DA Studios: Sandro Silva’s Top 5 Tips for Finding Your Own Sound
Sandro Silva's Top 5 Tips for Finding Your Own Sound
Last week, we inaugurated a new version of Dancing Astronaut Studios dedicated to providing a space for artists to share their technical knowledge with aspiring producers. For the first episode in the series, we featured progressive house talent Chris Lake.
For the second edition, we’ve got big room champion and festival-favorite Sandro Silva in the house. Responsible for such mega-hits as “Epic” and “Payback,” Silva is a master at producing colossal house records. Check out Sandro Silva’s “Top 5 Tips For Finding Your Own Sound.”
1. Always go with your first instinct in the studio
“This is something that always worked for me when I created my biggest tracks till date. When I’m in the studio, I always have a clear mind. So I just go with the flow, and try to go where that studio session is taking me. If I have a really cool drumloop for example that inspires me, I’ll go with that and try to build something from there. Try to be yourself in the studio and always rely on your sound that you are producing on that moment, because It’s something that comes from your heart and you are taking that to the drawing table.”
Photo Credit: Rukes
2. Embrace Difference
“So this is a really important issue for me and I think also for a lot of young guys out there! It’s easier to produce something that’s already done than doing something that’s not done. Don’t feel insecure in the studio when you’ve made something that’s not already done and sounds completely different, embrace it. As long as it sounds good to you and people who are in the business, go with it and take this to another level. This could be a turning point in your career.”
3. Tweak sounds to the max
“Tweaking sounds is what I always do when I’m creating either a new synth, or a drum sound etc. When I have a dope synth for example, I always play a melody on a kick and see what happens. If it hasn’t got a lot of energy or impact or it sounds to simple, I try to tweak the synth till it has more power and body in combination with the kick. The final result is always unique, because I love to get weird with different effects on my synth, It’s not just a preset anymore. Key of the story is that using presets just the way they come out of your sound bank is not as dope as getting crazy with it till you have your own flavor added to it. It’s a part of getting your own sound and not just using the presets how they come out the box, even if they are dope. Most likely they are already used in other tracks.”
4. Analyze the big hits
“Analyzing and getting to know why hits became hits are a must. In order to understand what your own sound has to be, you have to figure out what other DJs had in their mind when they created hits with their own signature sound. Your sound has to be catchy, there is no doubt about that. But how do you get it catchy? It could be anything: your melodies, the way you program your synths or even the drums you use. The most important thing for me is that it has to work on the dance floor. People have to recognize tracks from your signature sound and say, ‘hey, that’s his track’. But keep your sound simple, don’t make it to complex, but effective. As long as it sounds like ‘you.'”
5. Don't sit back and relax
“Times have changed nowadays. There are so many releases every single week, almost too many! You have the choice to keep up with the stream of releases or to be ahead of everyone and everything. Make sure you take this advantage from your mind to the studio, because it will give you so much more freedom in the studio. It’s a lot easier to produce music and structure your own sound with an open mind setting than get caught up in the stream of releases. Don’t ever compare yourself to others, but make sure you learn from them and take advantage from that to get your own sound. Don’t waste time and make sure you spend many hours in the studio, because that’s gonna help you a lot with finding the right sound that fits you.”