Sydney based producer cat Kilter is gearing up for the release of his new single “Coward” feat Ngaiire after successfully touring Australia earlier this year. In the build up to his shows and our collaboration with The Australian Institute of Music, where we will be offering two producers a chance to submit their demo for a studio session with the man himself (Enter here), we caught up to chat success, studio set up, ADM boy bands and more!

Having done multiple tours of Australia this year and achieved lots of success with your music, what is your next goal as a musician?

 

Thanks! I think when you are doing music every day and transitioning between treating it as a hobby to it becoming your career the most important thing is to keep having fun. Iʼm focusing real hard on writing new material at the moment but trying not to put pressure on myself to write in a certain way or compete with what other people are doing. Instead I am making sure I am still enjoying myself, staying creative as I come up with a solid next work.

What are Kilter’s essential items for the studio?

 

For ages iʼve actually had a real basic studio set up rocking a MPK49 midi keyboard, a good set of monitor speakers and a pair of studio headphones. For some tracks like my remix for Snakadaktal and Mo iʼve recorded live drums, mostly Hi-Hats, Snares and small percussion. I actually grew up playing drums so this is easier for me than trying to program in natural swing and rhythm.

Until recently that was just about all the live tracking I would do. Now I like to record my Microkorg and Roland Gaia instead of using software synths and I have a couple of stompbox pedals that I can run them through to make some wacky sounds- lots of fun!

When you enter a studio, do you have a structure to a session making music?

 

I wish haha! I mostly start by jamming out chord progressions and messing around with synths-recording what I come up with to chop up later and use as building blocks for an idea. Sometimes if I find interesting percussion and drum sounds I might start with a beat but itʼs normally something melodic first. More often than not I get frustrated and stuck, a good way to get around that is messing with some stems or acappellas and then pulling it all out once your own ideas have started taking shape.

What’s your DAW of choice?

 

I use and have always used Ableton Live. Starting off it was far less daunting than ProTools or Logic with the option to work in a loop based mode where you are able to quickly throw down ideas on the fly. I quickly grew out of this way of working as I found it difficult to build a progressive and flowing structure whereas the arrangement view allows a more song-writing style of thinking. I also use Sylenth and Synplant for all most all of my synth sounds as well as UVI Workstation for custom instruments and sounds.

What do you look for in working with someone on a track?

 

The initial attraction is that I enjoy their music, but what really makes me excited to work with other musicians and producers who might look at things in a different way to myself. For example working with a singer song writer on a dance track would take the tune in a different direction to working with another dance producer.

Also people with very different skill sets. I work quite closely with a guitarist called Tim Lockwood whose playing might inject interesting voicings or jazz chords that I wouldnʼt have necessarily thought of which can sometimes change the whole direction of the track. I much prefer this than working with a producer with similar tastes/skills and style to myself.

Which Australians would you like to see collaborate and why?

 

ADM Boy Band with Ben from Safia, The Kite String Tangle, Jordan Rakei and Oscar Key Sung. #DREAMY

To go in with the chance to win a session with Kilter ENTER HERE!