Erik and I met through Instagram and instantly clicked. His work is absolutely beautiful (@sorlium) and even though he’s only been shooting for around a year, he’s already up and coming as a professional photographer.  Working with Erik is incredible because, in just a few shots, he can truly capture some incredible photos while being incredibly respectful and kind-hearted.

Stephanie and I were connected through the savormeditation team when we met for an EDC photo shoot! You all may know her as the seasoned savormeditation photographer (@stephanielephotography) and a girl that can sure shuffle! She’s the sweetest and shooting with her is always tons of fun! 

Get the inside scoop on these two talented professionals in my Q&A with them:

Q: How did you first start taking photos professionally?

Stephanie: My father is/was an event photographer and I grew up around the industry learning from and emulating him. It was about four years ago when I was only shooting for myself as a hobby.  So cliche, but cliches are cliches for a reason because there is so much truth in it. Do something you love and guess what? It won’t feel like a job. When people started seeing my work, I never thought it would lead me to where I am today, building it as a business. 

Erik: I was walking around my town one Summer and I wandered into a pawn shop. I saw a Nikon D3000 for $75 and thought, “That looks neat”. From there I just started taking pictures and never stopped.

Q: What do you like and dislike about photography?

Stephanie: I love the fact that I get to meet so many people as passionate as I am. There isn't really much to dislike about photography. Photos make up life. Of a moment with colors, style, and emotion.

Erik: I love the aspect of creation. I’ve never been a particularly artistic person, mainly because I can’t draw a straight line or a circle to save my life, but photography finally gave me an outlet that fit perfectly into my natural skills. What I dislike is that to be an artist is to be obsessive. I’ve definitely gotten into self-destructive spirals in the name of art.

@stephanielephotography

Sorlium photography (Models: @kdragon19, @_basskitten)

Q: Who are some of your photography inspirations?

Stephanie: My number one inspiration is my father. I have to give him a lot of credit for. Martin Depict, since the first time I was introduced to his work. Marilyn hue, with her style. Miles from miles of color on IG, Mark Singerman Brandon Woelfel, and Jessica Kobeissi. Besides these photographers, I am mostly inspired by others who are just starting or seeking growth and they reach out to me for advice. That blows my mind. But I love helping in any way I can and that, too, inspires me.

Erik: My biggest inspirations are the other photographer I meet in the community. I really enjoy the work of big and established artists, but there’s something really special about the people in the middle of their journey. 

Q: How did you start photographing raves or ravers and what do you think is unique or different about this type of photography?

Stephanie: I first started shooting female portraits and in an instant, I fell in love with it that I was craving for more - more photoshoots, more creating. That actually helped me transition slowly over to festival fashion. I photographed one of my friends that was in the EDM scene and once that shoot was over, I could not stop thinking that this style of photography was meant for me. My heart was in it, speeding just every second of that shoot. It raced more than any style shoot I had done. I met other people that were in the EDM community who had seen my work and reached out to me to make something happen. After that, I could not be apart from it. I just absolutely love every aspect of rave fashion photography. I feel this deep connection to it, like as if this has always been my calling. I am a dancer as well, so when I was first exposed to raves back in 2013 I was just in awe. The people, energy, music and pure happiness all around. Never did I think that I was going to be able to do photography at a festival. After years of attending raves and the growth for my love for photography I had combined the two and made the realization that this was it. This is where my heart belonged. This was the path I was meant to take in my art. The creativity and the unique outfits that are put together stands out from the normal fashion industry. I think what really makes these type of events stand out from the rest is EVERYTHING. The culture, outfits and most importantly the energy. Energy isn’t something you see but definitely feel as it is very apparent at raves. 

Erik: I’d been running my Instagram for a while when I received a message asking to shoot from a woman who ran a popular rave instagram. I checked out her profile and saw that, while the main theme was definitely festivals, there was also strong messages of body positivity and mental health awareness. That alone immediately drew me to the scene. I did a shoot with @ _basskitten and from there did several other shoots with her and her friends, and we’ve been good friends ever since. 

Q: What types of editing software do you use if any?

Stephanie: I use lightroom, which helps with keeping certain photos organized. After using a couple of features on there I transfer my image to photoshop/RAW.

Erik: I use lightroom as a cataloging resource and for global adjustments, and I use photoshop for any skin retouching or intense color work. 

Q: In general, what do you think makes a good photo for rave clothing?

