DJ Dris has been making waves on the Electronic Music scene with his innovative blend of Afro House and Tribal sounds. His latest track, ‘Afrocana,’ exemplified his ability to infuse energetic vibes with groovy beats that captivate listeners on the dancefloor.
In this exclusive behind-the-scenes interview, DJ Dris opens up about the creative process behind ‘Afrocana,’ the techniques used, and his hopes for how the track will resonate with his audience.
Join us as we delve into the mind of DJ Dris and uncover the inspirations and techniques that make his music unique.
Hi DJ Dris, how are you? Congrats on the release of ‘Afrocana’!
Thank you, I am good.
What inspired you to create this track and how did the idea for it come about?
It was really just my feelings, to be honest, and trying to delve into much darker sounds.
Can you walk us through your creative process when producing ‘Afrocana’ from start to finish?
I started with the drum pattern and then went with the bassline. This track, I wanted to keep it very hollow to give it that real grittiness. From there, I added a few stabs and looked for a fitting vocal. Once I had that, the rest was just about the arrangement to create spaces in the track for people in club environments to be able to vibe to.
Were there any particular challenges you encountered while working on this track and how did you overcome them?
I think the main challenge I had at that time was getting original vocals, and I solved this by going through Splice.
What was the role of collaboration in the making of ‘Afrocana’? Did you work with other musicians or producers?
This was a solo effort at the time. I created it, mixed it, and mastered it myself.
Can you discuss the instrumentation and sound design choices you made for this production and how they contribute to the overall vibe of the track?
It’s interesting because, in hindsight, at the time, I was just doing what I felt. I was still quite early on in my career within Afro House, so I rarely used a lot of plugins. I think I used high-pass filters on shakers and brought down the tops a bit on the saw bass using a low-pass EQ, but other than that, I stayed relatively stock.
Did you face any creative roadblocks during the production of ‘Afrocana’ and if so, how did you navigate them?
Other than the vocal issue I mentioned earlier, there wasn’t really anything else.
Were there any specific musical influences or inspirations that guided the direction of ‘Afrocana’?
No, it was just more how I felt. I was listening to a lot of Tribal House, and it resonated in the track.
How do you approach mixing and mastering your track?
I was using the full iZotope suite as I was looking into a lot more gear but was very conflicted at the time. So, I would add all my EQs and compression where needed on individual instruments. Then I would start to mix/level instruments to where I thought they blended well. After that, I would master using a reference track and let iZotope do its thing.
Did you experiment with any new production techniques or software while working on this track?
At the time, I was very much using iZotope a lot, so it was about perfecting my use of the software bundle. I really liked their EQs, especially for the masking features. That was a huge game changer for me at the time.
What do you hope listeners take away from ‘Afrocana’ both musically and emotionally?
I hope they feel the track adds energy to them, that drive, that get-up-and-go. It’s high energy, and I hope listeners feel that.
As we wrap up our conversation with DJ Dris, it is evident that his dedication to crafting unique and energetic music continues to push him forward. His journey through the production of this track highlights his commitment towards his craft, elevating his abilities and approach while staying authentic in his style.
We look forward to seeing how DJ Dris continues to evolve as he carries on carving out a distinct way within Electronic Music. Keep up with DJ Dris via social media to stay updated on his latest projects and releases.
Listen to the track below.
