Kaysoul
South African producer Kaysoul shares insights into his production process making his track Mr Lous, how he would tell his younger self to be more confident and discusses at length the structure it takes to be a self-sustaining artist in the current climate.
KaySoul is a House DJ/record producer from Johannesburg, South Africa. He began making music in the year 2010 till present. He draws inspiration from Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers and also he is inspired by everything around him. Hailing from Kwa-Thema, Springs in the East Rand of Johannesburg.
In 2018, he won best "Male" and "Remixer" categories at the 2018 Dance Music South Africa.
Could you tell us a bit about the process of making your track? How did it come about? Can you remember where you wrote it? What methods did you use to produce it?
The process of making the track "Mr Lous" is not long...I wrote the track on my computer in my bedroom studio using Fruityloops Studio 10 and I was using mainly plug-ins to come up with different sounds and texture.
Firstly, I started by programming the drum section and played some synth using a plug-in that emulates odyssey, added synth using Roland Juno plug-in and then played some Rhodes using Fender Rhodes plug-ins and lastly, I played bassline using Roland Juno plug-in.
If you could go back in time and give guidance to your younger self, what would you say that would impact your career the most?
- If I could go back in time and give guidance to my younger self, I would definitely look myself in the mirror and have a one on one conversation with the younger me and say to myself, "never doubt yourself, take risks more, be confident enough with your creation, be proud of your roots and don't forget to stay true to yourself."
The common saying “ Starving Artist”, describes the all too common path of artists and their lack of commercial success. Yet, millions of new artists emerge every year, hoping to make a living from their art. In your opinion, is art compatible with money? How do you stay authentic in your music when your livelihood depends on it?
- In my opinion, art is compatible with money because it's also work like any other paying work in the world because we as artists, we also deserve to be paid for our work, the energy and time we put when we are creating.
I always strive for originality in my music and I don't follow trends or try to mimic a sound of a particular artist or producer. I want to create something that makes my soul happy and something to be proud of when it's out there or released.
My art or music will connect with the right people who are willing to pay for it.
How do you feel about music producers having to DJ in order to bring in an income? What would you need to be fully dedicated to music production? Do you think it’s still possible to make a living strictly from production?
Music producers needing to DJ to make a living is a mixed bag. On one hand, DJing can be a great way to showcase their productions and connect with fans. On the other hand, it can take away from production time and create an artist who's spread too thin .
To be fully dedicated to music production, in my opinion you'd need the following things:
- A solid client base (think artists, labels, or agencies)
- A consistent flow of commissions or royalties
- Strong networking skills to collaborate with other producers, artists, and industry pros
- Business savvy to handle finances, contracts, and marketing
Making a living strictly from production is challenging, but possible. Successful producers often diversify their income streams in the following ways:
- Produce for other artists or labels
- Release their own music (EPs, albums, singles)
- Create and sell sample packs or presets
- Offer mixing/mastering services
- Teach production skills online or in-person
Do you have a ritual when composing music and how do you stay inspired after all these years?
- Yes, I have a ritual when composing music, I always start my tracks by programming the drum section and build from there. I stay inspired by listening to different genres of music, reading music publications or artists interviews to learn more about how they think and approach certain things in music and in life as well.