Worship Musician Magazine October 2020 | Page 99

work for us . The fact that we were deep into the world of drum machines and already crafting our own samples from scratch meant we would often have an easier time following our imagination and crafting the sample we dreamt of instead of searching pack after pack for it .
When we develop our sample packs , we make sure to build around a specific concept so things are more user-friendly . We ’ re very conscious of workflow and one way to achieve that is for packs to be framed around a theme . Another way to do that is by only ever releasing samples that truly deserve the light of day . We work to ensure our drum and percussion packs are holistic , meaning when you find that snare and clap sound you love , you can pair it with a matched set of toms .
As for how these samples can be used , it brings us great joy to know that there are people out there using these samples traditionally and people out there bending and morphing them into something new . Our goal is to get exceptional samples into your hands and then cheer you on as you take the reins .
[ WM ] How do you approach making new sounds ? What is that process like ? Is there any spiritual side to it , or do you just make sounds you think sound good ?
[ Grant ] It depends on whether we are creating sounds for a particular song or creating samples for a sample pack . When making new sounds to support a song that already has its bones , there is usually enough to determine a sonic direction and we let that inspire us and push us down the path of sound design . Often , it ’ s best to chip away at a concept one step at a time . One way that has worked for us as we create sample packs is to highlight a sample that really stands out and then create a whole family of samples around that . In terms of the spiritual side of our sample creation ; our lives are spiritual and everything we do comes from that place , so there ’ s certainly a spiritual aspect to our sound design .
Even as individuals , we want everything we touch to be our best effort and our combined attitude towards sound design as Bottega gets every ounce of dedication and care . A big part of our process is fine tuning , editing and curating whatever we create . Like every artist , it takes a lot for us to be happy and prepared to release something so our samples get sat down and we ask them a lot of questions and test their integrity before releasing them to the world . Ha !
[ WM ] What advice and encouragement would you give to drummers wanting to add in electric sounds / drum machines , but haven ' t yet made the leap ?
[ Grant ] Do it ! Take the leap ! We will be there to catch you . And get ready for the ride of your life because sample enhancement is a whole new world of fun . The possibilities are practically endless , but most importantly , the ability to tastefully enhance the acoustic sound with a well-blended electronic aspect is rewarding for the musician and the project .
[ WM ] When many people think about drum sounds , they think solely of electronic music .
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