Wightfall
Wightfall's music is not light fare, yet it's a pleasure to listen to his mix of indie/alternative and electro. His album Nine Steps is an Audiotool milestone and convinced even those listeners not otherwise drawn to the darker genres. The emotional impact of his music made a name for itself at the latest with his contribution to the Team AT Work Contest, where he took third place together with Apollo and Nyafae. As we've learned, he currently studies at Oxford University, which has produced bands such as On A Friday, which is undoubtedly among his main inspirations. Anyway, we'd love to hear more Wightfall music soon.
Interview
I'm from GA, USA. I currently attend UGA/Oxford through a transfer program, studying philosophy and religion. I started on Audiotool when I was 12 after googling 'make music for free.'
- About Jack Barta aka Wightfall
- I'm from GA, USA. I currently attend UGA/Oxford through a transfer program, studying philosophy and religion. I started on Audiotool when I was 12 after googling "make music for free," and I fell in love with the site. For fun nowadays I play shows in Athens with my new band, 'Bad Ticket,' and blacksmith knives in my backyard.
- Describe the style of music you produce
- Sad post-rock, unless it's angry post-rock.
- What is your musical background and when did you start making music?
- My parents were musicians and I got their genes, I guess. I started doodling on the piano when I was 8 or so and have taught myself a variety of instruments since. But Audiotool is really where my composing/producing skills were developed, and where I've got nearly all of my helpful feedback from over the years.
- What is your favorite Audiotool device and why?
- Pulsar-delay is nuts, frankly I would not sound cool without it.
- What is your favourite trick in AT/What technique do you always use?
- Pulsar delay with LFO + Reverb for soundscaping. Makes everything purdy.
- Have you ever had a writer's block? If so, how did you deal with it and what do you recommend to your colleagues?
- I've had years-long periods of creative drought. I've found Nick Cave has good advice on this, paraphrased: 'Block is going to happen, so don't say to yourself "I'll just wait for inspiration to come back," because it won't without your encouragement. Force yourself to listen to new things, think about new things, write about new things even when you have no inspiration. And inspiration will come.' Live/breathe the world you want to write about, and the words will come.
- What has helped you the most on Audiotool to improve and widen your musical horizon?
- Being friends with people and getting community critique. It has helped immensely to get criticism because — whether I'm grateful or genuinely offended by it — it's all I have to gauge my effectiveness as a producer by.
- What do you like most about Audiotool? Is there anything you would like to suggest?
- How easy it is to just login, boot up from any computer, and get going. That portability and free access is really amazing. Recording still presents difficulties though, with occasional stutters and a slightly clunky sample system. If that were streamlined I would have basically no reason to use any other platform.
- Your message to the community:
- Listen to everything.
“How easy it is to just login, boot up from any computer, and get going. That portability and free access is really amazing”
— Wightfall