54 - EFFYIS

Author

Giannis Kampiotis
February 24, 2023

Hello music people 👋

Today in the spotlight, EFFYIS

Coming from France, he discovered music in his early years. He picked up the bass guitar, played in bands but found it limiting. That is when he started making music, with gear, on his own 🎶

Read Time: 7 minutes 📰

Studio

Gear List

I like to keep my set up at that (I mean what I really need for my creativity to be flawless), and not go for a crazy collection.

I like the idea of a guitarist that creates beautiful pieces with just one guitar, cause he knows it so well.

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Interview

Who are you and what is your relationship with music?

I'm Nicolas aka EFFYIS, 30 years old, living in Paris.

Music came to me when I was like 7. My mom gave me this tape player with a record of an album of Art Of Noise. And by listening that I felt emotions that I never experienced, it was so strong. Crazy pictures came to my head, beautiful.

I had also this old Casio SA20, to play with, I just loved it.

Then everything started around 15, I started playing bass guitar, I loved it, the feeling, the vibration of the wood and the strings. I had a band, we did some gigs it was fun, but to me, creating music with other people was so limiting. So I started recording stuff on my computer (with my trusty Casio) and I understood how deep I could go..

So today I'm Barista in freelance. I'm doing a living with that only, I try not to overbook myself so that I have enough time and energy to invest.

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

To me it would be the Octatrack.

It's like my Ableton. I could replace any gear but this one. It makes all my creative process superfast. Like before I had it, I was literally scared that I would lose my ideas by the time I write it down or record it..

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

I think it would be my Korg Electribe. Cause it has drums, polyphonic synths, a nice filter, velocity pads, like everything you need to do a full track. You cannot go crazy complex cause it's just 8 voices and the sequencer wont allow you to go between the lines, but I composed a lot of sketches on that one that were really good.

Walk us through your process for creating and producing music.

So basically I know me, and to get something going on, I do need something to make me vibe.

So usually I start with a synth line from the Hydrasynth or the Roland JD08 that I sequence on the Octa. Then I will play with the patch to get something interesting, put some effects like reverb delay with my Oto Bim and Bam, then I would start writing some drums on the Digitakt or Rytm. After that go for a bass line on my Vermona or Rytm. The Vermona is sequenced on the Octa. I would probably record the audio of the synth line on the Octa, then add more synth lines to get some nice layering over it. I like to keep the drums and the bass live on the octatrack so that i can play with the filters and fx on other boxes.

So basically when I compose I keep in mind that this can be played live at some point, so I start this prep work, while I'm at the creating stage.

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

I always try to set my mind at something before starting a fresh blank project, like a feeling, a picture in my head, a texture.. and try to keep that in mind almost like a target all the way through.

How would you explain your style?

I can say that I'm in gravity around Deep House in general, but I know I'm not at all by the rules of this genre. It's interesting though how I always find it hard to answer that music genre question.

What’s your biggest struggle?

My main struggle is, like most artists I think, to put me more out there.

Cause something is slowing me down on that and I can't really put my finger on it. But for sure I'm working on that ! I try, everyday, to push further away my comfort zone.

But the first challenge was to learn that Octatrack ! You just need to give it time.

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

Yes definitely!

The fact that I have hands on control, especially with the Rytm with the pads, or other analog synths that have their sound changing all the time, it's like having a conversation with your gear. I had that feeling when I used to play bass guitar, like to vibe with the instrument.

Therapy kinda.

One tip on how to spark creativity?

I think the best tip is to take care of you.

The better you feel the better your creativity will be! Like drink water, eat, meditate, keep social media away for a while, take a nice walk.. And for sure to keep new challenge all the time, cause the point is always to go further, right?

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

Natural Boundary from Blue Veil. I'm in love with that EP. Beautiful blend of textures, tribe, organic, dark, pure..

Do you have a question in mind that you think I should have asked?

"Where is the computer?"

I really only use it as a tape recorder. I try to do the maximum of my mix into my gears when it's possible, so that I only have to do the mastering. And I try my best to record in one take.

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

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