Vicky Casis is a multi-talented artist who threads the worlds of DJing, manufacturing, and visible media along with her signature sound. From spinning at main occasions just like the WNBA Championship to crafting beats for documentaries and trend reveals, Vicky creates soundscapes for quite a lot of cultural moments and occasions.
We just lately had the chance to talk along with her about her multi-faceted profession, her inventive course of, and her recommendation for aspiring producers.
You’re concerned in quite a lot of initiatives, from DJing main occasions just like the WNBA Championship to performing reside Maschine+ beat units and co-creating QSTV. How do you steadiness these completely different features of your profession?
Time administration is essential for me. I take loads of psychological notes, plan occasions on my iPhone notepad, and take a look at my finest to make use of my calendar extra typically. I’m nonetheless engaged on managing time higher, however I do my finest!
Does your expertise DJing affect your manufacturing type, or vice-versa?
My manufacturing type and DJ type are literally a bit completely different as a result of I prefer to mix all various kinds of genres and sounds collectively. My manufacturing type is extra hip-hop primarily based, however at present, I’m trying to get into extra dance manufacturing, and what’s inspiring me to take action is spinning something that will get the individuals transferring.
You’ve labored on hip-hop documentaries like “Contact Excessive” and the “Black Pop” TV particular. How does the method of making music for visible media differ from composing on your personal releases?
Creating music for visible media is a bit completely different from composing my very own releases as a result of there’s a template from the staff on how they need completely different scenes to sound. The music coordinator could have an thought of what sounds they need conveyed for a scene, and from there I construct on that concept. When making authentic music, my thoughts is obvious of what to create. I by no means actually have an thought of what kind of monitor to create; I often construct off of listening to Maschine sound libraries, sound packs, and/or samples.
“Casis World” options quite a lot of artists, very like your “Child Gurl” EP. What do you take pleasure in most about collaborating with different musicians, and the way do you choose the artists you’re employed with?
What I take pleasure in most about collaborating with different musicians is bringing out what’s particular about these musicians on a file, in addition to experimenting with new contemporary concepts and sounds which may be new for them and myself. I like to pick artists that I do know are prepared to get out of their consolation zone and may ship what is required for the monitor or challenge.
Lots of people I collaborate with are both good pals of mine or musicians that I’ve found from different pals or social media.
You’ve had success integrating music manufacturing into the style world together with your work for Marissa Wilson NY. Are you able to discuss in regards to the connection between music and trend, and the way you method creating music that enhances a visible aesthetic like a trend present or marketing campaign?
Music and trend go hand and hand for me, whether or not it’s music performed in a clothes retailer or music performed throughout a runway present. Creating the proper soundtrack to enrich a present or marketing campaign may help elevate the story of what the designer is making an attempt to convey.
The superb factor about Marissa is that she all the time is aware of what she desires, and he or she all the time has references for me to construct from. We’ll brainstorm and ship concepts to one another till she’s happy with what I create. It’s all the time a pleasure to collaborate with Marissa and to create music for her runway reveals/campaigns.
Are you able to share a few your favourite Maschine options which have helped you create your music?
Considered one of my favourite options on Maschine is the Clips characteristic. With Clips, I’m in a position to edit and create on the fly with none interruptions. The quantity of plugins and sound libraries in Maschine are out of this world. Once I wish to get experimental between completely different genres and/or devices, I’m able to find no matter I must execute a beat.
With the ability to use exterior VSTs like Serato Sampler, Serato Hex FX, Splice, and extra is superior. I’ve no limits to discovering the proper sounds to create and blend.
And utilizing my Maschine+ for beat units is all the time nice. I can load in beats on every pad/group and use completely different FX throughout a beat set on the Maschine+ like a SP404 to create an expertise for a reside beat set.
What recommendation would you give to aspiring producers, particularly these inquisitive about creating music for varied forms of initiatives like you may have in your profession?
Some recommendation I want to give is to by no means restrict your self as a result of music is required in all completely different mediums. Studying the music enterprise and studying from tales of people who had bumpy experiences in music is necessary. Discovering your group or creating your individual group is required.
There’s a beat scene in lots of cities within the U.S. and internationally the place producers curate reside beat reveals, beat battles, and extra. Join with like-minded people in music and completely different fields like expertise, artwork, trend, and so on. You all can create artwork and occasions collectively that may encourage the world.
Is there anything you want to share with us?
There are new collaborative initiatives from myself and completely different artists that shall be launched this yr and past! Additionally I want to give an enormous shout out to The QSTV squad, my household, and my daughter Valentina Rose Bryant who shall be 2 years previous in March! A lot love.
Get impressed with limitless alternatives in music
Vicky Casis’s journey by way of the music business is a testomony to the ability of versatility and collaboration. Her potential to adapt her abilities to completely different mediums, from documentaries to trend reveals, showcases the quite a few alternatives accessible to music creators as we speak.
Vicky shall be talking at SXSW 2025 on the panel, “The Artwork of the Beat: Bridging Creativity and Know-how alongside Native Devices, Akai, and Zaytoven.
The publish DJing the WNBA, scoring E! documentaries, and designing trend present soundscapes: A dialog Vicky Casis first appeared on Native Devices Weblog.
