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Welcome to this exclusive interview that took place last month with Ten Walls on the renowned international radio show “NODIVADJS” hosted by Edwardteach. This interview originally aired along the 2 hours with TEN WALLS on the show and is now presented in the pages of DVOX Magazine, the influential music magazine based in Miami.
In this conversation, we delve into the musical world of Ten Walls, one of the most recognized and talented artists in the electronic music scene. Discover his inspirations, his upcoming projects, and his unique approach to electronic music.
Let’s dive into this captivating interview! 2 Hours with TEN WALLS
Edwardteach: Mario, you have achieved great recognition in the electronic music scene with your distinctive style. What would you say have been the main influences that have shaped your sound?
Ten Walls: I always focused on the bass because in the past, in high school and music gymnasium, I played the bassoon, which is a wide instrument. You can play it very high, but I usually play it like a bass player. So my main hook, first in “Gotham”, then in “Requirement”, “Walking with Elephants”, and “Sparta”, is the bassline. I think that’s what made me recognizable.
Edwardteach: Your music has been acclaimed for its emotional and atmospheric approach. How do you manage to convey those emotions through your music?
Ten Walls: It’s because of my background in classical music. There are so many emotions, dynamics, and structures in classical music. So, maybe after listening to a Queen album, people can hear the story a little bit differently. More classical stuff like “Free Your Mind” by Eno or “Rhapsody in Blue” by Gershwin. I focus on different sounds for different projects. When I do an EP, I make it for the dance floor, sometimes with dance bangers. But when I do an album, I try to do a different sound and more for listening, not dancing.
Edwardteach: Can you talk more about your musical inspirations?
Ten Walls: When I was young, all the music around me was classical or jazz. Then, when I was a teenager, I found many good musicians, producers, and DJs who showed me new music, like “The Fantastic Plastic Machine” by Vladislav Delay. I listened to a lot of that music. Of course, “Boheme” by Deep Forest was a big inspiration for me. And then, when I started producing a lot, I listened to a lot of jazzanova, Afromantic, and Broken Beat music. Then, step by step, I came to house music. Maybe in the beginning, it was more progressive music like Deep Dish, but I eventually found my sound.
Edwardteach: Can you say something about one of your biggest projects, the live performance with an orchestra?
Ten Walls: Sure. This project is called “Symphony with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra”. We had two shows. One was in the Castle of Trakai, the other in an arena, and the third one was at the 2021 Expo Dubai. I think it’s my top project and my dream to make music with a symphony orchestra or a castrato. I would love to have 75 people on stage with me.
Edwardteach: What is your current strategy and who are you collaborating with and working on new releases?
Ten Walls: Before I started my DJ and live performing career, I worked with a lot of Lithuanian singers, like hip hop and R&B artists. But actually, I like to work alone. I can focus better that way. But I have some good friends and we’ve done a lot of tracks together. I think Jonathan Beckley from Sweden is one of them. And of course, I did two tracks with my good friend Yvonne Dorne from Ukraine. She’s a very famous artist, also from Lithuania, and a very original artist “Daddy was a milkman”. There are many other collaborations in the past. I worked with Boogie Vessel Toft, a great piano player. And there will be more collaborations in the future.
Edwardteach: Can you give us some production tips? What DAW, machines, or software do you use in the studio?
Ten Walls: I have an Avalon Seven, a three-channel stereo compressor. It’s a tube compressor. I use a lot of plugins like Waves. I have my own presets. I’ve been producing music since 1998, so I have a lot of presets. The most important thing in my studio is the acoustics. I spent a lot of money on that. It’s a 70-square-meter studio with a 5-meter ceiling. And I have vault speakers from the company Vault. These speakers use Hans Zimmer in his studio. So it’s the same monitors as Hans Zimmer. So the main thing in my studio is acoustica. When I hear and monitor when I hear all elements, everything.
And yes, I have some machines like analog synthesizers like Odyssey and rare instruments like Vermona Mars. It’s really great. But I use a lot of plugins. I love it so much because you can save it and you can open it after 50 years and it will be the same.
Edwardteach: In addition to your musical productions, you also perform live. Tell us a bit about your approach on stage and how you interact with the audience.
Ten Walls: I love performing live. It’s a great way to connect with my fans and share my music with them. I use a Korg Nano 2 controller and Ableton Live, and I have many loops of my tracks loaded up. I can separate the kick, bassline, harmony, arpeggio, and drums, so I can improvise on stage with my little Korg Nano controller. I don’t need to bring a big rack of gear and a bunch of knobs with me. I can just use my little controller, which has 10 faders, and I can jam and improvise with my samples and loops. It’s so easy and fun.
Edwardteach: Looking ahead, can you share with us some of your upcoming projects? What are your most important projects during this year 2023?
Ten Walls: I have many remixes coming out soon. I’ve already released three, and there are more to come. Next year, I’ll be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my song “Walking with Elephants”. So maybe there will be some surprises for my fans. And of course, I’m working on my third album. I’m waiting for the right moment to release it, but it should be out this year.
Edwardteach: Can you give any advice to new artists starting out in this difficult industry?
Ten Walls: Just make a lot of music. A lot. All the time, if you can. Keep practicing and improving your skills, and try to find your own sound. Don’t be afraid to experiment and take risks. And most importantly, don’t give up.
Edwardteach: Thank you very much, Mario, for sharing your experiences and perspectives with us.
We wish you much success in your future projects.
Ten Walls: Thank you very much. It was very nice to talk with you guys. And let’s make good music. Let’s play good music. Let’s record good music.
