Dtrenz: music maker, Ann Arbor resident, electro-gadget connoisseur

Recently, I’ve been playing with a keyboard synthesizer, MIDI, the music software Reaper, downloading instruments and effects (VSTs, VSTi’s, AUs) and trying out making my own stuff. A lot of why I’m even able to do it is that my neighbor was awesome enough to show me the ropes and get me started. He has some sweet toys and has made some of his own music, so I thought I’d post about it. He has a Soundcloud page where you can listen to and download a bunch of his music:

http://soundcloud.com/dtrenz

My favorite track is called dark dawn. I don’t know how to classify it exactly. I think Jon thought it was kind of like instrumental hip-hop. I really like how he assembles the sounds, making it rich, complex, but not overdone. Plus, I need to ask him how he got that crackly effect that starts the track. It is sweet!

I posted “dark dawn” in the box, or you can download/listen to it on his soundcloud site.

DEMF (aka Movement 2010): Detroit Electronic Music Festival

Last weekend (Memorial Day Weekend), two of us bloggers here went to all three days of DEMF, and had a blast. It was crazy sweet, seeing some sick acts from classic techno to dubstep and downtempo. A couple highlights:

First and foremost, Pretty Lights brought down the house. Monday evening in general was just out of control amazing on the Red Bull stage, but my favorite by far was Pretty Lights. They did a live set with a guy mixing and a live drummer. They put together music at a little slower of bpm, but with huge downbeats, sweet samples, and great rises and falls. Within seconds of arriving on stage, the place was packed to the gills, superhot, and heaving. Arms went in the air, rocking the beat. This group does a sensational live show. Do not miss. One song they played was:

Pretty Lights – Total Fascination

Another favorite was A-trak, who played a dj set on Saturday. He’s got a real hip-hop vibe, and actually toured with Kanye West as his dj. The whole show had some sweet energy, and he was clearly having a blast doing it. The best piece of the show was a remix of Daft Punk’s Robot Rock, with an inserted sample saying “Barbra Streisand”. I wish I could that recording. And my favorite track by him (and how I heard of him in the first place) was his remix of Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It is awesome. Unfortunately I only heard from over by the porta-potties.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-trak remix)

Great shows!!!