Interview: Musician/Visual Artist Dani Twice Talks About His Visualizer For "Pixel Beach"
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“I like that at the end of the day I don’t need to wait on anybody to make what I see in my head. Being independent like this is part of the fun for me though and it’s not for everyone...”
Salute to you on the release of your new "Pixel Beach" visualizer; regarding the song itself, tell us about your creative process for its development.
I got COVID at the start of 2020 and fell into the deepest depression I have had since the events of last summer. I was feeling so isolated living in this new town that I felt all my friends lived inside my phone, quarantine was really getting to me and the catalyst for the Pixel Beach was the decade old Gorillaz album: “Plastic Beach”.
All the themes of pollution, technology and dehumanization low key inspired me a lot and I wanted to share my 2021 experience of it. I really was feeling like I was trapped in a submarine and the internet was feeding my digital isolation. I got in Ableton and turned an upbeat reggaeton beat I made into a more emo trap sound. You can hear in my voice the stuffiness of the COVID.
As its director, how did you come up with the overall concept and visual aesthetic for the "Pixel Beach" visualizer?
I was super inspired by the video game “Cyber Punk”; I have never played it, but I watched many videos documenting the chaos of that release and I have many friends in the industry, technically I am part of the gaming industry as a 3D artist and it felt like it was a perfect dystopian aesthetic. I worked on the cyber arm and was inspired by the pose on Frank Ocean’s Blonde album cover.
Before working on the city environment, I watched Blade Runner 2049 and man is that not one of the most impactful movies of our time, visually striking. “Pixel Beach” is that digital escape from this cold world. In the video I’m in this warm beach but it’s a digital simulation occurring over and over, ironically the 3D environment in the video is the “real world” and it is a cold cold place.
When creating music, what software/hardware do you use; and for visual art, what software/hardware to do you use?
I use a lot of different software. I went from Cubase to Ableton and that is my baby forever now. When it comes to visuals, I use Maya for 3D (or Blender which is free and better) Photoshop, After effects, Premiere, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and many more… I mean once you learn one you can pick up others quickly it’s much like a language.
I do not think you need to know that many to be a music artist. Honestly it might make your career better to learn how to use Tik Tok than Unreal Engine but the tools you use are not as important as what you do with them, you can definitely work way harder than you need to and finding efficient ways to save weeks of work will be your best friend.
I like that at the end of the day I don’t need to wait on anybody to make what I see in my head. Being independent like this is part of the fun for me though and it's not for everyone; sometimes you can just focus on what you like most and get dope at it.
With the "Pixel Beach" single/visualizer now released, what's next for you musically and visually?
So I have a new song/music video coming April 30th, given that I’ve always made everything by my lonely. This project is my most ambitious and collaborative yet.
Currently I’m gonna start the visual effects, but the shooting of the video was an amazing experience and I have had a lot of support to bring this to life. Song is called “TOO COLD!” and it’s pretty hot actually.
Do you also work as a visual artist for other people? If so, how can interested parties get in contact with you?
I am a 3D artist for a gaming company from Las Vegas and I got to tell you this, I'm very lucky to be a part of a super amazing workplace where everybody is very supportive of each other and there’s this space for being creative and pursuing my artistic goals.
I don’t have any immediate needs for visual work but I am down to be hired in other fields relating to music. For example if an artist I like wants to collaborate musically and visually I don’t know how I could say no. hit me up on Instagram @dani.twice I always respond.
What are some things/people/places that inspire your creativity when you are developing new music and/or visual art?
For writing songs, I am inspired directly from life events, substantial things that give me a lot of emotions make for great songs, currently with my new relationship I have a lot to unpack for my next songs.
For visuals I am inspired by all the amazing works of art that exist now and I can pull from I feel like I can do anything visually and that’s a good place to be a bit of a chameleon with style means you’re not limited oh and also my dad! My dad is the most creative man in the world, and he advises me in so many aspects and I love bouncing around ideas with him; it’s always a blast.