Calvin Pepper’s unique Tech House and Techno productions have been released on labels including Frequenza, Unlearn:Records, Natura Viva Black, Panterre Musique, Beat Therapy Records, Space Kraft, Playoff, Neokraft, Winked, Boiler Underground Records and many more. His live sets are high energy, whether playing Tech House, Techno or Deep Tech / Minimal.
His new EP I Was An Alien / House Controls Your Mind is out now on Unlearn:Records.
Hi Calvin, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today! How has the year been treating you?
I would say 2023 has been a pretty good year for me. I played a festival in BC, and played in Miami for the first time. On the production side my first release on Unlearn:Records including a remix by DJideal reached #8 in the Beatport Tech House Top 100. Also had a remix for Alter Ego on my label Beat Slap reach #17 in the Hype Tech House Top 100 on Beatport.
Where do you think the impulse to create music comes from for you?
The impulse to create music for me comes from a deep passion for self-expression and the desire to connect with others through music. Music has always been a powerful form of communication for me. Being fairly introverted growing up I find that creating music allows me to convey emotions, experiences, and ideas in a way that words can’t.
You’ve been involved with several well-recognized labels and have a diverse portfolio of productions. Could you share some insights into your creative process when producing a new track?
My creative process varies from track to track. Sometimes I get inspired by a certain track, which was the case for this release. Sometimes I’ll just start with deciding I’m going to make a tech house track or techno track and just start browsing sample packs to get some ideas. I usually start my tracks by making an 8 bar loop consisting of a kick, bassline, synth / lead, some sort of background atmosphere, a toploop sample or one created with my ableton push 2, and a vocal. From there I’ll start to arrange the tracks, add in fx where necessary, and do some automation. I also like to get my levels right as I’m making the track to avoid having to go back and adjust the levels when I’m finished.
How do you decide on the direction and elements of a track, and what challenges do you face in bringing your musical vision to life?
When producing a new track, my creative process is a mix of spontaneity and experimentation, and as I said before sometimes inspiration from another track. I usually start with a basic idea or concept in mind, such as a particular style of bassline, or mood I want to convey. From there, I’ll begin to play around with different sounds. For basslines I usually use serum paired with my ableton push 2. I’ll either play a pattern on the ableton push or I’ll draw a midi pattern and then scroll though different preset sounds. For my synths I like to use a synthesizer called Ana2 which is very similar to serum but has a little more oscillators to tweak the sound. I find the biggest challenge in bringing my musical vision to life is in maintaining a balance between creativity and technical precision, and ensuring that the final product captures the emotions and vibe I intended. There’s times when it feels like everything I try ends up sounding good and I really get into the zone and it feels effortless, and then there’s other times it feels like I can’t get anything right and that’s when I’ll take a break. I don’t like to force things when I simply don’t have it on that particular day because I find if I’m not really in the right headspace I’ll just be settling for a half decent track when I know I can do better.
Being a prominent figure in the Toronto scene, how do you think the city’s music culture and environment have shaped your career? Additionally, what role do you think you’ve played in influencing or contributing to the local scene?
The music culture and environment in Toronto has had a quite an impact on my career. The city’s rich and diverse music scene has continuously inspired and influenced my sound. Having the opportunity to play in clubs like Comfort Zone, Nest, Coda, and Bassline Music Bar alongside some very talented DJ’s and producers always inspires me to create.
I feel that I’ve been able to contribute to the local scene by bringing a fresh perspective and unique style to the table by playing a lot of own productions either released or unreleased, and by actively participating in and supporting the growth of the house and techno scene in Toronto and Hamilton.
How did you connect with Unlearn for the new single?
I connected with Unlearn:Records with my first release on Doc’s label “Check It Out” back in April 2023. The release which was an Original by myself and an excellent remix by DJIdeal actually reached #8 in the Beatport Tech House category. I was really happy with that release and I felt that Doc did a fantastic job getting the tracks recognized with excellent artwork and landing me interviews like this as well as various premiers. I felt like the next couple of tracks I made which ended up being this release, inspired by Doc’s track “Step Into The Party” were a perfect fit for Unlearn, and I was thrilled that he wanted to sign more of my music so soon after the first.
Tell us about your current studio set up – any particular bits of go-to kit you find yourself returning to?
My studio setup consists of a pair of Mackie MR5 monitors, a MacBook Pro linked to a large Asis gaming monitor, and an ableton push 2. The plug ins I use mostly are serum, ana2, and some mixing / mastering plug ins by Jerome Robins.
Which artists are currently exciting or inspiring you?
Doc Brown has been a big influence on my recent tracks as well as Green Velvet, Gene Ferris, Matt Sassari, MC Flipside, Jerome Robins, Fab Massimo, to name a few. I could list so many great Toronto DJs that influenced me early on like Jayforce, Quim, Addy, too many to name really.
What have been some of your more memorable live performances from the last few months?
In the last few months my most memorable sets were playing a couple Art Basel gigs in Miami, as well as some sets at Comfort Zone, and an outdoor festival in BC.
What should we expect from you for the rest of 2024?
Lots of fresh new music, mainly tech house and occasionally techno. I’ve got a birthday set coming up at the Silver Dollar inside CZ in February, and I also just started a twice a month residency at Pub 36 in Hess Village (Hamilton) which I started with an open to close set this passed Saturday.