Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Hey everyone! Luke from BasicallyER.com here, and I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Evan, known by his stage name Slynk. If you’re into funky glitch hop, you’re in for a treat! We chatted about his journey, his setup, influences, and even got a sneak peek into one of his tracks from his album “Front Yard Futon.”
Table of contents
- Who is Slynk?
- Influences and Musical Journey
- Slynk’s Equipment and Setup
- Software and Plugins
- Real Instruments in Digital Music
- Importance of Music Theory
- Workflow and Composition
- Common Mistakes of New Producers
- Inside “Inside”: A Deep Dive into Slynk’s Track
- Collaborations and Future Projects
- Video: SLYNK Interview – Glitch Hop Tutorial
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Who is Slynk?
For those of you who might not be familiar with him, Slynk hails from Australia but currently lives in Vancouver. He’s been in the music production game for over ten years and has been DJing for just as long. Initially, he started with drum and bass but transitioned to funk and glitch hop, developing a unique and infectious sound that has earned him a solid spot in the electronic music scene.
Influences and Musical Journey
Slynk’s journey is pretty interesting. He started out wanting to be a drum and bass DJ and producer, much like Luke, our host. His first gig at a cafe pushed him to explore other genres that were more suitable for that setting. This is where he stumbled upon funk, hip hop, and eventually glitch hop.
Some of the artists that influenced his style include:
- A Skills
- Featurecast
- Stickybuds
- Crafty Cuts
These names should ring a bell if you’re familiar with the funky glitch hop genre.
Slynk’s Equipment and Setup
Hardware
Slynk uses Ableton Live for his production. His monitoring setup includes a pair of Fostex PM-2 MKII speakers. These powered speakers are unique because they allow you to tweak the treble and bass, letting Slynk tailor his mixes perfectly.
He also uses a Korg MicroKey MIDI keyboard, which is a simple, no-fuss, three-octave keyboard with pitch and modulation wheels.
Talk Box
Slynk owns an MXR Talk Box, which he uses to create those signature funky sounds. He’s been improving his skills and even does a #TalkBoxTues on his Facebook page, where he shares his progress every Tuesday.
Software and Plugins
Go-to Soft Synths
Slynk primarily uses two soft synths:
- Massive: An essential part of his sound design.
- Serum: Great for high chord sounds and basses, offering more versatility than Massive.
Although he occasionally dabbles with Ableton’s Operator, Massive and Serum are his mainstays.
Real Instruments in Digital Music
One thing that sets Slynk’s music apart is its rich, organic feel thanks to real instruments. He collaborates with musicians like Father Funk for guitar parts and has friends like Cole and musicians in Portland who contribute horns and other instruments.
He often starts with samples as placeholders and then replaces them with recordings from real musicians. This adds an authentic touch to his tracks.
Importance of Music Theory
If you’re aiming to produce music like Slynk, understanding music theory is crucial. Many new producers focus too heavily on sound design and neglect the importance of chords, melodies, and progressions. According to Slynk, a well-placed simple sound can be more impactful than a complex sound design if it follows the right musical theory.
Learning Music Theory
- Understand Scales: Learn which notes belong to which key. It helps in making sure your melodies and harmonies are in tune.
- Analyze Songs: Try to play songs by ear to understand their chord progressions and melodies.
Workflow and Composition
Starting with Inspiration
Slynk advises against starting a track from a blank project. Instead, focus on creating elements like drums one day, a bass patch on another, and so on. When inspiration strikes, you can quickly pull these elements together.
Building a Song
For Slynk, a song often starts with drums or an interesting sample. This keeps the momentum and inspiration flowing, allowing for quicker and more creative arrangements.
Common Mistakes of New Producers
- Time-stretching Artifacts: Many producers misuse Ableton’s warping algorithms, leading to poor sound quality. Spending time learning these settings is crucial.
- Random Notes: Without understanding music theory, melodies can sound disjointed and off-key.
- Lack of Groove: Using straight beats can make music sound robotic. Learn to use the Groove Pool in Ableton to add swing and human feel to your beats.
Inside “Inside”: A Deep Dive into Slynk’s Track
Initial Melody and Chords
The track “Inside” starts with a strong, memorable hook. The idea is to create a melody that doesn’t heavily imply a specific chord progression, allowing for dynamic changes throughout the track.
Drums and Percussion
Slynk’s drums are punchy, thanks to a well-designed kick and snare. But the true character comes from his use of interesting percussion elements. He layers these to add texture and complexity to his beats.
Bassline and Hook
The bassline in “Inside” is made up of various sounds meticulously arranged to ensure each has its moment to shine. This involves panning, filtering, and automating effects like vibrato to keep things fresh and exciting.
Arrangement Automation
Automation in the track gives it a dynamic feel. For instance, Slynk uses vibrato sparingly to give a funky feel and employs automation on reverb to create a “breathy” stop-start effect during transitions.
Creating Chords
The evolution of the chord progression is a key part of the track. By changing the chords underneath a consistent hook, Slynk maintains listener interest while providing a sense of progression and tension.
Collaborations and Future Projects
Slynk often collaborates with other artists, both locally and from other places like Portland. These collaborations add a unique flavor to his tracks and push the boundaries of his sound.
Course and EP
Slynk has been working on an extensive tutorial series for Bassgorilla, where he creates a track from scratch in 20 videos, each about 20 minutes long. This series promises to be a treasure trove of insights and techniques for budding producers.
Additionally, he’s set to release a five-track EP titled “The Delighted People” and is also working on another project inspired by disco funk, featuring Father Funk on guitars.
Video: SLYNK Interview – Glitch Hop Tutorial
Conclusion
If you haven’t checked out Slynk’s work yet, head over to his SoundCloud, Facebook, and YouTube pages. His music is a masterclass in combining real instruments with electronic beats, making for tracks that are both danceable and musically rich.
Stay tuned for his upcoming releases and the Bassgorilla tutorial series if you’re serious about upping your production game. Here’s to more funky glitch hop from Slynk!
“Having the hook that stays relatively the same while you change the chord progression underneath is really interesting. Changes the energy.” – Slynk
Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow him on all platforms to stay updated with his musical journey. Happy producing!
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FAQs
Slynk, also known as Evan, is an Australian electronic music producer and DJ currently based in Vancouver. He has been active in the music scene for over ten years, transitioning from drum and bass to funk and glitch hop, creating a unique and infectious sound.
Slynk uses Ableton Live for production, along with Fostex PM-2 MKII speakers and a Korg MicroKey MIDI keyboard. He also incorporates an MXR Talk Box for his signature funky sounds and primarily uses the soft synths Massive and Serum for sound design.
Slynk collaborates with musicians, using real instruments to replace placeholder samples. This collaboration adds an authentic, organic feel to his music, with contributions from artists like Father Funk on guitar and other musicians providing horns and various instruments.
Slynk emphasizes the importance of understanding music theory, focusing on scales, chords, and melodies. He advises against starting projects from scratch, suggesting instead to create and store musical elements to pull together when inspiration strikes, and highlights the importance of mastering Ableton’s warping algorithms and Groove Pool.
Slynk is working on a comprehensive tutorial series for Bassgorilla and a five-track EP titled “The Delighted People.” He is also developing a project inspired by disco funk, featuring collaborations with Father Funk on guitars, showcasing his continuous evolution and experimentation in music.