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