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The Ghost in the Groove: Deconstructing the Original Tech-House Sound
Before massive EDM drops hijacked the genre, original UK tech-house was dark, rolling, and hypnotic. Here is a masterclass breakdown of the legendary Wiggle sound—from heavily swung 909s to subterranean basslines—and how to rebuild it in a modern studio.
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Red Stripe Down: How to Power a Modular Synth Without Frying It
Moving from VCV Rack to a physical modular synth means you can’t just drag and drop modules anymore. You have to feed them raw electricity. Here is a primer on Eurorack power, what +12V and -12V actually do, and how to avoid frying your expensive new hardware.
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The Bias Lie: Why “Unsponsored” Gear Reviews Are Still Compromised
Getting sent thousands of dollars in free studio gear creates an inherent bias. It is time we stopped pretending the standard YouTube disclaimer actually means anything, and started being honest about how the review hustle works.
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Redlining is for Amateurs: A Sound Tech’s Guide to the DJ Mixer
There is a myth in DJ culture that the red lights on a mixer mean you are doing a good job. You aren’t. You are just sending broken square waves into the PA, and the sound tech at the back of the room hates you. Here is a brutal reality check on gain staging, digital clipping, and what happens when you try to fight a sound engineer over the volume faders.
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The Double Drain: Masking, Mental Health, and Why I Stopped Feeding the Algorithm
Mental health has become an internet currency, and the algorithm rewards performative vulnerability over actual truth. Writing for the algorithm is like mixing a dynamically crushed pop song for a cheap car stereo. I used to run the largest online resource in my niche in NZ—I know how to play the traffic game, but I refuse to do it again. Here is why I am returning to giving out knowledge for free, and building a library instead of a billboard.
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Pulling the Trigger: First Thoughts on the Topping DX5 II and HiFiMan Nano
I pulled the trigger on a Topping DX5 II and a pair of HiFiMan Nano planar magnetics, and the difference is staggering. I finally have sub-bass I can trust without my bedroom walls ruining the mix. The only catch? The open-back bleed had my partner asking if I was wearing speakers on the outside of my head. Here are my first thoughts on stepping up to a surgical, modern headphone setup.
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Leave Your Ego at the Door: What BJJ Taught Me About Mixdowns
What do precision rifle shooting, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and music production have in common? They all punish ego and reward process. If your mixes aren’t translating, you might need to stop trusting your ears and start trusting the data. Here is how I apply long-range ballistics and BJJ survival tactics to fix a broken studio workflow.
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Turn Your Back on the DJ: The Lost Art of the Inward Dancefloor
When did dance music become a spectator sport? We took a communal experience and turned it into a forward-facing concert where everyone stares at a guy on a stage through a smartphone screen. Here is why the DJ booth ruined the dancefloor, and why we need to bring back the inward-facing club.
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The Planar Paradigm: When Your Headphone Knowledge Expires
I used to be the National Service Manager for Sennheiser, so I thought I knew everything about studio headphones. I was wrong. Between the rise of Planar Magnetic drivers, mixing on IEMs, and flat-curve EQ software, the game has completely changed. Here is why I am retiring my old assumptions and exploring the new world of headphone mixdowns.
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Your Speakers Are Lying to You
I spent 30 years in the pro audio industry, and I’m here to tell you your bedroom studio is lying to you. Adding a sub to an untreated room doesn’t fix your low end—it destroys your translation. Here is why I finally swallowed my pride, killed the sub, and started mixing dub techno on headphones.
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Disconnected: Making Techno for a Club I’ll Never Visit
I am 48, and I have realised I am not arrogant enough to assume any DJ wants to play my music in a modern club. Tastes have moved on, and honestly, a cocktail on the couch in front of a high-end hi-fi beats standing in a dark room at 4 am anyway. Here is why stepping away from the “club-ready” mindset and leaning into pure synth exploration is the ultimate creative freedom.