50 - Jon Benderr

Giannis Kampiotis
February 10, 2023

Hello music people 👋

Today in the spotlight, Jon Benderr

Coming from the United States, he's a real DIY guy. From MaxMSP to modules he has had his hand on everything. He is also a very creative person and shares his tricks with us 🎶

Read Time: 12 minutes 📰

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Interview

Who are you and what is your relationship with music?

Name is John Schoeneman. Artist name is Jon Benderr! I am in Chardon, Ohio.

I've been playing with synths, drum machines and audio software since I was 15 (1997). I've played in bands and have had many solo music projects.

I've also been using/learning computers/software in general since I can even remember, which I feel is important as the PC plays such a big role in how I do things now.

Music is a passion project and I have never made much money. That has never really been a goal except for maybe when I was much younger.

Which piece of equipment in your studio is essential to your production process?

Probably my Expert Sleepers ES-9 audio interface module. It's the main tool used to interface with my computer. It sends audio/CV in and out from Ableton and Max/MSP effortlessly.

Truthfully, the ES-9 is a big part of the reason I finally decided to jump into eurorack/modular. I wanted to be able to just sit down, wiggle and record with little to no fuss. I have channels pre configured and patched for the modular as well as hardware synths and a microphone all plugged in and ready to record.

Second to the ES-9 would probably be the Circuit Happy ML:2 (Missing Link 2). I've tried MANY different solutions for syncing/clocking the modular to Ableton Live. This little 2hp module beat all of them out. It takes advantage of Ableton's Link technology to receive clock wirelessly from Ableton Live and gives spot on timing.

What is the most budget-friendly piece of studio gear that gave you the most results?

I actually have a 50$ guitar I purchased off Amazon. It can't hold tuning past a single session, but I have gotten some really great shoegaze/post punk type sounds from it.

I could probably include Max/MSP as well. I have actually sold some patches and made at least enough money to cover the license cost, so everything I've created since is essentially free, aside from time spent.

Other than the modular, Max/MSP and the things I've built with it are some of the most important elements in my music process. The ability to create sequencers and noise machines that work EXACTLY the way you want is invaluable.

Walk us through your process for creating and producing music.

Usually, the first thing I do is un-patch everything that might still be patched from a previous session. I then sit on the floor and reorganize all cables by length. This might seem like a silly step to include, but I typically like to think about what I might try or get into once I start patching. This is something I ALWAYS think about, even when not in studio...but at this point is when real decisions are made.

Worth noting, it seems like the more I go in with a specific idea as far as "style", the less I enjoy the results. However, just a simple experiment of some sort usually kick starts something great, as I am not thinking about any specific end result.

After a lot of twiddling and patching, if I like what I hear/have a concept built, I will arm everything to record within Ableton Live and record loops of 8-16 bars. Then I might fiddle some more and record more loops. Then I might record some loops with live fiddling. Rinse and repeat.

After all is said and done, I end up with a big palette of loops and variation within Ableton Live's session view. Since all loops revolve around the same musical theme, I can then start arranging an actual song with the given material.

I may add other parts as well. Usually vocals. My other hardware synths. Anything that works or adds something nice and relevant without overdoing it.

I keep the compositions fairly basic and simple. Adding/subtracting parts at specific times. I'm usually going for a sort of weird "synth pop" thing, so simplicity works really nicely.

As far as mood and inspiration, that comes as a song develops. I usually always start with some weird experiment and the mood just happens. There are for sure some typical themes that come about.

What is a production technique that you always come back to?

Clock rotation/variation of an entire patch always results in some wild things. I pretty much ALWAYS try this in a patch. Sometimes it yields great results, other times not so much.

I also use a Robaux SWT-16+ which is a trigger sequencer I use for driving all my sequencers and drums. A real easy way to create fills and randomness is to use the random function (go figure). Have one primary/static pattern set, switch to another and just randomize all the triggers. Bounce back and forth.

So I rotate and manipulate the clock which drives the SWT 16+ which also has a bunch of randomness...it can result in madness. It can and does often get even crazier...that's just the tip of the iceberg.

How would you explain your style?

Slacker-retro-electro-synth pop with influence from a lot of darkwave/post punk/new wave. Little bits and nods to IDM/Braindance. Kind of stealing the "slacker" from "slacker rock".

It's not that I'm lazy with how I make music (not TOO lazy anyway). It's just more an attitude thing. There are artists doing these deep/thought provoking/hyper emotional things. I love all of it, but that's just not who I am. My music has meaning to me, I'm just not about going over the top about it. If I do, it's always kind of "tongue in cheek".

Music can be chill and fun and doesn't always have to be super serious or super cool. I would feel really insincere trying to make music like that myself.

What’s your biggest struggle?

I get pretty down on myself for not having more success or more of a following.

I try to level my head and be realistic, but I always have this sort of "personal hype train" that fires up when I release new music or projects, and when things don't live up to that hype, I get really bummed for awhile.

It always levels out after awhile, I just wish I could stop that entirely.

I do wish I could market myself better, but at the end of the day, I'm just a 40 year old nerd. Really weird sense of humor and imagination. Husband and father. None of this translates to "music superstar".

I don't even think I would want that. Seems like a lot of hassle and stress just to be considered a "successful musician" by everyday society.

While it is probably a lot of rationalization, I have really come to appreciate the small successes I have had. Even just a single compliment puts me over the moon.

When people just stumble into my world for a minute and enjoy themselves, it's amazing. It validates to me that the music I make is worth something to someone other than myself. It means I don't completely suck and shows more that I maybe just don't quite fit in anywhere.

I like that. I feel like that's enough when all is said and done.

Has building a hardware setup changed your perspective on music or life in general?

I actually really laid off and cut back on drinking specifically due to modular.

Studio time used to be a segue into "party" time. I knew Ableton Live so well and had developed so many little devices in Max/MSP and techniques that I could basically bust out jams in a few hours and make music practically blind. Could just setup and jam and make music without thinking (which is ok sometimes and very organic).

Hardware synths and specifically eurorack/modular made that impossible. Being intoxicated just doesn't allow for the type of thinking needed when patching.

Not only that, studio time just became more fun and beat out having a few beers. Spending 6-8 hours plugging away at something and ending up with this huge psychedelic wall of sound or weird and scattered IDM thing is so incredibly gratifying.

One tip on how to spark creativity?

Break habits and randomize things. (I suppose that's two, but sort of related.)

I would imagine there are probably people who view randomization as cheating. It's really not. There is actually some skill needed and a fundamental understanding for how music works in order to achieve good/useful randomization. Then you have to expand on that, which can be the real challenge.

Of course, if you are trying to break the habits of music in general, anything goes!

A book, movie, article, or album that has inspired you?

A Trip To Infinity (Netflix)

Anything else you'd like to say?

I have a new album out entitled "Simulation". You can find it on my Bandcamp page! Eventually I might get it up on streaming services!

Also, a few photos included are a bit dated. My modular setup has a big hole right now awaiting to be filled with my first DIY modular project (a BELA Pepper)!

I also want to say thank you very much for including me in this great concept! I feel like there are so many other small fries like myself out there with interesting things to share and it's great to be given an opportunity to do so!