Check out this week’s feature by From The Dust!

What was the exact moment you knew you wanted to make music?

Well, I suppose it was about 2011 or so, and I was really digging the bass music scene. I was about 16 at the time, and I was never really a die hard fan of any of the producers, until I heard Cyberoptics. His sound was just mental at the time, and I was so interested in making something to make people feel the energy and drive that his music gave me. It wasn’t long into the process that I realized I had gotten in far over my head, haha.

How did you come up with the name “From The Dust”?

The name came to me about 2 years ago. It was the thought of creation, and the meaning is interpretation. You can take it as biblical, or in my case, scientific. Like from the star dust. I couldn’t think of anything better to represent creation, than From The Dust, it just had such a ring to it.

What inspires you to make music?

The main drive I have for creating music, is the feeling I get inside of me when I play a beautiful melody I plucked from my head, or layout a melancholy piano progression that makes me think deep and feel. I make music so that the people who listen to it can feel the things I do, and hopefully become an artist that inspires people to do great things, like many artists have done for me over the years. I want to give feelings, inspiration, and hope that if I can make beautiful music and once knew nothing of it, they can do the same one day.

What were your music influences growing up?

Growing up I had no musical talent, and hardly any musical taste. I believe I had it dwelling within me, but I couldn’t get it out in my current state. I was poor, had no electronics, and certainly wasn’t listening to the latest releases or learning to play the piano or guitar. One day I got into a DAW, I was about sixteen, and worked, and worked, and worked for years. Through trial and error I learned chord progressions, in-depth sound design, improvisation ability, mixing and mastering, etc.

Who are some of your favorite artists right now?

That’s a very hard question, as I love hundreds of artists. I would say my top favorites right now are probably Panda Eyes, Virtual Riot, Teminite, and Killabyte.

You have quite the unique sound which is not found anywhere else. How would you describe it to those that are not familiar with your music?

As far as my sound goes, I suppose I really got a lot of inspiration from Panda Eyes to be honest. When I started listening to his music, it gave me the melodic inspiration I needed to take my stuff to the next level from where I was. I began doing a lot of 110bpm melodic, and then I decided to take the style I had been using in the 110bpm and move it over to 140-160bpm Melodic Dubstep. I tried to kind of focus on a mix of gnarly sounds, beautiful melodies, and huge supersaws, all sitting peacefully in one chorus. I don’t know if I have any crazy story to tell you about how I get my sounds and notes, other than the fact that it’s just what comes to me, haha.

What kind of emotions do you want others to feel when listening to your music?

Well, I try to start it on a down, even sometimes depressing tone, and when the chorus comes I really want it to feel triumphant! Like we picked ourselves up out of the dirt, and did something. Did something amazing, and we’ve made it. We have drive now, and power!

What’s your favorite track you’ve produced up to date?

That’s a very hard one, I would have to say my favorite track that I’ve produced is Soryntheria VIP

What would you say is something that contributes to your success?

I was stuck in life, and really struggling. My life was going nowhere at the time, as I was pretty bad, off and on drugs, and not putting enough attention or emotion towards music whatsoever. At this point, I met my girlfriend of four years now, and made the decision to move in with her and her parents. They took care of me as if I were their own child. Put me in college, fed me, and gave me all the time in the world that I could need to get going. Being all musicians themselves, it really gave me the drive and attitude to progress in music. It was about two years ago, when I started From The Dust, that I had decided to make it my career, and it would not have been possible without them.

Any exciting projects and collaborations for the rest of 2016? What can we expect from you next?

I have a few surprises and big collabs in store, but nothing I can reveal to you yet. I do however, have a collaboration with a good friend of mine, 32 Bit Cartridge, that will be dropping on Argofox within the next couple weeks titled, “Atmosphere.” It’s a 110bpm melodic bass music hybrid track, that’s sure to blow you guys away.

How is the dance music scene where you are from/currently live now?

Completely dead. There are probably two producers that I know from my state itself, and most people here can’t even tell the difference between a producer, and a dj. So it gets frustrating at times.

Who would be a dream collaboration for you?

Panda Eyes. His music was very inspirational for me. I get crazy goosebumps every time I hear “The Lights.”

In your opinion, who are some upcoming artists to be on the lookout for right now?

Script, Lonemoon, Dead Critic, Our Enemies, Killabyte, and too many amazing producers for me to state.

What do you think a lot of up and coming producers are struggling with in today’s industry?

I would say that most artists today are struggling with repetition. Trying to sound like this person, and that person, and not just doing their own thing. It’s all complicated though, because if you do something and it sounds like someone else, it’s not a big deal, and if you get inspiration from an artist, and it sounds similar, it’s also not a big deal. But there are many artists right now especially in the dubstep scene who are just blatantly ripping off other producers, and even using ghost producers because they can’t get a sound they’re looking for, which I highly look down upon.

How can we bridge that gap or find a solution to helping them better succeed?

They just have to get alone with their DAW for a good time, and forget what they’ve heard. Just make some stuff from the soul, for as long as they can. They don’t have to release anything, just toy around. This is how some of these artists get these new odd sounds that everyone loves. Also inspiration is fine, but you should get a sound that you like from an artist, and completely rework it in your own way, make it sound unique. This is all my opinion of course.

Tell us about he biggest challenge you face as a producer. What do you do to overcome this?

The biggest challenge is time. I work every day, morning to night, 6 days a week. I try to squeeze in production as much as possible. I will work all day, and stay up until 2 or 4 am working on something. So I’ll wake up tired, work tired, and make music tired, and stressed out. But I have to do it, because I’m definitely not going to give up on my dream that I’ve pushed this hard for. I’m nowhere near where I need to be, but getting there is worth the struggle.

What is the best way to connect with you?

The best form of contact would be Soundcloud for sure.

Follow him on his socials:

https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusic

https://www.youtube.com/user/MMMontageMusic/search?query=from+the+dust