Emerging as a rising figure in the Indo House and Ethnic House scenes, VIZANO is quickly carving out a name for himself with his unique fusion of Afro, Tribal, and global influences. His approach to blending Eastern and Western elements is resonating with audiences worldwide, making him an exciting new voice in the scene.
In this interview, we dive deep into the world of music production with VIZANO; from mastering Ableton Live to finding inspiration in vintage global sounds, VIZANO breaks down the tools, techniques, and ideas that drive his artistry. He also shares his creative workflow, the importance of balancing precision with inspiration, and what he believes separates good producers from great ones.
Hi VIZANO, how are you?
I’m doing great, refreshed and energised for a big year ahead.
What inspired you to get into music production, and what was your first step in learning the craft?
Having DJed for such a long time, I felt it was a natural progression from curating to creating music. As with many DJs-turned-producers, I started reediting existing songs and creating mashups and edits. This later transitioned into remixes and eventually my own production. A big deal for me was releasing music under my own artist name and taking full credit for an entire record.
What kind of equipment or software did you start with, and how has your setup evolved over time?
When I was a teenager I dabbled with Acid Pro, which gave me an insight into production workflow. Later in life when I began producing and DJing, I started using Ableton Live. I gradually incorporated piano and guitar into my production workflow, having studied these instruments from a young age.
How do you balance technical precision with creative flow in the studio?
I like to have some structure and a clear plan before starting a session. I’m usually either creating ideas and vibing or focusing on a specific mixdown or sound design. When I’m in creative mode, I spend much less time worrying about technical precision, allowing me to quickly translate the ideas in my head into my DAW. I then focus on technical precision in a separate session. However, making that conscious decision early on doesn’t always come naturally to producers—it’s something I’ve had to learn and refine over the years.
For someone new to production, what’s more important: learning theory or diving straight into experimentation?
Learning the theory is helpful and can certainly elevate your music, but is not always essential. Nothing sparks creativity like getting your hands dirty and playing around with sounds. Music technology has advanced so much that it’s fairly easy for a beginner to start experimenting immediately without a huge investment in learning theory.
What’s your DAW of choice, and why?
Ableton Live. The workflow is intuitive for Electronic music. I love the clip-based approach, which makes it easy to experiment with arrangements and loops.
How important is it for a beginner to define their genre before starting, or should they explore freely?
If you define your genre first, it may help you stay focused at first but there’s no guarantee that you’ll enjoy the process or that it will even come naturally to you in the studio. I would advise to explore freely – the genre or genres will eventually define themselves within your world of music production.
Once you find that spark, you can narrow down your genre and develop your identity as a producer. For me, exploring freely helped define my Indo House style—a blend of Afro, Tribal, Exotic and Indian elements.
Can you break down your typical workflow when starting a new track?
I usually start with the main elements—such as drums, melody, and vocals. During this initial phase, I focus on three key elements that will define the track. These might include a vocal hook, a synth line, or a percussive element within the drum section. Keeping these three elements in mind during the early sessions helps narrow the focus on the core idea, rather than getting distracted by sound design or mixing too soon. This approach is a valuable tip I picked up from Bass Kleph a few years ago.
In subsequent sessions, I build around the three core ideas by adding complementary elements and working on sound design. I may also decide to collaborate with another artist, producer or musician at this stage. For example, during the production process of my upcoming release ‘Wazntaal’, I visited a guitarist and musician in Los Angeles, who played a few licks and melodies over the beat. He came up with the idea on the spot. It was a feeling in the moment rather than a strategic or formulated decision.
Arrangement and structure typically come next. Toward the latter stages of the process, I add ear candy, effects, and atmospheric background sounds to enhance the track’s depth and character. Finally, I tackle the often time-consuming process of mixing and mastering to polish the finished product.
How do you overcome creative blocks when working on a new track?
Taking breaks, going away and listening to other tracks. Sometimes, I bounce out the current track I’m working on and play it on a DJ setup and mix it with other tracks. This helps me feel what’s missing or lacking in the track.
How do you approach sampling, and what’s your opinion on using samples versus creating everything from scratch?
Sampling is one of the most fun ways to create a track. I have some tracks that are heavily sampled, others with just a few subtleties. It really depends on the sample and how you use it. I love to incorporate vintage and classic sounds from South Asia, Middle East and Latin America. For example, in my upcoming track ‘Wazntaal’ there’s a catchy vintage Indian string sample just before the drop. It would have been impossible for me to recreate the same sound in my studio, as many of these samples were recorded live with bands and multiple instruments within completely different environments. However, if you get really good at producing and are able to create a lot of interesting musical elements and textures from scratch then that may help add more depth and identity to your music.
Finally, what do you think separates a good producer from a great one, both creatively and professionally?
A good producer can create good tracks, whether on their own or with the help of others. A great producer, however, has the ability to tell a story through their music and forge an emotional connection with their audience. They also excel at collaborating and innovating with other artists and musicians.
As VIZANO looks ahead to an exciting year, with new live shows and the release of tracks like his upcoming ‘Wazntaal,’ his thoughtful approach to music production continues to stand out. From his disciplined workflow to his exploration of global sounds and cultural influences, VIZANO strikes a fine balance between technical precision and artistic creativity. With his distinctive Indo House style, he is steadily carving out his place in the changing Electronic music landscape.
VIZANO Online
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