Royal Brandy is an Dutch based house music artist with a feel good sound we love! We spoke to him recently about his new \u201cThe Setup\u201d Ep and how his 2023 has started off for him…<\/p>\n
Hey RB, how are you, what’s good and bad in your world in 2023 so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with the bad: I have a lot of music in me, and I need more hours in a day. The good: this music being released is such a great thing. Plus, I\u2019m able to make room for the other music I was working on, so that\u2019s even better. I am really thankful for being able to do what I do.<\/p>\n What inspired the new one on Vivent Records? What was the aim?<\/strong><\/p>\n I guess I just wanted to do House music with great soulful vocals, first and foremost. But also introducing elements that I think we don\u2019t get enough of, like funky basslines, beautiful Rhodes and Wurlitzer sounds. It\u2019s almost like creating old new memories. So last year I was able to put together a bunch of great collaborations. Such talent and the result blows me away!<\/p>\n Does where and when you write music affect what comes out?<\/strong><\/p>\n Not really. This music lives in my head all the time and the challenge is to materialize every single idea AND find time to get some sleep. I wish I didn\u2019t have to sleep, like ever! But I can focus pretty much anywhere so I am able to make the song what I wanted to make, regardless of the setting. It can either be the studio, a 3-hour flight or a sunny vacation.<\/p>\n Do you capture your emotions at the time or are they more considered than that, designed with a certain place in mind?<\/strong><\/p>\n I take mental snapshots of that moment. And music is also a way to both express and process whatever feeling I am experiencing. It\u2019s such a great therapy.<\/p>\n What gear do you use in the studio to make your music and are you a gear or software nut?<\/strong><\/p>\n I have been using Pro Tools from pretty much the beginning, so it\u2019s been almost 20 years for me. I have worked with Logic Pro as well and it\u2019s such a great tool, but Pro Tools makes more sense to me. Gear or software? Both! I am a nerd and I love the tools, the hardware and the plugins, I actually read every single product manual.<\/p>\n I remember this rockstar saying how this generation doesn\u2019t know the smell of a LA-2a and real tubes, and I do get his point. But today we can insert as many plugin LA-2a\u2019s as we want and enjoy the ease of instant recall and portability. So I\u2019m all the way plugins: Spectrasonics Ominsphere and Trilian, Arturia instrument plugins, Plugin Alliance, SSL channel strip plugins, as well as recording guitar, bass and drums at home. Regarding the debate what sounds better: virtual or analog? I\u2019d say use what you can afford. I am just happy that money is becoming less of an issue or impediment. You can make music on a shoestring.<\/p>\n