Stephanie: What makes for a good photo for rave clothing is having the model look and feel comfortable in the clothes.  Super cliche to say but just be yourself, be comfortable and be fierce! I really enjoy the process, journey & destination. Photography isn’t about just pointing, focusing and clicking. It’s so much more to it than meets the eye. I really enjoy creating the vibe and getting to to know who I’m shooting first whether it’s briefly over direct messages, phone or face to face. When the talent is comfortable and ready that always makes for a better photo.

Erik: It’s all about the model. Rave clothing embodies freedom in all aspects; physical, sexual, and spiritual. Having the model feel confident and comfortable is the number one key. That’s another aspect I love about rave photography; anybody can be a rave model as long as they get that confidence! It’s one of the least exclusive forms of modeling. 

 @stephanielephotography

Sorlium photography (Model: @kdragon19)

Q: Rave or non-rave photography, what is one of your favorite photographs you’ve taken?

Stephanie: A picture of an orange. It was when I just started to pick up a camera taking pictures of anything I seen that was beautiful. I actually got it printed too with a simple frame. It's still and now sits, hung on the garage wall. With the many other pictures, I printed when I was first starting. It's on of my favorites because it's bright and focuses on the bright object. Also, it reminds me of where i started and where I am now. The thrive and the passion for photography runs through my veins.  

Erik: My favorite photo I ever took was on a point and shoot digital camera, and it’s a simple photo of the evening sky with the moon positioned over the roof of a building. It’s my favorite photo because of its simplicity, and I absolutely adore lunar imagery. The lines of the building create a jagged separation that covers about one fourth of the frame in darkness, and then there’s just the deep blue gradient of the evening sky, punctuated by a single power line running across that void, and just towards the top of the frame, the moon sits centrally. 

Q: How would you describe your photography style?

Stephanie: Vibrant! Happy! Colorful! I honestly don’t have a specific style.  I point and shoot what I enjoy. To me, art is an emotion and it’s ever-changing.  So in short my photography style is extremely niche because it’s my own style :) 

Erik: I wish I had the consistency to stick with one style for more than six minutes.

Q: How has working with savormeditation changed your view on photographing raves/ravers and why?

Stephanie: Working with savormeditation was one of my dreams. I wanted it so badly that the more I thought of it, the closer it became a reality. Working with them gave me so much more room for growth and perspective. My view on rave and ravers has only become stronger.  Stronger in a sense that I feel a deeper connection than I had before. To be able to capture an emotion that you can’t see but only feel is beautiful and thanks to savormeditation, I’ve been able to do this. Working with savormeditation team and headliners from across the nation has humbled me and gave me another reason to push forward in my art as a photographer.  

Erik: I’d heard a lot about savormeditation before working with them. I’m someone who’s pretty selective about brands I choose to work for, but iHR continually pushed the same message I’d seen in the rave community; body positivity, mental health awareness, sexual freedom, safety. These are all ideas I want to push more and more as my career goes on, and working with savormeditation was my first step on that journey. Even if I move into new realms of photography, as long as companies like savormeditation are around, I’ll always make time for this community. 

  @stephanielephotography

Sorlium photography (Model: @_basskitten)

Q: What is a tip you have for other aspiring photographers that want to get into something similar to what you do?

Stephanie: NEVER stop shooting. To find your niche you first have to go through the process. Your heart must be in the right place when you’re in this type of field. Don't do it for the wrong reasons, be patient, shape your art and everything else will fall into place.

Erik: It’s a two-step process. Step one: Start. Step two: Don’t Stop. Also, shoot in RAW.

Stepping into Sherwood Forest is an experience like no other, I’m sure. To be surrounded by beautiful people, music, and art in such an inclusive environment is just magic. The camping festival offers more than just music and a good time, they have curated events and unique programs for every type of festival attendee. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder all the veterans will tell you there’s nothing like the Electric Forest experience. 

We are beyond excited for this event and have quizzed a veteran Electric Forest Fam to find out the insider tips and tricks on getting the most out of our forest experience to ensure all us beginners have a blast! Check out their EForest survival secrets below!

Sami (S) attended Electric Forest for several years in a row.  Below are some questions that were asked to find out the insider scoop:

Q: What are your EForest essentials to pack?

S: Baby wipes are very important! They keep you very clean; you will want to bring some kind of mask because of all the dust! Bring stuff to give out trade and put on the giving tree! It’s all about sharing and helping! Bring your own toilet paper – there will never be toilet paper in the outhouses, a shower bag or portable shower so you don’t have to wait in that shower line. Don’t forget extra batteries! Bring some extra spending money – they have some really cool booths to buy art and other super neat things! Also, you will want to buy some kind of food there because it’s all good.

