All of these tracks were made in FL Studio using custom Serum patches, Chopped Samples and drum presets from sample packs.
When I first started producing, I strictly made rap beats to sell to artists. In my mind maybe if I could make some cool music and work with some big artists, I could put a relief to the exclusion I felt in my new school. I had just moved over a thousand miles for my father’s job and the new kids seemed to be pretty tough to please. Even though I had been a social butterfly my whole life I could not get past my first day bullying experience.
As high school went on, I tried seeking approval through what artists I could talk to. If I DM’d some local artist telling them I produced and they replied I instantly put that on my Snapchat story seeking attention. While people would slide up and say “wow cool” or some other measly remark the artist was no longer interested and in person peers didn’t care. My production seemed to not have any purpose: I wasn’t making money selling beats and people still didn’t talk to me.
Fast-forward to the summer before first year of college, I had still made no money, and I was preparing to leave home. One day while eating lunch while listening to my Apple Music "New Music Mix" I stumbled across a song by an artist named Kaivon called "Alive". The full piano sounds and rich synths creating an energy filled drop instantly caught my attention. Going back to my computer after eating I ripped the lyric free electronic track from YouTube and dropped it into FL Studio listening to the song completely awe-struck by the song's energy. I started watching YouTube tutorials on EDM production despite thinking electronic music was corny.
Not long after I was DM'ing a friend I had made during a past project who I knew listened to Electronic Music. He told me about some artist named Marshmello, and new genres like Future Bass and Trap. I started listening, and while most of the tracks were way too heavy for my appreciation, I was able to find gems among the rough. I kept watching tutorials and making my own drops. It was rough, and about eight attempts in I titled one project "Good grief this is tough" tempted to give up. After moving to school, I reverted to producing more rap beats for a non-existent customer base. To my surprise I still felt underwhelmed by doing what I was decent at. Despite the fact I was making full tracks that my roommate swore were incredible I found every project lack-luster. My production felt empty, and I just wanted to work with an artist who could display my frustration.
I knew I needed to change my production but I didn’t know how, I just couldn’t display my emotions well on a song that was meant for another artist to display their emotions on. I was sick of being a producer, I wanted to be an artist.
I kept watching tutorials and getting better even though I couldn’t tell a difference. After partying way too hard first semester I had one of the most emotional conversations ever with one of my mentors, that did not touch on music once. It was about learning who I was. After that conversation I went back to my dorm room and sat down at FL Studio. While working on the eight-bar loop I was creating my head was bobbing and I was enjoying it, but after a quick break to get water I came back and listened to yet another terrible concept.
Going to bed frustrated I woke up the next day and before class ran to Wal-Mart for some minor item listening to Virtual Riot playlists on the road. Once back at the dorm I had an idea. Melding VR and Future Bass. I would call the track Riddim Campfire (toasting a Marshmello with real heat was the justification for the idea I think) which turned out to be my favorite track I had ever produced, and to this day holds a special place in my heart. Despite the roughness around the edges I can hear the emotions I felt in the chords during the buildup and drops.
It was ground breaking to make a track that I enjoyed enough to play for others that I thought represented real emotions. I kept pushing into that display of emotions for more tracks, and more quality tracks came out of the art. In my opinion I was no longer a producer, I was an artist.
Now here we are today, I exist with this website and have my own artistic project I call Jubal Music. I am still a novice with the branding, and I have not mastered production in the slightest, but having the artistic outlet as a producer is a melding, I could have only dreamed of just a few years ago. I am so grateful for the opportunities this art has given me, and I will continue pushing into that same display of emotions until I find a better way to express myself. If I were to take a guess, that won’t be coming around the bend anytime soon.
Thank you for taking the time to read the story on my artistic journey. I appreciate every bit of support I have received from my friends and family. Specifically, my mom for instilling a love of music in me by making me take piano and guitar lessons. If you would like to support me or just say hey I am always available to chat @JubalMusik on Twitter or @JakeStudebaker on Instagram. To follow the artistic project a like on my Facebook page would be awesome. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
As high school went on, I tried seeking approval through what artists I could talk to. If I DM’d some local artist telling them I produced and they replied I instantly put that on my Snapchat story seeking attention. While people would slide up and say “wow cool” or some other measly remark the artist was no longer interested and in person peers didn’t care. My production seemed to not have any purpose: I wasn’t making money selling beats and people still didn’t talk to me.
Fast-forward to the summer before first year of college, I had still made no money, and I was preparing to leave home. One day while eating lunch while listening to my Apple Music "New Music Mix" I stumbled across a song by an artist named Kaivon called "Alive". The full piano sounds and rich synths creating an energy filled drop instantly caught my attention. Going back to my computer after eating I ripped the lyric free electronic track from YouTube and dropped it into FL Studio listening to the song completely awe-struck by the song's energy. I started watching YouTube tutorials on EDM production despite thinking electronic music was corny.
Not long after I was DM'ing a friend I had made during a past project who I knew listened to Electronic Music. He told me about some artist named Marshmello, and new genres like Future Bass and Trap. I started listening, and while most of the tracks were way too heavy for my appreciation, I was able to find gems among the rough. I kept watching tutorials and making my own drops. It was rough, and about eight attempts in I titled one project "Good grief this is tough" tempted to give up. After moving to school, I reverted to producing more rap beats for a non-existent customer base. To my surprise I still felt underwhelmed by doing what I was decent at. Despite the fact I was making full tracks that my roommate swore were incredible I found every project lack-luster. My production felt empty, and I just wanted to work with an artist who could display my frustration.
I knew I needed to change my production but I didn’t know how, I just couldn’t display my emotions well on a song that was meant for another artist to display their emotions on. I was sick of being a producer, I wanted to be an artist.
I kept watching tutorials and getting better even though I couldn’t tell a difference. After partying way too hard first semester I had one of the most emotional conversations ever with one of my mentors, that did not touch on music once. It was about learning who I was. After that conversation I went back to my dorm room and sat down at FL Studio. While working on the eight-bar loop I was creating my head was bobbing and I was enjoying it, but after a quick break to get water I came back and listened to yet another terrible concept.
Going to bed frustrated I woke up the next day and before class ran to Wal-Mart for some minor item listening to Virtual Riot playlists on the road. Once back at the dorm I had an idea. Melding VR and Future Bass. I would call the track Riddim Campfire (toasting a Marshmello with real heat was the justification for the idea I think) which turned out to be my favorite track I had ever produced, and to this day holds a special place in my heart. Despite the roughness around the edges I can hear the emotions I felt in the chords during the buildup and drops.
It was ground breaking to make a track that I enjoyed enough to play for others that I thought represented real emotions. I kept pushing into that display of emotions for more tracks, and more quality tracks came out of the art. In my opinion I was no longer a producer, I was an artist.
Now here we are today, I exist with this website and have my own artistic project I call Jubal Music. I am still a novice with the branding, and I have not mastered production in the slightest, but having the artistic outlet as a producer is a melding, I could have only dreamed of just a few years ago. I am so grateful for the opportunities this art has given me, and I will continue pushing into that same display of emotions until I find a better way to express myself. If I were to take a guess, that won’t be coming around the bend anytime soon.
Thank you for taking the time to read the story on my artistic journey. I appreciate every bit of support I have received from my friends and family. Specifically, my mom for instilling a love of music in me by making me take piano and guitar lessons. If you would like to support me or just say hey I am always available to chat @JubalMusik on Twitter or @JakeStudebaker on Instagram. To follow the artistic project a like on my Facebook page would be awesome. Thank you for taking the time to read this.