#003 - Saucht
Welcome to our interview series, where we interview emerging creatives all over the globe!
Today, we will be interviewing Saucht, a Scottish producer who produces music in the lo-fi genre. Saucht has over 27k monthly listeners on Spotify and has been playing instruments for a long time before touching music production. Prior to exploring the lo-fi genre as a producer, Saucht was also part of a rock/nu-metal band back in the day.
We will now dive into the questions we have prepared for Saucht, get ready to dive in!
Hey, Saucht! We appreciate your interest in taking part in the FTWS interview series. How are you feeling today?
Hey, I'm good thanks... enjoying the sunshine this weekend (even if it’s still a bit chilly here in Scotland!). Thanks for inviting me to participate.
No problem! Glad you got a chance to enjoy some sunshine! Let's begin with our first question: Can you describe the steps you take to create a track? Do you begin with a melody, a rhythm, or a particular sound?
I've loved music and have played instruments for a long time, but am fairly new to music production. I think because of that I tend to put down a pad/drone to give a background, then just start noodling a melody and chords over the top (normally on piano) and see where that takes me. I rarely, if ever, start with drums or bass.
What production techniques and equipment are commonly used to achieve the signature lo-fi sound, and how have these evolved over time?
Interesting question! I think the definition of lo-fi has changed significantly and can mean very different things to different people. I've often thought that what I write and like to listen to is not very "lo-fi" (in the purest "low-fidelity" sense) at all. I tend to enjoy the rich, almost cinematic side of lo-fi and therefore normally reach for deeply sampled live instruments, lush pads, etc.
How has lo-fi music's popularity on streaming platforms and study playlists influenced the genre's development and the types of artists who create it?
I think lo-fi's relative simplicity (although that can be deceptive!) and broad range of sub-genres make it appealing and accessible to many artists. There’s a lot of freedom to experiment with different styles and no real right or wrong answer, other than perhaps sticking to the general tempo and drum grooves. The lo-fi community (particularly on Discord) is very warm and welcoming and generous with their knowledge and expertise. I’ve learned so much and have been given so many great opportunities, and would encourage anybody thinking about writing lo-fi to jump in and get involved.
What has been the most difficult obstacle you have faced in your music life thus far, and how did you resolve it?
I’m a bit of a perfectionist (or tend to over-analyse things at least) but being fairly early on in my music production journey, I don’t have all the knowledge and experience to pull that off. Because of that, there are loads of half-finished tracks on my computer because I’m too scared to finish them. I’m not sure that I’ve completely resolved this yet, but things like doing collaborations or submitting to compilation albums help because there’s another person or a deadline holding you to account.
Does your production style draw inspiration from artists or genres beyond lo-fi music, and have you worked with artists from diverse backgrounds?
I love loads of different types of music! Back in the day, I was in a rock/nu-metal band, but I also love genres like hip-hop, D&B, EDM, singer-songwriter, folk, trad…basically, if it’s a good song, I don’t really care what genre it is as long as it makes me feel something. Being Scottish, I really want to explore mixing traditional Celtic music with lofi…it’s a relatively unexplored niche that has loads of potential!
The demands of the music industry can be high. How do you strike a good balance between your personal well-being, creativity and performance?
I don’t really see myself as being in the music industry to be honest. I write music for fun and as a form of expression I guess, so treat it as a hobby. Because of that, I don’t put pressure on myself to be constantly releasing and am happy just to release a handful of tracks a year.
That concludes our interview with you. Thank you so much for participating! Would you like to share any new music or plans over the next few months?
Thanks for having me! I’ve got a new Asian-lofi track coming out on 14th April with the wonderful Chris Vybe and am working on another couple of tracks as we speak.
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