Meet Soularflair

My recording journey started with getting a Tascam 4 track tape recorder as a present. With the strong limitations that come with that, I learned the basics of song composition, like EQ, panning, and levels — and because you can only really “bounce” a cassette tape about twice without a noticeable loss in quality, my earlier songs were, by necessity, generally simpler in construction to how they are often nowadays. - Soulaflair

The 'tude Series - Released 2017

My primary instrument is guitar, and in the early tape days I had a Roland R8 drum machine and a Technics keyboard — which was used for piano/synth/bass/largely crappy classical instrument emulations — so the songs I made were shaped strongly by the limitations of my tech. I wrote maybe 30 or so songs with the 4 track, before deciding I wanted to get more serious, then graduated to a computer based DAW after maybe 3 years. - Soulaflair

Soundtrack (INDUSTRIAL) - Released 2017

My first album was actually composed largely in an early version of a more step-sequencer based program called “Fruity Loops”, that was more geared (at the time) towards dance and electronica. I then mixed it down in Cubase VST. Cubase then became my primary recording software and still is now, albeit a modern version. - Soulaflair

Post-Human - Released 2010

My very first full released album was all electronica. The second was mostly progressive rock/metal with a couple random variances (classical, electronica). The following 3 albums became very varied in content…but I came to the realization after that it was better to focus on an overall genre for a finished album — and I basically follow that template now (i.e., an all progressive metal album…an all electronica album…a full solo piano album, etc.). - Soulaflair

Understatements - Released 2021

My present set up is probably best described as…
- One primary electric guitar
- Cubase as the DAW
- The majority of sample sets, but not all, from Native Instruments Komplete (synths/pianos, classical instruments, basses, etc.)
- Drums, usually from Steven Slate Drums
- Native Instruments Traktor, a live DJ program, for doing remixes on-the-fly, that I then import back into Cubase to edit.

As time went on, I added tons of virtual instruments, sample sets and effects, and my songs often became comparatively more complicated compared to early songs I wrote on tape. A DAW enables far more granular control, experimentation, and the ability to actually fix more mistakes that come from the limitations of 4 track tape recording. Once in the digital domain and using a DAW, for many years my final product would be a 44.1KHz/16 bit WAV file. In about 2015 I upgraded that to a 48Khz/24 bit WAV file. - Soulaflair

(Untitled/In-progress - MIXED GENRE) - Released 2017

Most of my guitar-based songs will come from a guitar riff or two. I'll typically experiment putting ones written at different times together and seeing what sounds right, then write a bass line, then drums, etc. More recently, I've experimented with guitar-based tracks actually doing the drums first, in an effort to make the drumming more progressive and experimental.

When I do ambient or piano stuff, that is very commonly a completely improvised “noodling” process. I can't “play” piano or synth, so I literally just play around and experiment. Oftentimes, 90% of that will be unusable rubbish…but there will be that 10% of “potential”/“happy accidents” that I pick up on re-listening, that can then be further deliberately developed. - Soulaflair

Future Memories - Released 2022

I started composing 30 years ago, a few years after taking up the guitar (largely self-taught) and playing in a band at school. In those earlier days, I was more interested in having a band. However, I very soon grew out of that desire.

I realized early on that I could basically do all I wanted myself — so I quickly became a studio muso/producer, more-so than a performer. I also sort of fell into being an instrumental artist, as my own voice is definitely not up to scratch for anything more than rough punk sort of barking. - Soulaflair

Metal (2023) - Released 2023

As far as the how of composing, for me, it is certainly more of a random process…of where the “muse” takes me — and what “wants” to be written at a particular time. Meaning, I might do a guitar-based metal track, then pivot completely and do an ambient track, followed by an industrial remix, followed by a solo piano track. I generally have no idea what will come next. - Soulaflair

Mere Death Experience - Released 2023

Also, within an individual song, I seldom have much of an idea how it will finish up sounding when I start — it's often a complete surprise to me. I write solely to please myself, though, not for a market or for any commercial viability. I've also come to the conclusion that it's best to really write when I'm feeling it, and not force the composition process. So as long as I personally am happy with the final result, that's all that matters. - Soulaflair

CC-BY FREE TO USE FOR ANYTHING - Released 2025