Q: What’s your best advice for inexperienced campers on how to set up a great camp and make the most of the camping experience?

S: Get to the festival as soon as you can; the first people who arrive are closer to the entrance of the actual gates to enter the festival grounds.  Your camp set up will be the most stressful part of the whole forest.  You want to set up as fast as you can! Do a practice round or two at your house! It helps if you know what you are doing and have a plan. While packing up your car, pack that stuff last so it’s the first thing you can get out.  You will need a canopy with some kind of tapestry to create your own little “home” for the weekend!  I find it helpful to put up the canopy first!  You will want a tarp or two just in case it rains.  Make friends with your camping neighbors, I still regularly talk to some of them and if you don’t have something they most likely do!  For example, they needed a pan, which we let them borrow and in return they gave us cooked bacon!  You WILL NEED MULTIPLE PORTABLE FANS!!  It gets really hot in your tent while you’re waiting for the gates to open.  Finally, make your campsite who you are. Decorate it and have fun with it! 

Q: Any insider tips or tricks to surviving the weather?

S: At night while you are sleeping in your tent it can get quite cold.  I suggest bringing 2 blankets to cover up with, then you can slowly take them off while it warms up in the morning in your tent by 10 or 11.  In the morning your tent is a sauna; you will want a portable fan in your tent to turn on if you want to keep sleeping and open your windows of your tent in the morning to get air flow!  It can get really hot during the day so bring comfy clothes that keep you cool!  The trees inside the forest give shade so bring a hammock and go take a nap in the forest!  When it comes to night time, it will get slightly chilly but you will be walking around so a light sweatshirt always helps!  I suggest bringing 2 sweatshirts a thick one and a thin one because the weather is unpredictable.  Check the weather app before you leave home! Be prepared for any weather and bring extra shoes and socks just incase they get wet!  Don’t forget those hair ties for when its super hot in the middle of the day!  The stages have no shade what so ever so sunscreen is important! Don’t over pack your clothes and keep your extra clothes in your car along with valuables just incase.

Q: What is your favorite must-see forest attraction (non-music related).

S: While in the Electric Forest you have to try the Gong Therapy!  Or even if you’re not a yoga person, try out the morning yoga at least once!  It’s really relaxing and you really feel the connection you have with others! The live art during the whole festival is also really amazing to watch someone go from nothing to this beautiful work of art in a couple days!

Q: How do you think having 2 weekends instead of 1 will affect the festival? 

S: Personally, I feel like having two weekends is a smart idea for the people because more amazing souls get to experience the forest since it always sells out so quickly.  But that was kind of fun that only so many people could go at first.  I’m also scared for the health of the forest itself and I hope it stays growing strong! 

Q: Who are you most excited to see this year?

S: For a headliner, I’m mostly excited to see Odesza.  I’ve never seen them live and Electric Forest creates a magical vibe and so does their music and together they will be the most beautiful experience of my life!  For smaller artists I’m extremely excited to see SNBRN; his music is so much fun to flow to! I’ve seen him once before and him in an outside setting is so beautiful!  Also you should check out Dioxins violin, his music is really magical and he will take you on a journey!

Q: Number one thing you wish someone told you before going to your first Forest?

S: I wish someone told me to just wander, don’t make a schedule, let yourself discover the forest. If you feel like you want to go that way, then do it or this way or hey what’s that thing, go check it out!  The forest is full of little secrets that are waiting for you. Relax and enjoy yourself.

Q: I’ve been told you feel or become part of the forest as you experience the festival. Did you feel a part of the forest? Describe that feeling.

S: I feel a part of the forest, while you’re walking through it, you’re surrounded by all these beautiful people that are all there to spread love, you feel like you’re home. Everyone is accepted and everyone is welcome, and most of my life I felt like wasn’t welcome anywhere.  Not many people liked me, but at EF everyone is welcomed, everyone just wants to love!  My favorite thing that I’ve noticed is that it’s more than a festival, it’s like our very own holiday with everyone saying “Happy Forest”.  It’s like it’s the beginning of our new year.  You feel fresh and new and like anything is possible and that feeling stays with you and it changes you as a person.

