In the realm of electronic music, Aditya Ashok, the creative force behind OX7GEN, continually pushes the boundaries of sound exploration. Transitioning from his roots as a drummer to his roles in producing and DJing, OX7GEN is always working to evolve his music, making him a key industry figure in the drum and bass movement. Amidst his latest EP drop, ‘Evenire,’ the Goa-based producer shares insights with Broke, offering a glimpse into his world. This latest release exudes a distinct aura of novelty, representing a sound he believes is more authentic to himself than ever before…
Broke Magazine: Think back to when you were younger and tell me if you had a defining moment when you knew that you wanted to be in the music industry.
OX7GEN: I’ve wanted to be a musician from the time I can remember. Even before I knew how to play an instrument, I had a sense that that was the only path for me. I think the defining moment would’ve been some time in 1994/95 when I was 5 or so and along with my older brother, picked up our first albums – MJ’s Bad & Yanni Live at the Acropolis. The emotional twists & turns the music was able to create within me must’ve been quite impactful. There was really no turning back after that.
Broke Magazine: We really rated your new EP. What was the creative process like behind this release? Tell us what comes into play when planning for an EP, anything from figuring out the title and cover art to knowing that your music is ready for someone to hear.
OX7GEN: This EP has been a very special one as it’s the beginning of a new sonic journey for me. After being primarily a drum & bass producer & DJ for the last decade, this is the first collection of tunes I’m releasing where I very deliberately stepped away from that world. So in a sense, the creative process here was very free of rules & old processes. I did pay extra attention to the swing of the grooves on these tunes, something that I would never think of doing when producing drum & bass. Once the label and I figured out which songs would go on the EP, I started mood boarding the visual identity. Things like colour palettes, font styles, visual treatment etc. I’ve always enjoyed making my own artwork (with my very limited skills in the domain) so this stage of the EP creation process is as enjoyable to me as the music making.
Broke Magazine: There’s something to be said about the psychology behind fresh starts, ultimately allowing for a new creative headspace. Can you tell us about how your new studio potentially brought new energy into your music?
There’s the tangibles – like upgrading my interface, allowing me to use much better converters & DSP, having a treated room with a subwoofer which is immensely useful when writing & mixing dance/club music. And then there’s the intangibles like having the right temperature and orientation of room lighting, the colour and feel of the wood used in the floors, table & panels. The perfectly blue or moody overcast skies above the vast forest that I can see when I step out of my studio. The effects of these elements while writing & finishing this new batch of music can’t be understated.
Broke Magazine: Who’s one artist you’d want to go B2B with?
Daphni/Caribou. I think he plays some of the most fun and exciting music in his sets and his blend of melodic and edgy vibes is exactly what I like to do when I’m playing.
Broke Magazine: You’re on the forefront of the electronic music scene in India. How have you seen it evolve over the years?
When I first stumbled across the electronic music scene in India in 2009 – drum & bass and dubstep were the underground sounds that my friends and I were drawn to. My agent Sohail (KRUNK) was bringing down some of the most exciting names from the UK/EU bass scene – Alix Perez, Dub Phizix, London Electricity to name a few. A bunch of us started producing & DJing around that time, inspired by these parties and over the years, that number has grown exponentially. There’s a pleath of producers & DJs currently active in India, playing everything from downtempo/experimental to 140/150 BPM hardstyle to 160/170 jungle/juke and drum & bass. Every other weekend sees various forward thinking promoters booking exciting producers & DJs from around the world, further feeding the hungry electronic music enthusiast, overall creating a very rich ecosystem. The emergence of music festivals like Magnetic Fields, Bass Camp festival & Far Out Left are also playing a crucial role in educating newer audiences to the vast tapestry that electronic music has to offer.
Broke Magazine: There’s a running joke that anyone can be a DJ, no shade cause frankly the more the better, but how do you think your sound stands out from the crowd?
Unfortunately the role of the DJ now seems to have become more of a social persona, and finding new tunes that bang has become way too easy. I consider myself a producer first & then a DJ so my focus is on the music I make which in turn dictates my sound as a DJ.
Broke Magazine: You mentioned that this was the first EP sound you felt was truly your own. What was different for you this time around?
For the last decade or so, my brand has been synonymous with drum & bass, and although I really enjoyed playing it out, I was beginning to feel uninspired by what I was hearing and I wasn’t quite enjoying making it either. In 2020/21 when I moved from Mumbai to Goa and set up my own studio, it was a time when I was listening to a lot of the 130/140 BPM more left field house, techno, breaks sounds that I was discovering from labels like Scuffed, Holding Hands, RAND music, HAWS, Sault Mines & Hessle Audio to name a few. Cut to mid 2023 and I had managed to churn out about 15-20 fully finished tunes. Close to 4x of what I had managed in the decade before that. The ideas were flowing effortlessly & finishing tunes never felt easier. It definitely didn’t hurt to have a well tuned room & a sub at the same time that I was having this musical revolution.
Broke Magazine: You have an impressive track record not only in DJing and producing but also as a drummer. How does the music you produce reflect your artistic journey over the years?
OX7GEN: My musical journey began with the drums so I’ve always found the beats side of production quite natural. It’s the melodic side that is a bit harder for me to crack so that’s always been where I spend more of my time. As a result, my music always had a fairly heavy melodic footprint. More recently, I’ve been working with samplers & sequencers albeit in the box, which I feel has helped me unlock a new side of this sound.
Broke Magazine: What do you hope listeners take away from this EP?
Everything I’ve made with OX7GEN has always ended up in a category of music I would like to think has the ability to take the listener into a world of the fantastic. Larger than life soundscapes, soaring leads & massive drums even if they feel like they’re coming from miles away. I want the music on Evenire to create that same feeling of optimism accelerating at a steady pace with a dose of harmony thrown in for good measure.
Broke Magazine: Would you say producing music and curating the intended atmosphere is hard without an audience reaction? A lot of DJing is about feeling a crowd’s energy, so how do you navigate trusting yourself enough to produce a song you feel an audience will like?
When I’m producing music I’m mostly just doing it for myself and the flow state I get into guides the entire process. I’m not thinking so much about the audience at that point. It almost feels like I’m writing it for my 20 year old self, full of energy and grit waiting to take over the world, but right now, is happy with a good dance at the club.
Broke Magazine: Who are some of your biggest inspirations and favorite artists right now?
Some sonically and some artistically – Villager, Kassian, Sault, Jitwam, KiNK
Broke Magazine: Are there any additional creative endeavors we can expect to see from you in the coming year?
I’m currently working with a few singers on a bunch of songs and have something quite exciting planned with these tunes. There’s also a remix in the works coming out on Tru Thoughts for a prolific India/LA based producer – Sandunes, who also happens to be one of my oldest friends. She plays as a 4 piece live electronic setup as well, for which I’m on drum duties usually. So a few of those shows towards the end of the year as well.