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57 - Johnny Gorillas

57 - Johnny Gorillas

Giannis Kampiotis
March 07, 2023

Hello music people 👋

Today in the spotlight, Johnny Gorillas

Coming from Germany, he has a background in piano and music education. He started producing music with a basic DAW in the 90s and hasn't stopped since 🎶

Read Time: 6 minutes 📰

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Interview

Who are you and what is your relationship with music?

My name is Jonas aka Johnny Gorillas and I'm a music producer from Germany.

I had piano lessons as a kid but was always more interested in improvisation and the sounds and rhythms of my small Hohner Keyboard. I still managed to study music somehow and I'm working part time as a highschool music teacher.

I started producing with a super basic DAW from the electronics store on the family computer in the 90s and haven't stopped since. A couple of years ago I started to dedicate one day of the week to create music and posted a video of a jam on Instagram every week for 2 years straight. It gained some attention and more importantly I learned a lot and started to produce full tracks again. I'm still doing the Insta thing but unfortunately I don't have enough time to post weekly anymore.

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

Ableton Live and OP-1.

What is the least expensive piece of gear that gave you the most results?

Behringer Model D - It's just that big fat Moog bass which always sounds great (on my tracks)

Walk us through your process for creating and producing music.

For my jams I start by deciding which pieces of gear could be an inspiring combination. Then I just hook everything up and start from scratch. There's usually a moment of total freedom where I allow myself to do whatever comes out and this can lead to great results. I try to move not too slow to keep the energy up.

Sometimes these jams are great starting points for complete tracks.

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

Not sure if it's a production technique... but I quite often use arpeggios as an element to increase tension/add something new in the second half of my tracks.

How would you explain your style?

I produce a lot of different music in various styles but the stuff I'm most proud of and which I can relate with the most is some sort of indie electro with a healthy amount of organic elements.

At least that's what I'm trying to go for.

What is a big challenge you have as an artist?

It used to be finding my own style and defining what I want to do in music. I always thought that I didn't have a particular style but then people start telling me that they recognize my music and the personal stylistic elements. So I try not to think about it too much anymore and just do my thing.

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

I started in the box and was fascinated by all the sounds you can get from your computer. But sometimes it's just too much. Building a hardware setup certainly helps to focus on important stuff. If you manage to dive into a piece of hardware and work with or around its limitations, you'll come up with more interesting stuff.