"Get the groove going first": How Alan Fitzpatrick made Suara banger ‘The Approach’

"When I made ‘The Approach’ I was keen to use some analogue lead sounds. This process inspired me to dig a little deeper into some of the synths we use and to find that big, heavy-hitting lead that dominates the track. Reset Robot and I have been locked away in secret at both of our studios, me in Southampton and him in Portsmouth, working on some exciting new music that’s more on an ambient and leftfield tip. Most of this project so far has been heavily analogue-based.

I’m lucky now to be in a position where I can afford synths. Especially the old rare ones. I’m a huge fan of 80s culture so I often spend a lot of time trying to hunt down sounds from the synths of that era. I am looking for some of the old 90s sound modules at the moment, too, used in all the old rave tunes. But my favourite synth I own is the Roland Juno-60.

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Normally all my music starts as a jam and then the idea naturally develops. I start all my music the same, regardless of style. I like to get the groove going first, so it’s always about finding the right kick, percussion and bass. Once this is nailed, I’ll then look to incorporate my sounds, synths and samples."

How did you finish the track?

"This track was a combination of bass from the Moog Sub37 and lead from the Korg MS2000, both of which are at Reset Robot’s studio; however, I do also own a Sub37 which we have been hammering at my studio, too. For the drums I called upon the Electron Machinedrum it’s a proper badass bit of kit that I love to use. Arrangement and all other aspects on the track are all done via Reason, the DAW I’ve used since Day One."

What’s next on your shopping list?

"I’d love an Alexis Andromeda synth or a Yamaha CS-80. The Yamaha is the Blade Runner synth, but sadly they’re hard to come by and cost a fortune!"

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Check out Alan Fitzpatrick's studio setup in the gallery below.

Alan’s remix of Green Velvet’s ‘Bigger Than Prince’ will be out on Circus soon

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