Audeze speaks with House Music artist Dombresky

Dombresky has been a force in the house music world since 2016. His continual rise to the top has included many notable releases including Soul Sacrifice, Utopia and Down Low to name a few. His massive success touring stateside has lead to garnered interest from South America and Europe where he will be touring continually.  

"Since I’m rarely able to setup monitors and be in a studio, I'm usually wearing these for hours everyday... I can wear them for hours and and I just don't feel it."  - Dombresky

Here's our talk with Dombresky:

Can you pick out any highlights from your work that you're particularly proud of?

Moving to America full time in 2016.  Releasing my songs on my own label and headlining some of the biggest festivals in the US.

How would you define your main role on most of the projects you work on these days?

I try to control every aspect of my work, I keep an eye on every detail and I love that.

How did you get started in music? What kind of music did you listen to while growing up and how has that progressed?

I learned how to drum about 10 years ago in France, then I discovered how to dj and I instantly fell in love with it.
I listened a lot of r&b, hiphop, soul, jazz and funk.

Can you name any factors that influenced the course of your musical life? Heroes, role models, moments, interactions, etc?

Jamiroquai, Prince, Disclosure.  I'm a very curious guy always looking for fresh artists...

Can you briefly describe a moment of frustration from your past work, and what you may have done to overcome the obstacles? Would you approach it differently now?

I spent a lot of time pretending not to be who I am.  It took some time but I can happily say that I am in a good place now and feel like I am coming into a place that I have been manifesting for many years.

Is there any gear you find yourself turning to most when working on a project? What are some of your favorite tools/instruments recently?

I don't have any external instruments it's all software, I just have a midi keyboard, a Macbook with Ableton suite.
I love the Arcade plug in, it helps to play with vocals as well as speed up workflow.

Do you have any words of wisdom for people who might aspire toward a similar path for their own careers?

In terms of music I will say, to do a demo every day even if it's not something finished, but one day something great is gonna come, and do not just copy what is working, find your own sound. Embrace what is unique about you.

How long have you been working with headphones, and how do you typically use them in your workflow?

Since I started to produce, like 6 years ago, I have used headphones after finding the vibe of my track, and when I want to fix the mix to be sure everything is sounding okay. They also function to clear my palette ear wise. Sometimes listening on monitors for hours can be a bit daunting so switching back and forth during vital changes helps.

Do you have any additional comments or stories you want to share?

You can do it. I spend a lot of time making sure the mix feels good on multiple speakers, bluetooths, etc and I think it's extremely valuable to invest in the right headphones for exactly that purpose. Don't pay attention to what's flashy, focus on what works for you and ride with it.

How have your Audeze headphones affected your work?

I love the frequencies on it, everything sounds clear. But I think an even more important detail is the comfort and the weight of the headphone—they’re so damn comfortable to wear. Since I’m rarely able to setup monitors and be in a studio, I'm usually wearing these for hours everyday. The usual pressure and fatigue that comes from wearing most headphones just doesn't exist with these. I can wear them for hours and and I just don't feel it.

Can you tell us what you've been working on with them recently?

The industry has changed a lot, fans are discovering and listening to new music at a much faster pace than before and artists had to adapt. Between my touring schedule and time in the studio, I’ve had to learn how to bring my music with me; producing in hotel rooms, cafes, green rooms, has been my new studio norm. Fortunately Audeze has helped make it easier to produce on the fly, I’m probably sitting on 100+ demos, with a lot of music ready to share this year. I'm bringing the gospel of house to the world.