A few months back capshun landed a spot in our Focus Five segment due to the fact that his sound left us enthralled with every listen. capshun doesn’t simply create beats, but crafts new worlds with each soundscape. Every song is a new destination ripe for exploring. With elements of the natural world forming a foundation, capshun mixes shimmering synths with just the right knock for future beat perfection. Despite being a soldier currently deployed overseas, he still manages to steadily produce some of the most beautiful and bumpin’ music out right now. We connected with capshun for an interview to greater understand his expansive sound, what propels his work ethic and why he feels we’re entering another golden era of SoundCloud. He also blessed us with a fresh mix that showcases some of his incredible work (including an unreleased gem) as well as some tunes from his homies. It’s pure summer vibes with just enough bang for bass lovers. Check out the mix below and grab the free download.
How long have you been producing? Was there a specific moment that you decided “I need to make music?”
It’s honestly hard to remember exactly but I have been producing for maybe 8 years. I started in high school with some friends. We had a rap group…I found out I wasn’t all that good at rapping sooooo I switched to making beats haha. I feel in love with it after that and here we are today.
There’s a lot of nature inspired elements in your work. Can you tell us a little bit about your personal connection with nature?
I honestly think that I am very connected to nature. I find myself staring into the stars a lot and when I am in places surrounded by nature I feel the most at peace. I’ve never really thought that deeply about it though.
I lock my doors and it’s like I am in my own world. So every song is an embodiment of the world that I feel like I am in at that moment.
Your music is very immersive. So much so that you’ve said when producing you feel like you’re creating new worlds. How do you go about crafting such an expansive and engrossing sound with your music?
It’s so interesting that you are asking me because that’s what I have been asking myself lately. I had a conversation with Valentine on discord once day about this. He really hinted me into starting to create stories with my music and not just put a sound, but an idea behind my music. When I sit down and make music I lock my doors and it’s like I am in my own world. So every song is an embodiment of the world that I feel like I am in at that moment.
When I first heard your music it reminded me of Sam Gellaitry. Is he a big influence of yours? Who else inspires you?
Yo Sam G definitely inspires me. I went like a whole 2 months just listening to his music at one point. Haha. I have a lot of inspirations. But the people have consistently been inspirations for me lately are Chromonicci, Delay, and Senojnayr. My style is definitely very influenced by those three.
You recently tweeted, “Keep your head down and work hard. Work harder than everyone. And watch the opportunities flow in.” How to do you stay motivated to keep outworking everyone? How much work are you really putting in right now?
It’s hard to keep motivation sometimes and not worry about what everyone else is doing. The one thing that keeps me on my own is being in my own zone. This last year I’ve been out of the country just focusing on myself and my music and it has really changed my mindset when it comes to creating and working hard. I work from when I get off of work till I go to sleep on music and learning what I can. It’s really wild.
Have any opportunities come about recently that you are really excited about?
The biggest thing that has happened recently is Splice hitting me up to do a sample pack with them. Probably the biggest thing that has happened in the last month or so besides majestic casual DMing me on twitter haha.
I feel like everyone is starting to look to SoundCloud right now because there are so many dope artists popping up and making amazing music with crazy sounds and all of that. Being a part of it is really crazy.
You recently said that you, “feel an energy right now in the electronic scene I haven’t felt in a while.” Can you elaborate on this? What is that energy? Why is it coming back now?
So I came onto SoundCloud and the whole future beats scene at what I felt like was the tail end of the golden age. The sound had already really blown up and there were some well established artists that had already made major moves and also moved onto bigger places like Spotify. But I feel like everyone is starting to look to SoundCloud right now because there are so many dope artists popping up and making amazing music with crazy sounds and all of that. Being a part of it is really crazy.
What are your main goals as a musician?
My biggest goals are all surrounded in creating the best music. I want to really just push myself to make music that literally changes your entire viewpoint on music. Something that you can connect to just really put you in a place where you can escape into your own world and grow in it.
What do you do when you’re not making music?
Well for the last year I have been deployed overseas. So a lot of my time is focused on developing myself as a soldier. But outside of that it’s really just hanging with my fellow soldiers and messaging people on discord.
How has being deployed affected your music? Is it hard to balance being a soldier and a producer?
Being deployed has actually been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. I thought I would be extremely busy with no time, but it turns out just the opposite. I have grown more in my time here than when I was back home. I will say that the balance is definitely weird because I have to be ready at a moments notice to do things for the Army but really it’s not that bad. I get the weekends to myself and most of the evenings as well!
Where are you deployed?
I would tell you where I am deployed…. but I’d have to kill you…. so yeah lolol.
What should we expect from this mix? What was your goal when putting it together?
You can expect to get hype!!!! MAX ENERGY… but then all of a sudden be in your feelings. AND THEN HYPE AF AGAIN haha. I just had fun making this mix honestly. Hope you have the same feeling listening.
Tracklist
Capshun – Here
Afrosamuraiist – Odori
Seraya – You Told Me (ölswel remix)
Himmel – Mirror w Hvtcher
Sober Rob – Supermoon ft. Karra (Mir x MANTRABLU remix)
Paaus – Golden w capshun
Senyora- s t o r a g e (ft. Archr)
Delay – Tank Tices – Kanye West: All Mine (flip)
**Unreleased Capshun**
Harlyyn- Guardian (w- galva & William.)
Capshun – Lotus
