Behind the Remix: Nonduality Talks Reworking ‘No Clue’ and His Creative Process
Berlin-based Producer Nonduality has been working to make himself known with his distinctive style, blending his various influences to
Berlin-based Producer Nonduality has been working to make himself known with his distinctive style, blending his various influences to craft music that sounds original and fresh. His latest project, a remix of Frederik Neu and Jakob Mä̈der’s track ‘No Clue,’ offered yet another glimpse into his evolving sound, putting forward his abilities and approach with its detailed and engaging arrangement.
Today, we catch up with him to discuss the behind-the-scenes process of crafting this remix, his inspirations, and what’s next in his journey.
Hi Nonduality, how are you?
I’m good! Got some fun gigs and releases coming up, and I’m looking forward to seeing my family at the end of the year. Thanks for having me!
What drew you to remix ‘No Clue’ by Frederik Neu and Jakob Mä̈der? Was there a specific element in the original track that sparked your interest?
To be honest, I love Frederik Neu’s music, so I knew I’d love remixing it as soon as he asked me. I hadn’t even heard it yet, but I knew the answer would be yes. That being said, I really love the chords and general songwriting in the original.
How did you approach reworking the track while maintaining the essence of the original?
That’s a balance I’ve struggled with in the past. To keep it true to the original, I tried to avoid adding any major lead sounds or chord changes. I kept pretty strictly to what I had in the stems, except for the drums and bassline. Even then, I used a lot of their drum stems.
What tools or techniques did you use to achieve the layered textures and atmospheric elements in the remix?
I ended up pitching their stems around a lot. I took their main chord sound down an octave and alternated the lead by pitching it up an octave. I also wanted the track to have a nice amount of swing, so I used an Ableton feature that lets you stretch audio samples and apply a different groove to them. That was helpful for some hi-hats and arpeggios from their stems because the original track doesn’t have much swing.
Can you talk us through your creative process for this remix? Where did you start?
I’ve been listening to a lot of old-school Deep House lately, so I wanted it to have that kind of flavor. I started with some drums on my Analog Rytm, reaching for a few of Freddy’s and Jakob’s drum samples, as well. I thought the main chords sounded great an octave down, and from there I had a good starting point.
How did you decide on the groove-led structure that defines your version of the track?
To be totally honest, it was just the kind of music I felt like writing at the time. I figured that as long as it still had a lot of the original’s spirit, the best thing would be to just have fun with it. Anjunadeep from the early 2010s was the sound that got me into Deep House, and that was a sound I wanted to explore.
Were there any unexpected challenges while working on this remix? How did you overcome them?
I have a tendency to go overboard, adding things and changing things in remixes. I haven’t done one in a little while, and I definitely had a few moments where I could feel myself doing too much. Some of my favorite remixes sound like their own tracks. I also love it when a release has a few different mixes of something, though, so that there are more contexts it can fit into. I tried to lean into the latter with this remix.
How would you say this remix fits within your broader body of work? Do you see it as a progression or a departure from your previous releases?
I think it fits pretty well because I stuck to what I love. Bouncy basslines with smacking drums and deep chords are the old Anjunadeep sound that got me into House, and I think I could write tracks like that until the end of time. I get bored doing things I’ve already done, so even when I’m working in a familiar genre, I trust my sense of fun to keep me moving forward and trying new things.
If someone listens to your remix for the first time, what’s the feeling or vibe you hope they walk away with?
If I can give one person the stank face, my work is done.
How does working on remixes differ from creating original productions? Do you approach your workflow differently?
I usually like starting with my own kick and bassline. The main difference is where I get my other sounds. In originals, I’ll go to my synthesizers, sequencers, and sample library. One of the things I love about doing remixes, though, is that there’s always a stem from the original to reach for when you want a new element.
What’s next for you following this release? Are there more remixes or original projects on the horizon?
I have an EP called ‘Low Earth Orbit’ coming out on Front Left Records on December 13th! I’m super excited for that one. It’s got a few collabs and an original, all of which have been cooking for a while. Definitely one to watch out for.
With a process rooted in experimentation and pushing his creative boundaries, Nonduality continues to ensure he brings his unique touch to every project, creating powerful productions for his listeners to enjoy. As we round up our interview, we thank him for his time and look forward to seeing where his musical journey leads him next; with more music already on the horizon, he is no doubt a talent to keep on your radar, following him across social media to not miss out on his upcoming news and releases.
Listen and Buy ‘No Clue (Nonduality Remix)’ Here:
Nonduality Online
