
Welcome to Interview Spotlight! This is where I will feature interviews or discussions with various musicians and learn more about them, what they do and how music affects them.
This week, I am pleased to showcase Oscar D’vine!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where you from, what do you do for a living? Are you currently in school or taking any courses?
“My name is Oscar Berglund, and I produce music under the name of Oscar D’vine. I’m from Gothenburg in Sweden, and I’ve lived here all my life. I work as a DJ, music producer and as an audio supervisor at Breaking Motions. Apart from this I also does some night shifts at a local hotel.”
How are you involved in the music world? What do you do musically?
“I produce original work for various artists, but also does music and sound FX for commercials and films as well as doing remixing work and DJ almost every weekend.”
Are there any previous associations or bands you were involved in before? If so, what did you do? Why are you no longer doing that?
“I was in a two-man band called “Gambler’s Club”. We had one release on Phunk It Records and almost had a full album done right before we split. We might pick up from where we left off, but it’s to early to tell right now. We did equal parts in the band, we both wrote, produced, arranged and mixed the music together.”
How did you begin your journey into music? Have you had any formal training or school courses you were in?
“My music interest started really when I was a kid and became a really big fan of Michael Jackson. It all took off from there. [I then] started studying music production for three years and really learned how great music is put together.”
How would you best describe your music?
“A fusion of everything. You can find funk/soul influences, pop, rock, metal, electronic, dubstep, chillout etc. I really just make what I feel like doing at the time, I just want to make great music.”
How has your music evolved over the years?
“In the beginning I mostly made Hiphop and R&B. Listening to my tracks today I mostly make EDM and House. Currently I’m diving deeper and deeper into the Deep House and Nu-disco sound, which I think is some awesome music.”
Is there any direction you’d like to explore musically that you haven’t before? If so, why is it you choose that direction?
“I would really like to record an orchestra or a big choir at some point. I hope I one day will have the budget to do so!”
You say you’d like to record an orchestra someday. Are you thinking of doing something like film score work? Or doing something more classical?
“I would love to do music for film someday. But I don’t have a particular project in mind. I just want to experience working with a orchestra and a big choir”
What’s your creative process like? How do you go from a blank page, to a completed track or album?
“Most of the time, I find a song that I really like and start trying to make something similar. It’s a lot of trial and error and I rarely end up with a song that sounds like the one I tried to copy, but rather something original. But that’s where it often starts. Other times I come up with a chord progression or a melody I really like, and go from there.”
Have you done any type of tours or special venues?
“I haven’t done any tours (yet!) but I’ve played a few parties and also playing regularly on LPF here in Gothenburg, which is awesome.”
What’s your studio like (if applicable)? What type of equipment do you often find yourself using to help write and record or inspire you?
“When recording vocals, I have an amazing vocal chain which I am very proud of and always gives me good results. But Pro Tools, Reaper and Reason are stuff i couldn’t do without, as well as software instruments as the Komplete package, Nexus 2 and the stuff from A.I.R. I’m a big UAD guy when it comes to mixing, and [that] stuff sound great.”
What song of yours are you most proud of and why?
“My latest single “Just Do It” is really special to me. I worked on it for 3 months before it became what it is. I really believed in the song from the start and I had a lot of software problems when making the track, so it was a tough one to make. But I’m really happy with the result.”
What music, other than your own, have you been listening to lately? What are some of your favorite artist to listen to in your down time?
“Recently I’ve listened to a lot of deep house and nu-disco. There is so much good stuff released right now. I’m also vibing to the latest Michael Jackson album “Xscape”. Mostly the original demos though.
In my downtime i would say I listen to a lot of soul and R&B.”
If you can remember, what’s the first song you wrote? How does that compare to your current releases?
“I can’t really remember the first one, but it probably sucked, big time. A lot of my early stuff was REALLY bad lol.”
If you wasn’t doing music, what would you see yourself trying to pursue?
“I would probably dance, cause that’s the other big thing in my life.”
How long have you been dancing? Have you had any training? Have you done anything professionally or contest wise with dance?
“I have been dancing since I was 11 years old, so 14 years now. I’ve had some training when I started breakdancing. Professionally, I’ve worked as a dance teacher and also won some competitions. I don’t teach or compete anymore though. I have realized its not what i want to do.”
What would your advice be to someone who is trying to get into the music world? What should they look out for?
“Get yourself a guy that wants to help you, who is already somewhat in the music biz. When I first started I got a hold of Marcus from Neo Cartoon Lover and he has always helped me in so many ways. Great guy!”
Final question, what’s your favorite type of food?
“Probably pizza or a nice grilled steak.”
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/oscar-dvine
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OscarDvine
Twitter: http://twitter.com/oscardvine
Website: http://oscardvine.wordpress.com/
Thanks to Oscar for the great interview and giving us all a chance to see and hear about himself and how music works in his life. Make sure you guys give him some support and check him out!
If you’re a musician, artist, composer, DJ or anything to do with the music work, big or small, I would love to hear from you! If you’d like to be showcased, interviewed or be involved in the blog, please contact me through my website at www.derekpalmermusic.com or connect with me on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/derekpalmermusic