Nosaj Thingmeets
Tape MELLO-FI
Whether he’s producing some of the most renowned pioneers in hip hop and electronic music, crafting deeply emotive instrumental albums, or creating elaborate audiovisual live performances, Nosaj Thing only finds the inspiration he’s looking for by getting lost in it.
We caught up with him in the studio to talk software vs. hardware, getting into the zone, and how Tape MELLO-FI has become his go-to vibe generator.
“The goal is just to make the music you want to make without having to think too much.”
Enjoying the process
Making music since the age of 12, Jason Chung, a.k.a. Nosaj Thing has honed his software workflow to a fine point. Since the mid ‘00s, he’s made a name for himself as a producer on the LA scene working with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Chance The Rapper, and Kid Cudi among others.
A good friend of mine just passed me some software and I just started making beats and never looked back.
But his collaborations with some of the world’s most daring artists aren’t his only outlet; since 2006, he’s been releasing his own music, a purely creative endeavor, that seamlessly blends elements of trap, electronic, trip hop, and more. In doing so, he’s cultivated a process of perpetual creativity, learning something new every time, with each project helping to inspire the next one.
I just enjoy seeing the process and always learning something new by working with new artists. I always take that and take it into consideration for my next projects.
Beauty in efficiency
Chung learned the ropes using software, and remains committed to working in the box to this day. Some music makers favor the tactility and responsiveness of hardware; Chung prefers the immediacy and flexibility of software. And while some may be overwhelmed by the choice nowadays, he welcomes it as a never-ending source of inspiration.
I’m always researching and looking for new plugins, that also inspires me a lot. I feel like these days, plugins inspire me more than hardware, just because I started with software. The beauty is that it’s more efficient, quicker to work with.
His search for inspiring plugins is what led him to Arturia. He notes that a huge part of the appeal in V Collection, FX Collection, and other titles is the level of detail and the subtleties of their behavior. Authentic yet embellished, timeless yet forward-thinking.
I feel like the Arturia plugins have this nuance and subtlety about them. It sounds analog but it sounds like its own analog. It sounds futuristic to me.
Ultimately, when Nosaj Thing speaks of his preference of software and his appreciation for Arturia’s plugins, it all comes back to a simple aim: maintaining a workflow that requires as little thought or interruption as possible. As soon as an idea strikes, he moves with it. To keep this up, he needs quick results, intuitive functionality, and responsive controls that allow total immersion.
When I’m creating, I feel like I make the best work when I’m not thinking about anything. I just let it happen.
On Tape MELLO-FI
Chung is a master of imbuing every beat, composition, or musical motif with a vibe, an atmosphere. This might mean tapping into individual components or boldly processing his mix bus to add imperfections, movement, character. That’s where tape plugins come in, emulating the warmth and unmistakable artifacts that aged magnetic tape can bring. Tape MELLO-FI takes this simple concept and takes it to another level.
Tape MELLO-FI is like the next generation tape plugin.
Sat in the studio, we get a glimpse of how Chung incorporates Tape MELLO-FI into his process. First, he explores the different parameters on a recording of his CS-50 analog synth - some subtle airy pads. By toying with different degrees of tape wear, age, and mechanical sounds, he transforms this straightforward pad sound into a much more interesting texture. Next, he adds some flutter and wear to a drum track, also experimenting with the built-in tape stop feature for that irresistible slow-down effect.
With this new tape plugin, I use it on every track… I use a lot of tape plugins, and I feel like this one just has the right nuances to make it sound believable.
High praise
The efficiency and flexibility of software plugins is what Nosaj Thing needs to do what he does best - get into the zone and create freely without hindrance. Plugins like Tape MELLO-FI are designed not only to give you the instant coloration and character needed for this kind of flow, but also the depth and detail when it’s called for. It’s not an easy balance to strike - but if it works for Chung, it works for us.
I’d definitely recommend Arturia for sound design. There’s just a lot of versatility there.
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