Really excited to be doing this interview today, since R/D’s “Bay Crush” EP is releasing today too (available… right now!).
Spoiler alert: I’ve already check it out and it’s amazing, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t get it.
Big thanks to R/D for taking the time out to answer a few questions, I’ve been a fan ever since encountering his work on the DownloadToDonate project with The Glitch Mob.
Today I wanted to ask him about having a defining sound and how it effects the progression of an artist, so let’s get in to it!
1.) This may just be me, but I associate R/D with a certain type of “sound”, a style that I see throughout much of your music, even though each track is different.
I bring this up because I want to know what you think about having a unique sound that is a staple of your music. Do you feel that you have one? Do you feel like any of the artists that you enjoy have a distinct sound of their own, something that sets them apart? Is a distinct sound something you actively pursue?
Wow, thanks!
That’s really awesome to hear.
I think originality is a byproduct of any artist that is confident in what they want their art to ‘say’.
With enough practice and passion, everyone has a distinctive quality.
I think it would be pretty exhausting to actively pursue originality, so I just focus on what I want to ‘say’ artistically instead.
I’d be hella stoked if people called it original though!
2.) I brought the last question up to get into this one: do you feel like artists are ever in danger of getting “trapped” by having a unique sound?
Artists and fans sort of have an “unwritten contract” that goes like this: you produce music I like, and I’ll support you with purchases. Do you feel like an artist could ever get stuck in a particular sound in order to please fans in this regard? Do you feel like artists have certain obligations to fans in this matter?
Inevitably though, every artist will reach a point at which they betray one to satisfy the other.
It’s the nature of selling your creativity.
You have to know when to feed your fans, and when to feed your soul.
3.) I’d also like to talk about balancing creative pursuits and fan expectations. When creating a track, do you ever think about fan reaction during production? Do you feel it’s best that artists just explore wherever their desire takes them, even if it’s something fans might not expect?
So, my writing process is halfway decided for me before I even drop the first note.
Every tune I write is geared towards the dancefloor, even the more chill stuff.
So yah, I definitely think about fan reaction.
It’s the number one ingredient!
But, I have this intense desire to inject melody, beauty, funk and groove into my music, which may not always be what dance music crowds want to hear.
I have to balance my own creative desires with those of EDM fans by making super melodic tunes that also bang hard on the dancefloor.
It’s a tricky balance.
Dance music artists have to make the music they feel while giving the fan what they want, and by doing so they’ll eventually make something new that fans aren’t expecting, but hopefully love when they hear it.
4.) Lastly: what should R/D fans look for in the coming months? The Bay Crush release is obviously much awaited, are there any other projects/tours/plots of world domination that we should look out for?
It’ll be part of a remix album available for free around Christmas. I’m also working on a remix for an Indie band called Loyal Divide which will land early next year.
I’ve got the Bay Crush remixes in the works with Minnesota, iLL Gates, Sidecar Tommy (of Beats Antique) and more which will drop early next year.
We’re gonna run a remix contest for it as well, so ya’ll producers out there be ready!
I’m super stoked to be playing this year’s Snow Globe festival with Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, The Glitch Mob, Paper Diamond, Dillon Francis, etc.
It’s gonna be NUTS!
And, I haven’t publicly announced this anywhere but I’ve got an indie band project that I’ve been developing with a singer and I’m bursting at the seams to share, but we gotta keep it under wraps for a bit longer.
It’s quite different than my solo stuff, very gorgeous and emotional.
I can’t say much more than that!
I’m most definitely excited about all that above, will be keeping my eyes peeled.
Takeaway: R/D really kept things concise and there’ s a lot of value to get from what he’s said.
My favorite line from his responses:
“I think it would be pretty exhausting to actively pursue originality, so I just focus on what I want to ‘say’ artistically instead.”
I honestly feel like this is dead on accurate on how artists should approach their music.
To be consciously aware of trying to do something different can detract from the organic process of making music.
Think of it like athletics: you drill so that you’re knowledgeable in what you’re doing, but as soon as you start overanalyzing “Am I doing this correctly?”, your performance falls apart.
I think what most artists should be pursuing is getting better in their craft, chasing originality seems to be a fruitless endeavor when what you have to “say” artistically is going to naturally put a personal touch on your sound.
But what the hell do I know, those are just my opinions ;).
Either way, big thanks to R/D for the interview, and I really hope everybody reading enjoyed it (head over to R/D’s website for more music!.
Definitely check out R/D’s website for new releases, and make sure you grab “Bay Crush” today!
If you enjoyed the read, I would most definitely appreciate you showing some love by sharing this post with your friends/followers.
Thanks for reading!