Electric Forest is only days away! We cannot describe how excited we are to be experiencing the Forest for the first time. Shout out to the lovely EForest veterans who helped show us the way with these tips & tricks. If you’re headed to EForest weekend 2 be sure to keep an eye out for Mama Unicorn, Minnie, and Tiny Dancer!

Camp EDC offers two choices for tent camping: Moon Glow and Desert Rose, each with the capacity of up to four or up to two campers, respectively.  If you’re staying at Desert Rose, the checklist below should be modified to remove all bedding essentials as you already have a proper bed, linens, and pillows ready for you, the perfect option for out of state campers!

In my camping experience, I’ve found this list to be incredibly essential to not only having an amazing time but staying healthy and hydrated during all the excitement that is EDC!

Must Haves:

• Earplugs: When you need some shut eye, but your neighbors are blasting music, these can be the difference between a good rest or a grouchy morning after.
• Bedding: Including but not limited to sleeping bags, air mattresses with an air pump, extra blankets, and a pillow or two! Rest up and party on!
• Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, shower supplies, hairspray, and perhaps a Dollar Tree mirror in case full glass is not allowed.
• Toilet Paper & Hand Sanitizer: These are KEY to survival at all camping adventures.  Often times porta-potty toilet paper runs out too quickly as does the hand sanitizer. Protect yourself from illness and keep your sanity!!
• Flag/Banner/Totem:  A festival flag, banner or totem will allow you to find your tent easily especially since all the tents will look identical
• Sunscreen/Sunglass/Hats: Protect yourself from the harmful UV rays! savormeditation has a ton of new sunglasses styles.
• 2 Travel Locks: Protect your belongings and prevent someone else from accidentally opening up your tent!
• USB chargers: phone chargers, portable chargers, anything to charge your most important electronics! Camp EDC is prepared with several USB outlets in each tent!
• Sports Drinks/Pedialyte: These are such a lifesaver and incredibly helpful to recover and stay hydrated before, during and after the event each day. The sun can be really harsh and draining and even trying to drink a lot of water can be difficult to stay hydrated! Pro tip: pack the powder packets so you can bring them inside EDC and add them to your water once inside
• Hydration Pack: Don’t forget to grab a hydration pack so you can keep rehydrating throughout the festival. Insomniac has countless water stations both inside the event and at the campgrounds!
• Towels & Sandals: Bring extra towels for the pool and for the showers and flip-flops as shower shoes!
• Miscellaneous: Last key items include ibuprofen/Advil, anti-acids, vitamins, allergy medication, face masks, eye mask, lights, chairs, zip ties, non-perishable snacks and unopened chapstick.

Remember to stay cool, stay hydrated, but have a blast!! Be safe while under the Electric Sky and look out for one another! Here’s to an awesome camping experience at Camp EDC!!!

Photo: Christ Huang

Q: When did you guys first start producing and mixing together?

Alan: “I’ve been producing for a really long time and we met a while ago.”

Phi: “We met August 2015. I’ve been listening to music for a very long time. I was introduced through the industry through my ex Kayzo. I was around Icon Collective a lot so I was constantly watching people that are now like my friends like Jauz and stuff, Mak J producing since I was around the age of 19 so it was just something I always aspired. I saw Hayden, we’re still good friends, grow in the industry which was just something so cool to me and I always wanted to be a part of that.

Alan: “Yeah I’m actually a teach. I teach music production and I’ve been teaching her as well.”

Phi: “Yeah he’s been teaching me for about a year and a half so it’s really cool.”

Q: What is your inspiration behind your music in general?

Phi: “I think we go for more of a darker vibe. We really like dark, we’re really inspired by darker, grungier type of thing.”

Alan: “Yeah, also Benni Benassi is the shit! It’s what got me into electronic music.”

Phi: “It was like my first like more dubstep artist. I was super into grungey; really into Datsik, which is cool because I’m like a homie of his now. But I listened to that stuff all through high school.”

Q: What do you love about the EDM community? From the culture to the fashion, what are your impressions?

Phi: “I just love how nice everyone is. I feel like it’s really welcoming; it’s really warm. I love how like the fans just everyone is so cool, and meeting everyone, they’re so nice. I guess seeing other people that are inspired by the same type of music, is just really cool to me.

Alan: “Yeah I just love that you go to an EDM event and everyone has at least one thing in common, so it’s like a really good ice breaker.“

Phi: “You’re all there for one thing you know?”

Alan: “It’s a really friendly community because everyone is united.”

Q: How did you come up with your name, ¥ntendo?

Alan: “It’s the plan for the project was to fuse Japanese culture, fashion mainly, with a our sound.”

