Image credit: Sam Dameshek
With live performances picking up again, renowned music producer Gryffin has shared several dancefloor-worthy hits; ‘You Were Loved (ft. One Republic)’, ‘Alive (ft. Calle Lehmann)‘ and now ‘Caught Up (ft. Olivia O’Brien)’ via Darkroom/Interscope Records. All warm and spirited tracks, the producer continues to shine with his eclectic dance sound. Along with sharing these feel-good tracks, he has also announced tour dates for his Alive Tour. Born and raised in the vibrant city of California, Gryffin channels its energy with his new music that makes the perfect summer soundtrack for new love stories to develop. We had the opportunity to chat with the man himself – Gryffin in this exclusive with him.
‘Caught Up (ft. Olivia O’Brien)’ features on POP_GROUND.fm
Why do you think dance music has longevity in an ever-changing genre landscape?
Dance music has longevity in my opinion, because the genre was built on a culture that was looking for an escape and to have fun. While it may go through different iterations and trends, I believe the ethos and core of dance music will keep the genre alive and well. The innovation of technology and producing software has also given producers like me an endless amount of new possibilities when it comes to making music, which will only allow for continual innovation.
Describe the process of creating ‘You Were Loved (with One Republic)’?
It was a really fun record to work on and incredibly collaborative with the band (OneRepublic). The track came about when one of my managers sent me the demo, and I immediately connected to it as I’m a big fan of OneRepublic and Ryan Tedder’s writing. When working with Ryan Tedder’s vocals, I really wanted to channel a timeless and summer-feeling vibe. Once I had the general idea built, Ryan, Brent (from OneRepublic), and I passed the song back and forth to finish it up.
How do you prepare for a set?
My preparation and approach differ from set to set. In most cities and countries, I try to sprinkle in other artists’ songs and edits that are relevant to that specific culture, but I mainly play my own music. For my live show, I play almost entirely my own catalog and some exclusive edits for those sets. For Vegas, my set is a bit commercial. If I am playing in South America, for example, I try to incorporate some edits of Latin tracks to get people excited and play music relevant to what people are listening to. I love playing out new tracks in new cities/venues and seeing how the audience reacts.
What is your go-to gear when producing your sound?
When it comes to my go-to studio gear, my DAW is Ableton, the monitor is Genelec, and the vital hardware I use is Prophet Rev2 and Universal Audio 1176. My favorite plug-ins are Uhe Diva, Serum, and Omnisphere.
What are your thoughts on promoting your music via social media?
Social media is a necessary tool for all artists at this point if you’re trying to grow your audience. I’ve been really trying to find my own voice and vibe on TikTok while keeping my presence on Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, etc. I believe it’s all about creating an authentic voice on these platforms to connect with your fans.
What have been the highlights of your 2022 so far?
2022 has been a great year so far. I’ve put out three singles so far, which are some of my favorite songs I’ve ever made. I’m also bringing back my live show with my band, which I haven’t brought back since 2019. I’m excited to share what I have in store for the rest of 2022.
What is one sub-genre you think doesn’t get the attention it deserves?
I have been loving drum and bass. It’s always been a staple genre of dance music, but recently it’s been sounding so fresh to me.
Do you have any musical guilty pleasures?
I am a sucker for a good, down-the-middle Dua Lipa pop song.
Follow Gryffin:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud
