Witness UK musician Lawrence Hart constructing a track entirely from scratch in his hardware-filled recording studio.
Lawrence Hart's journey into the electronic music realm has been a bit longer than the average dance music artist. As a classically-trained multi-instrumentalist, he's no stranger to New York's jazz scene, indie rock bands, or acting as a sideman for UK producer George Fitzgerald. Yet, it wasn't until he discovered production that Hart found his niche in the electronic world.
Working in his hardware-packed studio feels second nature to him, moving around with the precision of an artist who knows his gear like the back of his hand and has a clear vision in mind. Hart's debut album, Come In Out the Rain, recently dropped on Domino, a label that's home to stars like Jon Hopkins, Hot Chip, and George Fitzgerald, all close to Hart since his early days.
Built around acapellas sampled from R&B and soul, the record highlights Hart's knack for creating vibrant, garage-inflected grooves and energetic synth hooks. To celebrate the release, we dropped by Hart's London studio, daring him to create a track from scratch on camera.
In the video, Hart kicks off his track by designing a granular synth soundscape via his modular rig, followed by chopping up a vocal hook, adding a synth line using the Moog One sequencer, and a sampled Reese bass. Although it's a speedier version of his creative process, Hart admits that the general workflow is an accurate representation of how tracks on the album came together.
"Generally, what I'd have from this stage is 32 bars or 64 bars of an idea," Hart explains about the sketch in the video. "I'll sit with that for a bit. If it keeps resonating with me and feeling great, I'll return to it. From that initial idea, I'd add little pad rises, add more details, develop the drums – at the moment it's just one loop. I'd change samples out, add layers in... Just keep adding FX, modulating stuff, letting it all undulate. I'll just keep working on it."
He also discusses his "epic" master chain, "It slows down my computer, but it makes everything sound fantastic," he chuckles.
Come In Out The Rain by Lawrence Hart is currently available via Domino.
Lawrence Hart's creative process when working with the Moog One sequencer involves a hands-on, improvisational approach to live synthesis and layered sound design. He works by starting with a foundation, gradually adding elements while manipulating the Moog One’s powerful sequencer and synthesis capabilities. This approach can be seen in the video where he creates a track from scratch in front of the camera, demonstrating his skill in layering and live tweaking sounds, allowing musical ideas to evolve naturally. The Moog One synth plays a central role in this process, owing to its rich sound and deep modulation options. Hart's methodical layering and live tweaking enable him to craft nuanced electronic music tracks.
- Lawrence Hart's production journey, as a classically-trained multi-instrumentalist, evolved from jazz and indie rock to electronic music, eventually discovering his niche in the electronic world.
- During the creation of his debut album, Come In Out The Rain, Hart utilized various gadgets like his modular rig, Moog One sequencer, and software for live synthesis and layered sound design, emphasizing technology, music, and entertainment in his creative process.
