Ralf GUM is a very respected figures in the house music scene for the distinctive qualities in his exceptional productions and DJ-sets. Since Ralf’s DJ career started in 1990 he always stayed true to his passion for cool and diverse house music. Harmony & Soul & Groove – are the main ingredients, but just some aspects of Ralf’s typical deep sound. Today, he gaves us his Top 5 Studio Tips. Have a good read.

Be well nourished

Sounds simple, but as for most of us DJ-ing is part of the steady schedule. It requires travelling often in different time zones and therefore a regular lifestyle, which of course would include regular eating and sleeping times, is often impossible. The more important is a well balanced diet with healthy fresh food when at home or on the road. I don’t care too much about calories or theories, but learnt to listen to what my body tells me. It helps with the necessary concentration, you’ll need for effective studio sessions. Therefore create routines to eat healthy, at home, the good restaurants or friends’ places, otherwise there’s no muse in the studio.

Be patient

The rawness of quick productions is not to neglect and I like it in some productions of others myself. Usually working on a track for long takes away a bit of the “energy”, as we seem naturally to smoothen things out over time. However I believe that time is necessary to create real beauty in many aspects, as well sonically. Creating variation in the drum programming or and proper editing takes its time, too, and therefore endurance is essential. You need to create your own routines to avoid flattening out songs a long the way, but it seldom happened to me that I would have destroyed a song by putting more effort into it.

Be specific

If you work with someone in the studio learn to define what you want and be specific when you explain it. I found that even with the best players, the producer needs to clearly guide to achieve what he wants. The same should of course apply to your own standards and goals. Set them, try to keep them at all times and ideally progress them to further levels.

Be selfish

When working in studio alone do what you feel and see where it leads you. No one watches you and mistakes don’t matter, (well, unless you’re in a rush). While comparing to what you like is good and referencing to it sometimes okay, find your “inner own sound” and follow that path. All outstanding producers are defined by their very own sound, as versatile as they are or not.

Be sober, not necessarily always

If you feel doing them, those evening sessions including a soft intoxication with legal drugs are surly okay from time to time. Of course they help to get the crazy ideas out and they will not kill you as long as you respect rule 1. However unless you are a fan of the above mentioned rawness plus a lot of unfinished ideas, a clear mind and ear is the way to go. A good song sounds good in every state of consciousness, therefore keep it sober most times. It will keep you going for more years.

‘Progressions’ will be released on March 1st 2019 on GOGO Music. Buy it here