Vaasu is a guy who knows his music. Donāt believe us? Check out his 8tracks account, HarmonicVibrations. His playlists tend to fall heavy on the chill side, but we can all use more of that, so weāre more than happy to have him as part of our amazing and talented community.
He recently turned 24 years old, and has goals to start a blog with some friends and other 8tracks users. His long term goal is to be self-employed and to serve humanity in a way thatās different from just a 9-5 job. Something that not only brings joy to people, but is also enriching for the environment we live in. Iām not quite sure what it is just yet but I have a feeling Iāll find out when the time is right.
What a guy right?! Heās not afraid to say that learning is one of his favorite things to do. Whether it be sociological interaction, history, or the universe. I love finding articles or shows about whatās out there in this absolutely MASSIVE place we live in.
We exchanged some emails with our dear future world changer Vaasu to ask him some questions about himself, 8tracks, and everything in between. Click read more to get the details.Ā
Follow him on 8tracks:Ā https://8tracks.com/harmonicvibration
How and when did you discover 8tracks?
Back in early 2013, my friend created an account and began publishing playlists and introduced it to our friend group. He goes by ResidualSound.
If you were to recommend 8tracks to other people, how would you describe it?
Itās a place where people from all over the world can share their love of music, and find like-minded individuals who are passionate about the same things. Even if youāre just listening to someone elseās playlists, itās an interaction because they are sharing part of themselves with you, and youāre both united in your love of the music. It truly is the universal language. Ā
What is your favorite thing about 8tracks?
The ability to share your musical taste with people and interact with like-minded individuals around the world. Also, finding new music on other peopleās playlists is awesome, even though I already listen to way too much music already!
How would you describe your musical taste and general direction of your playlists?
I like to think I have a fairly diverse musical taste, even though I tend to focus on electronic music. On my page, youāll find playlists ranging from classical/instrumental to hip-hop to emerging genres like future bass. Luckily, itās all sorted by genre or mood for ease of listening ;)
Music is one of my greatest passions, and the perfect soundtrack to life. I make playlists for every mood, whether itās a Friday night pre-party or an early morning yoga practice. I like to sift through my sources to find the freshest sounds, and, no offense to those that like to make mixes of popular songs, thatās just not my style. There are a few well-known artists or songs that Iāve used, but I try and find remixes of popular songs rather than just replicate a Top 10 chart. I want to bring something new to my listeners, songs that will inspire them to find more music by the artists I feature, and that will introduce them to new genres.
What tag combination do you typical explore with?
A lot of my playlists are chiller so āchillā is a pretty common tag for me. From there I can dive into a combination of genre and mood (e.g. electronic/party/dance, study/instrumental/relax, indie/electronic/happy etc.)
Tell us a little bit about your playlist making process.Ā
There are usually ~15 playlists under construction at any given time on my account, covering the various genres I represent. As I find new songs, they get placed into the playlists. Once a playlist nears completion, I can organize and pick my favorites and place them at the top. However, there are times when I hear a song or re-listen to something in my library that simply inspires me to make a whole playlist within a matter of minutes.
I actually have a folder on my computer of artwork collected from a variety of sources, and itās all sectioned by mood/genre for the types of playlists I create. So it really depends; sometimes the artwork fuels the mix, and other times the songs help me choose the artwork. On some playlists, Iāve used my own photographs or done some original overlays and edits to create the artwork.
Where do you find inspiration and the music you curate in your playlists?
The inspiration comes from my love of sharing what I enjoy with people, and 8tracks is the perfect platform to do just that. Iād say the bulk of my music comes from Soundcloud and YouTube subscriptions, combined with artist/song suggestions from my friends.
What is your favorite playlist that you made and why?
Itās a toss up between Free Your Mind and Awaken, as theyāre basically one playlist split into 2 parts. I like them because theyāre the most thought-inducing playlists in my collection, making you question your existence, but in a good way. And the responses Iāve received on them have been really cool to read.
The playlists contain speeches by exceptional human beings such as Alan Watts, Joe Rogan, and Neil Degrasse Tyson. I absolutely loved space and cosmology growing up, and actually wanted to be an astronaut for the longest time. I know that dream is shared by a lot of people, but mankindās connection with the cosmos fascinates me, right from Ancient Egyptian history to the SETI institute (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence). It really helps put things into perspective in terms of our place within the universe, and makes me excited about the endless possibilities that lie ahead.
What are you current 3 favorite playlists (not your own) and why?
Can I pick more than 3? Haha there are just so many awesome mixes! Lately, Iāve been enjoying the Focus collection by Impossible.Soul. Itās a series of jazzy instrumental type songs that are perfect for those productive hours.
Another one I thoroughly enjoyed was āThis will change the way you think.ā by CiaraMurphy. It was actually the playlist that provided the spark for the 2 inspirational mixes that Iāve created, and really got me to reevaluate a lot of things. Ā Ā
And I really like āSpring Chillsā by LeAwesomeKiki due to the awesome remixes used in the mix, and the overall mood of the playlist.
How would you describe the 8tracks community?
