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Exclusive Interview: setstill On Creating A Multi-Genre Album

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multi-genre album

Electro Wow is pleased to present you with an exclusive interview on the creation of a multi-genre album titled ‘thefool’ by Minneapolis-based artist setstill. Discover how this 10-track project came together despite complex circumstances.

1 — What inspired setstill to create a multi-genre album?

Ever since I downloaded Logic and started to learn how to make music back in 2016; the thing that I’ve always loved and has always been the most exciting is discovering how recorded music is made. Personally, I really enjoy and have a lot of respect for all sorts of music, and I’ve found that learning about each one’s unique culture, expression, and creative process pushes me to grow as an artist and as a person.

2 — How would you describe the different sounds on ‘thefool’?

 I honestly wouldn’t know where to begin with describing the sounds. I like to design and apply sounds that carry something with them. Sometimes I discover it in process, and sometimes I’m imagining the sound in my head when something is at the forefront of my mind.

3 — Are you trying to reach a larger audience with this eclectic style?

I would say that I had no intention of reaching a larger audience, but also no audience in particular. Just like the theme of the Tarot; the songs are for whatever the audience needs to be.

4 — What was the process of creating your new material like?

The process of writing this project was hectic. I had COVID at one point, felt disconnected from people, just quit an awful job, and was struggling to make sense of a lot of what was going on around me. Partially due to how that affected my mental health, and partially due to the complexity of life.

setstill interview 2022
5 — Please tell us more about the collaborations featured on ‘thefool.’

Since I had COVID at the time, I did the collaborations remotely. COVID sucked a lot, but it’s awesome how musicians all learned to collaborate remotely. I initially asked Garland to help with a couple of tracks that featured keys as I’d never reached out and my keys were synthetic. Garland is big on dry real keys, and the recordings brought a lot of character and depth to the songs.

WOOTZAbility is a good friend and phenomenal artist/producer/rapper. He wrote and recorded his verse in less than a day on a song I sent him, but it was a weird track at first. Reflecting on the song and his verse; I ended up switching it to a more recent beat I did which really made it shine next to the lyrics I had.

6 — How did you choose the artwork for the album?

I wanted to emphasize the homegrown nature and human element of the music. A good friend of mine I met in college, Isaac Hill (@esoteric_bullshit on Instagram) is an awesome human who makes the most incredible and unique paintings. The style was perfect and I really wanted to support them and we both agreed it would be perfect. So I commissioned the painting and Isaac was able to make it and send it over from Washington.

setstill album 2022
7 — It seems the symbolism behind the Tarot is the main theme behind this project, or am I wrong?

 I went back and forth between being somewhat specific and being completely obscured by the theme. I ended up being inspired by Tarot after learning more about it and decided that it would be perfect.

8 — Have you ever had a tarot card reading?

The only one I’ve had definitely led me down the path to creating/releasing this project the way that it is.

9 — Are you dropping music videos anytime soon?

I made the one lyric video for the song “lovers,” and even that was sort of a lot. Music videos are a lot of time, money, and work that no one is paying me for. They’re a feat to put together independently. Definitely in the future though.

10 — What about performing in concerts or live shows?

I’m a huge introvert with a lot of stage fright, so I don’t play a lot of shows. But I’ve been preparing some live shows now with Original Beginnings where we’ll play a bunch of songs from our catalog! Catch us on September 17th at Powderhorn Porchfest and October 15th at Cosmic Coffee. 🙂


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Hi, my name is Erick Ycaza. I have a BA in Advertising & Graphic Design. This blog is to provide you with daily music news and share my personal style.

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