To pigeonhole sim in one style would be a mistake. He is too versatile for that. The lowest common denominator is the incredible quality that runs like a thread through all his productions. His self-recorded instrument samples -mainly bass- give his music an organic feel that only a few users on Audiotool can match. Recently, he has attracted attention with a stunning Synthwave banger he produced in collaboration with Icebox. The bronze medal for this one in the Audiotool Day contest was much more than deserved.

[Editor's Note: some extra sympathy points for choosing the Pulverisateur as his favourite device.]

Interview:

About Simon aka https://www.audiotool.com/user/jewan/ aka https://www.audiotool.com/user/laidux

I'm from the rural deep south, the state of Mississippi to be exact. I live in a quiet little town, far enough away from civilization to where I can thoroughly enjoy the incredible natural beauty and rich musical heritage that exists around me. It was around 8 or so years ago when I stumbled across Audiotool while searching for a "free online dubstep maker" on my less-than-reliable internet connection, lol. During those days, all I wanted to make was dubstep, but upon realizing the steep learning curve associated with it, changed course. I distinctly remember playing around with samples and staying up until the wee hours of the morning trying to teach myself how to make proper EDM. My journey on AT has been a very non-linear escapade through different genres and styles (and accounts, haha) that I either come up with as I'm experimenting in the app or enjoy listening to on my own. If I had to name some favorite styles/genres though, I would say synthwave, ambient and IDM rate fairly highly, sticking strictly to electronica.

Describe the style of music you produce

It's kind of hard to self-categorize the kind of music I make haha. I just enjoy exploring the depths of sound design and making swirly, bombastic sketches. simwave perhaps?

What is your musical background and when did you start making music?

I grew up in a musical family, my mother is a singer/songwriter and keyboardist, my father is an avid fan of many classic bands/artists that have in some way or another contributed to my musicality, and my brother is an incredible guitarist who risked it all to move to the city and try to make it big. I didn't actually start making or even listening to music on my own until I was around 12-13, though. From that point onwards it's just been a steady progression. Outside of making silly beats here on AT, I’m just your typical wanna-be-guitarist bassist. I’ve played with a couple of gigging rock/country bands and am currently playing in a jazz combo with some of the best musicians that I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

What is your favorite Audiotool device and why?

The pulverisateur definitely. I see a lot of people opting for more complicated synthesizers all the time, but for me, simplicity is key. Everything you do on the pulv has some weight, and contributes in important, incredibly nuanced ways. The devil really is in the details. Also with the pulverisateur, it's super easy to get that warm, analog, slightly-off sound that I just love experimenting and creating with.

What is your favourite trick in AT/What technique do you always use?

No tricks! Just straight up tried & true synth-level sound design, eq, and spatial touches. The techniques I use change all the time due to the specific needs a particular track. Something I always do is make the bass a valuable melodic asset in the mix though. I could, and gladly will if asked, go on about my methodology but that’s a whole other beast…

Have you ever had a writer's block? If so, how did you deal with it and what do you recommend to your colleagues?

All. The. Damn. Time. I live in a perpetual state of artist block these days. The best way I have found to deal with it is to just go in with a truly open mind and let your ideas ebb and flow, no matter how stupid you think it sounds. Surround yourself with good music, good company, and good times as well. That really gets the creative juices flowing and provides an outlet for when creating just really isn’t your thing in the current moment.

What has helped you the most on Audiotool to improve and widen your musical horizon?

Straight up experimenting and cough stea-- borrowing- cool motifs, chord progressions, and melodies that I hear.

What do you like most about Audiotool? Is there anything you would like to suggest?

I love the DIY and social nature of this place. We're all just a bunch of hobbyists on a niche German website exploring and enjoying the art of music creation together. It's a beautiful thing really. I really have nothing to suggest! Just keep up the great job, devs! Hmmm... having top comment back would be nice though... :P

Your message to the community:

Audiotool is a rare place, and I've been here for long enough that it has become a cherished part of who I am. Let's do our parts to keep this great community and website afloat and focus on the one thing that matters here, the music!

Social/Musical Links:

https://soundcloud.com/ssiimm

Edition Audiotool

Track #1:

Sleep Method II by https://www.audiotool.com/user/vltra2/

VLTRA is an absolute beast. I adore literally everything he puts out. His works feature a timbre, melody, atmosphere, and groove that sound and feel just... so right. VLTRA's music, and this track in particular, sparked my love for wonky, spaced out beats, leading to, in my opinion, one of my best musical phases. Thank you VLTRA! Please never stop making music.

Track #2:

metaphorical by https://www.audiotool.com/user/skyboundzoo/

Sky bound zoo's music makes me feel like a kid laying on a grassy hill during a sunny, perfect spring day. What a powerful inspiration. This is one of my favorites from them. This track reminds me of being hopelessly in love, laying in a sunbeam-soaked bed next to your lover, simply lazing around on a Sunday afternoon.

Track #3:

letter to the sun by https://www.audiotool.com/user/theanonymouspineapple/

Nico!!! What an amazing friend, musician, and person. Nico's music always manages to be creative and unconventional

in the most enjoyable ways. I love this particular track so much, it hugs and comforts you before taking you to another world. The jazziness is the cherry on top. We'll get to work on something serious soon, I promise. Busy lives....

Track #4:

Electron by https://www.audiotool.com/user/infyuthsion/

This track was the first song I heard from this site. What a classic. Infyuthsion is a real OG, and I strive to capture the effective simplicity of his sound design and atmospheres.

Track #5:

Ergo, The Night by https://www.audiotool.com/user/xavrockbeats/

I have been a fan of Xavi from when I first came here. Every single thing he makes is binge-listenable and hits all the right places. Hearing this track come from him when it did really opened my ears to what purely synths are capable of and the artistry that goes into crafting atmosphere. I am so proud to see him thriving in the greater world of electronic music these days.

Track #6:

maybe i can actually do this for once by https://www.audiotool.com/user/jewan/

Though there a lot of tracks I could call "signaturely sim" I chose this as my signature track because I feel like a lot of people found me at this point in my musical escapades. I poured everything into these old ambient sketches, especially this track. It is dedicated to a special someone who, without which, I would not be the person I am today. It's also a good time capsule for me, it reminds me of the days when I would do nothing but make music and hang out with my online buddies all day. Simpler times...

Full Album