songs right now because I offer background noise. In time, I want to expand.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
I’m constantly impressed by the improving sound quality. Music from five years ago sounded insanely good, but in retrospect they have an older quality. I think the industry is outpacing itself.
The trend recently for the 90s sound shows we still have some nostalgia for it. That’s where I stand. I grew up in the 90s, listening to popular dance songs from that generation.
Today, everything is so clean. I really miss the raw impact music used to have.
Whats your thoughts on AI generated music?
It’s a mixed bag. While some people have exploited it to scrape pennies from Spotify, others are using it to explore or enhance their capabilities. There’s a future for it, we just haven’t found it yet.
Whats the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
Just how much I still have to learn. I’m always comparing myself to better artists, and I’ve definitely learned to work under my own limitations.
What’s currently in your ears and on rotation at the moment?
I had a psytrance phase recently. Then I shifted to softer music, generally anything lofi. There’s a lot to be discovered in some of the downtempo or tribal arenas, and I have a deep love for ambient.
I might have ADHD. I’m bouncing back and forth between styles. Sometimes I’ll go back to the beginning, and notice every grit and texture from the older songs, then get sick of it.
The new stuff is cool, too. I just think we’ve sort of lost our touch with passion and have become increasingly dependent on perfect tones as opposed to beautiful structures.
Got any fun, funny stories from life on the road?
Honestly, I don’t go out much. Not that I’ve ever been a social guy, but I spend time at night lying in bed, thinking of the awkward things I’ve said during conversation for the sake of carrying the conversation.
Watching people’s reactions to me can either be hilarious or terrifying, and I know I make a bigger deal of it than it really is.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
Like I said, I learn something new that I wish I’d known for the last release. My earlier stuff had such muddy low end, only because I tried to sound like what I was listening to. There are some EPs I want to release, and they’re much lighter, a lot airier.
What was the recording process like?
I make a lot of bold choices. I’m insecure about it. I know what I want to do, and I know what I like.
Sometimes I just use my phone speaker to record an atmosphere, and see if it enhances the sort of degraded, lofi quality I strive for.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Definitely. Earthrise is one I feel like I rushed. At some point I was going to wash it over with reverb and delay, but the song is about space. Space is a sterile environment, and I instead made the song as sterile as possible.
Listening to it again, I feel either a sense of cringe or inspiration depending on my mood.
It taught me to trust my instincts a little more.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
My end goal is to share. If the world likes it, cool. I write music out of passion. For anyone who wants to enjoy some music just to enjoy it, then I think I’ve accomplished my goal.
FOLLOW ARTHUR HERE
🇺🇸 FOR MORE NEW MUSIC NEWS FROM THE USA CHECK OUT RGM USA 🇺🇸