Amp7070
After writing over 150 texts for our featured artists, I've reached the point where I sometimes wonder if the word 'unique' should even be used so frequently and whether it can truly apply to so many musicians. And then I look at the list and see Amp7070, and all doubts are dispelled. We have so many unique musicians, and we can be proud of that. Amp7070 describes himself as genre phobic, and his playful mix of melancholic beauty and whimsical humor is truly difficult to classify within a specific style. However, it's hard not to feel the enthusiasm and (yes!) uniqueness of the early Indie and New Wave scene in his voice and compositions, when music was meant to break down genre barriers instead of conforming to them. For those who enjoy being surprised and can appreciate raw talent, joy in distinct music, and whimsical everyday stories, Amp7070 is highly recommendable.
Interview
I am from Surrey in the UK, and am currently in my second year of studying psychology at the University of Sheffield.
- About Nathan Cook aka Amp7070
- I am from Surrey in the UK, and am currently in my second year of studying a bachelors in psychology at the University of Sheffield. I've been with Audiotool since 2016 with my old account Nova, so when I was around 13/14 years old (am now 19). My favourite pizza at the moment would have to be vegan funghi pizzas, yum!
- Describe the style of music you produce
- I am very bad with styles and genres, but I would estimate that I make things that happen to fall into the lines of indie electro/indietronica, but also occasionally pop out something that is more downtempo and chill. Before I introduced vocals into my tracks though I very much was making generic EDM, and chiptune.
- What is your musical background and when did you start making music?
- I started making music when I was around 14, with Audiotool being the only DAW I've really used other than FL Studio to cut out background noises on my vocals. My musical background involves being in a boys choir; where we did things like performing in Tosca at the Royal Opera House, and touring places in Europe. I also have grades in singing, violin and piano; and recently my latest endeavour has been joining a music theatre society at my uni.
- What is your favorite Audiotool device and why?
- I would have to say the Pulverisateur. Nothing beats the beepy noises it makes; makes my day every time I am able to behold its power.
- What is your favorite trick in AT/What technique do you always use?
- It is quite questionable, but I always put a Quantum on absolutely anything and everything that makes a sound in any of my tracks. I don't know why I do it, but somehow it makes me feel like everything is going to be all right. Other than that I also love to add compression to absolutely everything including vocals — it tricks me into thinking that the song has more beats than it actually does.
- Have you ever had a writer's block? If so, how did you deal with it and what do you recommend to your colleagues?
- Because I normally make music to vent my feelings, when I am feeling empty and nothing interesting is happening to me is when I normally get writer's block. If I want to make music and this is the case, I think the best thing to do is to find a song that you think is really cool, and try to recreate it in your own way. In my own experience I normally end up with something that sounds completely different to the original song!
- What has helped you the most on Audiotool to improve and widen your musical horizon?
- It would definitely have to be remixing other people's tracks when you are confused as to how they were able to make a certain noise on a track, and if remix isn't open, just ask! I just think that because of the way that the Audiotool website is set up, it is so easy to become inspired by other people and learn new things.
- What do you like most about Audiotool? Is there anything you would like to suggest?
- I like everything about Audiotool! It is so obvious that the team behind the website just want to help people to be able to create music; and it is shown through how accessible absolutely everything is all for the price of nothing!! It also helps that there is such a good community of people on the website who are always happy to help each other and lift each other up.
- Your message to the community:
- If you are sad, just be happy!