DIIPSILENCE – interview

Interview with the LA based electronic/ambient music creator DiipSilence, actual with the latest lelease Big Hand, https://tr.ee/8xvykALgfu

We talked about how the soundscapes are created and what inspires the music, what are the plans and hopes for the future and some details about current releases. Enjoy!

Introduce your band, and describe your latest release:

Hello this is DiipSilence, I’m a Chinese electronic music producer based in LA. My new single release “Big Hand” uses the metaphor of a big hand to illustrate the sense of restraint that various obstacles in life impose on individuals.

There are moments when I feel tightly held by an invisible force, hindering my spirit to chase freedom. Emerging from this emotional backdrop, the song articulates a profound yearning for freedom and ease in everyday life. The notion of metamorphosing into immortals or wild beasts is not deemed inherently detrimental; instead, it symbolizes a form of freedom that transcends conventional boundaries, liberating individuals from the limitations imposed by reality.

What’s the hardest part about being a band in this day and age?

The hardest part for me is to be a one-person band. Handling everything from composing, producing, singing, mixing, and mastering to creating videos and distribution—it’s overwhelming! It’s like juggling a million things at once. I need to pour my heart and soul into crafting killer melodies, nailing vocal performances, and perfecting the arrangement and sound. And let’s not forget about making eye-catching videos that match the music. Plus, there’s the whole distributing. marketing and promotion game. It’s a lot, but it’s also an incredible journey of growth and self-expression.

When did you realise that your project had the potential to be much more than just a fun idea?

So, I used to write music just for fun because my major was math. But here’s the thing—I’ve always had love for both math and music. And one day, it hit me like a ton of bricks: these two things could actually be connected! Like Ancient African drummers actually used Euclidean sequencers in their beats. The note length, rhythm, and the frequencies that relate to music production—they’re all tightly intertwined with math. It was a light bulb moment, suddenly pursuing a career in music didn’t seem so far-fetched. I mean, why not give it a shot? So that’s when I made up my mind and decided to dive headfirst into the world of music.

Tell us about your latest release, why should we check it out?

I blend modular synth and field recordings in this song to strike a balance between organic and electronic music elements. The modular synth’s resonating tones is a representative of the “big hand” or obstacles in our life, while the field recordings capture the essence of the nature or human environment. The lyrics draw inspiration from Chinese poetry, Buddhism, and Taoism, infusing profound ancient wisdom into the composition. I enjoy the rhythm and lyrical beauty found in ancient Chinese poetry. It has the remarkable ability to convey countless emotions and imagery using minimal words.

How does a song typically come together for you?

In my creative process, I usually begin by establishing a sound palette. I usually will go out for a field recording trip to capture the sounds in my surroundings. Whether it’s the ambience of the nature, the pulse of the city, the harmonies of wildlife, or the fluidity of a flowing river, my goal is to gather a diverse range of audio material. Returning to my studio, I do sound design on my computer or hardware modular synth, transforming these field recordings into unique and unrecognizable instruments. These elements provide a strong foundation for my music, allowing me the freedom to explore and compose. Starting with the most prominent “instrument” I’ve created, I gradually construct melodies and build upon them, letting the music take shape naturally.

How would you describe your sound to an unfamiliar reader?
I’ll describe my music like “Everything can be music.” My experimental electronic tune is just from daily life surrounding sound. I’m more than happy to show the contrast of what the sound actually is vs. what it sounds now in the track. Sometimes, I can’t even recognize which sound the track originated from—it’s like a wild game of “Guess the Source!”

What do you want listeners to take away from listening to your band?

I want the listeners to be able to see the scenery that I witnessed while producing my music. For instance, my latest album “The Ten,” which draws inspiration from ten locations across national parks that I’ve recorded over the past few years. Each track captured a scene in a specific national park. I sound designed the cracking of icebergs in Alaska, the flowing sands of New Mexico, or the gentle current of a river in Yellowstone via modular synth and made them unrecognizable. So it’s not like a river sounds like a river, is a river sounds like a weird pad or something lol. I hope my listeners can envision the picture and unfold the memories in their life while listening to the my tracks.

Where would you really like to tour that you haven’t done so yet, and why?

China is my hometown, but I’ve never actually had the chance to perform there. It’s always been a dream of mine to go on tour in China and share my music with the people who grew up in the same place as me. The thought of finally having a show in my own backyard fills me with a mix of excitement and nostalgia.

How would you say that the sound of your band has progressed over the years?

My sound design skills have come a long way, and my music styles are slowly changing over time. Like from Chillout to Chillstep, from Trip-Hop to Trap, etc. Sound is like the driving force behind my music, to create a sound that nobody heard before is an exciting journey for me. I’ve spent years diving into the world of synthesizers, and using modular synth, wave table synth, additive synth, subtractive synth, all kinds of synth. I take all those skills and mix ’em up to create my own unique sound palette. As a result, my sound keeps getting weirder and weirder haha, in the coolest way possible.

How excited are you for 2023, and what can fans expect from you?

2023 is a big year for me since I returned to China for a trip and had a profound realization. It became evident that I should dive deeper into creating music that bridges the gap between both side of the world. While LA has it’s own vibrant music scene, I couldn’t ignore the Eastern wisdom from my hometown. I wish I can blend the concepts and influences from the East and the West in my creation, and bring out more interesting tracks to my fans. So, stay tuned, because there’s a whole world of awe-inspiring music coming your way!

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/diipsilence