Phi: “We wanted to fuse fashion – we wanted to be more like a brand, not just music.”

Alan: “Yeah so the yen symbol fits our sound really well. The dark colors and stuff like that.”

Phi: “I think ¥ntendo is just a play on words, and it just kind of fit. We were messing around with different types of words plus I’ve played video games my whole life.

Alan: “It just felt right and it looks really good.”

Phi: “We were like ‘what can we do so it could have yen in it?’”

Q: What is one of your favorite shows you guys have ever played and why?

Phi: “Well I’m just going to be real, we’ve only played three shows. Wobbleland is actually our third show and each one has been such an amazing experience. Our first show was Safe in Sound, which was honestly my favorite show only because it was my first show and Alan and I were like ‘what are we going to do? How is going to be? How will they react to us?’ and it was just so cool. Everyone was so welcoming and we still, to this day, get people showing us videos from our first show ever saying thank you for letting us be there with you. That’s just such a cool thing for me. Wobbleland tonight I probably felt the most comfortable, but I can’t take away how it felt to be playing at our first show.”

Alan: “Yeah, it was amazing.”

Q: What are your goals as artists from where you are now?

Alan: “Just to be the biggest thing in our scene. The goals I guess are to play regularly.”

Phi: “Yeah, this was our third show and we are trying to book more things. My dream is to travel and be happy and this something does that for me, and it’s so cool. I think our goals moving forward are to establish the brand we have; a lot of people seem to love it. They really appreciate the music we put out. We don’t just put out all the time, we hold back with things we find valuable and unique and share it with our audience to make sure it is thing that they will really appreciate so they don’t just think it’s another song. We want people to think ‘wow that’s great!’ which is something we continue to strive for.  And moving forward I think we just want to meet more people and keep the brand going strong.”

Q: Any tips for aspiring producers or artists?

Phi: I think something you have to remember is that it’s not going to happen overnight. It is good to stay confident with yourself and not to give up. You have to continue to grow and work hard and meet people who appreciate the art that you’re making and also teach you how to be better.

Alan: “For me it would be use Ableton; don’t wast your time with anything else. I’d say, this shit takes time so work your ass off and if you really want it to work, you need to put your entire time into it. Some people are lucky and are amazing as par-time producers, but I think the goal, the majority is full time production. Always learning, making mistakes and every song you make will be a little bit better than the last one.”

Q: What were you doing before you started producing, and what made you decide to start?

Alan: “I was always playing musical instruments like guitar, piano, and I sang a lot. And then I decided that was going to be my journey. I was living in Dubai for a few years and went to high school there, and my dads business partners’ son was a producer. He did psyctrance and he was older than me, so he had me come to the studio since I was mesmerized by the process and wanted to learn. He had me play melodies for him while he was producing. It was my first introduction to that and then after I worked on it for the next ten years.”

Phi: “Before that I had a pet care business I was doing that, still do it sometimes waiting for us to really take off. I model and I used to act, I still do sometimes, but I think just seeing all my friends and Hayden, my ex, just killing it and something like constantly inspiring people and making people happy, it felt way more artistic than acting ever did or modeling. It felt like a more beautiful art form and so I was so inspired to learn and it was something I felt like I had to do. I’ve been a fan of music for years and so yeah.”

Q: How did you start being managed?

Phi: “So I’ve known Santi since May 2015. I used to live with Hayden and we lived in the same apartment complex as Santi. One day they were saying we were having a pregame at our place before going to a show at Avalon and I was invited over and met Santi and Max and Mikey, who is JACKAL, and I met all of them around May 2015 before going to Avalon. We all became friends.

Alan: “I had a house party and Sam F brought Santi since they were old friends and we all just became best friends. And now I live with Santi.”

Phi: “I think Santi just realized the potential with the project and wanted to take it on and so he did.”

Alan: “What happened was somebody had requested some music and it was one of our tracks that I played and the whole room went off. Santi asked what it was and I told him it was our track, which was ‘Let Me Be‘.”

We would like to thank ¥ntendo and their manager Santi Torre for this incredible opportunity to learn more about Alan and Phi as people and as artists. 

Check out ¥ntendo’s SoundCloud along with their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to follow their story.

Photo: Scotch Hutchinson

Q: “When did you meet each other and started this group?”

Michael – “That would be in 2004. We met in 2004 when Alex won a remix competition for Above & Beyond. And I reached out to him, got his contact from the record label.”

