- G.A.S. Newsletter
- Posts
- 102 - Xácome
102 - Xácome
Giannis Kampiotis
August 11, 2023
Artist Interviews 🎶 Studio Tours 🎛
Hello music people 👋
Today in the spotlight, Xácome
Coming from Spain, he lives and breathes music. His father record collection was a strong influence on him. Now, he makes music while running music related businesses 🎶
Studio
Gear List
You can support G.A.S. Newsletter
If you’re enjoying these studio tours & the interviews, chances are your friends will enjoy them too. Help me reach more readers, and grow this community, by sharing this issue:
Interview
Who are you and what is your relationship with music?
My relationship with music goes back to my father's vinyl collection. Since I was a little kid, I listened to artists like Vangelis, Brian Eno, and Jean-Michel Jarre at home, and they somehow became the soundtrack of my childhood.
As for the present, music has become a way for me to experiment, to play in an infinite schoolyard. I currently live in Madrid, and my studio is located in one of the most popular neighborhoods of the city: El Rastro.
Music is an important part of my monthly income. In addition, for over 15 years, I've owned two online stores and a Cashless NFC company for festivals, which also contribute to my personal economy. I love everything I do, and I can't give up on anything.
Which piece of equipment in your studio is essential to your production process?
In the studio, I can't live without the Microcosm Effects Pedal by Hologram. This tool is essential to me and gives any sound magical textures. I use it a lot for transitions.
What is the least expensive piece of gear that gave you the most results?
Here's another effects pedal that only costs $40, it's called "Flamma Ekoberv," and when combined with the Behringer Model D, it achieves authentic sonic fantasies.
Walk us through your process for creating and producing music.
I've actually stopped creating music for record labels. Now, I do it just for the pleasure of creating, improvising, and synchronizing with new machines and synthesizers. Every time I enter the studio or perform live at a club, it's all about improvisation.
Currently, all my compositions start by searching for a sub-bass that is barely audible in the final mix, but greatly enhances the sound of my improvisations and leaves room for other bass frequencies.
From there, I work on energetic and bouncy beats. Long and trippy drops are very important to me.
How would you describe your style?
I would say that my personal style as an artist explores serious and mischievous sounds equally, sometimes sounding Disco, other times House, and often Techno.
What is a big challenge you have as an artist?
One of my challenges as an artist is to be in complete harmony with all the hardware elements of my setup, constantly understanding what's happening, why it's happening, and manipulating it in the way I want.
This can be achieved by dedicating many hours of work.
Has building a hardware setup changed your perspective on music or life in general?
Of course.
I used to play in clubs as a DJ more often. Now, I prefer to do it only once or twice a month and have more time for my studio.
One tip on how to spark creativity?
Something that helps me a lot is taking my studio to houses in the countryside for extended periods. Recently, I did it for six months in Sierra Nevada, Granada, and this summer I'll do it for several months in Galicia.
A book, movie, article, or album that has inspired you?
Undoubtedly, one of the great sources of inspiration for me is the sound of Madrid, through Rastro Live, a YouTube channel of which I'm a founder.
In the past two years, we've done over 500 DJ and artist streams from the city, which have served as both a source of learning and inspiration for me.
Where can people find more of your music and connect with you online
In Case You Missed It
For jams, knob-twists and pad hitting videos go to G.A.S. Instagram
Do you know someone who would like this email? Forward it to them 📤💗
As a means to support G.A.S. Newsletter, affiliate links might be included in the issue. If you make a purchase through them, I get a commission with no extra cost to you.
Giannis @giannis.kampiotis
Join the conversation