Get ready to dive into the world of GREGBLU, an up-and-coming alternative hip-hop artist who is making waves with his refreshingly raw sound and DIY approach to music production.
With the release of his debut album “GREGS DEMO TAPE,” he has already garnered attention from music critics and fans alike. GREGBLU’s music is a unique blend of synthesized sounds, memorable basslines, and clever lyrics that explore themes ranging from personal struggles to societal issues.
But what sets GREGBLU apart from other artists in the alternative hip-hop genre is his hands-on approach to creating music. Not only does he write and perform his own tracks, but he also takes charge of the production process from start to finish. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the gear that GREGBLU uses to craft his signature sound. From his laptop to his collection of keyboards, we’ll explore the tools that make GREGBLU’s music stand out in a crowded field of talented artists.
Having a laptop is the most important part of having a setup that can work fluidly. I currently use a ROG ZEPHYRUS laptop.
The laptop is made for gaming but I opt to use it for making music, video waiting, and even photoshop. It’s the centrepiece to the whole operation.
Second piece of gear:
As for recording and listening I use a somewhat cheap setup. I use the focusrite scarelett studio setup. It comes with a 2 in 2 out usb audio interface, a condenser mic and headphones.
I call it a somewhat cheap setup because for the price you get what all you need to make a full song. Most people I know opt for more expensive gear especially when it comes to recording vocals.
But with this project I kind of wanted that raw kind of sound and I want to show people that you don’t need the most expensive recording tools to make songs.
Keyboards:
I have 4 keyboards total. 2 midi keyboards, 1 analog synth, and 1 workstation keyboard.
2 midi keyboards.
1st: So for most of all music I make I usually use this little guy for everything. The Akai MPK mini is my go-to for just making beats in the daily.
So easy to use and fun to use. Visually appealing also I must add. You can link parameters to knobs and do live automation it’s pretty dope. You usually see these keyboards in most of every producer’s setup.
2nd: The second midi keyboard I have is the Komplete Kontrol M32.
love to use this keyboard with native instrument plugins like Kontakt because the knobs on it automatically link to set parameters within the plugins.
Which makes it a try plug n play keyboard. The keys also feel really nice. I has 32 keys a couple more than the Akai which helps with hitting some notes that I usually wouldn’t be able too.
1 Analog Synth
Korg Minilogue xd:
So I’ll be honest, we are all guilty of buying gear to only then barely use it in the long run. For the korg that’s the case for me. However I still use it from time to time for like leads on songs and whatnot.
Like on track 3 on “GREG’S DEMO”, at the end you can hear piercing lead. Yea that was this guys. It’s really fun to use, plus there is no lag so when you hit a key it’s instant.
That’s the fun of analog. Plus all of the knobs and different effects just makes me into like some sort of scientist in a lab. I love to experiment with it and definitely will be using it more in the future
Last keyboard
Yamaha MODX 6: This keyboard is my favorite. It is so smart and it even has a touchscreen which is crazy to see how far they’ve come in technology with keyboards.
I love to use this keyboard because with just a switch of a button I can get a really good sounding almost life like orchestra or I can get a really good analog sound.
The keyboard uses samples and synth engines to make some of the coolest sounds ever and it’s all digital which is crazy.
Also the little glowing knob on it just makes it look cool haha. But track 6, my self titled track ,was made entirely with this keyboard.
GREGBLU’s new album is out now:
