Just in time for Christmas, we're bringing Xavi back, who left Audiotool a few years ago to try his luck in the music business. We want to get to the bottom of this: how has he been doing in the meantime? What has worked and what hasn't? What could he take with him from Audiotool, and what does he maybe even miss? We thank you - xavrockbeats - for telling the new generation of Audiotoolers about your experience. And we wish you continued success on your way to becoming a star DJ and producer, which you undoubtedly deserve.

Interview with https://www.audiotool.com/user/xavrockbeats

What has happened since you moved from Audiotool into the big wide world?

A lot of things! I have had the pleasure and luxury of being able to tour with Seven Lions, play multiple shows and more than a couple of festivals, as well as dropping an album and EP (don't worry, more of that coming soon). I've been really thankful for all the amazing opportunities and wonderful people I've met along the way, and it's been really surreal to go from trying to recreate some of my musical heroes's styles on AT to interacting with them more than a couple of times (Seriously, one of my albums on here is a complete rip-off of Porter Robinson's Worlds and then a few weeks ago he DMed me for an unreleased Madeon remix I did-about a week after Madeon DMed me for the same remix, who I also tried to recreate more than a few times on AT as well!)

Describe the style of music you produce and how it developed

I think, at least where I've been at lately, I've been trying to make this super high energy chordy bass music. I don't really understand how to label it better (Angry Future Bass Revival??) but I've been really, really happy with it. I usually develop it through an insane amount of resampling and post production-some of my songs that I've been working on actually resample other unreleased songs of my own!

What is your musical background and when did you start making music?

Although nobody in my family is a musician themselves, music has been a large part of my life for a long time. I remember when I was very young, my dad would play stuff like Coldplay and Radiohead in the car, and a lot of those kinds of artists have stuck with me and been a large part of my music taste. I had become interested in making music some time before finding this site, but I hadn’t really had a consistent way of making music before stumbling upon Audiotool. Once I did though, I really stuck with it. Since then, I’ve put a lot of effort into broadening my music taste as much as I can, and incorporating what I find in others’ music into my own.

What does your daily production routine look like now? What software or hardware do you use?

I usually mainly produce in quick bouts, where I've been struck by inspiration. I can go from not producing for 5-6 days to having 1-2 songs figured out in a day or two! Now, my production mainly consists of using Ableton, along with some of my favorite VSTs like Digitalis, Pigments, and Serum.

What is your favorite trick in AT/What technique do you always use?

Very rarely are there any specific tricks that I use within my tracks. For the most part, sound design and mixing is incredibly minimalistic for me. Hell, I often use default synths without any effects whatsoever and I can usually get the sound I want out of it, which I guess is sort of a trick in and of itself.

Which Audiotool device would you like to be able to add to your current setup?

I miss Harmonics so, so, so much. I would honestly pay quite a bit to have that one back as a VST! Honestly, though, the more I think about it, I miss a fair amount of the tools of AT. I learned a lot of production techniques through them.

What aspect of Audiotool generally would you like to take with you into other contexts? I.e. the community feedback, collab ability…

The community. 110% the community. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so busy as to where I could jump back on more. Honestly, one of the things that a lot of the overarching music community doesn't really have is a sense of, well, community, and I miss being close friends with such likeminded people.

Where have you published your music so far?

I've had the luck of putting my music out by myself, with Proximity, Musical Freedom, Ophelia and now Lost In Dreams!

Where have you performed and played live?

If you mean my entire career, I've played a TON of times in Indiana during college, with some friends in a collective (shout out Soundasleep!!). Then, I was able to play a small bar in St. Louis with some friends through a event called Vaporspace and eventually, LA with Brownies and Lemonade. After that, when things really started picking up, I was able to play San Francisco (Hypernight was so fun!!), Florida, LA again for Nocturnal Wonderland, Detroit, Chicago (My FAVORITE show, the crowd was GREAT and my parents got to see me play live!) , Washington D.C., Chicago again for North Coast Festival, and most recently, a headliner show in Cincinnati.

How did you make your first contacts with labels?

My first real contact was with Ophelia! They reached out to me for a single for a compilation album and through talks, we were able to get even more established. Really thankful for all they've done for me.

What moment would you call your breakthrough and how did you feel about it at the time?

You know, for as much as I've done, I still feel like I'm working for that moment. I'll let you all know when it comes!

What was it like to play in front of a big audience for the first time?

Nerve Wracking!!! Honestly it was hard for me to look up, I was just afraid I would clear the room I guess. But once I did it, it was much easier the second time, and honestly, it was so, so cool once you get used to it.

Is there anything special from your time at Audiotool that stays with you in your present work?

Only just about everything ever!! Audiotool was where I cut my teeth on so, so many production techniques. Stereo processing, EQing, compression, mixing, sidechaining, I learned it all through here.

Do you still communicate with your network on Audiotool and if yes, how?

I try to, but it's gotten more difficult for me with being busy. I still like to pop on now and again when I can, feel free to say hi when you see me!

Do you have any Audiotool tracks that have had a lasting influence on you?

Everything Luxior and Ford. ever did has sat with me for so long. Sincerely good producers, no matter what they use!!!

What would you recommend to the younger generation of Audiotoolers?

Keep working!!!! You're going to have harder days, but those will pass. Also, don't fall into sunken cost fallacy!!!! I know that sounds weird, but if you focus too hard and spend too much time on one aspect of a track, you can sometimes be less willing to delete it if you think you might need to. One of the most freeing things you can do is take a synth or something you've been working on for an insane amount of time and say 'nah-this isn't working' and delete it. Honestly feels good!!

Social/Music Links

Spotify' https://open.spotify.com/artist/08OCWF4MDd9CQC2uPbsV3j?si=gFJdnLQAThykeY7AIGkKlA,

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/xavimakesmusic

Twitter https://twitter.com/xavimakesmusic

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/xavimakesmusic/

Photos by Nancy Danh Huynh

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nancydhuynh/

Twitter https://twitter.com/NancyDHuynh?t=5zTIkOJBjt7lChcFYLaQ5g&s=09

Edition Audiotool: Xavi

Track #1:

Spaces [Audiotool Day '17] by https://www.audiotool.com/user/acloudyskye/

Acloudyskye has always been such an inspiration to me, and this is the track where I really realized exactly how far they could go

Track #2:

apogee by https://www.audiotool.com/user/opaqity/

I think this is easily one of the most impressive tracks I've heard in AT, it's so groovy and just mixed so clean.

Track #3:

stardust by https://www.audiotool.com/user/beat123/

Luxior is an absolute legend, and this is by far my favorite track from them. It's just literally perfect in just about every way.

Track #4:

https://www.audiotool.com/track/leave-x6djj/ by https://www.audiotool.com/user/kepz/

Just the name Kepz reminds me of Audiotool. An amazing artist who knows how to use ambiance to set a stage.

Track #5:

When Stars Collide by https://www.audiotool.com/user/rnzr/

rnzr is basically one of the reasons I wanted to get good at Audiotool. Clean mixing, amazing catchy songs, just everything pushing the limits of what Audiotool could do.

Track #6:

AFTERGLOW (Astrum Remix) by https://www.audiotool.com/user/crazydruminator/

Astrum, I honestly didn't appreciate until later in my audiotool time. Great artist with such an understated style, and now I listen with full appreciation. Perfect notes of nostalgia and using audiotool to it's fullest.

Track #7:

I. (Mango Beach) by https://www.audiotool.com/user/xavrockbeats/

Weird track of mine from this era to pick, I know, as it's not the most popular or even forward thinking. But, full honesty, this song I always felt is the best I ever did on here. Still proud of that to this day!

Full Album