Helena Kristiansson

Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of?

Well, that must be *Take My Love* with Tiff Lacey that I made together with Jox. To work with Tiff had always been a dream for both of us, so when she said yes it felt amazing. The same goes for my collaborations with Roberta Harrison together with Jox, and also Roberta Harrison and Dreamy. I’m very proud of those projects.

 

What's the biggest misconception about Producing?

You don’t necessarily need a musical background. If you can hear when something sounds right, you’ve already come far. You also don’t need to buy every plugin at once. Start with a good synth like Spire and learn your DAW properly — most DAWs already have a lot to offer. Produce when the feeling is right, take your time, follow your heart, and do what you enjoy most.

 

How would you describe your production style?

I like many styles, but I’m closest to uplifting trance, classic trance, and progressive trance with strong melodies and emotional plucks.

 

What type of music do you usually Produce?

Mostly uplifting, progressive, and classic trance, plus a bit of TechTrance. I also enjoy trying melodic techno and deep house.

 

Analog or digital and why?

More digital. I work mainly with newer versions of Logic Pro and plugins because they are so versatile and flexible creatively.

 

What do you like most about Electronic music?

The feeling and the diversity in sounds. There has been something special about electronic music to me ever since the 80s. Artists like Alphaville, Pet Shop Boys, Modern Talking, Sandra, and Depeche Mode inspired me a lot — especially the club versions of their tracks. I love the huge variation of sounds in electronic music. A synth can become almost anything. Hearing a new preset bank or tweaking sounds gives a real euphoric feeling. Opening a new sound pack almost feels like Christmas — it’s amazing how beautiful sounds can be.

 

How long have you been making music?

I started making music seriously with Logic Pro during the pandemic in 2020, but I had been experimenting with music apps and GarageBand since around 2017.

 

What's your typical work process?

I normally start with a lead melody that comes into my head and build from there. Sometimes I begin with a pluck melody, bassline, and chord progression instead. Then I create the breakdown and try to match the intro melody with the main melody fairly early in the process so they work well together. After that, I focus on finishing the track.

 

Tell us about your studio setup.

I actually have two studio setups. One has an iMac with an M-Audio Keystation running Logic Pro 10.4. The other setup runs Logic 12 and includes a RIGI keyboard together with a smaller M-Audio keyboard.

 

Can you share one production tip?

Be creative, watch tutorials, practice a lot, and don’t give up. It takes time, but it’s absolutely possible to get your music out there. Invest in good headphones and don’t be afraid to try different styles. Use EQ, reverb, and delay creatively. Valhalla Supermassive is an amazing free reverb plugin, and Crystal Clear is also very good. Follow your feelings and use reference tracks you love. I personally work best late at night when I’m slightly tired, but everyone is different. When you hear an idea in your head, try to record or write it down before you forget it.

There are also many great free synths available. Spire, Serum, and Sylenth1 are fantastic, and Vital is free, easy to use, and reminds me a bit of Serum. I also recommend experimenting with vocals — there are many free vocal packs out there that are fun to work with. And connect with other producers and collaborate — trance producing is very fun and you meet lots of great people!

 

What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

Artists like Paul van Dyk, A.R.D.I., Ferry Corsten, Above & Beyond, Chicane, Robert Miles, The Thrillseekers, Matt Darey, Faithless, and ATB inspire me a lot. I also collaborate closely with Jox — we work very well together, are good friends, and have a project called Fr0stic. There are so many artists from the classic trance era that continue to inspire both of us.

 

What are some upcoming events or projects you are excited about?

I’ve recently been to some bigger trance events and seen artists like Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Markus Schulz, Cosmic Gate, and Above & Beyond live. Soon I’ll be going to Luminosity Beach Festival, which I’m really looking forward to. I also recently visited some 90s festivals with artists like Captain Hollywood Project and Snap!, who also inspire me a lot. Me, Jox, and Snowman also have a follow-up to *Best Day* coming out in September.

 

Where can we find out more about your music?

You can follow me mainly on Spotify, SoundCloud, TikTok, YouTube, and Mixcloud. Welcome to check out my music, and thanks so much for all the support so far!