Q&A: Exchanging Ideas In A Creative Space, Bad Tuner Talks EP 'self-care'
SHOWCASING HIS ARTISTRY IN EVERY WAY — bad tuner’s newest project self-care is finally here, so get ready to listen. This project served as an outlet for bad tuner during the quarantine period in New York City, showcasing his artistry in every way. In 12 minutes, bad tuner takes us on a journey that is outside of our heads and into his world — one that includes soccer in the mornings and tacos. self-care is escapism, told solely with drums and a bit of groove, that transports the listener into a headspace of dancing with friends — exactly the energy that 2021 needs.
Below bad turner talks about his creative process, project inspiration, and his love for energy that inspires.
LUNA: Who or what influenced you to pursue a career in house music?
BAD TUNER: Seeing house music out at a club is what solidified it for me. The energy in those rooms is amazing and that's something I think about constantly when working on new music. Some standout influences for the set was seeing Booka Shade & Nightmares on Wax — their track selection and energy was very inspiring.
LUNA: What is creating like for you? Do you have a fail-proof process to get your brain into a creative mindset or is the process different depending on what you’re making?
BAD TUNER: Recently I’ve been focusing on writing chord progressions that break out of my standard progressions. Once I have some chords I enjoy listening to, I get going on programming drums and a groove that compliments the feel of the song. I enjoy manipulating samples, pitching vocals, and modifying sounds to create a world that feels familiar and new at the same time.
LUNA: To segue off of that, where do you find inspiration? Are you one of those musicians that hears a sound and immediately wants to make it your own and put it in a song?
BAD TUNER: I find my inspiration through my peers. I try to engage in the conversation that exists and move the sound where I feel like the next step is. It’s an ongoing discourse. It's an exchange of ideas and sounds and I try to communicate my place in the current landscape.
LUNA: I heard a sneak peek of your newest EP — I love it! Electronic music isn’t my first choice, but this makes me want to dive deeper into the genre. For someone like me, who do you suggest I start with to get the best representation of what the genre is?
BAD TUNER: Thank you! Some of my favorite artists that I feel like are doing an awesome job of creating a new electronic sound are: Girls of the Internet, TSHA, 박혜진 Park Hye Jin, Fred Again, Sofia Kourtesis — it’s not pure house and not pop, but a blend that I really enjoy. It's raw and non-formulaic which makes each song a new experience.
LUNA: What were you setting out to accomplish with self-care ?
BAD TUNER: With this EP, I wanted to create a body of work that displayed my writing and production style, focusing on collaboration with artists all around the world. It was also my way of coping with the isolating time of quarantine in New York City. I worked with artists and visual creators to help construct a fictional world that I was stuck in.
LUNA: Did you pick up any habits while making the EP? What foods did you eat a lot of during your studio time?
BAD TUNER: Some habits I picked up during the writing of this EP was playing soccer in the mornings. It helped me clear my head and get some exercise before getting back to the studio. Bushwick has awesome tacos and I took full advantage of that.
LUNA: How’s Brooklyn? What’s your favorite part about living in that city?
BAD TUNER: Brooklyn is an amazing city. It has the energy of New York but the buildings are low enough and spaced out that you still have a skyline and a neighborhood feel. Each neighborhood has a different energy and currently I am in Bedstuy. My favorite part about living in NY is the emphasis on shows and the sounds that artists are creating here.
LUNA: What are you hoping the last half of 2021 brings?
BAD TUNER: I hope to play these songs out in the world. There’s nothing like dancing with your friends and experiencing music together.
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