Read the Downlowd Interview below and share it on social media.
Please tell our readers who you are and what you do?
I'm Downlowd. I produce electronic music that some consider to be cinematic or story driven. You might have recognized me. I'm a comic book character with a computer for a head and an 8-bit face… that's the animated version of me, at least.
Each track that I'm currently releasing is episodic in my namesake character's timeline, progressing his story from song to song. It's a concept, if you will.
With Downlowd, I'm attempting to embody the marriage of animation, storytelling, and electronic music.
You can find out more about me by following my story.
SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/downlowd
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/downlowdhere
How would you describe your influences and how have they changed over the years?
I grew up listening to rock music (classic rock, 90's alt, grunge, post hardcore, punk, pop punk) and started my first band when I was ten or eleven. We played around with different lineups playing with the pop punk post hardcore sound. Our bass player passed away when I turned sixteen and that kind of ended the band for all of us.
From that point, I kind of developed this perverse interest in dance music. I never wanted to be at home in my teens- so I ended up finding myself at the club quite a bit. My first dance music event was Benny Benassi at Club101 in El Paso, then I saw Infected Mushroom, Kaskade, Steve Aoki, Deadmau5, Booka Shade, Sasha, and a whole slew of other artists that honestly still inspire me to this day.
Artists from back then that really inspired me included a legion of blog haus artists, dudes like Dirty South, TVRock, Lazy Rich, Sander Kleinenberg, and James Zabiela really got me interested in electronic music.
When I went to college, Skrillex was kind of on the come up, and from there it's just been madness ever since, I guess. The entire scene is in a way different place than it used to be, today. Back when I first got in to dance music, it was something bizarre and obscure- like when I was in high school in El Paso all I wanted to do was play music at parties, but nobody wanted to listen to dance music- it was all pop, rock, and rap… These days, I see the same kids that were telling me to turn that whack shit off taking pics at Nocturnal, so go figure. I'm mostly really happy more people are catching on. Electronic music really is unity.
My taste hasn't changed so much over time as it's just grown and expanded. Those artists that I used to enjoy way back when are still definitely a part of me today.
What´s new right now?
I just released a new track, which is the third episode in Downlowd's saga, called "Enter The Maze", complete with a new chapter for you computerheads to gobble up. Also stoked to be gearing up to release my next EP 'Origins', that chronicles Downlowd's origin story at the end of March! As far as shows, I'll be opening for Feed Me and Angelz at ExchangeLA on the 23rd of February, which is going to be really special. In March I'll be heading to Austin for some selected dates at SXSW. You can find more information about all of that stuff via my social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or my website www.IAmDownlowd.com.
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”Sure” condition=”is” value=”Sure”]
Are you a superfan of anyone? How did you become a superfan? Do you remember how you become a fan and what turned you into super fan? Have you ever thought about why you´re such a fan?
If you know me, you know I'm a huge fan of Walt Disney. I went to Disneyland a couple of times as a kid, with my parents, which really seeded an interest in storytelling for me. To this day, I go as often as I can. I'm friends with a lot of the people there. I think beyond anything, the power of a great story is inconceivable. When you strip away everything from this world as we know it and we're all just sitting around campfires being the most basic human beings, we'll still have our stories.
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”Yes” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
What was the biggest mistake you made when you started making music and what would be the number one tip you could give to a newcomer musician?
Oh dear God I have so many of these… Don't rush things, have faith in yourself, and have faith in the process. If you're persistent and around, things can start to happen. Also don't be an asshole. You'll know when you need a manager and an agent so don't go seeking them out. Let everyone find you…
Also never ever stop practicing or dreaming… or practicing on your dreams… and never ever stop dreaming of practicing of doing that in your dreams.
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
How do you get gigs? Can you share any tips?
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
Do you have good promotion tips for other musicians?
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
Do you have insights on how to grow your audience on soundcloud that you want to share with our audience?
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”Yes” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
What has been your biggest challenge right now? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
I started this journey in around 2010, since then I've made a lot of bad decisions. My biggest challenge has been getting back on my feet after taking two separate breaks… What I've found, though, is that this business is pretty much a revolving door and the internet is basically a huge pile of information. Don't sweat the small stuff and do you… just do you and make the best content you can make. That's basically where I'm at right now.
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”Yes” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
How do you personally discover new music?
I discover new music through promo and stalking charts and recommended tracks… I also backlog and backup as much as possible. Don't delete tracks because you'll never know when you might need one for whatever reason.
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”Yes” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
Once you discovered new music, do you tell others about the new music/artist you discovered? If yes, how exactly?
“I generally will only do that with someone I'm really close with. I prefer to share my music in my sets.
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”Yes” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
What is your number one tip to improve your music production or songwriting skills?
I think being realistic with yourself is a huge part of being a successful producer. Take lessons when you feel like you hit a road block.
Going to school is great, but won't guarantee your success in an industry as fickle as the music business. It takes time and practice and a lot of pain to find your sound. Every tune feels like it's going to be the one… for some people, it is. I think most of the people I've met that have longevity as artists are just consistently working for volume and striving to make different sounding music… I think they view their tracks more like sku's than babies.
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”Yes” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
What is your best tip for those who struggle with finishing their tracks?
Get through the track and finish it. You don't want to develop a habit of having a billion unfinished tracks in production Hell… there's no quicker path to despair. Get the tune to a point where you're comfortable and finish it… That means no revisitation rights for at least six months (assuming nothing happens with the record), then at least if you do want to actually revisit it, you can do so with six months of new knowledge (hopefully you've been learning and practicing), and fresh eyes.
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”Yes” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
We meet again in one year. What has changed?
I'm superstitious. I make wishes at 11:11 and keep a whiteboard of goals for myself. I honestly kind of believe if you speak your goals out loud to too many people, you'll let all that slide.
We meet one year from today, I certainly hope to be a more exciting man than I am now.
[/gravityforms]
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”Yes” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
[/gravityforms]
http://www.soundcloud.com/downlowd
http://www.facebook.com/officialdownlowd
http://www.twitter.com/downlowdhere
http://www.instagram.com/downlowd
[gravityforms action=”conditional” merge_tag=”” condition=”is” value=”Yes”]
Enter your questions to the artist in the facebook comment section below.
[/gravityforms]