Hyperbits Masterclass Student Spotlight: Flowaver

Hyperbits Masterclass Student Spotlight

FLOWAVER


“I want them to know that anything is possible if you believe and if you dream. I learned music whilst being a surgical resident. I worked 100 hour weeks and at least once a week worked 30 hours straight. Anything is possible.”

— Flowaver


We're excited to announce the second installment of the Hyperbits Masterclass student spotlight series!

Vipul Gargya, also known as Flowaver, is a plastic surgeon resident originally hailing from Dublin, Ireland.

He has spent the past 7 years living in NYC, and is fresh off getting his first-ever major DJ support.

As fate would have it, support came after his first ever release from none other than Eric Prydz, the artist that Vipul credits as the reason he started making music in the first place.

Vipul opened up about the significance of Eric Prydz supporting his music. “A lot of people don’t know this but his music and the emotions it conveys to me are the main reasons I started making music.”

I mean, how incredible is that? I get chills just thinking about it...

I had to sit down with Vipul to learn more about this up and coming producer based out of NYC. Make sure to stream his new track 'Steep' as you read.

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First things first! Eric Prydz just tweeted that he loves your music. What's the story behind this!?

Hi! Hope you are keeping safe and great to talk to you. Well, this is the craziest story and a bit of luck, timing, and design....whatever you want to call it.

The one thing I had thought about repeatedly leading up to this public health crisis is that during the quarantine, all electronic music artists are going to be indoors as there are no shows to play. If there is any time these big artists are going to engage with demos and submissions, it is right now.

Initially, I sent some of my tracks to Cristoph who loved them and decided to put two of them in his mix show, “Consequence of Society.” This created a bit of buzz about my tracks and I noticed online that a lot of Pryda fans were engaging and connecting with the music.

Fast forward to 3 AM on a Monday. Usually, I would be fast asleep as I would have to be at work, however, due to the quarantine I was up making music instead. Right before I turn the lights off, my phone alerts. It says “Eric Prydz tweeted a message”.

He is the ONLY person I have notifications on for on Twitter, so I thought I would check the message before I go to bed. He tweeted that he has been Facetiming his friends all day due to being on lockdown in LA and that he would be willing to Facetime some fans… so I immediately tweeted him my number, haha. Of course, a hundred other people did that too.

For some reason, he decided to call me out of everyone that was tweeting at him and I mentioned to him how crazy this is because Cristoph just played 2 of my tracks in his mix show...and now I am talking to Eric Prydz, and it just unfolded from there!

How does it feel to get support from one of your all-time favorite artists?

Honestly, I still can’t believe it. I wouldn’t even say one of my favorite artists, he is my favorite artist — period. A lot of people don’t know this but his music and the emotions it conveys to me are the main reasons I started making music.

And then he tweets about me...

So you can imagine how I feel! Haha.

Incredible! So take us back to the beginning — when did you start producing music?

I started producing music 4 years ago. Initially, I used this free app on the iPhone called ‘Auxy’.

It has a really simple layout and I found it a great way to start because honestly at the time when I opened up computer-based DAW’s it was like looking at a new alphabet, I could see it but I didn’t understand it. I eventually outgrew Auxy and moved to Logic Pro X and haven’t looked back since.

What made you sign up for the Hyperbits Masterclass?

At that time I was 2 years into my music production journey. I was making some progress but it was inefficient. All of us learn differently, but for me, I like to know the rules so that I can optimize them for myself and sometimes break them.

I have absolutely zero formal musical training, even though I have always loved music. The Hyperbits Masterclass was an opportunity for me to learn the rules from people who have reached a professional level.

Also, it had great reviews, plus, I liked Serik’s (Hyperbits) vibe. So many people in sales can be pushy and overbearing, but I appreciated Serik’s honesty and no-nonsense approach.

Hyperbits Masterclass Student Spotlight Eric Prydz EDC
Flowaver's idol, Eric Prydz performs at EDC Las Vegas in 2018.
How has the Hyperbits Masterclass helped your sound or career?

