INTERVIEW: DJ and producer Tensteps

Talented DJ and music producer Tensteps is set to reach new heights and break boundaries with his outstanding releases. His music has already caught the attention of several leading names in the electronic music world like Armin Van Buuren, Ferry Cortsen and MaRLo. His signature sound and matchless style has given him the opportunity to collaborate with the likes of Standerwick and Andrew Rayel.

We invited Tensteps to share a deeper look into his creative process; to learn how his usual workflow looks like, how he finds inspiration and how he overcomes struggles while producing new music. Check out our interview with Tensteps below.

Hey Tensteps! how are you?  

Doing well, thanks!

We want to know more about your creative process, where and how do you usually find inspiration?

All sorts of places! Sometimes, it’ll be from something I’m going through personally, or it could be something someone I know is going through and I’ll channel that, or it could just be another song that when I hear it and I’m like “ok, yeah, I like that concept but, what if I took it this other direction instead?”

Are there any non-music related activities that help you get inspired to work on new music?

It used to be taking my motorcycle out for a ride. Sadly, I don’t have it anymore since I moved across the country, but I’m hoping to buy a new one soon so I can get back to that.  

Is there a process you always follow when producing a new track? 

My process is not to have a process haha. I never know if I’m gonna start with the hook, or the drop, or a vocal idea, it’s never the same from track to track, so it’s just wherever the idea hits and then taking it from there.

Which part of a track is your favourite to start working on?

The hook is usually my favourite part of a song, so if I can start there it gives me a great foundation to build around. But like I said, that’s not always the case.

Does technology play a big part in helping you with your creative processes? If so, can you tell us how?

Absolutely. I’m a big tech guy and love playing with new and innovative tools. I’m lucky enough to be a beta tester for a well-known plugin company (I can’t say which one unfortunately) and playing with the newest unreleased plugins from them is a nice way to keep things fresh and interesting for me in the studio.

Have you changed something in your production workflow recently? And how has that changed your usual processes?

Not really, as I said my workflow changes from track to track and that’s how it’s always been, so nothing new on that front.

What has been the best change or implementation you made to your workflow in music production or in your creative process in the past years and how has that changed the way you make music?

In general, working with a vocal is always a great starting point for me. If I can get an a cappella, even if it’s not the one I’m actually going to use on the release, that helps me tremendously. Most of my tracks are vocal tracks, so it’s helpful to have vocals from the beginning for me to build around. I started my producing career as a remixer, so I got very used to building around vocals.

What do you do to help you overcome an obstacle while producing a track?

I’ll always try to work through it and figure it out, but if I can’t, then I can take a break, watch some TV, play some Warzone, get something to eat, just do something else until I figure out a way past it.

What advice would you give to someone having trouble finishing a track or finding inspiration?

Be patient, but try to work through it as best you can before seeking alternatives or taking a break.

Listen to Kings (Tensteps remix) below

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