An international demonstration of artistic tenacity, Argentina-based TRVCY has triumphed the frontier of modern dubstep, possessing an admirable self-taught production arsenal that questions the necessity for formal training entirely. The release of his debut Stay Out EP in 2018 first evidenced a crowned vocation, while more recent efforts such as an official remix of YKES ‘Need U More’ and ‘Contact’ as a component of SHARPS Invasion EP have only further intimated TRVCY’s irrevocable skillfulness.
It was an immense pleasure to catch up with the gifted South American producer to discusses his self-taught production background, forthcoming Antagonist EP via Never Say Die Records, and the process of refining his creative approach.
Be sure to check out the full interview and EP below!
How did the Antagonist EP come together?
At first, it wasn’t supposed to be an EP. It was just a lot of ID’s and I had the opportunity to release some of them with Never Say Die so at that moment it became an EP.
I would say everyone here looks up to international artists as their role models because of how the electronic music culture in the United States is way ahead of ours. I think everyone heads into the same direction but we’re so less evolved and so less open-minded as well.
In what ways is the culture surrounding electronic music in Argentina similar to the United States, and in what ways is it a breed of its own entirely?
I would say everyone here looks up to international artists as their role models because of how the electronic music culture in the United States is way ahead of ours. I think everyone heads into the same direction but we’re so less evolved and so less open-minded as well.
A big difference here is that you don’t have that many opportunities to stand out or show how talented you are or how talented you can be. Nobody really pushes you forward to pursue an “electronic music dream”. This sounds like a really bad place to do something like this but at the same time, it can fuel your ambitions and goals if you’re really passionate about it.
Do you have a formal background in sound design or production, or would you say the majority of your talent has been self-taught?
I’ve learned everything by myself. I always say there are plenty of tools and tutorials on the internet to learn whatever you want, whatever you need.
What are some of your favorite plug-ins?
Serum, the one and only OTT and Kick 2 to make my drums.
Actually, my sub-bass is just a sine wave, most of the time is low-passed at 80-90hz, not even 100hz. But what you can do in Serum is use your Sub Oscillator to have that low information and be able to saturate it, distort it, or do whatever you want and then high-pass it so it doesn’t clash with your actual sub.
What production techniques allow you to distort your sub bass while keeping a clean audible appeal in the mixdown?
Actually, my sub-bass is just a sine wave, most of the time is low-passed at 80-90hz, not even 100hz. But what you can do in Serum is use your Sub Oscillator to have that low information and be able to saturate it, distort it, or do whatever you want and then high-pass it so it doesn’t clash with your actual sub. Everyone thinks my sub is so distorted but it’s not, it’s just part of the “mid” basses.
What processing methods allow you to maintain such high levels of clarity in your samples?
I always rely a lot on multiband compression. I think it’s one of the easiest ways to balance any sample or bass.
Nowadays I try to be a lot more organized with my projects and with production sessions. I used to go and try to make a song every time I opened my DAW, but it’s not always easy to go and create a song at the first try.
How has your production process or approach to a project been refined since the release of your debut Stay Out EP last year?
Nowadays I try to be a lot more organized with my projects and with production sessions. I used to go and try to make a song every time I opened my DAW, but it’s not always easy to go and create a song at the first try. Now if I don’t feel motivated to make a song, I make basses or drums, or I go find some new samples, or do new wavetables, fix my templates if I feel like I need to improve something to make my workflow faster. All these things allow you to work really fast when you’re in that creative moment and you just have to write down all that’s in your head. You’ll find yourself becoming a music making machine when you have all the tools you need ready to write some new content.
What are a few of the milestones that you hope to accomplish as an artist throughout the remainder of 2019?
Only thing I’m looking forward to is being able to make this as a job. I don’t care if it doesn’t happen this year, or the next one. I just wanna make a living out of this.
