Volen is a hidden gem on Audiotool, quietly making waves with a unique blend of experimental sounds and bass-driven music. As the winner of the People's Choice Featured Artist voting, it’s clear that his talent is starting to get the recognition it deserves. Volen’s tracks are always an interesting journey, full of creativity and fresh ideas. If you haven’t checked out his work yet, now’s the perfect time to dive in. Congratulations on taking first place.

Interview

About: Camden Parsons AKA volen

I’m an experimental bass music producer and jazz instrumentalist from McMinnville, Oregon. I’m currently studying music composition and theory and swimming varsity at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. I joined Audiotool about 5–6 years ago and found myself in love with what the program has to offer. I have a sweet spot for ear candy bass music, boom bap hip-hop, big band jazz, and upbeat chiptune. Buffalo chicken pizza is the best kind of pizza, and you cannot convince me otherwise.

Describe the style of music you produce

Traditionally, I’ve produced a lot of gritty, detail-oriented dubstep that challenges popular sounds in the scene today. A lot of my work focuses heavily on drum sounds and experiments with unique, brash bass sounds and concepts. Lately, however, I’ve been pushing myself to try out styles and genres I haven’t taken shots at before—techno, footwork, and especially chiptune.

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

When I was 7 years old, I began taking piano lessons and practiced classically until I was about 13 or 14 years old. Near the end of my practice, I got a laptop for my birthday and took to Noteflight and Soundtrap to make what can barely be classified as music.

How long have you been using Audiotool, and how did you discover it?

I’ve been using Audiotool for about 5–6 years, and I’ve had an absolute blast with the program. I came across the program while looking for a quality alternative to expensive, renowned DAWs that I could not afford. Stoked to have come across this program!

What is your favorite Audiotool device and why?

Gotta go with the Quantum. Like, what can’t you do with it? It’s a quality compressor that does a really good job at whatever you need it to do. Plus—it makes a funny sound when you stack 20 of them on top of each other.

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

Something fun I like to do for buildups is to reaaaallllyyy stretch out an 808 sample and reverse it. Place it over the rest of your sounds, and you’ve got a pretty simple volume automation that speeds up towards the next section.

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 get writer’s block all the time, especially when it’s with a style I usually make. Sometimes the best way to approach writer’s block is to not write, but to listen. Go listen to some new music, old classics, maybe a style or genre you haven’t heard before. Take influence from the music around you, and don’t be afraid to try something new once in a while.

What has helped you the most on Audiotool to improve and widen your musical horizon?

Honestly, getting to talk with people in the community and getting critiques/feedback from them has been a huge factor in my growth as an artist. Everyone around you is wanting to improve just as much as you do, and it’s awesome to have so many people to bounce ideas off of.

What do you like most about Audiotool? Is there anything you would like to suggest?

I absolutely adore the interface of the Audiotool studio. Being able to work with devices as if they were tangible and work with tracks on a digital grid is a really neat design that’s executed efficiently and is easy to understand. Please don’t change it!

Your message to the community:

Listen, then write. Don’t be afraid to take influence, and don’t be afraid to make something that influences others.

Social/Music Links

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/volensucks

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/volen/1646399362

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YQMIrwC9Cwt4YcQARxAhv?si=SkP6EvMqR6uJdZ7YoP28Zg

Spotify II: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1sPjAmtObtMtuqeBrjJp7E?si=h7ZqX29lSNaBVN8oql6Cgw

Instagram: https://instagram.com/volensucks

X: https://x.com/volensucks?s=21&t=S3GCg92EcX7CGXi9Ee-PeA

Edition Audiotool: volen

Track #1:

Intricacies by kuatari

There's so much attention to detail here, I've always been mesmerized by it

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/e8se8es9]]

Track #2:

grot by Snio

One of the first songs I ever listened to on Audiotool, so quirky, haha.

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/12kri9z2go/]]

Track #3:

Prison Planet by sumad

Dark and guttural, one of my biggest influences in terms of percussive sound.

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/r3vi4czqe]]

Track #4:

Tonal contrast by Roy ↨ One of the best beats I've ever heard. I mean, come onnnn.

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/3g3vlw3j3l/]]

Track #5:

eulogy by sky bound zoo

Amazing synth work, super cool and probably my biggest recent influence.

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/5e43g5duuq]]

Track #6:

Daredevil by volen

Easily my favorite project to have worked on.

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/pq4n8039wj7]]

Full Album

Edition Audiotool: volen

• a-records

17

about 2 months ago

1		intricacies kuatari	kuatari	531
2		grot Snio	Snio	579
3		Prison Planet sumad	sumad	342
4		Tonal contrast Roy ↨	Roy ↨	884
5		eulogy sky bound zoo	sky bound zoo	788
6		daredevil volen	volen	1143