Q+A: Five minutes with iFeature

 

iFeature is a multi-talented artist known for their genre-blurring music and their hands-on approach to every aspect of the creative process. ‘Told Myself’ is his latest self-made masterpiece, showcasing his exceptional skills in music production, visual art, and promotion. Releasing on September 22nd, the track features an eclectic blend of rock, hip-hop and drum & bass. Pulsating with energy, its a track that evokes a wide range of emotions, from uplifting and aggressive to dark and introspective. We took some time out to speak to the enigmatic musician on all things music, life and creativity.

 

Pre-save ‘Told Myself’  HERE

 

Set the tone for us. Why the arts?

 

I would like to give people everything that I have experienced and processed, whether good or bad things. I want to help people in a therapeutic way when they listen to my music. I use music production as my therapy.

 

We love the gargantuan, wobbling, pitching production and sound design on ‘Told Myself’. What software or gear did you use?

 

I use Ableton Live 11 as my “DAW” where I love to create every sound from scratch, for the sounds I use all effects in ableton and external plugins. I love the fab filter bundle eq etc.. , Xfer Serum from Steve, Phase Plant from Kilohearts. I use my Shure sm7b/Neumann TLM 103 for Vocal recording. I got a big Windows Tower at home and a Macbook Pro 14 for traveling.

 

Did you play the guitar on ‘Told Myself’ too?

 

The Guitars are half self recorded and the other half with a Sample Guitar from the plugin “Kontakt” Layered to make it thicker. Also recorded some extra foley on top of it.

 

Walk us through your creative process. What’s a day like in the studio?

 

The best way I start a song is, start to play on the piano a melody and then in my head it starts to click and i have the full song in my head and then i hum the melody out, this is what i call a lightning idea. There is a second option where i go experimental and start with the drums first and synthesize everything like, drums then the basses and then layer it with self recorded foley stuff i have my tascam recorder for that or my shure sm7b mic. Little note: I start mostly with the Chorus/Drop all the time, makes it easier for me to structure. But I’m never shy to start in a different direction.

 

What was the thought process behind merging hip-hop, pop, rock and drum & bass for ‘Told Myself’?

 

It just came to my mind cause I heard a lot of different genres when i was a kid and my brain is mixing all of these genres together.

 

We heard you wanted to be behind the very artistic aspect of this release. Can you walk us through that?

 

I always say I’ll write lyrics into the future…. which sounds completely crazy, a friend of mine passed away when he was 23 and I wanted to get him out of the devil’s circle but it was too late. This track describes it.

 

Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”?

 

When I got my first Launchpad mini with the 64 Grid, I got in contact with the DAW ableton and I realised that I can make real songs with this program. Since then I couldn’t stop learning it and I swear to myself I wanna learn every aspect of audio engineering and go really deep into the material.

 

Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea?

 

It is mostly the Idea but could be through experimenting the sound

 

What’s on your current playlist?

 

Don’t have any.

 

Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.

 

The moment is just magical the energy is crazy, i go crazy when im live cause i’m just full of happiness

 

What do you keep close by while you’re playing a set?

 

The thought that people came to see me makes me super happy! And they know that they’re gonna have a great time.

 

Any emerging artists on your radar?

 

just alex, Comusal, Vhami, Thouflo, JJL, Buffasyze, Aeon Greyh, TMPR

 

What gets your creative juices flowing?

 

My stamina, energy and assertiveness

 

How have you refined your craft since you entered the industry?

 

I watch the market, the people, and I love to make mistakes, that’s where I learn the most. I have been in the industry for 8 years and I refine my art every day.

 

Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?

 

You can always see good development from me and a lot of music that I am working hard on and perfecting. Keeping you posted on Instagram or on my Community Discord.

 

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