Today we’d like to introduce you to Axel Rantanen.
Axel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My introduction to pursuing a career in music started at the age of 16. My story so far started in a band back in high school. It was the end of the summer and I got invited to have a jam session and play guitar. That day I realized what I ultimately wanted to do. I will never forget playing Metallica records in the garage until our neighborhood curfew every weekend. As I grew older, my taste for different styles of music grew more diverse and I would invest hours in learning about my favorite artists and their stories. After my band ended up going in their own separate ways, I started to make music on my own. There is a beauty to be able to make a song by yourself on just a laptop. I still find it fascinating. After years of trial and error in producing many different styles, I started to understand the process. In all honesty, I still feel like I’m scratching the surface. That’s what is fun about making music. No matter who you are, you’re always learning.
Through this process, constantly investing time in finding new music felt natural. Whenever I started to obsess over an artists’ music I would try to find whatever video on YouTube I could find to see their workflow, what their thought process was like making a project, and how they worked with other people. I’m always curious to find out specific details about their work. I did this not to mimic what others were doing, but rather to let it serve as inspiration. With this came the interest for curating music for others. The role of a DJ made so much sense to me since I already had a big library of music not only on my computer but in my head. These two skills are so interconnected nowadays that it felt very real to pursue such a career. What’s so special about this job is that every DJ’s or producers career path is a bit different. The job is very organic and that’s what is so exciting about it. It’s almost difficult to plan for the future because everyday is different in its’ own way.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, and most of the time it isn’t. As far as progressing in a career, my absolute biggest threat is myself. It is common for creative individuals to have constant self-doubt, and to compare themselves to others. I am no exception. This has been an obstacle for years and it still remains to this day. What truly motivates me away from that thought pattern however, is seeing progress in your work. I can also hardly focus on only one project at a time. Whether I hit a wall creatively, or I come up with another idea, it’s been very difficult to finish a project. And often by the time I get to the finishing touches, I over criticize it. This is something that I may never get over, but over time I have learned to be more confident in my work.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I produce and curate music. I make my own tracks or instrumentals for others. I often send instrumentals to others but I have always preferred producing music with someone on the spot. This way it feels like a proper collaborative effort. Through this way the artists are able to properly brainstorm ideas back and forth. What sets me apart from others is that I started off playing guitar in a metal band and am now open to making a wide range of different styles of music. However, many producers have had a start in a band as well. I record samples from random, everyday sounds to try to challenge myself and to constantly learn something new. Not only that, but many hours have gone into learning sound design because that is a key way to differentiate yourself from other producers (and above all, its really really fun).
My area of focus lately has been mostly electronic-based, but I am very interesting in going back to my rock roots and trying out different things. I have already had experience in working with people in different styles of music and I only want to do so much more of it with many more people. Having an interest in so many different styles is what makes producing and creating so much more interesting. The experience I have had from these different areas have also influenced the so called “genre-blending” I have done in my work. There is a great deal of more creative freedom in music lately and it makes me so happy. People are getting out of their comfort zone while also having the courage to make whatever they wish to make and it’s very inspiring.
What are your plans for the future?
I have many plans for the future, but they change or grow bigger as time goes on. Something that I have particularly taken an interest in is helping to develop and produce a soundtrack for a film. I love movies and films, as do most people. If done correctly, the soundtrack is very effective in helping to tell the story that is being told. When I was just a child, the orchestral compositions in movies had me in awe. They still do to this day. If done correctly, these compositions are memorable for a lifetime. Speaking of films and music, I want to be part of the creative direction as much as possible. Helping to direct music videos is something that has always interested me as well. Whenever I come up with new ideas for a music video for the future, I immediately take the time to record it down, no matter how awkward it may look in public. The same goes for when an interesting melody pops into my mind. The artwork is very important for music as well. Whether it’s being the photographer or anything else, I want to have art direction for this as well. These ideas come naturally to me and I desire the opportunity to put them out into the world.
As a DJ, the idea of playing music for people on an international level is truly special. Having a career in which I get to help make people feel good, as well as take in different types of music from different cultures is something that goes through my mind everyday, and what I deeply look forward to. Having been raised both in Finland and the U.S, I have already been exposed to very different types of cultures. I want to use these experiences, and my hours of diving into different types of music to share it with people from around the world. I want to show them something that they would not have been originally exposed to. The thought of being part of a band again has not escaped me either. Stepping out on a stage and playing guitar is what got me excited about this career type in the first place. There’s many paths I want to take in the future and in these days, it’s possible. What I look forward to is simply having fun making music, while making strong relationships with like-minded people. It’s these positive thoughts that gives me hope for the future and helps me get out of bed in the morning.
Contact Info:
- Email: axelkrantanen@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axel_rantanen/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Axel_Rantanen
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/axelkr-1
Image Credit:
Emily Hopkins Instagram: @som1nu @kalopisaa; Emma Rantanen Instagram: @emmarantanenn
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