I began my music career first playing piano and alto saxophone throughout my childhood, then I was a DJ for a bit throughout the 1990s.

Artist Name: Audio Spectro

Where are you from?

Houston, Texas. Live in Washington, D.C. now.

How long have you been making music?

28 years

How many songs /albums have you released to date?

3 EPs, 1 LP, 4 singles, and 1 video

Can you tell us about your latest release and the background/inspirations behind it?

The latest release (1 June 2018) was Universe (DeepDownDirty Records, London, UK), which was a bit of a future sci-fi inspired Techno EP. Similarly, the newest release forthcoming in August 2018 is called Stella Somnia (Star Dreams in Latin), which carries forward the sci-fi theme, but conversely looks back as the whole EP is produced from much of my legacy analogue synths and drum machines (Moog, 808s). Stella Somnia is definitely a tip of the hat to late 70s and early 80s greats like Yaz, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, and Kraftwerk, but also to neo-synthwave influencers such as College, Stravinsky, and Empathy Test.

 How have you ended up in the music industry?

Force of will, really. I ghost wrote some pieces for singer/songwriters, remixed some, spent a lot of time learning the technology behind sound engineering. On a dare by one of my friends (who liked some tracks I produced for fun), I decided to produce for myself. I sent a track in on musicclout.com, and Nub Country Records in the London area picked me up. I release two singles, a video, an EP, and a LP (which was distributed by Warner Music UK). I was Twitter friends with a lady from Surrey, UK, and when she began her DeepDownDirty label, I hopped on to produce mostly Techno and Tech House. DeepDownDirty is really my “underground” label I produce for. And now I’m with Refrained Music, who are kindly releasing my newest neo-synthwave experiment, Stella Somnia.

 What do you think of the music industry in 2018?

I am pleased with the amount of innovation I’m hearing in the EDM world. Techno and Tech House tracks today have never sounded better, Progressive House production by artists such as Deadmau5 is some of the best music in the business. I am not pleased with streaming. Yes it’s easy and cheaper to buy a monthly rate over spending a lot of money on albums and EPs, but I think artists are being ripped off by the streaming services.

Who do you think is the most influential artist?

That’s changed for me throughout the years. I used to think Brian Transeau (BT) was THE most innovative and influential of all genres of EDM, but now you kind of have to break it down by genres these days. Tiesto, I think, is probably the most influential across EDM in general; but in Trance, you’ve got Armin Van Buuren, Goldie in Drum and Bass, and in House you’ve got Carl Cox. These guys, along with Paul Oakenfold who’s Perfecto Records released some of the most talented producers and remixes of mainstream songs, are the old men of electronic music now. I used to think Avicii was the next genius of EDM, but that candle burned out, unfortunately.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

I’ve remixed a track on Alastorworld’s My Dark Pleasure EP, and am now working with a vocalist and producer named Clea De Sebrock from London. She and I are producing a Deep House track together for release on a composition next year for charity. Clea will also sing on the track.

 How do you think you differ from other artists?

I hate to say it, but nothing I’ve produced is terribly unique. I follow the genre I produce in fairly well. Of course, I put in my twist or hook, but I try to keep it within the norms of each genre. Where I think I’m different from other producers is that I don’t stick to one genre of electronic music. I’ve produced House, Techno, Deep House, Tech House, Ambient, Progressive House, and now Synthwave. I like to change it up because I’d be bored doing the same music. I’m not rich from it, but I now produce for three different labels where my tracks differ greatly.

Dead or alive, who would be your dream collaboration?

That is a nerve-racking question because I think I’d be too nervous to work with some of the greats in the industry. But two very different people come to mind, a male and a female. Male is Gary Numan, a great innovator of electronic music; female, would be Vanessa van Hemert, who was the original singer for the Dutch Trance duo, 4 Strings. She has such a deep, rich voice, which is perfect for EDM.

What was the first album you bought?

Well, my parents bought my first album in 1980, which was The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan. While some might not recognize the album, most people will recognize its number one singe, “Cars.” Obviously one of the greatest Numan tracks, if not one of the best tracks of the 20^th Century. The first album I ever bought myself was Power, Corruption, & Lies by New Order. Great band.

What’s your favourite song at the moment?

That’s a loaded question, but after all these years and so many great tracks, I’d have to go with “I Feel Love,” but the 1998 re-work by Rollo and Sister Bliss of Faithless fame. Their more updated rolling and pulsating synths breathed new life into one of the Disco-era’s classics. Incidentally, before Rollo and Sister Bliss remixed “I Feel Love,” my favorite track was “Insomnia” by Faithless.

 If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album would you leave in your draw?

Easy. Depeche Mode’s Violator.

What is your favourite saying?

“Electronic music is only limited by the producer’s imagination.” I say it often. When you look at Rock and Country music, not much has changed. The innovation in both genres is the guitar feed-back. Not much else. EDM has evolved tremendously since Kraftwerk in the 70s.

 What other hobbies or interests do you have?

Netflix, winery hopping and whiskey. When I’m not watching while sipping, I’m producing.

Tell us more about this new project, Stella Somnia?

I listen to 80s synth and dance quite a lot. It’s the decade of my childhood and teens. My interest in electronic music was shaped by that decade. From early Synth Pop and Industrial to the invention of House in Chicago and Techno in Detroit, a lot changed. Because College and Stravinsky have both been successful bringing back that synthwave sound, I decided that I’d like to pay homage to my childhood music by producing something that pulled from both my interest in the synthwave style and my love of sci-fi. If you look closely, the titles of the tracks in the order they’re listed on the EP tells a very short story. One of my friends advised me that when producing an EP or album, just try to tell a story.

What’s in the pipeline after this project?

I’m already working on a Techno track, but don’t really know where that’s heading yet. If the collaboration with Clea de Sebrock works out, I’d like to work with her to produce an all vocal EP or possibly an album of vocal and music only tracks.

Stella Somnia EP By Audio Spectro Out On 17/8/18