Featured Artist 155
virux
Jair B.
"What if thrash metal was chiptune?" A motto that packs a punch and is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Even during his time in the bass music genre, it was clear there was a knack for intense hardness, with the occasional heavy riff sneaking into the gritty dubstep tracks. Frequently interrupted by experimental dives into other genres like ambient, soundtrack, and EDM, the mechanical beats gradually evolved into more traditional heavy metal drum sets over the years. Now, virux is one of the most prominent representatives of the rock-oriented scene on Audiotool and still takes no prisoners. Whether in a festival mosh pit or strengthening your neck muscles at home in front of your laptop, virux definitely hits the nerve of the headbanging crowd.
Interview
I've lived in Connecticut, USA for pretty much my entire life. Currently I'm in college studying graphic design.
- About Jair B. Aka virux
- I've lived in Connecticut, USA for pretty much my entire life. Currently I'm in college studying graphic design! I joined Audiotool back in 8th grade and have been producing for around seven to eight years by now. Unlike a lot of the people who have been featured before me, I enjoy producing music more than I enjoy listening to it, and I'm rather picky about what I like — currently I'm pretty big into thrash metal, but I can be talked into liking a lot of songs if the melody's good. I'm also a big fan of emo & pop-punk music. My favorite pizza? New Haven style. As for toppings, I'm pretty basic — just cheese.
- Describe the style of music you produce
- "What if thrash metal was chiptune?" That's a question I asked myself one fateful day and this admittedly dumb idea has completely changed my view on production. I've always made the music I wanted to hear, and ever since I fell in love with rock and metal music a few years ago, it changed what I wanted to make. But I couldn't play guitar — at the time I didn't even own one. So I started out using synths, to try and replicate the sound of a guitar, but over time I grew to despise what I was producing. It felt cheap to call it rock. Leaving the internet for two months in 2024 was the best thing that's ever happened to my creative output. I came back, determined to make my version of synthrock work, and I think I've finally done so in a way that highlights what makes rock and metal great.
- What is your musical background and when did you start making music?
- It's funny, a lot of my extended family are musicians or at least have some form of music education, but I never knew this until long after I started producing. I took a music class in 7th grade and got my first taste of FL Studio and a dinky little website called ButtonBass. I was pushed to make music for Geometry Dash levels.
- How long have you been using Audiotool, and how did you discover it?
- I've been here for about seven years now. You guys have RiMi to thank for that. I know him from Geometry Dash, and he inspired me to produce my own stuff, and told me to check out AT.
- What is your favorite Audiotool device and why?
- Waveshaper. The ability to create your own types of distortion is something special.
- What is your favourite trick in AT/What technique do you always use?
- Making a still flanger using the PulsarDelay. Dial all of the sync knobs on the thing all the way to the left, and slowly dial in the millis knob until you get the sound you want. It's some good fun and really easy to set up!
- Have you ever had a writer's block? If so, how did you deal with it and what do you recommend to your colleagues?
- Oh yeah, plenty of times. There are two ways to solve this — the fun way, or the funny way. The fun way is to take a break, listen to some music instead of trying to make it, and just relax. Recharge the batteries. The funny way is to put yourself through hellish challenges to force yourself to make something that you wouldn't normally make. Also remember, music is art, and you cannot force it.
- What has helped you the most on Audiotool to improve and widen your musical horizon?
- Honestly, I feel like I've made my best music after I stopped caring so much. Music is not profitable unless you're willing to sell a part of yourself, so why care? Stop caring. Make what you want. One of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten: "If the music's good, the audience will put up with a few weird mixing choices." I should also thank naswalt for his awesome drum template.
- What do you like most about Audiotool? Is there anything you would like to suggest?
- I admire its history. I've been here for a while now, and though I've never been super interactive in the community (thanks social anxiety), I have been a keen observer of the changes in community dynamics, music promotion, charts, and even tracks themselves over time. To be able to visually see the change, and for a lot of the site's history to still be documented and available to anyone willing to look — that's something really special.
- Your message to the community:
- For experienced users: fear stagnation. The worst kind of producer is one who's become stale, and is producing just for the sake of it. For new users: embrace the suck. You will be bad. Just like nobody starts off being able to run, you will not be producing the next number 1 single if you've never opened a DAW before. Watch any music production tutorials you can find — even if it's for a totally different DAW, the techniques taught are what's important.