It’s about time we got to chat with one of the fastest-rising creators on WAVS—SMOKHIX. He’s been a bit mysterious ever since he dropped his first banger of a pack and turned some heads, but he’s here now to answer the questions we’ve all been dying to ask. It’s only been eight months since SMOKHIX’s first pack, but he’s remained super consistent, with 14 releases on WAVS to date. Constantly trending in the top 3 and currently being the 21st best-selling creator on WAVS in such a short period of time is no small feat. If you’re looking to learn more about his sound, work ethic, or himself in general, read on!
1. What’s your story, and how was your producer name SMOKHIX created?
I’m a 23-year-old beat and sample maker from Germany. I’ve been interested in music my whole life and started making music in 2018. Back then, I was mainly making beats, and I wanted my name to represent my sound, which was especially focused on hard-knocking kicks and 808s, and something personal. So, I first came up with “SMOKY KIX.” My first name is Haris, so I added an “H” to “kix” and made it “SMOKY KHIX.” In the end, I shortened the name a bit more, and the result was “SMOKHIX.”
Melodic Motion Vol. 1 by SMOKHIX
2. What’s the secret behind your sound? Where do you draw inspiration from, and what does your creative process look like? How are the ideas for your creations birthed?
I don’t really have a secret behind my sound. I just draw inspiration from different music genres and producers I collaborate with and try to glue all these little pieces I got inspired by together. I try not to force anything. If I’m inspired and feel like making music that day, I go for it, but there has to be some inspiration for sure. I either start with a drum pattern, a simple chord melody, a texture, or an idea from another producer and build everything else around it. It’s also important to me not to overthink anything and to try to keep it as simple as possible.
The ‘Rhythmic Expression’ sample pack series by SMOKHIX
3. You’ve recently signed to Ric & Thadeus & davwave under DXA. How do you feel about getting signed as a producer? How has your experience been so far, and what would your recommendation be for other producers who are contemplating whether to get signed?
For me, it was essential to still be able to implement anything I want as a musician after getting signed. A good thing about signing to Ric, Thadeus & dav is that I already had my friends Monii, Yahya, and Chedeezy, who were signed to them before me. So, I had people I could ask about their experience. My experience so far has been only positive. I joined a team that is ambitious, inspiring, and ready to help if you need it. Big shoutout to the whole DXA team.
The ‘Colorscape’ sample pack series by SMOKHIX
4. What are some of your go-to, secret sauce VST plugins and sound packs? We’re talking both effect plugins as well as instrument plugins.
Instrument Plugins: Roland Synth Bundle, RePro5, Sky Keys, Keyscape, Trilian, & Arturia Bundle.
Effect Plugins: Cymatics Lotus, Cassette, Soundtoys Bundle in general but especially Effect Rack, Microshift & Little AlterBoy, Scheps 73 & SoundShifter by Waves, and Reaktor 6.
At the moment, I’m frequently using texture kits by my friend Engomade.
Scenarios Vol. 1 by SMOKHIX & Monii
5. What’s one tip/technique (or multiple) that you utilize and feel can improve a producer’s sound instantly?
Start with a simple chord progression, which can be in audio or MIDI. Make sure to record anything you play over the melody in audio. You can also record it in MIDI, but you have to export it in audio afterward because you can do way more with the audio track. So, you evade that step by recording in audio right away, and by recording everything from the beginning, you capture every single moment you play in randomly. Another method I use all the time is to chop up anything possible because you can randomly come up with fire ideas that way, and for me, it is much more fun. For this method, I use Fruity Slicer, and I just throw in the audio track and go through the random chops the plugin makes automatically. Shorter and longer chops in one progression can give the whole melody more variety and space to add more elements to it. By that, the composition does not sound too full but still interesting for the listener.
The ‘Rhythmic Resonance’ sample pack series by SMOKHIX
6. You’ve recently landed a placement with Sleepy Hallow and Sheff G on the track “Yes Freestyle.” This was a placement you got through WAVS. What was the experience like? How did it feel to finally land a major placement?
It was a great feeling. It’s always interesting for me to hear different artists rapping or singing on my samples/beats. I hope for many more in the future.
7. What’s next for SMOKHIX? What are your future plans looking like, and what can people expect from you further on?
More packs, hopefully more placements. More music in general. I will try my best to work as much as I can, and I look forward to the future.
The ‘Tonal Expression’ sample pack series by SMOKHIX
With more packs and more placements announced, it looks like SMOKHIX’s journey is just beginning. With intense dedication to his craft, an ever-evolving sound and a growing list of both packs and placements, SMOKHIX will be a name you’ll be hearing more and more of as time progresses. Keep your eyes (and ears) peeled on this rising star, because his prime is yet to come.
