Fluencie, an up and coming producer based out of Seattle, has been causing quite the raucous recently. Coming up in the future bass scene, Alex Olson has previously secured big releases with Ivory Oasis, Chill Trap, Souletiquette, and more. I was able to catch up with Alex about his recent release on FATED, “Don’t Let Me Go” as well as what makes him tick as an artist. Check it out.
What is your background with music?
Since I was a youngin’ I’ve been playing piano. In middle school I stopped. When I was 15 I found myself at a piano after having a bit too many tokes on the j, and I realized, “oh shit, I know how to play this”. It was a great moment. From then on, I started playing the piano on the street for money.
Do you play any other instruments?
I’m pretty good at drums and guitar. This year I moved into a house with a practice space for bands. It makes me wanna play more live music. The thing about live music is that it’s not only about technique, it’s about being together as a band and building the energy. I’d like to add that same sort of simplicity and spontaneity into my own work.
When did you first start production?
I started producing when I was 17, in 2013. I had been in a couple of bands previously, but it never felt right. It’s hard when you have to balance the ideas of four people. That’s why I got into production, there is total artistic control.
What inspired the name Fluencie?
The name Fluencie was actually made up by my current girlfriend back in 2013. I sat down in her living room and was trying to brainstorm a name for my first song on SoundCloud. Right away she said “fluency”. I thought it was “meh” and came up with 35 other names before realizing they all sucked (laughs). I thought Fluencie was alright at the time, but now I think it’s dope. I always tell people that the name doesn’t matter, it’s the music that makes the name good.
What inspired “Don’t Let Me Go”?
“Don’t Let Me Go” was inspired by Virtual Riot. He has a song similar to DLMG, but I thought it was a little too upbeat, so I tried to make a slightly darker version. This process of referencing and changing a song often leads somewhere cool.
Who is the female vocalist behind “Don’t Let Me Go”?
DLMG is sung by Natalia Aristides. She has been singing acoustic songs her whole life, but I was the first one to get her to sing on an EDM track. Since then, I’ve caught her saying “I wanna be a popstar” so I think she see’s how fun EDM is, and how it can reach a lot of people.
How did you begin working with her?
Natalia and I met the summer of 2015 through another singer I was working with at the time. That summer, we made a lot of music. Because we live 8 hours apart during the school year, it takes extra energy to meet up and do music. But, she definitely puts in the work. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.
Who are your biggest influences?
The creators of pop music and dubstep. They work hard to get the most out of a recorded/generated sound. My ultimate goal is to push the limits of a recording in a creative way like dubstep, and a pleasing way like pop music.