I think no matter what your musical preferences are, youāre part of the same 8tracks family. Thereās a lot of give and take as people introduce each other to different kinds of music and share ideas, free of limitations caused by physical distance and cultural differences. Some of the interactions Iāve had with other users have been nothing short of amazing, and totally unexpected. Going through the comments section on my playlists is always a pleasant surprise, and I try to take the time to respond to each one (even if it does take a few days sometimes).
Who are 3 of your favorite DJs on 8tracks and why?
This is an unfair question because I could write pages about some of the awesome DJs in the community, as each one has a different approach to their musical selection and does certain things really well. However since Iām limited to 3, Iād have to go with the following:
ResidualSound, because he has spectacular taste in music and an abundance of awesome playlists (which is why I couldnāt pick one by him for my 3 favorite playlists).
Impossible.Soul, who has shown me a lot of awesome artists over the last few months, and put out a lot of wicked mixes to boot! She also happens to share my love for Oh Wonder!
Mariane PG, as she has an extremely diverse musical taste. Her playlists are nice and long, and usually result in me discovering at least a few new, awesome tracks.
Do you have a memorable moment that happened because of 8tracks?Ā
I think my favorite moment was when an artist who goes by the name of Unfamiliar Identity messaged me after hearing my playlist Free Your Mind, saying it had inspired him/her to start a new project. Since then, weāve been talking back and forth throughout the production process. Iāve had a chance to provide periodic feedback and help pick a name for the track, and will be sure to feature it on one of my future playlists once itās complete!
In the meantime, you can find more music by Unfamiliar Identity here: https://soundcloud.com/unfamiliaridentity. Itās a blend between orchestral and electronic, and is perfect for studying!
Do you have a favorite meme or GIF?
Iām not a big meme person, but this gif always gets me: http://i.imgur.com/bSE9nTM.gif
Who is your dream artist youād love to see perform?
There are so many, but right now Iād say Oh Wonder. All the songs theyāve released so far have been magical; I canāt wait for their album tour this fall!
What are the first albums of music you owned?
I grew up listening to my dadās music, including artists like the Beatles and the Carpenters. The first album I actually ever owned was The Party Album by Vengaboysā¦hahaha
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This weekās Featured DJ, Zach, or better known to the 8tracks community as zllynch, Ā is someone you need to follow. He has a taste for curating chill bass heavy electronic playlists aspires to help you āreturn to yourself.ā Creating playlists on 8tracks is a true hobby of his, āI feel that my mixes represent a part of myself that I am otherwise unable to share with the world...my mixes are representative of who I am.ā
Read our interview with Zach below and follow him on 8tracks for more playlists at 8tracks.com/zllynch, and on Tumblr at iamnotdeserving
How and when did you discover 8tracks?Ā
Back in October 2013, I met an 8tracks user (adedabiri) at a Flume concert. He shared his love for the site with me, and I think at that point in my life, I was really looking for an outlet to express myself artistically. Once I checked it out, I realized it was exactly what I had been looking for.
If you were to recommend 8tracks to other people, how would you describe it?Ā
A collective of music curators, inspiring listeners by altering their music experience from disjointed to a unified, pure whole
What is your favorite thing about 8tracks?Ā
Finding like-minded individuals. I believe that the music a person listens to gives you more insight into what that person is about than anything else.
What tag combination do you typical explore with?
electronic+bass
TellĀ us a little bit about your playlist making process.Ā
Typically I try to listen to soundcloud on a daily basis. Once I get enough material (about every 2 weeks), I usually begin with a few songs that create an atmosphere for the mix. After that I let the mix fall into place fluidly
Where do you find inspiration and the music you curate in your playlists?Ā
I find inspiration in life, every moment
What is your favorite playlist that you made and why?Ā
My favorite playlist is always the most recent one I have made; my tastes change on a daily basis so the most recent playlists are most representative of what I like most at the current point in time.Ā
Meet Matt, the man behind innertempo. Heās a 23 year old psychology major living in the Bronx, who lives for music. Matt came across 8tracks while browsing through YouTube in 2011 and has been a contributing DJ to the 8tracks account ever since.
We had a minute to chat with Matt and ask him some questions, read our interview with him below. You can follow Matt on 8tracks at 8tracks.com/innertempoĀ and on his other social channels (Tumblr: innertempoā, and Twitter). Give him a shout if you like what you hear and read :)Ā
What's your playlist making process?Ā
I always have a specific song that motivates and inspires me. That one special song puts me into a particular mood, and I end up compulsively seeking out new music that elevates that mood.
Who are 3 of your favorite DJs on 8tracks?
saraherv,Ā cyndixie,Ā keepitgreenn
What are you current 3 favorite playlists?
Chasing Ghosts from darkstarglowĀ
Liquid Seduction from yulie.makaliaĀ
Trippity Hoppity Vol.2 from tokachuĀ
Describe your musical taste as a metaphor.
Music is like an addiction - if it doesn't overwhelm you with emotions and sensations, you're not a true fan.
Who is your dream artist youād love to see perform?
Tough choice. Top three: ODESZA, Ratatat, Ganja White Night
What are the first albums of music you owned?
Britney Spears - "Baby One More Time" #noshame
What do you like to do for fun?
videogames, making playlists, beach days, and beer
