Fly High Society recently unveiled their latest compilation of “out-of-this-world bleeps, cuts, cosmic beats, and gems” in the form of SPACEBUS VOL. 1, which was packed with exclusive new tracks from the collective’s members: Bolts, HLMNSRA, Tehbis, and Iglooghost.
With its colourful and left-of-field beats and singular aesthetic, SPACEBUS VOL. 1 is the rich fruit spawned from the collective labours of Fly High Society’s finest emerging producers, who are known for their distinctive DIY and punk-inspired ethos.
To get the skinny on one of Australia’s most intriguing production crews, we caught up with Tehbis, who took us on a tour of his studio and told us all about the production gear that he couldn’t live without.
The Essentials
If I had to break my rig down to its bear essentials, I would keep my well housekept folders of sounds and samples, my DAW, and a mic, then creating would still go on.
What I use on the regular varies a lot depending on the session or what I feel like experimenting with that day. On a typical day I use Ableton, a few pre-amps, and a bunch of outboard pieces.
Evolution
I started on a home-built PC which had early versions of Cubase, Reason, and Recycle on it. That was pretty much in my bedroom. Since then, I have relocated into a space which accommodates for three rooms of obscure instruments, gear, and a tape reel-to-reel.
I often just go from room to room picking up bits of gear or an instrument and experimenting.
Discovery
I got given an MPD pad early on from a friend, that was my first piece of gear ever. I didn’t really take to it to begin with. Now my current MPD has part of the infustructure.
Gear Vs Song
The gear can definitely influence a track and can allow it to take its own shape. That’s why I’ll turn to gear, and one moment it could be trying out a sequence on a Wurlitzer and re-amping it, and the next moment sending some sounds to a Memory Man.
I think the in all honesty you can make great things with very little. It’s all about using what you have to the best of its ability, and (in my case) making music with a hip-hop mentality.
Getting Weird
I’ve bought and traded some pretty weird bits in my time. Maybe servicing a TEAC reel-to-reel machine to run some four-track drums through is the most obscure. And the oldest piece in my rig is probably the TEAC reel-to-reel.
There’s also old keyboards, wind organs, effects pedals, etc. I’ve got a 1950s big band Ludwig kick drum, plus many electronic circuit-bent bits and pieces.
Solving Problems
Problem solvers in the studio? I would say some Hershey bars and Reece’s Pieces can be very helpful. Other than that, the headspace you induldge can be.
Fly High Society’s ‘SPACEBUS VOL. 1’ compilation is available now.
