Big Ideas and Brilliant Sounds: Eight Standout Features and Videos from 2021

We find so much inspiration from artists, tutorials and other creative ideas over the course of a year, it’s hard to keep track, and impossible to pick favorites. But since ’tis the season for end-of-year roundups, we thought we’d better give it a go. So check out these highlights from the last 12 months on the blog that have really opened our eyes and stuck in our minds. 

KMRU: Spaces

Travelling from his childhood roots to where he lives now, Nairobi-born, Berlin-based artist KMRU took us through his approach to location-based field recording in the short film Spaces, which premiered during the Loop Create event in June. 

Watch the film >

Arushi Jain

Channelling the intricacy of Indian classical ragas through modular synthesis and digital production, Arushi Jain told Nyshka Chandran about her twin passions for music and computer science, and how they inform her work today.   

Check out the interview >

Creative Sound Design with Live 11’s Hybrid Reverb

Among the many new features in Live 11, Hybrid Reverb is a deep device with all kinds of applications, which Slynk demonstrated in this illuminating video by making textured basslines out of tonal decays and experimenting with custom impulses.  

Learn new tricks > 

Made in Ableton Live: Afriqua

The Made in Ableton Live series continued to show us how artists put a track together, with Afriqua in particular building a simple Rhodes lick up into a summery jazz funk track brimming with improvised melodies captured on the fly. 

See Afriqua at work >

Extended Sounds by Modeselektor

Modeselektor went above and beyond when they created their Extended Sounds Pack, loaded with sounds and devices straight from their studio. Download this specially crafted production toolkit and learn more about it in the accompanying interview.  

Get the Pack >

One Thing: Maya Shenfeld

The One Thing series is full of illuminating ideas for music-making and experimentation. Maya Shenfeld offered an especially interesting suggestion based around harnessing harmonic overtones as the starting point for a new composition. 

See how she does it >

Kaelin Ellis

A true product of the internet era, Kaelin Ellis has a huge following for his online production tutorials, as well as being highly in-demand for his eclectic brand of beats. Daniel Krishnan connected with the Orlando-based polymath to find out more.

Check out the feature >

Download the Live Set of Jamaica Suk’s “Dream Delusions”

As a leading light in the modern techno scene, Jamaica Suk has a unique approach which draws on her background in experimental rock bands. She shared the Live Set for her track “Dream Delusions” to show just one of the many approaches she takes to her music. 

Download the Live Set >