It has helped a lot! I finally knew the rules of the pros. As I mentioned before, I know how I learn and I really knew this would be a key for me. I took all the knowledge from the Masterclass and optimized it for myself and my style of music.

Apart from the knowledge, the other huge advantage of the Masterclass is the fact that you meet so many like-minded people. I found my own herd in there of people into a similar style of music and I am still benefiting from it. I also found Pete Cuppernull from Anden, one of the instructors in the Masterclass and really connected with him as we make similar styles of music.

Once the Masterclass finished I started working with Pete who shared even more genre-specific information with me which was incredible.

What do you love most about the process of making music on a computer?

Honestly, for me, it’s a means to an end. It is the only way to make this type of music, so I use a computer. If it required a band, I would do it in a band. If I had to pick, perhaps the ease of editing and auditioning multiple scenarios with minimal fuss.

What are you all about? What do you stand for? If someone was reading this and they obviously don't know you, what would you want them to know?

My music seeks to connect with people’s emotions. I want to catch people “in the feels." It requires some knowledge of music theory and playing the piano helps a ton!

If someone was reading this and not sure about pursuing their dreams of being an artist, what would you say?

I would say think of it this way. When you are sitting there tearing your hair out because you can’t get your mixdown right, or can’t come up with a good melody, how do you feel? Do you want to shoot yourself, or do you feel like “wow this sucks, but you know what, it is worth it.”

If you feel it is worth it, then it is your passion. If you don’t follow your passion in life you will never truly be happy, in my opinion.

Hyperbits Masterclass Student Spotlight Flowaver Press Shot Leaning
As fate would have it, Flowaver's first ever major DJ support came from his idol (and the reason he started making music to begin with) Eric Prydz.
What has it been like for you to be part of the Hyperbits Alumni community & FB group?

As I mentioned earlier, it has been huge! I still engage in it and some of my most trusted track feedback people are from that group.

What is one production tip you can share? Something you can't just find on Youtube?

Youtube has a lot of technical tips so I will share a not so technical one. When you sit down to write, don't fight your energy. Maybe you are feeling really happy, maybe you are feeling a little low. Listen to that and see if you can flow that in your music, as opposed to a preconceived notion of "today I am going to write 'XYZ' type of song." Try it, it may surprise you.

I absolutely love that advice. So what are you all about? What do you stand for? If someone was reading this and they obviously don't know you, what would you want them to know?

I want them to know that anything is possible if you believe and if you dream. I learned music whilst being a surgical resident. I worked 100 hour weeks and at least once a week worked 30 hours straight. Anything is possible.

As for my music, it comes from my heart. I make music that takes me to a higher place. So if you understand my music, you understand me.

What do you do for fun outside of music? Any favorite books or movies as of late?

I love working out and keeping fit. The gym shutting down is hitting me hard during this crisis, but I am doing home workouts. Not the same though, haha!

Other than that I love going to music shows and always find they give me inspiration for my own music. I have always been an avid traveler and love seeing new places and experiencing different cultures.

Honestly, I watch minimal TV, movies or Netflix. I would rather use that time to spend with music. An incredible book I read recently is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s autobiography, “Total Recall”. The number of impressive feats he has accomplished in his life through vision, mindset and hard work is truly mind-boggling and another reminder to me that nothing is impossible.

"...due to the quarantine I was up making music instead. Right before I turn the lights off, my phone alerts. It says 'Eric Prydz tweeted a message'.

A lot of people don’t know this but his music and the emotions it conveys to me are the main reasons I started making music. And then he tweets about me...so you can imagine how I feel!"

Shout out to Flowaver for taking the time to answer some of our questions! Make sure to follow him across his socials as he begins his artist project. We're expecting great things.

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If you'd like to learn more about the program that helped Flowaver develop his sound, check out The Hyperbits Masterclass.

We help music producers conquer advanced music production with a proven framework and supportive community that helps thousands of producers achieve professional results every year.

You can also scope out 20+ epic Masterclass alumni to see what's possible after taking our flagship program.