accelerator with alasen

Pictured above is alasen

Interview curated by our founder Michael.

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Phuture: Wowwwwww. I’ve had to pinch myself 3 times now to remind myself that this is actually happening. It’s been over 7 years of us practically dying for an alasen release on Phuture and it’s finally happened.

World – please give the warmest welcome towards the one and only alasen – we’re beyond stoked to get a few minutes to pick your brain!Let’s start things off with what you had for dinner :).

alasen: For dinner today I had powdered donuts! Didn’t have a chance to get real food today 🙁

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Phuture: You’ve been at it for practically a decade now, right? How has the scene & industry changed since you first joined & where do you think it’s headed?

alasen: yes, it’s been about a decade since I started producing. The scene is always growing and I am always finding new talent I enjoy. Something fresh pops up every day. I think the scene will continue to grow and hopefully one day our little community won’t be so little anymore! The industry is an entire different monster to me, I only just now have started partaking in that side of things. It’s a lot more complicated than I thought it would be and there are many nuances I have yet to learn.

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Phuture: Tell the world a bit more about you! Where do you reside / what else do you do for work / what other hobbies do you have / share a secret :).

alasen: I live in a small town called Naperville, about 40 minutes from downtown Chicago,  Illinois. I’ve lived in the US my whole life and have only lived in this state. For work I have been putting 100% of my time and effort in to music, it is my only aspiration, and I cannot think of anything else I would rather be doing. Im super into cars, and a lot of live instruments as well.  I’ve been playing piano since I was a kid and that’s what sparked my interest in production. I also play lead guitar and synth in a band called Dearly Somber, we just got back from a small US tour a few months ago 🙂

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Phuture: Let’s talk about ‘Accelerator’! What was the idea behind this track? Please describe the emotions that went into this 🙂

alasen: Accelerator is a recent favorite of mine, out of all the projects I’ve started recently. Music production for me has changed from a hobby into an extension of self. It’s almost like meditation. I get into this state where my head is almost empty, and there is nothing but me and the music. When I’m able to reach that state of mind I feel so at peace, nothing else in the world matters. Wonder, growth, curiosity, and discovery.

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Phuture: What are 3 things that most people might not know about you?

alasen: I play in a a band, (Dearly Somber) as previously mentioned. Its heavy music with some shoegaze influence, the only way I can describe it is as a wall of sound. we’ve been playing shows for about 4 years and our second album should be out before the end of the year <3. Another fun fact is I have a solo project for songs written with acoustic/live instruments. The project is called Weyndt, and I have one album out right now with another nearly done.
I’m searching for a label that fits the project and then the next album will be on the way! Third, I work on music almost every day. It is difficult to force the creativity but as usual, some days it’s there and some days it isn’t. It’s more about practice and experimentation than it is about creating something cohesive. I use this time every day to learn how to grow my craft and sound. It’s a great system for me but I will admit it is very draining. 

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Phuture: Fav color. Fav food. Fav drink. Fav VST. 

alasen: My favorite color is green! The color of the trees! Favorite food is a difficult one, I would have to say pizza or french fries. My favorite drink is by far coffee. Its liquid energy, it gets me through each day. For VSTs? Surge is the best. It’s a free synth generator plugin that can do some really interesting and crazy stuff. Most of the synths and pads in my tracks are from Surge.

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Phuture: What advice do you have for upcoming producers trying to make a buzz / impact in the scene?

Alasen: Be yourself! It’s too easy to get caught up in popular styles and trends, but you should always make what you want to make. You’re not doing this for anyone but yourself. Also I think it’s important to do something different, bring something new to the table. I’m sure nobody wants to hear music just like everything that’s been done before. 

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Phuture: Ask us a question!

alasen: I was on the feedback streams a few times 4 or 5 years ago, and I loved it. You guys have created a real sense of community. Do you think I could host a feedback stream again one day?

Phuture: OF COURSE! Cept this time it’ll be on Audius hehe 🙂

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Phuture: What does the next year look like for ya? Any album / shows / streams / travel plans being put together?

alasen: This year I’ve been sticking to 1-2 tracks a month, keeping consistent after my debut album Void last January. I have more than enough music for another album, and it should be out on my other project before the end of the year. My band’s second album is also complete and the timeline is looking similar. I put together a little set for an online show called Backfest that’s happening sometime soon :). My band has a show on the 21st of this month at sleeping village in Chicago, and we are in talks of another on the 20th of next month. There also may be another US tour this year but only time will tell. Additionally I am looking to start playing shows for my alasen project! 

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Phuture: Name 5 artists who are going to rapidly emerge in 2022!

alasen: LYNY has been doing incredible things in the chicago scene and even the US as a whole. I see him going very far this year. Keeth has been dropping super consistently as well with many notable labels, and it’s something new every time. I think this year will be big for olswel, after the release of Brain Needle, I can only imagine what’s coming next. Milye is pushing deep into a new style of modern jazz, and there’s already a cult following. I think that same following will grow to a much bigger size before the end of 2022. My bands last tour was with a band called Waveform*, who just got signed to an incredible label called Run For Cover. I love the artists on that label, and I’m so proud to see my friends up there with them. Waveform* has played so many shows already this year, in addition to 2 tours already with more to come. There are so many good things on the way in the music world before the end of the year.

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Phuture: Anything else you wish to mention before we part ways until next time?

alasen: As always, thank you for everything. I send so much love to everyone for listening, reading, and being a part of this community.

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