SAF INTERVIEW w/2THL3SS

Back in the 6ix

1. You’ve moved back to Toronto after time on the West Coast—how’s the transition been, and has the change in environment affected your sound or workflow?

The transition has been good. I grew up around Toronto. It is nice to be back around here with family and friends I have not seen in a while after spending some time out on the West coast. 

overall the change has had a positive impact on my sound and workflow. I've had a good amount of time to work on music and practice my skills at producing and spinning tracks in my studio. 

Creative Heat

2. You’ve been on an insane streak lately with your production—what’s been fueling that creative fire?

Hey I appreciate it! I have been making a ton of tunes over the last couple years,  mostly in creative bursts, and usually for a few days at time. Sometimes multiple tracks in one day. I will make a few tracks then take a week or so break. 

Nature is a big inspiration for me and listening to live mixes, raves, music and art influences me as well. Were really blessed here in Canada to have an amazing underground electronic music scene from the maritimes to the rockies & we have a plethora of super talented artists  each having there own unique sound and style. 

3. You’ll be releasing music on the next Oz. EP—what can we expect from your track, and how did this collaboration come together?

Yes looking forward to the forthcoming Oz. release!! You can expect the track to have some nice 808s, Sub Bass, soulful vocal chops & some synconpated rhythms with lush pads and intricate samples.  

This collaboration came together from you (Omi) reaching out to me about a year ago. We have both released music through the Aeronema label. You featured my track "Run Around" on the SAF vol 2 compilation! More recently I sent a batch of tracks that you enjoyed, & Asked If Id be down to collab for the next OZ. release and I am super hyped for it! 

 Also when I  moved to Van and was following the safe as fuck instagram was planning on attending one of the raves. Unfortunately never got to go to one while I was living there, but hope to attend one in the near future   

The 160 BPM Zone

4. Your music often sits around 160 BPM—what is it about that tempo that clicks with you on a deeper level?

When I first heard the 160pm sound of Juke/ Footwork music it was around  2014. I instantly was hooked. Reminded me of the similar feeling to first hearing dubstep around 2010. Just instantly loved it and wanted to hear more tracks like it. 

I personally love how it blends elements from  jungle, drum & bass, soul, hiphop, trap, garage.  But has this high energy dancey vibe defintitely makes you want to move your feet.  

One the first footwork tracks I heard on a good sound system was a clams casino I'm god remix by P-80. I still bump that track in my sets to this day. 

I also started to make  a lot more 160 style tracks around 2015 - 2016 and I would say it became my main style of choice when making beats. Also gained some recognition through blogs such as JustJuke featuring a bunch of my early tracks on there weekly track compilations. As well as District 160, 160 blog & footwork fusion showing some support early on. 

Hearing Through the Noise

5. You’ve been open about dealing with tinnitus. How has that influenced the way you produce or listen to music now?

Yeah so with the hearing loss thing, It is a serious bummer. I now really try to limit how loud my listening levels are during producing and mixing. I now pretty much always got pair of earplugs with me if I am going to any event. 

I do wish I had taken a bit more precaution towards hearing protection in my adolescence and early adulthood. Earplugs and protecting your hearing  is no joke! 

Beyond 2thl3ss

6. Are there any other projects you’re working on that people might not know about yet—collabs, aliases, side hustles?

One of My other side project/alias Sweet Dreems  that was originally a concept of blending future bass sounds and footwork / juke under the hashtag futurefootwork was how James from Aeronema 

records found my music and reached out to get some of my tracks on there label. So I have released majority of my music through Aeronema under the Sweet Dreems alias. 

I am also in collaboration with my friend Bryce on the east coast we formed the duo "Plague Party" in 2017 and have been steadily producing music since then.  We just recently released a track with Bryce Kelly called Things That Stay. A metal rap track. I've Also collaborated with my friend & rapper ShawnTheDawg  we produced the track The Station together. 

7. Tell us about your other aliases—what do they represent, and how do they allow you to explore different creative angles?

Yeah so I have had a run of a few different aliases on soundcloud through the years each one  focusing more on a particular style or exploring a certain sub-genre of music. 

There was 4m4n1t4 mu5c4r14 which was more psychedlic juke music and dubstep, active through like 2014-2016

I used Dwindle which was all like  Lofi hiphop concept albums. 

Neptunus was all focused on Ambient music. 

Okalt was my alias for witch house & wave beats 

And Vaporfume my alias for my vaporwave era. 

but pretty inactive on most of them these days. 

Also some side hustles for me would be vintage clothing and sports memorabilia. 

The Lab

8. What does your current production process look like? Any particular software, hardware, or random gear you've been obsessed with lately?

My current  production process varies honestly. I will just get an idea or concept, sometimes I will start with a drum pattern or pad. Find a good vocal sample that works and when everything,  starts to flow well, I will get in a creative zone and usually get the whole structure of the track formulated. 

Then once I have got everything structured and sounding how I want it too. I will then go in and tweak EQ, effects, mix and master, all that jazz. I pretty much always finish the track within a couple of hours. Bounce it and never think about it again hahaha Jk. I run a super striped back minimal setup nothing crazy. laptop, FL studio, little Midi keyboard, and some decent monitors.

I just been using Vital alot as my main Vst.  I would like to get Serum 2 soon. I love vintage turntables and mixers. I have an old vestax mixer I found in the salvation army in Vancouver. So currently on the hunt for some vinyl platters and some CDJs

Tuned In

9. Who are some producers you’ve been really inspired by lately? Anyone pushing the envelope in ways you respect?

Some producers I really get inspired by lately,   like so many too list but heres a few for the 160 side of things...  DJ Manny Dj Earl, Dj Spinn, RPBoo, Traxman, & the whole teklife crew ,Anna Morgan, A.Fruit , Sucia , Sherelle, Machinedrum, 

Alix Perez, Glitch Mob, Ivy Lab, Oakk, Dj Paypal, Mall Music 

The whole Jungle fatigue crew and all the homies on aeronema and so many more! 

For like 140 Bass side of things shout outs to Deep Heads Jafu and crew DJ Sashwat with Dank N Dirty Dubz Truth's Deep Dark & Dangerous crew Wraz, Khiva, Metafloor, A hundred drums, Skream, Benga,  Deep Medi Crew and so many more.

Life Outside the DAW

10. What’s your current go-to comfort food or local spot now that you’re back in Toronto?

Right now my go to spot is sunnyside grill for all day breakfast. Nothing quite compares too Bons off Broadway breakfast though! the old east van staple ;)  I also love Knockout Chicken! Really Good!

11. When you’re not making music, what shows or movies have been in heavy rotation?

I really like alot of David Lynch's films And some tv series like twin peaks, the x-files and Mr robot. Also like a lot of Jodorowsky's films as well as Guillermo del Toro's work and his film Pan's Labyrinth. Kubrick & Tarantino films as well will usually be in rotation. 

The Message

12. What’s one thing you want people to feel when they hear a 2thl3ss track for the first time?

One thing I would hope the listener feels when listening to one of my tracks is a sense of euphoria and a feeling of energy that makes them feel good and uplifted. Music for me is all about bringing people together and creating a good vibe. An atmosphere where we can enjoy one another's presence & embrace each other's individuality through dancing all while listening to the music we love. 

Also just want to shout out everyone that supported my music since I started out back in 2012.  Safe As Fuck, Aeronema, JustJuke,District 160,160 Blog, Footwork Fusion, SiberNoize, Bassport.fm , Future Forest, Electric Pines, Relics & Body Language Festivals as well as the whole maritime rave scene. 

Cheers! :)

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