Artist Interviews 🎶 Studio Tours 🎛

Hello music people 👋

Today in the spotlight, Caught In Joy

Coming from Florida, he got inspired to make music from his father obsession with it. After learning the guitar and participating in bands, he discovered trackers and his solo journey began 🎶

Studio

Gear List

I mostly use Moog, Elektron and Roland gear. Les Paul and Baritone guitars. Tape, analog consoles, chains of guitar pedals for shaping the sound and...

Burl converters when you go ADC and DAC.

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Interview

Who are you and what is your relationship with music?

My name is Karol a.k.a Caught In Joy and I'm a musicoholic. I've been making music for 30 years and I was born in late 70s in Poland where I lived until I was 25. Then I moved to London, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malta, Los Angeles and now I live in a sunny Florida.

I've got hooked on music from my father who was a chess player and whenever he was traveling abroad he was bringing vinyls like Pink Floyd, Jean Michael-Jarre, Black Sabbath and some good polish jazz and classical music.

This was just the beginning of me discovering the guitar that I played in many bands and on my solo projects, but the biggest impact was discovering Scream Tracker on early IBM XT, where I discovered you can compose your own songs and have the whole synth orchestra playing it back for you.

I've recorded probably 20+ albums in my life and now I'm working totally dawless, releasing new album ever week on my Bandcamp.

I'm also a serial startup entrepreneur and I partially live from what I've earned and my music.

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

A supportive people surrounding you and a recording gear that works.

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

My trustworthy metronome.

Walk us through your process for creating and producing music.

I love improvising. I understand music theory, arrangement techniques in genres from most metal genres to rock, pop, blues, 4 on the floor music and my all-time-fav: progressive rock. I've been also mixing and mastering for cash. Now I'm 100% focused on releasing my own albums.

I'm recently outputting an album a week.

Here's how I do it:

1. Weekend - I'm experimenting, no rules. Shaping the sound and overall idea of the new album.

2. Monday - fixing gear and first recording.

3. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - serious 3-day improvisation and recording sessions. Everything is recorded to a click on usually TEAC 80-8 8-track tape, Tascam Model 12 and directly to RME Fireface UFX+ for backup. I'm usually playing modular, Moog, Roland or Elektron gear. Sometimes adding guitars or bass.

4. Friday morning - my no mixing technique, everything is finished in an hour and the album is released on Bandcamp.

Rinse and repeat. But... don't wore yourself out, take breaks, spent time with your family, friends and go to the beach. The wind and sun will heal you and you're ready for the next album.

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

No mixing.

I've been mixing for $$$ (had quite a big studio in Hollywood, CA) and now when I produce my own albums I can shape the sound during pre and then only fix weird anomalies (usually 5 seconds per album).

How would you describe your style?

Very song-driven, but with a pinch of experimental music. I'm somewhere in between electronic music, progressive-rock and genre-less.

What is a big challenge you have as an artist?

The music industry changes completely every 5 or so years. Betting on the right medium or a way to promote yourself on a long run is a struggle.

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

Gear breaks. Gear gets outdated. There's always something new to chase and there is always a cooler kid on the block having a better gear.

Love what you have. The real magic is what you can do with it.

One tip on how to spark creativity?

Be present and in the zone. Turn off all your notifications, etc. Give yourself a second and the idea will come.

And don't worry too much. We are musicians, there's always something ringing in our heads.

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

I was inspired the most by early Pink Floyd works, then Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Marillion, Nine Inch Nails, Tangerine Dream and many many others.

I love what is happening musically on Bandcamp, there are many great artists like Lisa Bella Donna, Oora or Spaceseer just to name a few.

Anything else you'd like to say?

Love each other, be supportive, drink espresso, follow the sun and smile to each other, especially to yourself.

Thank you so much for having me here. I really love what you guys are doing and if my story inspired someone that's a huge success.

[Editor’s note:] Few days before the interview’s release Karol dropped a studio release. His 15th for this year and it’s only August! Peaceful Days Echoes, is now available to get on BandCamp.

Where can people find more of your music and connect with you online?

BandCamp

Instagram

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