{"id":1310,"date":"2025-02-12T23:59:52","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T23:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wavs.com\/blog\/?p=1310"},"modified":"2026-03-11T23:00:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T23:00:38","slug":"inside-ngels-world-qa-on-music-technology-and-empowering-female-producers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wavs.com\/blog\/inside-ngels-world-qa-on-music-technology-and-empowering-female-producers\/","title":{"rendered":"NGEL Plays Six Instruments. The Voice Is Still the Secret Weapon."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nicole Glazunov started vocal training at 6, fell in love with jazz around the same time, and spent years absorbing Amy Winehouse and Etta James before she ever touched a DAW. She taught herself production during COVID, landed on an R&B and jazz fusion style, and builds everything around as much live instrumentation as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That includes guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, kalimba, and harpsicle. And her voice, which she treats as an instrument in its own right — bending and layering it the way other producers layer synths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the name NGEL, she’s one of the few creators on WAVS whose catalog sounds like it could only have come from one person. We talked about her process, how she thinks about AI and vocal expression, and what she believes gives a sample real longevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NGEL on WAVS<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s NGEL\u2019s story? How did you get into music?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cI was classically trained since the age of 6 in vocals, and around the same age was when I fell in love with jazz. Through singers like Amy Winehouse<\/a><\/span> and Etta James<\/a><\/span>, I learned to incorporate both techniques in my artistry and production. I taught myself how to produce around COVID times, and it took me a few years to land on an R&B and jazz fusion style. I enjoy it most when my art includes as much live instrumentation as possible.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s something about your process that would surprise people?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cI play guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, kalimba, and harpsicle<\/a><\/span>. When creating ideas or beats, I like to play as many as I can, while also using my voice as an instrument.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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The self-titled NGel Sample Pack<\/a><\/span> by NGEL<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What would you say is your ‘secret weapon’ VST, and are there any tips you can give on recording\/processing vocals that could instantly improve someone\u2019s sound?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cOne free plugin for your vocals that I love is \u2018Nectar 3 Elements.\u2019<\/a><\/span> It\u2019s a great polishing plugin for main vocals (de-esser, compressor, reverb, etc.). A top tip I\u2019d give is to double every main vocal and harmony to make it sound more full.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Nectar Elements by iZotope<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When your voice is the foundation of your sound, how does that shape your approach to production? What makes the human voice a more powerful tool than a synth or instrument?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWith the right techniques, we can bend the vocal cords in so many different ways that it becomes its own instrument. With your voice, you are fully in control of how the sound can bend and come out.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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