With Torby Jay having new music out this week on Stellar Fountain we catch up with him for the latest episode of 12 Questions.
1. How old are you, where are you living and how long have you been producing and Djing?
Well, I’m 33, I come from town called Banja Luka in Bosnia. I started producing music when I was 15 and my first performance was in 2004.
2. Where do your musical roots lie, what are your first memories of electronic music and when did you know you wanted to pursue it seriously? Are there any particular productions or artists from the past that really made you think to yourself ‘this is what I want to do.”
My father is a musician, a guitarist, and I learned to play a piano when I was 5. Then at age 13 I started to listen dance music. Later on, it developed to rave, then trance, and on and on. There are two artists who had big influence to me to become a DJ and learn more about electronic music and that is Sinisa Tamamovic and Mladen Tomic.
3. How difficult was learning to produce for you in the beginning? Did you take any Audio Engineering programs or production courses to help you out or are you pretty much self taught? And did anyone give any advice early on that really helped?
I started making music when I was 13… Yes, I’m a self-learner. I watched a lot videos , listen a lot advice how to mix and master.
4. What parts of the production process do you find the most difficult and what comes easiest for you? When you do hit a creative block, what helps you through it?
Fju…that’s hard to tell? Sometimes I kick the wall at the same beginning, sometimes in the middle and sometimes at the end. To make a story you need to have an inspiration and sometimes the inspiration doesn’t kick right away. If that happens, I take a break, go outside, talk to friends, take my mind of a project. It helps me to clear my mind and start fresh. Sometimes the idea come just unexpected
5. What’s a normal day like for you? Do you have a job outside of electronic music? And what do you like to do when you’re not working on music?
I work I a computer company as IT Engineer. Probably would continue doing it if I quit dj-ing.
6. Apart from electronic music what other genres do you listen to and who are your favourite artists outside of electronic? and do these genres or artists have a direct effect on your own productions?
I like Jazz, epic and orchestral music. For now, my favorite is Hans Zimmer.
7. What was the first and last physical (CD, Vinyl, Cassette etc) piece of music you bought?
Wow… I think last vinyl I bought was Hedonic V/A.
8. Tell us something about yourself that might surprise people?
Haha… im just an ordinary man, no super powers 🙂
9. Which producers consistently inspire you? And where else does your inspiration come from?
Hernan Cattaneo, Cid inc, Hanz Zimmer
10. There are countless producers out there trying to find their way and create their own unique sound, what advice do you have for them?
Just do your staff. Listen a lot of other genres and you will definitely make something. I play piano when I need to find a good melodies and record it. It’s not easy task but needs patience.
11. If the final DJ/live set of your career was next week what would your last track be?
Most of my sets I like to end with some good melodic tracks. Recent I like to play track from Serbian DJ Ilija Djokovic – Above The Clouds
Torby has new music out now on Stellar Fountain, you can purchase the release: here
