Tricks of the trade

Working with FM, I have the privilege of regularly getting to meet and chat to world-class producers, DJs and electronic musicians. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years from these conversation, it’s that there’s no such thing as one ‘correct’ way to make great music. Every time you encounter an artist using a certain method or piece of gear to create masterful tracks, a few months down the line you’re sure to meet a different musician making something equally great by seemingly doing the absolute opposite.

Hopefully, this is the message you’ll take away from this issue of FM. We’ve caught up with a wide cross section of producers and musicians, from scene stalwarts such as MK and Ellen Allien to rising artists like Umfang, Iglooghost and Throttle, via producers like Emika and James Holden, who continue to push their music into exciting new territories. Through their insight and production tips, we hope you’ll see the breadth of creative approaches and possibilities available to modern musicians. We hope to show you there’s no right or wrong way to make music – it’s just a case of finding the approach that works for you. We hope you find the issue as inspiring to read as we did to put together! Si Truss, Editor simon.truss@futurenet.com