Progressive house producer Braxton has shared an abundant array of releases after the next on Anjunadeep, Above & Beyond, and Enhanced Music this past year. Also added to Braxton’s discography are successful remixes for acts like GRADES, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Tourist, and Matt Fax. Today, we are sharing an hour of melodic house music from Braxton with trance-infused strokes and delicate breakbeat notes added into the mix. We also had the opportunity to ask Braxton a few questions about his craft, and discovered he is a gentle and intuitive soul that just wants to make the crowd happy and also produce music that he is proud of.
Enjoy the mix below:
Set the tone for us. Why the arts?
There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing, and nothing else I’m good at. Plus I love it. I love the idea that you can spend the day creating something that didn’t exist when you woke up that morning, and that thing can go on to potentially change the life of another person on this planet.
Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea?
Inspiration comes first. Nothing worthwhile comes without inspiration, but that can arrive in a sound, idea, joke, connection, pizza, or movie.
Does your material feature any collaborations?
Yeah, I work with vocalists here and there, and I like to go back and forth with them rather than just have them add a topline at the end.
What’s on your current playlist?
The new Beach House album! I have it on repeat. They’re very possibly the band that makes me happiest in the world. Also currently playing a lot (A LOT) of Todd Rundgren plus that new Tim Hecker soundtrack.
Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.
Ha, it’s pretty limited, to be honest, and that’s entirely my fault. I’m sometimes insanely nervous when I DJ, so I just get my head down and get into it.
What techniques do you experiment with to get your original sound?
Playing Football Manager until 4 am and then panicking because I’ve got a deadline.
Take us through a day in the recording studio.
It starts with a coffee, and then usually involves opening up the last thing I was working on. I try and finish a song as quickly as possible. The best part of the writing process for me is right at the start. Before you really know what you’re working on. As soon as everything makes sense, the show’s over. So I try and keep in that space for as long as possible. I aim to finish by late afternoon and then just spend the rest of the day watching trash TV.
Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”?
Not really a specific moment. I always just wrote music cos it was a hobby, it was only in the last few years that I started to release stuff. I think I try and stay in that mindset of “it’s a hobby – enjoy it”.
What do you keep close by while you’re playing a set?
Wine. Phone. Watch.
Any emerging artists on your radar?
I’m a big fan of Ipeiqi. I reached out on social media for people to send their music and I’d give them feedback, etc. His music is just unreal, it was weird to hear an artist who seemed so far along in his journey but still so fresh to it all. He’s going to have a great career.
What gets your creative juices flowing?
Coffee. And when Arsenal wins.
Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression.
Hardware-wise I use a Moog Sub37 & Korg Minilogue for a lot of my bass/lead/arpy bits. Monome Norns for just weirdness & my main DAW is Logic 9 which is a 13-year-old piece of software, but I love it and know it inside out.
Any side projects you’re working on?
Not exclusively, I’m constantly starting projects under pseudonyms and they always end up becoming Braxton tracks.
How have you refined your craft since you entered the industry?
I think I’ve just tried to stay true to what I create more than anything. It’s easy to look at the charts and Beatport etc., and make a track that would appeal to the masses. I think I’ve just focussed on doing what I want to, and hopefully, people out there will like it.
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?
Some more releases. Hopefully one or two, or a few on Anjunadeep and some big shows across the summer too. I don’t think that far ahead though, to be honest….
Famous last words?
Sit Ubu, sit. Good dog…Woof.
Follow Braxton:
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Soundcloud
