For this video, Point Blank caught up with DJ, producer and performer, GRiZ, to talk about how he performs live with instruments during his DJ sets, how he processes his live sounds and he also gives some useful tips on the best ways for you to jam along to your beats. If you’d like to learn more about how DAWs like Logic and Ableton work, why not check out Point Blank’s popular Online Courses which cover both.
The 28-year-old is well-known for his electrifying sets which fuse fiery live saxophone with electronic beats. His self-described style of ‘future funk’, much like his DJ sets, features hip-hop-inspired instrumentals with energetic funk and sweeping electro-soul. Following a social media blackout for a year, GRiZ recently released his highly-anticipated new album, ‘Ride Waves’. As his most creatively ambitious, most sonically robust, and most personal project to date, the 14-track record features collaborations with major artists like Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, Matisyahu, DRAM, and Bootsy Collins and sees the producer taking his sound toward uncharted territories in hip-hop, pop, and dance music, all while keeping the signature GRiZ sound intact.
Armed with his deadstock Akai MPC 32 and Ableton Live GRiZ, real name Grant Kwiecinski, takes us through his controller set up and how he performs in Ableton Live. Although his speciality is the saxophone he drops some tips on how to blend different instruments with DJing as well as how to mix and fade your live elements to make everything sound as natural and organic as possible. He talks about how he preps his tracks for his performances as well as his go-to effects plugins to use to create ambience before sharing a super-smooth live performance.
