Atlanta-based Producer Silva Hound continues to carve out a unique niche in the world of Electronic Music; blending elements from the genre with influences from pop culture, anime, and video games, he creates music that symbolises his inspirations and background, putting forward innovation and originality through his work.
Now, in this interview, Silva Hound joins us, opening up about his journey, from his early inspirations to the challenges he has faced in the industry and how collaboration and evolving technology continue to shape his sound.
So, as we dive deeper into his creative process, what fuels his music, and what’s next on the horizon, we invite you to join us and learn more about the talented Silva Hound.
How are you doing, and what have you been working on lately?
I’m good! Working on fixing my sleep schedule at the moment but I can’t complain too much! Lately, I’ve been working on a bunch of singles and album material, as well as handling an excess of business documents, commissions, and rap beats on the side.
Can you tell us a bit about how you got into music and started making a career out of it?
Yeah! So, I’d been making and posting music online since as early as 2008, but hadn’t gotten into it commercially until 2011, inspired by all the cool shows and video games I love, past and present! I got into some fandoms online (most notably the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom, long story short: it was great, haha) and involved myself with communities and cool like-minded people which would later on result in my very first DJ shows (and in front of thousands!), my first tours, and eventually some music industry experience with former managers! I took what all of THAT gave me and became the guy I am today, and I plan on continuing to grow and evolve.
How did growing up in Atlanta influence your musical development?
I absorbed a lot of different kinds of music growing up in Atlanta. Rap, Gospel, Soul, Pop, R&B, and Jazz dominated my childhood, and as I got older I dove into Rock, Country, and eventually EDM. It wasn’t until recently that my career would have me explore the huge cultural melting pots of both the music AND convention scene in my city as well.
Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?
The three most important artists I always credit for being the most potent and direct influences on me and my musically creative drive are Michael Jackson, Daft Punk, and Kanye West. In terms of songwriting, composition, and most importantly, creative exploration, they’re the top 3 artists who’ve made the most significant impact in my way of creating.
How much does collaboration play a part in your creative process?
It’s a pretty huge part. Nowadays I’m creating musical pieces that I feel have the potential to be bigger than anything I could come up with on my own. I’m always looking to improve and innovate in some sort of way, and I recognize that it’s the inspiration from my peers, friends, and fans that continue to push me to want to do more interesting things with the music I make.
You’ve had some success with the Hazbin Hotel fan song “Addict”—how did that come together?
I was blessed to be able to work with a huge creator like VivziePop for a video after Chi-Chi, Michael and I made the song. It allowed me to make music full-time and live solely off my sales ever since. From there I do my best to try and make bigger & more poignant works of art. It’s such a thrill to see your artistry grow!
Where do you draw inspiration from for your production style?
I used to look to a lot of 70’s and 80’s records for production inspiration. Nowadays I still do, but much less so. Often times I’ll listen to literally ALL kinds of music, old and new, and pick up on cultural shifts, songwriting styles, engineering analysis, and generally studying how music changes. It’s all super fascinating.
How have the shows, movies, and games you love influenced your music?
They were a pivotal place for personal escape from my own trials and tribulations growing up, in addition to being just really entertaining and creative, stretching my brain past the limits of what I thought was possible to be written. And so, I’m inspired to try and take my music just as far.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career so far?
I’ve been bullied, I’ve been broke, I’ve been scammed by contemporaries, I’ve been overworked and underpaid, sometimes unpaid, I’ve been taken advantage of, I’ve been insulted at, I’ve been lied to, I’ve been lied on… I’ve been through a LOT, haha. But I keep focused on my art and my career and I just keep going. My willpower is kinda crazy, not gonna lie, haha!
How do you see your music evolving with changes in technology and culture?
Technology and culture continue to move forward each and every day, and I’m privy to a lot of how tech and society develop, particularly in a psychological and sociological sense. I’m aware of just how it all affects art for a long time, so I grow and develop myself along with it, being excited about how much more my music and projects can personally contribute to the development of art, culture, and society in a positive way!
As we wrap up our conversation, it is clear that Silva Hound’s journey in music remains deeply rooted in a passion for pop culture and a desire to keep pushing boundaries to produce music that stands out. With new projects sure to be on the horizon, Silva Hound’s future within Electronic Music no doubt guarantees more exciting moments, so be sure to follow along with his journey by keeping up with him via social media to see where his creative vision leads him next.
Silva Hound Online
Soundcloud | Instagram | Spotify
