Narch Interview

What inspired you to start creating music? How long have you been creating music for?

I've been creating music since high school, around 2004-2005. It started as a hobby when I got a computer for school and wanted to explore interesting programs beyond Microsoft Word. A friend introduced me to 3D loops, and I got hooked. Every day after school, I would come home and write tunes. It all began with my enjoyment of the music-writing process. During my first week of high school, they gathered everyone in a seminar room and played different chords, asking us to identify the number of notes. It was a new experience, and I gave it my best shot. They were impressed and recommended that I take music as a subject. At the time, though, I was heavily into heavy metal and punk rock, so I didn't pursue formal music education and classes. Instead, I picked up the electric guitar, which felt easier for me. I started by listening to music and figuring out how to play songs without relying on reading sheet music. The guitar became my first instrument.

Have you had any placements and with whom have you had these placements?

In my musical journey, I initially pursued a career as a chef but eventually decided to focus on music. I started a group with a friend and had success in Africa, touring Australia and the UK. My primary focus was writing music for that project, and I didn't collaborate extensively with other artists at the time. However, over the past seven years, since the split of the group, I've been actively collaborating with other artists. I've worked with international artists like On Foot and Rihanna's Savage and Fenty for their fashion shows. Stella McCartney also used some of my tracks for her fashion show. Additionally, I've produced for local artists such as Non-spirit Jack Para, among others.

What samples do you normally like using when creating your own beats?

I tend to stick with the classics. I love the sound of old drum machines, and I rarely modify them. Since I write different styles of music, I find analog drum machines perfect for creating weird '80s synth-pop sounds. However, I don't sample much, except for a collection of curated drum samples that I've gathered. I didn't come up in the hip-hop scene where vinyl sampling was prevalent. Instead, I had access to old synthesizers and gear lying around South Africa, so I often sampled synths.

What was the vibe that you tried to create with your sample pack?

For this sound pack, I wanted to capture a specific vibe. I recorded sounds from the original Jupiter 8 and called it "The Old Cork Image." I also used analog drum machine samples sent through vintage fuzz pedals from the late '60s and early '70s. The result is a collection of dirty, saturated 808s and other gritty sounds.

How do you see other creators using this pack?

I envision other creators continuing the journey from where I left off. The pack includes melodic loops that serve as great starting points for someone to add vocals or build upon. It's an opportunity for others to begin their own creative process, just like I did.

Do you have any tips or tricks for creators using this pack?

My advice would be to experiment as much as possible. Try flipping the samples, reversing them, pitching them up and down—just let your creativity run wild.

What piece of advice would you give to upcoming creators?

I believe the most important thing is to have fun. If you're not enjoying the process, it's hard to understand why you would be making music in the first place.

Who are your top three producers of all time?

My top three producers of all time would definitely be Timbaland, Mike Levy from Gesaffelstein, and Williams.

What is your favorite studio snack?

Robust tea. It's a unique tea that is grown in a small town in South Africa.

What's your dream collaboration?

I would love to collaborate with The Weeknd. I think his style would complement the old '80s drum machines perfectly.

Interview by Sean P. Jones

You can check out Narch's sample pack here.