EDM School is becoming more popular with each session in Los Angeles. Entering its third installment with Habstrakt and Torro Torro, we at Your EDM decided to send over some questions to each artist and get their feelings about the program, as well as maybe get an idea of what participants can learn from them the day of.
Check out their answers below, and purchase tickets to the event here.
Have you ever done anything educational like this before, where you teach people of various levels about production?
Torro Torro: Not really in such a professionalized setting, more so amongst colleagues and on a private level. It’s a great opportunity to go through some of the key tips and tricks that have defined our music over the years to a larger audience. 
Habstrakt: I’ve recently done a small studio interview for a French tutorial website where I go through a track, and explain briefly how it’s done. When it comes to the private sphere, teaching and sharing production tips with fellow producers friends is also part of my everyday routine. But I never did a seminar or a live Q&A about production like EDM School before.
What tracks do you think you’ll break down for the students?
TT: We’ll be breaking down one of our first big records, ‘Go Deep’. This was a major track for us in the sense that it gave Torro Torro an easily identifiable sound.
H: I will walk you through my remix for Torro Torro’s “Make a Move” which came out on Owsla recently, I will also show a brand new dubstep track in which I used a whole new approach and techniques that I’m very excited about!
When it comes to the part where you make a new track from scratch together, what do you think you’ll start with? Drums? Synths?
TT: Typically we start with drums, so that there is a strong foundation to build on. But we’ll have to see how Habby is feeling! lol
H: In my case that would be drums and start writing an intro and buildup, I also like to do a sound design session to craft drums, bass sounds, pads, fx’s, things you can use to save time once you come up with an idea.
How did you each learn about music production? Did you go to school for it? Did you have a mentor? Did you just mess around until something clicked?
TT: Neither of us went to school for music production. We learned a lot from self teaching, obviously the internet is a huge source of information on technique. Also, chatting with friends and associating with other producers has been a significant part of our learning curve. When all is said and done, nothing beats practice/application of the methods you learn. It still takes lots of hours until ‘something clicks’.
H: I went to music school as a kid to play guitar, but got discouraged by it pretty quick. In terms of electronic music production, I’ve learned a lot alone, but I’ve met and worked with some amazing people, even influences, with whom I learned things that I now use in every song, my music wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t thanks to them.
I believe messing around and experimenting is key rather than learning everything from one single person or institution over a long period, but not every click can be triggered by yourself, it’s important to go out and exchange tips and ideas, to trigger your curiosity and never stop learning.
What do you think of the whole concept of EDM School, as a model for people to learn about production?
TT: The EDM School is a great model for people learning to produce. Not everyone can allot the time or a afford the costs of a full time music school. This is a great way for people of all skill levels, entry level to more advanced, to interact and learn from experienced producers.
H: To be completely honest I really prefer the seminar model over a 2 year scholarship that will teach you how to be a DJ, or the next EDM superstar.
This is an afternoon we spend talking and showing you tips and tricks that you are free to use and interpret your own way, there is no homework or final exam, there is no required level of knowledge either.
At my own level I still feel the need to go through tutorials and production masterclass on YouTube sometimes, and would gladly attend one of these events if there was one nearby. Sometimes I will watch a tutorial on something very specific only to discover something completely random or unrelated that will change my life. Again, it’s all about triggering your curiosity and learn things you can adapt to your own creative process, rather than imposing yourself a way of thinking and a model to follow.
Have you ever thought of yourselves as role models for young producers?
TT: It feels good to know that our music has inspired others to become interest producing, DJing, or even just listening to electronic music more. We look forward to seeing everyone April 6th at Los Globos! x TT
H: Knowing your music inspires people to do the same is such a great feeling, and I wanna keep encouraging people who wants to follow my way, but it’s a difficult role to put yourself in, and I don’t think I really have, and that’s also why I accept to share my knowledge, because I don’t wanna think I’m better than anyone else. Also I don’t believe in top-secret tricks that only a handful of people should have access to, knowledge has to remain accessible and universal. This seminar is a good opportunity for me to share mine!
