With an impressive set of releases under his belt, Clan Brude appears as a striking talent on the Electronic Music scene. As he continues to develop his production style, finding fresh ways to express his wide range of inspirations and influences, Clan Brude’s sound emerges as an original and unique expression of his creativity. Now, he is here with this exclusive interview, sitting down with us to talk about his background, early musical memories, and the journey that has led him into the vibrant and exciting world of Electronic Music.
What’s your earliest memory involving music?
We had a classical acoustic guitar in the house when I was a kid which I found pretty fascinating. I remember randomly strumming on it before eventually learning some chords.
When did you know you wanted to produce music? Was there a specific moment that you can remember?
This one actually came quite late. Having played in bands with more of a live focus since I was 16-17, I wasn’t that often in the studio and when I was, I was generally more focused on working with the sound engineer to get my sound how I wanted it and then playing my part correctly, so as not to waste valuable studio time: that meant that I wasn’t really exposed to the production side of things as much.
Properly producing music, including both producing for my bands and Clan Brude started about 6-7 years ago: with Clan Brude only really starting about 3 years ago, coinciding with the pandemic. In fact, there might not have been Clan Brude without Covid as my day job at that time drastically reduced in both quantity and travel time which meant a lot more time to focus on the tracks and learn to be a better Producer, to the point where I could pitch to labels and/or self-release.
Who was your biggest musical influence growing up?
As a kid, it’s hard to escape your parents’ musical tastes, for better or worse!
When did you first start making music?
I would have been 14-15 I think when I went from trying to learn guitar to making music (and I’m still learning for sure). The very first few times, a group of us got permission to use the school’s music room after school so we could stay behind once a week to play around. We definitely recorded some of the stuff we came up with then, although I forget how and am not sure where those recordings are now (perhaps for the best).
Who taught you how to produce music?
A school friend had a Tascam four-track recorder (late 90s), and we worked a lot using that. It was a great concept, overlaying a guitar track with a bass track and then some rudimentary percussion or some other weird sound. I produced a lot of solo stuff during that period, none of which ever got released: this was pre-SoundCloud. Fast forward a decade and in terms of Electronic Music production, I have followed several courses including YouTube tutorials over the years, picking up tips that all come together to form my own internal knowledge base that I can now wield whenever I sit down at my DAW. The same goes for producing a band – lots of trial and error trying to EQ a live hi-hat to sit in the mix and so on!
What was the first DAW that you used?
Cubase! I forget which version now, but it was definitely the free version that you get when you buy a MIDI keyboard.
What was the name of the first track you produced? What was it like?
In general, I was using the four-track recorder to produce music as a teenager (with a lot to learn). I had one track (which I won’t name here necessarily!) which ended up turning into a reggae production – again it never saw the light of day except amongst school friends. As Clan Brude, I was experimenting with House and Techno beats and grooves, with some of these experiments never really getting to finished status and so never really had titles, but the first track I put out is called ‘When You Call’. I love the chords in this one which anticipate the beat. It’s a bit of a meditation really.
Before you knew you wanted to pursue a career in Electronic Music, what did you want to do?
Rock Star. Premier League goalkeeper. All the achievable stuff! I ended up pragmatically in teaching for a while, but music has always been a constant.
Which of your achievements are you most proud of?
I think this is twofold in terms of playing in a live situation and production. For the live situation, I’m proud of touring China a number of times, this has included a few big gigs in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, as well as some more obscure ones such as a performance in Sichuan, which went down well with the locals but less so the local authorities.
In terms of production, I have a new EP coming out this month and I think it’s the best I have achieved in terms of production style and interesting songwriting. I am particularly proud of the cohesive nature of the EP which draws on a central concept as inspired by events at the time of writing (the Shanghai lockdown of 2022).
What would you say has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
Like many producers I suspect, my focus is on the music creation side, and there is a tendency to forget the other aspect which is the promotion of it. Getting your tracks recognised either by a label or DJs is tough and it’s hard to say when that breakthrough moment comes, if at all. Having said that, it is lovely to see people responding through social media and music platforms, liking, commenting or following, as you then see that people are making a connection with what you are doing.
Clan Brude’s dedication to music, enthusiasm for his art, and motivation to carve out a unique path within Electronic Music make him an exciting Artist to watch. As we close out this interview, we thank Clan Brude for sharing his story with us and eagerly look forward to following his journey as he continues to explore new musical territories and impress listeners with his powerful sound.
Clan Brude Online
