Brazilian producer and sound engineer Fred Lenix, now based in Turkey, has established himself as a force in electronic music through his work on Adam Beyer’s Truesoul imprint.
Photo credit: Fred Lenix – Official
Known for crafting intricate soundscapes that blend old-school techno with futuristic elements, Lenix’s journey from producing as a child to releasing on prestigious labels offers valuable insights for aspiring producers.
His distinctive production style, which has earned support from Artbat, Tale of Us, and Solomun, emphasizes the importance of developing a signature sound, drawing inspiration from visual media, and mastering the art of tension and release in melodic structures.
Following the success of releases like ‘Somewhere’ EP and his collaboration with Dino Lenny on ‘Motivator’, Lenix has returned with his latest sci-fi-influenced single ‘Heart Beat Slow’ on Truesoul.
In this exclusive studio session, Fred shares his expertise on everything from crafting memorable melodies to advanced mixing techniques and the nuances of working with mastering engineers.
1. Take your time building your sound
I have been producing music since I was a kid. So I had plenty of time to develop my own signature sound. One of the tips I would give is to really consider taking your time before starting a project and putting music out there. Although I had tracks ready to go, it took me a few years to do my debut where I really wanted to start my career, which was Ellum back in 2018.
2. Find inspiration in visual media
Finding my own music flow was the key. I realized I would get constant inspiration from movies or images where I would start by crafting a synth sound that resembles the ambience I want to create. Most of the time, I would open up a sci-fi movie scene or a futuristic image and try to come up with as many different sounds as possible. That would already give me a start to the vibe of the track I was creating.
3. Use question-and-answer melodies
I always start with a memorable question-and-answer melody. I think it’s key to have a melody like that so I can start building the track around it. My tracks such as ‘Motivator’, ‘Surrender’, and my collab with Artbat ‘Dreamcatcher’ have this characteristic of building and releasing tension with a melody asking and answering a question. Although my sound design is complex in nature, I tend to have a minimalist mix focused on shining elements throughout my tracks.
4. Mix with the venue in mind
When it comes to mixing, I do that on my own too. As a producing tip, I would suggest producers focus on the ambience in which they imagine the track will be played. A reference is very important. If I have a key element that I want to shine, I usually copy it and do a 3D imaging on it, widening inside the mix. You can hear this effect on my panned basslines or stabs. This gives more space for the kick and lows as I always design them very punchy and short-tailed. I believe there are a lot of ways to mix a track, so I won’t give any numbers or parameters on where to keep your threshold in your compression or where is best to cut your lows etc.
5. Communicate your vision to mastering engineers
Louder isn’t always better. One thing I always have an issue with when it comes to collaborating with others or sending my music out for mastering (if I have to): a mastering not well done by a sound engineer who doesn’t have familiarity with your sound characteristics can easily outshine some elements of your track. For example, if the track is mixed to be played in a closed ambience like a packed club, it shouldn’t be so focused on bringing up the highs or shining the kick; instead, it should be focused on keeping the groove round and smooth. Make sure to communicate your intentions with the track and key elements when it comes to working with a mastering engineer.
Fred Lenix’s ‘Heart Beat Slow’ is now available on Truesoul. Stream and download here.
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