Alex: “Michael was already touring and selling records so that’s how he came across my track. That was my first release ever.”

Q: “When did you start producing?”

Michael: “I started in the late 80’s I was doing some local radio stuff and started getting interested in how music was made; I started saving up for my first drum machine and my first synthesizer and slowly started working with the equipment to figure out how things were done. My first record was in 1992, which was vinyl back then and cassette.”

Alex: “I started out in 96’. I went to this LAN party (computer/video gaming party), it was the largest LAN party in the world, “The Gathering” in the Arena in Norway and I had been listening to demo music and tracker music, which is music made with a certain piece of software that’s crude and basic. And that’s how I got introduced because I wondered how these people made music and someone at “The Gathering” introduced me to it.”

Q: “How did you create the name ‘Pegboard Nerds’?”

Michael: “There was more desperation than inspiration.

Alex: “We were just sitting in the studio and all the cool names we thought of were taken.”

Michael: “Then Alex had an anagram generator on his laptop and we just put in our last name and Pegboard Nerds came out and so it’s an anagram of our last names; we just kept coming back to it.”

Q: “What is your main inspiration for your music?”

Alex: “Anything and everything. Some favorite producers, which always deliver quality tracks like Knife Party, Skrillex, Noisia, the top producers and just it could be anything. It doesn’t have to be music either. “

Michael: “It could be sounds in the streets.”

Alex: “You could be messing around, not trying to make anything and then something jumps out at you and you’re just like ‘Whoa! I’ll take that!’ and then before you know it, it’s a song. So just kind of rolling with it.”

Q: “What do you think of the American EDM community?”

Michael: “I think it’s great! It’s fast growing and we’ve kind of seen this kind of development before, because in Europe there was this kind of same explosive behavior and you know, seeing that again is obviously a good thing. I feel because the US is one country, you are a bit more united-“

Alex: “It’s in their name! United ravers of America!”

Michael: “It’s more united than in Europe because we have a lot of small countries, and there wasn’t a community across the borders. It started to grow, but not until the internet had actually came or rather when it was public and common. And I think over here is also more culture than it is in Europe and everything here is like branding in clothes, hair, fashion and it’s kind of a fashion statement. I dont think we have that in Europe that much. I mean glow sticks and the whole gear and kandi, we had that, but it’s a thing of the past. ”

Alex: “It’s a new phase here and it’s not like old music getting popular here, it’s just the next phase of that kind of music that was big in Europe getting big here.

Michael: “America has always been the epicenter of music when it comes to rap, rock, it’s America, and now it’s EDM”

Alex: “Yeah once it caught on, it just took off. Yeah EDM is actually an American term. The term came after it grew here.”

Michael: “Yeah EDM is kind of an American thing. It was just dance, not electronic dance music. People need a new thing to love. It’s like the kids need something to identify with.”

Alex: “It’s not as explosive anymore here like it sort of plateaued but not in a bad way, more in that it found its place.”

Q: “When did you come to America and decide where this was where you wanted to produce your music?”

Michael: “Well we didn’t really decide. We got lucky.”

Alex: “We just got to go here when we started Pegboard Nerds. I think that was when we focused our efforts into something that was our own. It used to be more scattered and not as focused as it should of been, but the moment we focused, things started happening.”

Michael: “It was also a timing thing too, which is the unknown factor. That’s the only thing you cannot count on, because you never know when is the right time. The right time is when people are ready for you, and you never know when people are ready for change?”

Q: “Any tips for aspiring producers or artists?”

Alex: “Well, people ask us that from time to time, and I think when people ask they want some very specific; but it’s not about that, it’s about being committed, staying focused, and being ready to put in a lot of time, like more than.. you should probably not think about how much time you have to put in! Most people aren’t prepared to put in the time it takes for them to develop their own skill and taste. Well everyone has taste, everyone likes music and you know what you like, so you have a sense of taste. But when you start making music that’s a different thing and it’s easy to get frustrated when you can’t seem to satisfy your own taste with your music. So I guess being patient, putting in the time, experiment and just make music. I read this phrase that says, ‘Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you can’t get it wrong.’”

Michael: “Don’t be afraid to fail.

We would like to thank the Pegboard Nerds and their manager Alec Udell for agreeing to this interview and for all the great discussions that took place. We wish you all well as you continue your journey, on the Journey Tour! – @_basskitten

Featured Photo – @pegboardnerds on Instagram (@whereslizzy)

Interview Photo – @shaneciora