{"id":5427,"date":"2023-03-24T08:48:05","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T08:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/byta.com\/blog\/?post_type=methodtomymusic&#038;p=5427"},"modified":"2023-03-24T11:48:33","modified_gmt":"2023-03-24T11:48:33","slug":"arkley","status":"publish","type":"methodtomymusic","link":"https:\/\/byta.com\/blog\/methodtomymusic\/arkley\/","title":{"rendered":"Arkley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where are you based?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m from Scotland originally, but I\u2019m now based in York, UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How, when and where did you start making music? Are you primarily a musician or a producer, or do something else?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I started making music as a kid when I began playing guitar and writing songs. I had a super-simple set-up with a cheap mic, a 4-track recorder and borrowed Casio keyboard. I guess \u201cproducer\u201d fits best for me &#8211; I play, sample, sound design, collaborate or whatever it takes to create the music in my head!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who would you consider some of your biggest influences when it comes to your \u201csound\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My biggest influences are acid-house and rave pioneers from the late 80s and early 90s.&nbsp;Artists like The KLF, The Prodigy, Inner City and Orbital, plus loads of artists that maybe only had a handful of singles like Bizarre Inc, Strike and Awesome 3.&nbsp;I\u2019m also really inspired by graphic design &#8211; I try to get the atmosphere of designs by people like Peter Saville and the rave flyer designers into my music. I\u2019m always trying out ideas I hear in other artists\u2019 tracks, that\u2019s just the way music works!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Explain your creative process. Do you have a routine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t really have a routine but I definitely need a creative spark to get me started on any track. This could be anything really &#8211; a vocal sample, an interesting drum loop or hearing a track by another artist that inspires me.&nbsp;From there I like to work super-fast and get all my ideas down quickly until I\u2019ve got a rough demo track &#8211; at this point, it\u2019s just about capturing a vibe.&nbsp;I then try mixing the demo with other tracks on my decks to see how it feels.&nbsp;If I\u2019m still excited by it, I then spend a long, long, long time mixing it, tweaking it etc., etc. until I\u2019m almost sick of it, and then I know it\u2019s done!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is your \u201cstudio\u201d setup?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My studio set-up is still super-simple. I\u2019ve always loved the rugged energy of dance tracks from the early 90s that were a bit rough around the edges but captured an amazing vibe. I don\u2019t want to waste my time or attention with too many plugins or bits of outboard gear &#8211; it\u2019s all too distracting for me! So, I just have a MacBook Pro with Ableton Live 10, a midi keyboard (Alesis Q49), a few softsynths (Sylenth1, Korg M1, Arturia suite) and some great quality utility plugins (FabFilter EQ, MB and Limiter, Valhalla Reverb, PSP Vintage Warmer, Waves compressors). I work mostly on headphones (AKG K702s) but have some nice Adam A7Xs too. I\u2019m lucky to have a dedicated room in my house to make music, so I just put my headphones on and get lost for hours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/byta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Arkley-Studio-1-w-Arkley-In-Shot-Landscape-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Arkley DJ - studio setup. Byta's #MethodToMyMusic interview\" class=\"wp-image-5455\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/byta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Arkley-Studio-1-w-Arkley-In-Shot-Landscape-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/byta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Arkley-Studio-1-w-Arkley-In-Shot-Landscape-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/byta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Arkley-Studio-1-w-Arkley-In-Shot-Landscape-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/byta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Arkley-Studio-1-w-Arkley-In-Shot-Landscape-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/byta.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Arkley-Studio-1-w-Arkley-In-Shot-Landscape.jpeg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is your process when working with other people? How is collaboration different in the studio vs working remotely?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I spent years in live bands and then collaborated with different producers when I had a drum &amp; bass project. But with Arkley, I haven\u2019t really worked with other producers or artists yet, although that looks set to change this year. I definitely prefer being in the same room as people I\u2019m working with, it\u2019s so much easier to share a vibe and spark off each other like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">At what point(s) are you comfortable letting other people hear what you are working on?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m not really precious about people hearing my tracks in the very early stages, so long as I think I have captured the basic idea right.&nbsp;I think a track has either got it at its genesis or it doesn\u2019t!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do you share your work in progress (streams or downloads)? Any technical frustrations? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, I share demos with a few close fellow producers and also sometimes put ideas on social media if I\u2019m excited by them. I\u2019ve never had any issues with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"byta-callout grid-cell grid--full pad-30 border-grey text-center\"><h3 class=\"blue-dark\"> Byta delivers fast and secure audio sharing<\/h3><p class=\"blue-dark p-regular set-width\">With Byta you are in control of your music. <\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/byta.com\/what-is-byta\" class=\"button_wrapper\"> <span class=\"button bg-melon mar-top-30\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you know when a track\/album is finished?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just before I get sick of it!&nbsp;Nothing will ever be perfect, so I prefer to \u201cfinish\u201d tracks when they still have an exciting vibe and move on to the next thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you listen to the final mixes\/mastered work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I listen to mixes and masters on as many systems as possible including the car stereo and headphones while I\u2019m out walking.&nbsp;The most telling process is when I mix them with other similar tracks on my decks and hear how they stack up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How important is pre-release <a href=\"https:\/\/byta.com\/features\/protected-links\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">security<\/a> when sharing new work? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This has never been a problem for me, thankfully.&nbsp;I only share my tracks beyond my close circle of friends once I\u2019m ready for them to be heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who on your team gets to hear the final versions first and why, what formats do they each need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My producer friends usually hear my tracks first.&nbsp; I tend to upload <a href=\"https:\/\/byta.com\/kb\/article\/i-uploaded-a-wav-but-it-contains-no-metadata\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WAVs<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/byta.com\/compare\/byta-vs-soundcloud-bandcamp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SoundCloud<\/a> as the most convenient option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outside of your inner circle who are the people that will need to hear the new tracks next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone who I can get to listen!&nbsp; I usually start by sending the finished tracks to key radio producers and artists who I see as being in a similar lane to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Anything you are working on, anyone you are working with and want to share? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve not long released my new EP \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/snd.click\/mnkl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Channel A<\/a>\u2019.&nbsp; It\u2019s three acid-house and 90s rave-inspired tracks that all have amazing sampled gospel vocals on them.&nbsp; This gives them a really uplifting energy, which really resonates with me.&nbsp; I\u2019m also putting the finishing touches on my next EP which will continue to evolve my sound &#8211; I\u2019m so pleased with all these tracks and feel like I\u2019m hitting my groove now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, my new single \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/snd.click\/dhy9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wiggle It (Acid Grooves)<\/a>\u2019 is out today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5430,"template":"","categories":[14],"class_list":["post-5427","methodtomymusic","type-methodtomymusic","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-methodtomymusic"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Arkley | #MethodToMyMusic - Byta Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Arkley is a Scottish DJ and producer. 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