In The Studio With Tiga
DJmag.com catches up with Canadian coverstar Tiga to discuss his favourite gadgets, rubbish records, and his own studio style.
DJmag.com recently travelled to Montreal to catch up with the city's premier electronic artist Tiga.
He's currently our coverstar, so check out the latest issue of DJmag for an in-depth interview with the Canadian super producer.
Here DJmag.com grills him about his studio ethics, his favourite gadgets, and the worst record he's ever heard.
Words: Terry Church
What is your favourite production tool?
That's really tough to say. I still have a soft spot for the Real 808, but it's all soft synths these days.
I've really enjoyed using the Oddity soft synth over the past year.
What was your latest purchase for the studio?
I've just got my hands on Ableton Live 5.0 and just got a Protools LE setup for my home studio. Both are brilliant.
What's the most important thing to consider when making music?
First of all, you have to enjoy yourself, otherwise there's no point doing it.
Don't overanalyse things - don't try to 'overthink' things.
Have confidence and taste to know when something is done.
If we lived in a world where anything was possible, what piece of studio technology (real or not) would you like to own?
I need a machine that can do perfect vocals in any style I want.
A machine that could stop time in the outside world until I had finished my work would be useful, as would gloves that read my brainwaves and could turn me into a guitar god.
Invisibility wouldn't help in the studio, but it would be really cool.
What instruments can you play?
I can't actually play any instruments. Except the computer, does that count?
 Tiga never could master the YMCA dance
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If someone wants to start producing, but can't afford much, what kit would you suggest they buy?
I love Fruity Loops for the PC.
I've actually done pretty big-name remixes from start to finish just using Fruity Loops, which is sad, but true.
I am pretty blown away by Ableton Live as well.
You've made loads of records. But what's your favourite one?
'Pleasure From The Bass' is probably the one I am most proud of, it just happened so naturally.
It's the type of record I would love to find in a record shop.
I really like a few of the new ones on my album too.
What's the worst record you've ever heard, and how could you make it better?
Over the years I have heard some absurdly bad stuff on Viva, a German music video channel.
This stuff is so bad it's insane.
It's like made by some weird German marketing company.
It's so many light years past irony, I wouldn't even know what to do with it.
Do you have to be a nerd to be able to produce good electronic music?
No, but it helps. It also helps not to be too big.
Who was the last person to criticise your music to your face, and what was your response?
It hasn't happened in a while. Very rarely does it happen actually.
It depends, sometimes you get people who want to be 'tough' critics, they over-exaggerate their dislike of your music just to be different.
Those people can fuck off.
As for the people who honestly don't like my stuff, I don't mind it, I think I appreciate it.
Anyway, most of the time I am my harshest critic, so a lot of the time I agree with the negative criticism.
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