As a young up-and-comer from Russia, Vagosrose started his musical journey back in 2019, at the ripe age of 16. He joined WAVS in October 2023 and initially published his pack Vagosrose Vol. 2 which instantly propelled him and gave him his first top 10 sample on the platform. ‘Mournful’ is the fastest rising sample in the history of WAVS, currently sitting as the 8th most downloaded sample of all time on the platform. With so many high quality samples, and as our most recent creator spotlight, we had a chat with Vagosrose and discussed a myriad of interesting topics, from whether there are geographical limits to where you’re from in music, to his favorite VSTs, effect chains and methods of music production.
1. First off, who is Vagosrose? How old are you and how long have you been producing for?
— I am a young guy from Moscow, Russia. I am 21 years old. My passion for music began in 2019, and since then I have devoted about 4-5 years to this art.
Vagosrose
2. Since you’re from Russia, is it hard to break through internationally and how has your experience in doing so been so far? How important have all online platforms been for your career?
— From the very beginning of my journey in the music industry, I have strived for international recognition, not limited by geographical boundaries. Online platforms have played a key role in achieving this goal by providing opportunities to collaborate with artists and producers from different parts of the world. These platforms not only helped me find an audience, but also stimulated my professional growth.
3. You’ve had a total of 6 releases with UNKWN Sounds, how has your experience been so far? How important are sample libraries and sample marketplaces as a producer?
— Collaboration with UNKWN gave me valuable experience and allowed my creativity to reach new heights. Sample libraries and marketplaces play an important role for producers, providing access to quality audio resources and the opportunity to expand their arsenal of creative tools.
Vagosrose’s relases with UNKWN Sounds
4. Listening through your samples, which are of extraordinary high quality, there’s an ever-present organic feeling in your music, especially with your strings, they sound very real even if they come from VSTs. How does your process look like, how long does it take you to complete a sample and what does your VST/effects chain look like?
— Many people ask me how to achieve such a live sound from virtual instruments, and the answer is actually very simple – high-quality sound processing and selection of good libraries. In 80% of cases for writing strings, piano, drums, etc. I use Kontakt (below you can find a visual presentation of my favorite libraries and their combination with audio processing plugins). As for virtual synthesizers, I prefer the Arturia set of virtual instruments, but I can also use the same Kontakt libraries or plug-ins from Moog. My favorites: Prophet V, Mariana, Mini V3.
Vagosrose’s favorite instrumental VST’s and effect chains for various instruments
5. What are some VSTs or packs that you feel can improve a producer’s sound instantly? Is there a specific chain containing some of your favorite VSTs that you would like to recommend?
— I highly recommend packs of one-shots and accents from beatsinner, Lywie, Oscar Zulu, Rambo.
Drum one-shots from Jonnywood, Cryptic, these guys are truly masters of their craft, true experimenters. In the coming days I’m going to release my first multi-kit, which will contain all my best work, one-shots, textures, percussion and drums, the best sounds for all the time I’ve been writing samples. Below you can find a visual representation of the small set of plugins I use for mastering my samples.
Vagosrose’s Master chain with all the VST plug-ins that are on there
6. Can producers make a living from selling samples? Is there anything you would recommend focusing on besides chasing placements and selling sample packs?
— Making a living selling samples is more than possible, it all depends on you. My advice to all aspiring sample makers is to not limit yourself in the initial stages, don’t be afraid to experiment, don’t be afraid to get inspired, promote your music through platforms, because online platforms for musicians are not only a great way to earn a living, but also to make a recognizable name for themselves. More creativity and then the whole world will hear your music and music will become your world!
7. What’s next for Vagosrose? How do you envision your next few years are going to look like?
— I don’t plan to stop, I want to show everyone more cool works and sample packs. I also plan to develop in graphic design. For me, creative activity is a whole symbiosis of several directions in music and design. I can’t imagine sound without visuals and visuals without sound. My plans are only to expand my circle of knowledge in music and design. We are just beginning, new heights await us further!
